Infrared Heater - Save on Your Energy Bill

Do you need an additional Heater, to complement your central Heating system? Sometimes it just doesn't make sense to turn up the temperature in the entire house so you can warm up one room you are in. It is much better to use an additional heater. Infrared heater can be of great help. Find out what are the benefits of infrared heaters comparable to other heaters.

Infrared heater efficiency

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Most heaters work by warming the air in the room. People in the room are warmed by the air. Not only this wastes energy on warming up the air, but also you don't feel the benefits of the heater as soon as it is switched on. It might take several minutes for a room to warm up. Infrared heaters work differently. They don't heat up the air it heats objects that are directly in its path. As a result people in the area are warmed directly by the heater and not by the air.

Infrared Heater - Save on Your Energy Bill

This principle makes infrared heaters very energy efficient. Another advantage is that you don't have to turn the heater on half an hour or hour in advance to pre-heat the room. You feel the warmth immediately.

Types of infrared heaters

Here are the most popular types of infrared heaters:

- Metal-sheathed tubular heaters

- Quartz tubes

- Quartz lamps

- Gas fired catalytic

- Flat-faced panels

- Ceramic emitters

Often people are worried that infrared heaters are not safe. There is really no need to worry. Most modern infrared heaters have a protective sheath to cover the heating elements. The cover is usually made of metal such as aluminum, brass, copper, iron or stainless steel. Blowing curtains won't become a fire hazard with an infrared heater. Most home models are pretty safe, but of course children shouldn't be allowed to play with the heating unit.

Another advantage is that infrared heater doesn't make the air in the room dry. The principle of its work is very similar to the way sun warms us on a bright day.

You can find indoor infrared heaters as well as outdoor and patio heaters. The source of fuel can be different, infrared heater can run off electricity, natural gas or propane.

More tips for efficient heating

Using an additional infrared heater can save you a great deal on your energy bill. But there is more you can do. First, check for drafts and boost the insulation. At the beginning of winter, make sure that window caulking and storm windows are in good shape. You should also check thermostats and install timers for your central heating.

Infrared Heater - Save on Your Energy Bill

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Proper Swimming Pool Temperature

What is an ideal swimming pool temperature? This is a difficult question to answer because it varies based on individual swimmers preferences. Based on recommended Heater temperatures and settings from virtually all manufactures, the ideal range for both indoor and outdoor pools is anywhere from 75 degrees to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. This figure should not be thought of as final as temperature and comfort does differ from person to person and environment to environment, but it a good goal to reach.

If you have a backyard swimming pool without a Heater, looking for an ideal temperature is a difficult task. The temperature will gradually increase as the season changes and as the pool Heats up, but the initial temperature in the early parts of the swimming season will be quite cold - usually well less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Even though there is no proper pool temperature, water temperature less than 65 degrees Fahrenheit are unpleasant even for the most adventurous swimmers. On the other side, if you do have an outdoor pool with a Heater, set it at something that is comfortable to your swimmers and your activity level. For instance, cooler water is more ideal for exercising where warmer water is better for a lounge / beach atmosphere. But, keep in mind that turning up your heater too much can lead to unexpected drama.

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When you increase the temperature of your water, it can have an effect on pool maintenance. With higher temperature comes more water evaporation. This means you will need to be more diligent about filling up your pool to keep the water in your skimmers. Higher water temperatures also mean a faster buildup of dissolved solids. This is basically the "bad stuff" that the chlorine attacks in water. Higher pool water temperatures will also burn off your chlorine and pool sanitizing agents much more quickly. Algae also love the hot water so they will grow faster and force more serious and diligent maintenance such as vacuuming, squeeging, and cleanup.

Proper Swimming Pool Temperature

Even if you don't have a heater to maintain your temperature, the same concerns of a warmer pool will eventually plague your pool in peak summer heat environments. Keep an eye out for seasonal changes and how they will affect your water chemistry. The most important chemical water reading in during hot and cold times will be your total alkalinity. When the weather is cooler, your total alkalinity should be increased. In warmer weather, your total alkalinity should be decreased with a muriatic acid to keep the saturation index fairly constant.

There is no ideal swimming pool water temperature but you should adjust your temperature based on your individual preference. Also, keep in mind the added responsibilities that come with maintaining a warmer pool. Watch out for seasonal changes and note how they affect your water chemistry. Both cold and warm temperatures have an effect on pool chemistry and maintenance routines.

Proper Swimming Pool Temperature

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Cooking - Liver

All liver is a great source of iron and B vitamins and should be a regular part of a healthy diet and if cooked correctly liver can be delicious. Although liver does have bad press and many people will not even consider trying it. Sometimes it calls for the cook to be somewhat inventive to get people to try liver. There are many recipes to choose from and it is worth the experimentation.

The best liver is the liver from young animals as it is mildest and tenderest. Calf's liver is delicate and delicious but fairly expensive. Real calf's liver is paler in color than the redder more mature baby beef liver. For a mild flavored liver choose the palest that you can find. The darker the color the stronger the flavor.

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Take care when choosing liver as sometimes baby beef liver is labeled calf's liver in the supermarket or grocery store. To ensure purchasing true calf's liver buy from a butchers or a reputable gourmet supermarket.

Cooking - Liver

Baby beef liver is stronger in flavor than calf's liver but is very good and preferable to actual beef liver. Liver from beef is dark red and the color corresponds to the strength of flavor. Beef liver is readily available but many believe it is too strong for simple preparations.

Some cooks after buying beef liver soak it in milk or a flavorful spicy marinade such as a white wine marinade before cooking to soften the intense flavor. After marinating throw the liquid away and pat the liver dry before cooking.

A lovely tender well-flavored liver is lamb liver but this is generally quite difficult to find.

Also hard to find is pigs liver, which is strong in, taste but extremely tender. Again for pig's liver it can be soaked or marinated like the beef liver.

When choosing liver it should be impeccably fresh with no slimy or dry patches and should have a clear scent.

Should you find yourself preparing a whole liver first wipe it with a damp cloth, then with a sharp knife remove any exposed veins, ducts or connective tissue. With your fingers peel away the thin outer membrane without tearing into the liver itself. You then just slice on the diagonal to the desired thickness your recipe calls for.

Of course presliced liver can be purchased and is actually more commonly available than whole livers. If the butcher has not done so remove the outer membrane on the slices.

Before cooking make 1/8th inch cuts at 1-inch intervals around the outside of the liver slice. The reason for this is because liver has a tendency to shrink and curl when it is cooked and these cuts will help to prevent that from happening.

The liver is now ready for cooking. Liver should be cooked until it is pink but firm in the center. If liver is overcooked or cooked on excessively high Heat it will toughen.

Liver is a lot richer in flavor than many other types of meat so a 4-ounce serving should be ample as a main course for most appetites.

Cooking - Liver

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Electric Vs Propane Outdoor Heaters

Remember those great summer nights dining outdoors, or on your balcony staring at the night sky? Those good times don't have to end, with fall or into winter. An outdoor Heater could reinvigorate your business or add more nights on your patio throughout the off seasons. There is one problem. What kind of outdoor Heater should you but buy? Electric or Propane? Which is more effective? Do they both offer the same kind of heat? Which one is more economical? Luckily our product staff has taken the time to thoroughly research and test both sorts of heaters and are only to happy to give you the breakdown on electric or propane. We tested two comparable models to help you the consumer what choice might be best. Please note that results may very on different models.

Range

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What's the point of buying an outdoor heating lamp if it will not heat the surrounding area effectively? Purchase a heater that will thoroughly warm the area and be space efficient at the same time. It would be a shame to exclude any guest or family member from heat because of poor planning. Most propane heaters have a slightly wider range then an electric heater. They are able to spread out warmth more but also tend to be less focused.

Electric Vs Propane Outdoor Heaters

Advantage: Propane

Cost

Cost is an important factor when purchasing an outdoor heater. You are not just paying for the heater itself but for its power or propane gas tanks. Now prices will very on where you live. Some areas propane is cheaper then electricity while in others electricity might be cheaper. Generally speaking electricity has found to be cheaper then propane.

Advantage: Electricity (Depending on location)

Heat Type

Not all heat is the same. Believe it or not some is more natural then others and even safer. Electricity wins this battle. It is actually much more reminiscent of the type of heat that comes from the sun. It's more natural heat that won't leave you burned or dry.

Advantage Electricity

Safety

Safety is very important to consider. Everyone has heard about potential problems with space heaters. An electric outdoor heater easily wins this battle. Operation is easy. You do not have to worry about lighting an ignition light or leaving the gas on. If careless propane tanks can be very dangerous as they do house a volatile substance within.

Advantage: Electricity

While electric out door heaters overpowered propane with our comparison here are too recommendations that will leave you warm on a cold night.

The APH-1100P NewAir patio Heater Propane Heater

Lightweight and easily portable at only 15 pounds the APH-1100P NewAir patio Heater Propane Heater offers 11,000 BTU's. Less than two feet tall this small patio heater can easily fit on your outdoor patio table providing immediate heat. Don't worry about it getting to hot though, it has adjustable heat control for your comfort.

It is built to be safe and durable. It is both CE and CSA certified. A safety tilt switch and piezoelectric gas line are designed to keep you safe. Designed to be weather and rust proof, you can let it remain outside for extended periods of time. It runs on both butane and gas, and gas hook up is easy.

The EWTR890SP Vacation Day 1200 Watt Electric Table Heater

The EWTR890SP is another lightweight table heating lamp. Its rustic design and 38 inch height will fit perfectly on any outdoor table. It provides a 12 foot warming circle with its 1200 Watt Halogen bulb that produces 4,095 BTUs of heat.

Very safe it contains a simple plug in design, automatic shut-off tilt feature and is CSA certified. It is weather and rust resistant allowing you to leave in outside without worrying about it. It's easy to assemble and you will never have to worry about it rusting.

Electric Vs Propane Outdoor Heaters

Patio Heaters - What Good Are They?

Time was when you would most likely find a patio Heater on the terrace of a trendy restaurant or bar. However, more and more of them are showing up on backyard decks, patios and porches. There are reasons for this.

Radiating Heat in a circular fashion and increasing the temperature of a 10' by 20' area by 10 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit is the primary function of an outdoor patio heater. Although this will not cause Spring flowers to bloom in the dead of winter, it is just enough to bring family and friends together outdoors no matter what the time of year.

Electric Patio Heat Lamps

The design of an outdoor patio heater is basically simple. A pillar or pole supports a gas or electric heating element that generates heat against a metal screen. In turn, the screen radiates the heat in a circular fashion toward a reflector positioned on top of the heater. The reflector redirects the heat outwardly and downwardly into the area where guests have gathered.

Patio Heaters - What Good Are They?

Buyers will enjoy the wide variety of patio heater shapes, sizes and finishes. Stainless steel, chrome, nickel, copper and aluminum are some of the strikingly beautiful finishes that are available. The table top and floor lamp styles demonstrate the most noticeable size variations. Add to the mix the various round, square, multi-sided, modern and traditional forms, as well as colors, and it is unlikely you will not be able to find the perfect look for your place.

In addition to functionality and style, patio heaters are easy to use and come with a wide range of safety features. Basic to these are automatic shut-off mechanisms to prevent CO2 poisoning, safety tilt switches to stop the fuel source should the unit tip over, and emergency cut-off valves so you can immediately kill the heat source in case of a problem. Along with common sense precautions, such as keeping it at least 3' away from combustible materials and 25' from gasoline and other flammable liquids and vapors, a patio heater is safe to use.

Three different fuel sources allow even more choice in meeting your preferences. Electric patio heaters must be plugged into grounded outlets, so they are not as portable as other types. However, they are easy and convenient to operate, as well as environmentally safe.

On the other hand, propane patio heaters are the choice for many people, because connecting them to a small propane tank allows them to position the heater in a greater number of places. Comparatively speaking, propane also is cost-effective, and burning propane does not hurt the environment.

If you already have the gas line installed on your patio or deck, or you do not mind having that done, then natural gas may be the best match for you. Natural gas also is cost-effective, odorless, and environmentally friendly. However, unlike propane, it does not require tank refills. Of course, similar to electric models, portability is limited.

Whatever patio heater size, style or fuel type works best for you, what you will enjoy most is the added dimension to your outdoor experience. You not only will enhance the look and ambiance of your patio, deck or porch, but, more importantly, the relationships of those that come together there.

Patio Heaters - What Good Are They?