Tuesday 14 April 2015

Stay Warm With A Mendota Fireplace



There is nothing quite as homey and cozy as a crackling fire on a freezing cold winter's day. Modern homes do not always have the space or the right foundation for a traditional fireplace. Moreover, most homeowners aren’t thrilled with the amount of upkeep a wood burning fireplace requires —but are eager to search for ways to get that authentic fireplace experience without the hassles and potential dangers of old fireplaces and chimneys.

A house requires a fireplace that can safely contain fire, effectively exhaust smoke, burn fuel efficiently, and deliver sufficient warmth around the room. Unfortunately, most traditional fireplaces are inefficient at heating and are extremely hard to control. Old fireplaces traditionally provide heat by radiation, but radiant heat is more effective at warming objects within a room, instead of the air. Additionally, the fireplace walls often restrain heat before it is slowly released into the room. Inefficiently designed fireplaces also increase drafts in the space as it draws air through the fireplace's mouth, sending it out, along with as much as 90% of the heat up the chimney exhaust.

Thus, using a contemporary fireplace turns out to be a good option. Mendota Fireplaces help cut heat loss and prevent drafts by their contemporary designs and features. These fireplaces typically include glass doors and other types of inserts to avoid and eliminate the issues and problems that traditional fireplaces create. Modern fireplaces also draw combustion air from the outdoors, so heat is brought to the room instead of taken away from it. Mendota fireplaces burn quietly and cleanly, thanks to exceptional craftsmanship and highly advanced gas technology. These installations also boast fine details and use heavy gauge steel to ensure long-term comfort. Stylish fronts and door designs are also available to match all types of home interiors, making Mendota fireplaces a very practical investment for any modern home.

The Advantages of Converting from Oil to Propane



Oil-fired furnaces have always been the system and technology of choice in home heating. Today, however, there are several alternatives in the market that are much more efficient, practical, and environmental friendly. At the forefront, the alternative of oil is propane gas. This is a popular option for many new homeowners as well as those who wish to upgrade their old heating system into something that is more eco-friendly and sustainable. The following are only some of the major benefits of switching from oil-fired furnaces to propane-powered heating systems:

  • Energy and cost benefits – Oil furnaces have a 60% heat-production efficiency, which means that for every dollar that you spend on heating oil, you only get as much as 60 cents worth of heat. On the other hand, Propane, has a much higher efficiency at 90% or greater.
  • Environmental impact – Propane is a more eco-friendly choice because it burns with reduced emissions compared to oil. Burning different types of fuels like coal, wood, gasoline, oil, and natural gas, inevitably produces different levels of carbon emissions—GHGs that contribute to pollution and global warming. Propane gas boasts lower carbon content than most fuels, including oil, diesel, gasoline, ethanol, and kerosene, making it a greener choice. It also contains less greenhouse gas emissions within a productivity unit than other fuels. Its efficiency and small carbon footprint, combined, makes propane gas an ideal choice of heating fuel for homes, providing a greener, more reliable, safer, and more affordable alternative to heating oil.
  • Insurance and liability – Finally, it is a lot easier to insure a house with a propane-fed heating system than a house with old oil tanks and furnaces, which are subject to stricter rules when it comes to insurance policies. Additionally, propane heating systems and equipment are much more affordable. You can expect maintenance costs to be low as well.