Comments on: Saving Money While Heating Your Home http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/209/episode-36-saving-money-heating-home/ The Handyguys are two avid DIYers sharing their experiences working around the house. Our weekly video and audio podcasts feature answers to your questions, head-to-head tool tests and other DIY and home improvement topics. If you have a question regarding your home, let us know using the contact tab on our site or call us at (818) 804-8665. We respond to all questions and may use your question on-the-air in a future broadcast. We look forward to answering your questions and helping you around the home! Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:02:29 +0000 hourly 1 By: Rob Stanhope http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/209/episode-36-saving-money-heating-home/#comment-367 Rob Stanhope Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:28:13 +0000 http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/209/episode-36-saving-money-heating-home#comment-367 I recently took the grate out of my fireplace and replaced it with a grate heater and now I'm heating my whole house with my fireplace. A fireplace is about 5% heat efficient and this they claim makes it a 120,000 BTU per hour furnace and I believe it you can’t make to big of a fire or you will run you’re self out. I bought the grate heater on ebay it was called insertafurnace it was the only one with a screen. I also found the website http://www.insertafurnace.com/ I recently took the grate out of my fireplace and replaced it with a grate heater and now I’m heating my whole house with my fireplace. A fireplace is about 5% heat efficient and this they claim makes it a 120,000 BTU per hour furnace and I believe it you can’t make to big of a fire or you will run you’re self out. I bought the grate heater on ebay it was called insertafurnace it was the only one with a screen. I also found the website http://www.insertafurnace.com/

]]> By: The Handyguys http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/209/episode-36-saving-money-heating-home/#comment-279 The Handyguys Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:21:52 +0000 http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/209/episode-36-saving-money-heating-home#comment-279 OK Chimney Balloon Guy - Point taken. We were talking about drafts caused by a fireplace in operation burning the air your furnace has heated. Maybe we need to delve deeper into cutting down drafts when you are not burning a fire. The Chimney Balloon looks like an inexpensive way to do just that. Traditionally a damper is used. If an integral damper fails its very expensive and involved to repair quite often. There are other solutions but none at the price point of a chimney balloon. Both the Handyguys have direct vent gas fireplaces so we have nothing to try a chimney balloon with. Maybe we could do a show in conjunction with a loyal listener with a traditional fireplace chimney and give this thing a whirl. Any takers? Drop The Handyguys a line using our contact form. OK Chimney Balloon Guy – Point taken. We were talking about drafts caused by a fireplace in operation burning the air your furnace has heated. Maybe we need to delve deeper into cutting down drafts when you are not burning a fire. The Chimney Balloon looks like an inexpensive way to do just that. Traditionally a damper is used. If an integral damper fails its very expensive and involved to repair quite often. There are other solutions but none at the price point of a chimney balloon. Both the Handyguys have direct vent gas fireplaces so we have nothing to try a chimney balloon with. Maybe we could do a show in conjunction with a loyal listener with a traditional fireplace chimney and give this thing a whirl. Any takers? Drop The Handyguys a line using our contact form.

]]> By: Chimney Balloon Guy http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/209/episode-36-saving-money-heating-home/#comment-278 Chimney Balloon Guy Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:05:26 +0000 http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/209/episode-36-saving-money-heating-home#comment-278 Come on guys, The line of conversation in your webcast lead right into talking about what to do with a fireplace that is cold and drafty. But you didnt talk about chimney balloons or top sealing dampers or any other way to stop the heat from bleeding out of the house. This was a real missed opportunity! Not many people have heard of these types of fireplace accesories, but I can tell you from experience that they want to know about them. Come on guys, The line of conversation in your webcast lead right into talking about what to do with a fireplace that is cold and drafty. But you didnt talk about chimney balloons or top sealing dampers or any other way to stop the heat from bleeding out of the house. This was a real missed opportunity! Not many people have heard of these types of fireplace accesories, but I can tell you from experience that they want to know about them.

]]> By: Handyguys Podcast » Blog Archive » Episode #38 - Energy Audit http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/209/episode-36-saving-money-heating-home/#comment-270 Handyguys Podcast » Blog Archive » Episode #38 - Energy Audit Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:00:31 +0000 http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/209/episode-36-saving-money-heating-home#comment-270 [...] flexible ‘plastic’ piping. The Handyguys discuss its pros and cons. We then address Tim’s comment on our episode#36 on saving money at home. “I would suggest being more efficient first when [...] [...] flexible ‘plastic’ piping. The Handyguys discuss its pros and cons. We then address Tim’s comment on our episode#36 on saving money at home. “I would suggest being more efficient first when [...]

]]> By: Tim Troy http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/209/episode-36-saving-money-heating-home/#comment-263 Tim Troy Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:38:48 +0000 http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/209/episode-36-saving-money-heating-home#comment-263 I would suggest being more efficient first when considering saving money heating your home. To be more specific, get a Home Energy Assessment. This is a detailed analysis of your home with recommendations on where to improve items such as insulation, heating, etc... The recommendations will have the cost along with the payback period. This allows you to know what to change. You could easily do a whole show on the topic. Have fun! I would suggest being more efficient first when considering saving money heating your home. To be more specific, get a Home Energy Assessment. This is a detailed analysis of your home with recommendations on where to improve items such as insulation, heating, etc… The recommendations will have the cost along with the payback period. This allows you to know what to change. You could easily do a whole show on the topic. Have fun!

]]> By: Aaron Klimchuk http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/209/episode-36-saving-money-heating-home/#comment-261 Aaron Klimchuk Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:47:09 +0000 http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/209/episode-36-saving-money-heating-home#comment-261 Great article guys. Who doesn't want to save money? Especially during the winter months when holiday gifts eat up a chunk of many homeowners bank accounts. I'd also think about energy efficient windows and solar power systems for those that are looking to make more of an investment. While both obviously have an initial cost, they can help save big bucks down the road... Great article guys. Who doesn’t want to save money? Especially during the winter months when holiday gifts eat up a chunk of many homeowners bank accounts.

I’d also think about energy efficient windows and solar power systems for those that are looking to make more of an investment. While both obviously have an initial cost, they can help save big bucks down the road…

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