Why You May Need a High Efficiency Gas Furnace

Purchasing a new furnace can be a tedious thing if you don't know much about them. Knowing some of the basics about furnaces, your home, and efficiency can make all the difference in the world actually. Let's start with the home. You need to know of course the size of your home so you know how much space will need to be heated. The other side of this coin is insulation. You should take a look through your home to see what type of insulation you have. The better your insulation the more likely the heat that is generated will stay inside (allowing you to only turn the furnace on for short periods of time to maintain the heated area, thus lowering your electric and gas bills depending on what type of furnace you get). High efficiency gas furnace units are always the better way to go because gas is much cheaper to use than electricity.

Once you've figured these two things out, your home's square footage (of the areas needing to be heated) and your insulation efficiency, then the next step is to do some research on high efficiency gas furnaces. Before we get into that I want to note that you can save money by replacing or appending your current insulation if it proves to be inefficient. It does little good to purchase a more powerful furnace if your insulation is poor, but it will cost less and save you money in the long and short run on bills if you simply tackle that issue first. You will be surprised how much money you will save on purchasing a smaller efficient furnace and putting the rest of the money into your insulation vs. just getting a more powerful unit (because the hot air will leave the home in scenario two, which is like throwing money out the window- or should I say, through the roof/walls?).

Once you've nailed these things, doing the research on your high efficiency gas furnace is a synch. Simply go online and do a search for furnaces. You will find sites that will show you what the best unit to buy for certain square footage are as well as sites describing in some detail what each unit does and why it's good for certain types of homes. You will also find many reviews by people who use them and are happy (or not so happy) with their unit. Be careful not to simply take every review to heart as some are not written by people who have the unit but rather sales sites that simply want you to buy THEIR furnace. Armed with all this information, which should take you about an hour to research, and print out some of it, you can now go searching for the furnace you decided on. You will know the lingo so when you call the various companies they won't think you're a newbie and try to sell you things you don't need.

Heat Exchanger Safety - A Maintained Furnace is a Safe Furnace

Heat exchangers are pieces of equipment that are used for the transfer of heat from one fluid to another. When a heat exchanger goes bad, chances are, important things stop working. When your automobile engine is overheating, it's likely that the heat exchanger is the problem. You probably call it a radiator, but it's one type of heat exchanger. In your radiator, antifreeze cools air that flows past it. This air is then blown by a fan onto the engine to keep it cool. If the radiator doesn't work properly, you won't be driving very far until the situation is fixed.

Your home heating system also has a heat exchanger. In fact, nearly every piece of mechanical equipment that has a need to intentionally heat or cool part of a system does. Inside your furnace there is a combustion chamber. There is a metal wall that separates the internal combustion from the air that flows past the heat exchanger and on through the ductwork to heat your home. You need this separation because you don't want the toxic gases inside mixing with the air that is distributed throughout your home. In the previous example, a faulty heat exchanger could lead to a broken down automobile, but in your home you could be gambling with your life.

Carbon Monoxide can be present in the combustion gases. It's supposed to be contained inside, but as time goes on, it becomes possible for the heat exchanger in your furnace to crack or warp. Each time your furnace turns on, the metal wall heats up and expands. During the off cycles, the metal of the heat exchanger cools and contracts. Over time this repeated process of expansion and contraction of the metal takes it's toll. The metal can become fatigued, and eventually warp out of shape, or just plain break.

As I noted before, these metal walls were designed to keep the toxic combustion gases inside the heat exchanger chamber. Guess what happens if there is a crack? That's right, the toxic gases inside can mix with the forced air that is being blown through the ductwork and into your home. Having a reliable Carbon Monoxide detector is an inexpensive measure to protect yourself and your family from the danger of Carbon Monoxide poisoning, but you can also take some proactive measures to protect against any potential danger.

Give your furnace an annual checkup, just before the heating season, to check the condition of the burners, the heat exchanger, the furnace filter, and other components that can affect the performance of your furnace. I recommend have a certified HVAC specialist do this. Only a certified specialist will have the knowledge and experience needed to know exactly what to look for, and where to look for it, as well as knowing what the operating specifications for your unit should be.

If your furnace is over 10 years old, it is even more important to keep that annual checkup. This is the time period where the years of wear and tear on your heat exchanger make a failure of the heat exchanger wall significantly more likely. Keeping your furnace in good health can also help keep you and your family in good health.

Oil Burner Maintenance Goes a Long Way

Oil burner are the lifeblood of any boiler or furnace. They are the hearts that make them beat. You have to take care of them for them to keep working. To many people neglect these vital machines until they go out and then cry to the heating technicians when they receive a gigantic bill for them coming out at 10 o'clock at night to fix a simple burner problem.

Follow this advice and problems with your oil burner will be minimal. The follow suggestions are for Beckett burners. Since they comprise of more than 90% of the marketplace I thought it would be foolish to talk about the other two major brands.

You want to filter the water out of your tank. Moisture can build up in those tanks faster than people think. Techs have drained tanks where in the first seconds nothing but water come out. Water corrodes the oil burner and messed up the nozzles which depends on a fine mist to work effectively. You may think you have a sealed container but all it takes is a little water over time to create a major problem. Making sure the fill cap and the vent cap are in place and tightly secure is one way to minimize this problem. You also want to clear ice, snow, and other debris that may collect on top of the tank. There are additives you can use to solve this problem and if you see water collects you can pop the water drain plug.

You want to get an annual tune up on your oil burner once a year. It should not cost more than a couple hundred bucks but heating professionals have the tools to scan any heating system and see if it is working properly. They can check the CO2 levels, wiring, and detect if anything is out of place. Things cost you less when you fix them before they break. Like a car some people wait til they are stranded on the street to call a mechanic while others are proactive and take care of a car problem well in advance. A certified boiler or furnace technician can analyze your whole system and tell you if your system is fine or if it could use some work. They also switch the oil nozzles, change the fuel and air filters, and adjust the controls. They also check the tank to make certain it does not contain any water.

If you follow these two suggestions you should have very little trouble with your oil burner. Beckett is the brand that most people have and they are known for making quality problems that last a long time. If you maintain your oil burner it will last a long time and keep your nice and toasty throughout the winter.

Plumbing - Reasons to Hire a Professional Plumber

Plumbing related problems can at times be very irritating. That is when you should turn to a professional who can take care of various problems such as frozen pipes, leaks, etc. Here are some of the most common reasons for hiring them.

Servicing Or Maintaining A Boiler Or Furnace
Most of boilers and furnaces require maintenance at least once a year. A plumbing professional can help you with this. He can adjust electrodes, alter the filters and nozzles, and change thermo-couplings to ensure your boiler or furnace stays in good working order.

Clean Your Water Heater
A hot shower is part of our daily routine. Millions of us take hot bath and showers without even knowing the importance of a water heater until it breaks down. A plumbing professional can clean and drain the water heater and adjust the heater temperature so that your water heater remains in good condition and reliably provides you with hot water.

Fix Leaky Taps
Leaky taps waste a lot of water and you may find this very irritating. In such cases you can hire someone to either fix or repair the leak or change the tap.

Cleaning And Maintenance Of Drains
There are many instances when your drains get clogged. An immediate fix is required in such cases. A professional can repair, maintain and replace the drains to ensure waste water flows smoothly.

Installing A Water Filter
You might be wasting too much money buying bottled water everyday. Millions of bottles build up a huge amount of plastic garbage which is not good for our earth. You can hire a licensed worker to install a water filter instead.

General Upgrades To Your Fixtures
Many of us replace the old fixtures with new ones to save the amount of water consumed or we may change them to look better. Replacing the old fixtures with new stylish ones has become very popular. New technologies implemented through these fixtures can save a lot of water for you and for the earth.

Install A Washing Machine
A plumber can help you install your new washing machine for a reasonable rate that can save you lots of money and time in the long run compared to what you would have spent by going to the Laundromat.

These are just few reasons for hiring the services of a plumbing professional. No matter what your reason is, always make sure you do some research before selecting the most appropriate one for you.

Floor Registers and Furnaces

Do you know what questions to ask the professionals when they are installing new carpeting or floors?
When you have ceiling vents for your heating system do not assume the floor registers, which are a pain for furniture placement, do not need to be used. Read on.

This is what happened to me. When I moved into my Mobile Home I immediately wanted to replace the atrocious, gold carpeting which ran throughout my entire coach. When the carpeting installers came to install the carpeting - I innocently let them carpet over my floor registers. I later learned this was a definite NO - NO. I did not want to blow up my Mobile Home.

When the registers are covered the gas can not escape. It can build up pressure and make a nice big KABOOM. The ceiling and floor registers work together to circulate heat throughout my home safely and evenly. When I turned on the furnace instead of the heat circulating throughout the rooms - it stayed in one spot right under the ceiling register. Even with the heat on - my Mobile Home was always cold.

About two years later, I found out about the problem with my floor registers, and how dangerous it was to have them covered up. I was able to uncover 3 floor registers easily, but the remaining 4 were a mystery to me. When the 3 floor registers were free of carpeting and able to breathe - I immediately found the heat distribution was indeed circulating throughout my Mobile Home. The remaining 4 registers, I knew which rooms they belonged in, but I did not know where on the floor they were located.

When I finally purchased a brand new furnace, one of the furnace installers had to locate and uncover the remaining 4 registers by moving furniture, and pounding on my floor with a hammer - now I can breathe easier knowing my Mobile Home is safe from a KABOOM.

He did share with me his years of experience in heating and air-conditioning installation. He said, "the registers get covered over all the time."

I am now sharing my experience with you. What do I know about floor registers? When you buy anything it is time to ask questions. But you have to know what questions to ask.

I hope you enjoyed my article. Please feel free to read any of my numerous articles on many numerous subjects.

Copyright 2007 Linda E. Meckler

Stay Warm by Easily Maintaining Your Furnace

Modern heating technology allows us to enjoy comfortable temperatures throughout the fall and winter. However, we sometimes take the technology for granted and fail to properly maintain our heating systems. A little bit of regular maintenance can extend the life of your system, help it operate more efficiently and save on your electric bill. The best part is that the maintenance steps are very easy.

The first thing to consider when servicing your furnace is the air filter. The filter is located within the return air duct and failure to change or clean it on a regular basis allows dirt to build up and obstruct air flow. This leads to higher electric consumption, forces the furnace to work harder and, ultimately, wear out more quickly. You should be replacing your filter roughly once per month during prime heating season but circumstances may dictate more frequent changes. If your home experiences excessive dust such as hardwood floor refinishing or drywall sanding, you might need to replace or clean it more frequently.

If you have a permanent filter, you will need to clean the filter according to the manufacturers instructions. If you have a disposable filter you have several choices. The most budget conscience might select a basic filter, made of spun glass, that only screens out the largest particles. These can purchased for about $2.00 each. On the other end of the spectrum are allergen filters that filter more finely and can be priced upwards of $15.00 each. Visit a home improvement store and research each type to determine what will work best for you.

A second part of your furnace to check is the blower. The blower, as it name implies, causes the air to circulate throughout your home. Before inspecting or working with the blower be sure the furnace is off by flipping the furnace switch. Double check that the unit is off by turning your thermostat to a very high temperature and waiting several minutes.

Once you have confirmed that the unit is off, remove the access panel and inspect the blower and belt. If the they are not obviously damaged or broken, remove any dust or debris on the blower to help your furnace work more efficiently.

By taking these simple steps, you are helping to ensure that your furnace is working at its best and that you will enjoy toasty warm winters from your system for years to come.

Wood Fire Safety Tips

Wood fire safety tips may be one of the most important bits of advice that you will receive. In these days of escalating uncertainty due to high unemployment and rising energy prices, wood stoves or furnaces are becoming very popular. However, as with all forms of combustion, weather it be wood, gas or oil, specific precautions should be followed.

Fire allows us to keep our body temperature within the normal range. It enables us to cook our foods; thereby killing any potential deadly bacteria that may be in it. But, as much of a lifesaver that fire can be; it is also capable of easily turning into a life taker.

The burning of wood produces creosote; a black, tar like highly flammable substance that clings to the inside of your wood stove chimney. Flammable is the key word here. If this creosote buildup is allowed to accumulate, a tremendous chimney fire can occur. This endangers the lives of the occupants of the home and sometimes even destroys the whole house. Rule number one, chimneys must be routinely and thoroughly cleaned; preferably by a professional chimney sweep. Every effort should be made to eliminate the presence of creosote.

Rule number two, burn only thoroughly dry hardwood that has been split to fit into your particular stove. Dry hardwood produces less creosote because it burns hotter. Try to resist the tendency of overloading the stove. This may increase its' outer temperature enough to ignite nearby articles.

Rule number three, which really should be rule number one; leaving a fire unattended for a long period of time is asking for trouble. So, enjoy you wood stove while you reduce your energy costs; but be alert and cautious at all times.

Are You Considering a Fuel Oil Furnace?

There are a large variety of furnaces on the market today. In the old days the only furnace you could get was a manual fireplace, but today technologies have become so incredible that you can fit one hundred times the "fire-power" into a smaller unit with less or no smoke at all. Today's fuel oil furnace is pretty powerful, and it will run upwards of 10-20 years before you have to replace it. The companies that make these furnaces generally warrant them for 10 years but this is often a conservative estimate which makes them look good when your unit goes 5-10 years longer!

Of all the furnaces out there the fuel oil furnace is said to be one of the best choices for cost, efficiency, and longevity. The design of this furnace is ingenious and simple. The beauty of this furnace is also that it tends to have fewer problems than other types. Owners rarely have to call out the repair guy and when they need heat it tends to work.

Ironically, although the fuel oil furnace rarely runs into problems, there is still a great deal about them on the internet. With so many units out there. There are probably a good number of instances where a unit broke down due to improper maintenance, using the wrong oil, or a variety of other things that can happen (including those rare instances when the furnace breaks down due to manufacturing deficiencies). If you own one of these or are planning to upgrade to one then you should take some time to read about how to properly maintain this unit. This is not going to be a tedious endeavor, in fact you may only have to deal with this once every couple years, but you want to know what to do and when to do it, what signs to watch for and so on.

There are several brands and makes of fuel oil furnace out there so be sure to look up your exact model when doing your search. Also keep in mind that there are units that work better in larger buildings as well as ones that are better for smaller homes. There is no point in purchasing a unit that is designed for a larger space when a smaller, less expensive (both in initial purchase and electric/gas bills) one will suffice. You can grab the model number from your unit, or you can do a search for the different types to get information on this. If you already own one you can simply Google the model number to get the right sites.

Carrier Gas Furnace - It's Easier Than You Think to Own One

Are you looking for a really reliable gas furnace? There are a number of popular brands to choose from in the market today, all of them claiming that they are the best. But the best is actually relative, and the only way for you to determine which is the best is to find out your preferences first. Once you have figured out your personal needs and the factors which are important to you, you'll be able to narrow down your options and find something that's right within your budget and is perfect for your home.

One of the most important considerations to think about is the furnace efficiency of a brand. Carrier gas furnace, for example, has a fuel efficiency of at least 80% which makes it one of the higher-efficiency types today. If you prioritize the savings that you'd like to get, it's just wise to pick a furnace with that much fuel efficiency or higher if possible.

Another important factor that goes into furnace efficiency is its ability to be both a cooling and heating system effectively. The secret to choosing one that works fantastic as both is to check if the compressor is working well, and if there is a thermostat that goes with the unit. These components make your gas furnace more efficient to use and to switch modes when you need it to be performing well.

Of course, the last but absolutely not the last consideration you should think about is the price. Carrier gas furnace range in models and types, and should give you enough options to find something that fits your budget.

Fat Burning Furnace Vs Turbulence Training - Which is For You?

Two of the most popular diet and fitness programs in the world today are Fat Burning Furnace (FBF) by Rob Poulos and Turbulence Training by Craig Ballantyne. Both programs have many positive testimonials and have produced excellent results for many men and women.

As these programs are both based on a similar concepts, those of high intensity interval cardio workouts, effective full body weight training, and proper and sensible eating, all focused on boosting your metabolism and your body's natural ability to burn fat, one has to wonder what the difference is between them. If you need to choose a program today, which one of these fine products should you go for?

First, for you to benefit from either of these programs, you need to be willing and able to workout and workout hard. Physical fitness is key to the success of both of these programs. That being said, there are some differences between the two programs.

The difference is in style and content. It has a lot to do with the creators of these programs. Fat Burning Furnace was created by Rob Poulos, a former overweight guy who tried and failed with many programs and ended up creating his own, based on what worked for him and his wife and helped them lose over 100 pounds combined.

This background helps lend FBF a sort of "I know what you feel like" vibe. Rob Poulos has been in the same shoes as most of the people who are looking for a diet and fitness program, so in terms of motivation and psychology, Fat Burning Furnace may be the better of the two programs.

Turbulence Training is a bit different and it has to do a lot with Craig Ballantyne, the noted trainer who authored it. If there's one thing that impresses me about Craig Ballantyne is his creativity. He knows how to formulate interesting, intriguing, and effective workouts. His knowledge of exercises is broad and he is not above combining different exercises in unique ways to create new and powerful workouts.

I happen to find the overall tone of Turbulence Training much more physical and challenging than FBF. There's no doubt that this challenging aspect is one of the primary factors of why it works so well for men and women both.

If you're interested more in the physical aspect of fitness and fat loss then Turbulence Training can certainly provide a more extensive experience. If not, than Fat Burning Furnace is excellent in many aspects and I highly recommend it.

Lennox Heat Pumps Are an Alternate Way to Heat Your Home

The name Lennox is synonymous with heating and cooling equipment. Lennox heat pumps are one of their most popular products. The company sells units to residential and commercial customers. Besides heat pumps, they also sell furnaces and air conditioners. When people look for economical ways to heat and cool their home they want a name they can rely on. There are quite a few reliable companies out there. If you do your homework and you should be able to find a product that works as described.

We will focus this article on Lennox heat pumps and the Lennox Company. Back in 1895, Dave Lennox developed his first furnace. Only nine years later, he sold the company and it was re-named the Lennox Furnace Company. It stayed that way until 1955, when it was re-named to Lennox Industries. They have sales offices all across North America.

Lennox heat pumps provide homeowners with a cost saving method in which to heat or cool the home. The pump transfers heat between the inside and the outside of your home. This allows it to heat the home in the winter and cool it in the summer. An example of one of their newer units is the PowerSaverT heat pump. It operates at a low speed when the weather is mild and when the temperatures are extreme it will operate at a higher speed. The two-speed efficiency will improve the air filtration and protects the machines compressor from wearing out due to the frequent stopping and starting.

Many experts believe that a geothermal heat pump is the best means in which to heat or cool your home. This type of pump requires only a small amount of electricity to run. This, it is good for the environment because it reduces the reliance on electrical power plants. They are also considered the quietest pump on the market.

In conclusion, when choosing a efficient and cost effective way to heat or cool your home, why not look into Lennox heat pumps. The more information you have about different methods of heating and cooling your home, the more informed you would be to make a good sound decision.

FBF Diet Ebook Review - Turn on Your Body's Fat Burning Furnace

The FBF diet (or Fat Burning Furnace) by Rob Poulos is one of the most popular diet and fitness program online these days. With raving testimonials by customers and training experts alike, it seems that this program, created by a former overweight man who managed to turn his life around has helped men and women from around the world to shed weight and get fitter.

What does the FBF program teach?

Basically, as the name implies, Fat Burning Furnace is all about how to turn your body into a fat incinerator. Each of us has an internal flab incinerator known as our metabolism. Some are just born lucky with a natural metabolism high enough to go through tremendous amount of calories all day long. Others need to work a bit harder to stoke this metabolism until it's like a raging fire. This is what Rob Poulos teaches in his program.

Our metabolism is influenced by many things such as our lifestyle, sleep, stress levels, and so on. It is particularly influenced by what we eat and how we eat it and by the way we train. You see, muscle mass in particular has a massive influence on our metabolism. The more muscle mass we have the more calories we burn each day.

And you don't need to be a muscle builder to enjoy this. Even 2-3 extra pounds of lean muscle tissue will have a dramatic effect on how your body burns off fat. This is one part of the FBF program, how to use strength training to build muscle mass in the right way.

Your nutrition plays a key role as well, and Rob Poulos dedicates a significant part of his program to show you how to eat and what to eat in order to have a higher metabolism, capable of melting off your body fat fast.

Fat Burning Furnace requires that you workout regularly and that you follow the eating guidelines. You do have a lot of variety in your food choices and you can enjoy yourself with this plan.

It's hard work but the results can be worth it.

Find Out Why Is Slim Fast A Bad Diet!

In spite of its popularity, a lot can be said against Slim Fast. Starting from its premises to its step by step solutions, there are a lot of question to be asked. So let's go to the point and ask: why is Slim Fast a bad diet?

Truthfully, Slim Fast has received some good reviews. Some people may have lost some weight through this program but it pales in comparison to those who have not experienced its promised yields. The only positive thing to be said about Slim Fast is that it is very easy to prepare. Compared to other programs, all you have to do with Slim Fast is to grab one of their products and consume it. Easy as it may seem, these people should also ask what we have asked: why is Slim Fast a bad diet?

First off, Slim Fast intends you to lose weight through controlling your caloric intake. It sets the ceiling of your intake to 1,200 amounts of calories which is 500 amount lesser than the required for women and 1,000 amounts lesser for men. From this alone, it can be supposed that it does not meet the daily dietary allowance needed for our body to function properly. It would make us lightheaded through out the program, or worse, very unproductive.

So, still asking why is Slim Fast a bad diet? Let's move on to the next point.

A main product of Slim Fast is the milk shakes. These shakes have four major ingredients: sugar, cocoa, milk and fructose. In short, these milk shakes are merely an overload of sugar which will definitely cause your blood sugar level to reach its all-time high. They also contain 12 grams of protein (much lesser than that contained in the same amount of fat-free milk) and 38 grams of carbohydrates (20 grams more than that contained in a fat-free milk). Taking into consideration the nutrients that milk contains, it would be better to drink fat-free milk than Slim Fast milk shakes.

Hmmm... Still, why is Slim Fast a bad diet? Okay. Third point.

The caloric level in Slim Fast is very low that it will cause the loss not just of fat but also of lean tissues, a.k.a. muscles. Our muscles burn calories even during non-activity. Remember that muscle is directly proportional to metabolism-meaning, more muscle equals higher metabolism, and less muscle equals lower metabolism rate. Though you may have lost some weight in Slim Fast, chances are your weight is a split between fats and muscles. Meaning, the fats you initially intend to lose are still there.

Slim Fast is truly flawed. It is the summary of all the bad things that can be said about diet programs. From dizziness and instability to ineffective fat burning, Slim Fast has it all. There should be no need to ask why is Slim Fast a bad diet. It is not a matter to be questioned, it is already a reality to be faced.

So why don't you try a new diet program that is guaranteed to make you lose weight without the flaws of Slim Fast? Fat Loss for Idiots offers you a program that is consist of your regular meals. It does not put a boundary on your food intake. Instead, it lets you enjoy what foods you want and focuses on how you should eat it. Come on, let us depart from these diet programs that yield result only after doing major sacrifices. Instead, let us subscribe to Fat Loss for Idiots-a weight loss program that promises a weight loss of as much as 11 lbs. in 9 days, while letting you enjoy real foods.

Comfort Zone Vs EdenPure Infrared Heater Review

I am often asked which Infrared Heater is better, the Comfort Zone, or the EdenPure, and the answer is always a tricky one. Neither one completely blows the other out of the competition, but there are some minor differences between both units that deserve being mentioned.

The Comfort Zone Infrared Heater performs better than the EdenPure in the area of heat diffusion and operating life time. The Comfort Zone Infrared Heaters have a new heat diffuser made of stainless steel that is capable of producing 14% more heat than its competitors. Comfort Zones are also designed to last longer because of their unique infrared heating technology. It boasts up to a 20,000 hour life span before a replacement could be necessary. The EdenPure though, uses standard infrared bulbs that are only rated at a 5,000 hour operating lifetime.

A similarity that both the Comfort Zone and EdenPure share is the type of heat exchanger each unit has installed. They both use solid copper heater exchangers that enhance the absorption of infrared heat. This copper exchanger converts the infrared waves into a bandwidth of 9-10 microns through a process of copper ionization. This bandwidth is the optimum level for maximum heat absorption.

The Comfort Zone provides healthier heat. What this means is that Comfort Zone Infrared Heaters do not burn any oxygen, or affect humidity levels during operation. Most standard electric heaters can emit harmful byproducts and produce uncomfortable heat. The Comfort Zone though, provides a gentle type of heat that stays consistent from floor to ceiling.

Both units come with a fully functional remote and thermostat, and diffuse their heat with the help of an internal fan. Comfort Zone Infrared Heaters use a Dual DC fan system that is much quieter in comparison others. This is an important aspect of an appliance you will be operating in your home for an extended period of time.

In terms of pricing, the Comfort Zone comes out to be more expensive. The highest price Comfort Zones are approximately 400-500 dollars, while the most expensive EdenPures are in the 300-400 dollar price range. Both units however, share a similar price tag in their lower priced models of around 300-350 dollars.

In conclusion, both of these Infrared Heaters would make great additions to your home, but it is important to weigh the options and make an informed decision. The Comfort Zone , while offering slightly better functionality, comes at a slightly higher price. I have found that when purchasing an item such as this, it is important to look for the best quality product that you can comfortably afford. This decision will pay off in the long run in terms of maintenance fees and repairs.

The Diet Solution Review - Is This Another Diet Program Scam?

With so many weight and fat loss programs being sold everywhere, how do you know which is the right one for you? Quite frankly, most diet programs that I have tried are completely useless and are only created to make money for the commercial companies. The Diet Solution is a new program that promises to help you achieve your weight loss goals, but I was really skeptical about it when I first saw it.

1. Who Is Isabel De Los Rios? Can You Listen To This Person?

After digging further for more information about the creator of this program, I have found out that Isabel De Los Rios is a certified exercise and nutrition specialist with 10 years of experience in helping clients get rid of obesity problems and reach their desired weight levels. She has had to deal with obesity problems herself in the past, but she has overcome it and has now created the Diet Solution program based on her 15 years of research and methods.

2. What Is The Diet Solution Like?

This program is a step-by-step system that uses the concepts that Isabel has compiled in her years of studies. You will not find a whole list of theories about the human body and nutrition inside this guide. What you will find is an action plan that I have personally applied consistently over weeks to finally shed off the ugly fats on my body.

3. My Experience and Thoughts After Using The Diet Solution

I am glad that this program is not some sort of crash diet that has always failed whenever I used them. Instead, it teaches you a way of eating and living your life that will gradually but permanently help you lose the unwanted fats on your body. There is nothing extreme or difficult about the methods inside The Diet Solution. All that is required is persistence in applying the steps, and you should expect to see results within a few weeks after using it.

FBF Diet Review

The FBF Diet (a.k.a Fat Burning Furnace) is a fat loss and fitness program created by Rob Poulos.

Rob Poulos used to be overweight himself and only through his own research and effort did he and his wife managed to lose dozens of pounds between them and lead a healthier life.

Rob Poulos then took his own experiences, research, and knowledge and turned them into the FBF Diet which has since been used by thousands of people worldwide who were motivated to change their own bodies after reading or hearing about how Rob and his wife managed to change their lives and lose fat.

The Fat Burning Furnace diet plan is a fitness and nutrition program whose main purpose is to better utilize the body's internal fat burning abilities. You see, our body burns fat every day, every minute, really.

However, this fat burning can be fast or it can be slow. This determines how easy it is to lose fat or how hard. The FBF Diet is all about helping the body burn more calories and fat faster.

This is done in 3 ways:

1. Incorporate the right workouts into your physical routine. These include a variety of strength exercises and intensive interval cardio training to help you burn more fat and boost your metabolism, your internal calorie shedding mechanism.

2. Following a healthy eating plan aimed at making you burn more fat and not gain any. This section is more general as you do have a lot of freedom making up your eating plan. However, you will likely need to make some changes in your eating routine to get real and lasting results.

The Fat Burning Furnace diet has many positive testimonials from men and women worldwide. It does require you to make an effort to succeed in changing your body and fitness, but I believe that it can work for you.

Refined in the Furnace of Affliction by John McCulloch

Finding Strength through the Fire of Affliction

LTJG John McCulloch awoke as a Filipino orderly urgently called his name, "Mister McCulloch, wake up...you have an urgent message at the Message Center."

John's emotions ran the gambit as he excitedly read the telegram, "You are the father of a baby boy..." fear gripped him as he continued "...however, there is something wrong and he is not expected to live. Please come home immediately."

"Refined in the Furnace of Affliction" is written to encourage readers who are going through trials to find their strength in God. This is John McCulloch's story, an autobiographical memoir demonstrating how devastating and heartbreaking circumstances can become opportunities for building a stronger character and a deeper faith.

Baby Johnny was the victim of a head injury at birth which resulted in hydrocephalus. Dr. John Adams, neurosurgeon, of the University of the California Medical School in San Francisco, performed surgery to alleviate the pressure causing the trouble. After two more surgeries, over the next few months, the Hydrocephalus crisis was successfully resolved. However, the pressure had damaged Johnny's optic nerve. He was legally blind before his second birthday.

I personally was drawn into John's story because of parallels in my own life. I served in the U. S. Navy in the mid fifties, was married in 1956 and raised a family of four children over the same period as John and Sylvia were having these same experiences. Their family photo album was a walk down memory lane for me and reinforced my sense of personal interaction with the McCulloch family through John's writing.

John talks about his spiritual journey as it deepened during the hassles and difficulties during Johnny's early schooling. I experienced a father's pride as John told about Johnny's success in high school. Johnny became a member of the National Honor Society and was privileged to be the senior class speaker at his graduation.

Siblings, Bruce and Beverly, share their own stories. They tell of how their emotional and spiritual development were impacted by Johnny's blindness

Another blow came to the family when Johnny, at age 28, was struck by a vehicle and thrown 60 feet. The accident resulted in a traumatic brain injury. At the time the book was written Johnny was fifty years old and has been living in nursing care facilities since his accident.

In early March of 2000, it was discovered that Sylvia had ALS. Church and family members ministered to John and Sylvia with their prayer, comfort, and other support. During the month of April the following spring Sylvia went to be with her Lord.

This is not a book about blindness, hydrocephalus, or Lou Gehrig's disease but is the story of a family responding to these afflictions with positive results.

McCulloch writes with fervor and candidness. He communicates a love for his family, and gives testimony of the positive message of a living Christ who sustains and strengthens people of faith in their every need.

"Refined in the Furnace of Affliction" is the story of how John McCulloch and his family met and faced personal hardships and difficulties. It is a positive story of faith, perseverance, and testing.

Outskirts Press, 978-1432737856

As Reviewed for Midwest Book Review

Educational Information About 92% Furnaces - Come Read The Basics Of How They Are Installed

First let us say we have been installing furnaces since 1989 with next to NO repair problems. This includes the 92% versions. We ran a new house HVAC business for 10 years installing not only the furnace, air conditioner or heat pump but all the ductwork, wiring, in other words a complete turn key installation. We did this on between 150 - 200 new homes a year for this 10 year period.

To give you all some insight to why some companies try to discourage you from installing 92% furnaces please read on. Installing these furnaces MUST be done correctly or they WILL NOT work right. Companies who hire inexperienced installers and service people already know they will have problems with the installation. If your basement ceiling is finished with sheet rock it may be difficult to run the P.V.C. flue pipe or pipes to the outside wall of the building. These pipes USUALLY have to run horizontally AND have to have a 1/4" pitch back towards the furnace or air handler. If you don't have this pitch you will get at the LEAST erratic operation of the burners on the furnace or cycling of the air handler.

The size of the flue pipes ( diameter ) runs between 2" and 3". The size of the furnace and the length of the runs of pipe as well as the number of elbows will dictate which diameter of pipe is needed. Here again, if the installer AND the estimator doesn't understand this, you can count on problems! In other words if 3" pipe will be needed SOMEONE has to be sure there is enough clearance to allow for installation AND the 1/4" pitch.

Gas Furnace Motor Installation - Come See Step By Step Guidelines For Installing A Motor

We will be discussing changing a direct drive blower motor and capacitor on a traditional up flow gas furnace as would be found in a basement of a home as these types of furnaces are by far the most common. Changing motors in horizontal units in an attic or a crawl space are very similar but will vary with the equipment. If you are not comfortable with working on 120 volt equipment please consult a professional Heating and Air Conditioning company to do this work.

Before we begin, we go shut off the main 120 volt power to the furnace. This may be able to be accomplished by turning off the switch at the furnace where the main power comes into the furnace. Sometimes this switch is mounted on the floor joists above the furnace, or on the side of the furnace itself. In the interest of safety, we also shut the breaker off at the main house panel. We use of a volt meter to be sure the power is really off.

The next step is to remove the screws or bolts that hold the blower assembly up inside the furnace. Some blowers are on a sliding track while others are simply held in by these bolts or screws so it is a good idea to use a small 2"x4" piece of lumber to lower the blower out of the furnace as the holding screws are removed. If there is a control board attached to the blower assembly all wires should be labeled so that if any wire is knocked off it can be re installed on the correct terminals that it came from. Hopefully the blower assembly will come down with all the wires in place. If there is a control board mounted on the blower we will have to remove it with the wires all attached and tie it up out of harms way. The same is true of any other component mounted on the assembly.

Once all this is done we should be able to remove the wires from the motor and capacitor, but first the capacitor wires must be shorted out with an insulated screwdriver by touching the screwdriver to both terminals of the capacitor at the same time. Not doing this will result in us getting a nasty shock if we touch those terminals with bare hands! Now we remove all the motor wires from where they are attached to the furnace control board or fan center (we have labeled all these wires before this).

Once the blower assembly is on the floor, we turn it on it's side and remove the screws or bolts that hold the mounting bracket to the assembly. We then turn the blower over again and remove the set screw or bolt that holds the motor shaft onto the wheel at the hub. With this done, we should be able to turn the assembly on it's side and the motor should drop out of the assembly. We say "should" because 7 out of 10 times it will, the other 3 times we will have to gently tap on the end of the shaft with a brass drift and hammer to drive it out of the wheel. Often we will have to use WD40 on the shaft first and sometimes may need to use sand cloth on the shaft if there is any rust present. Beating on the shaft with a hammer will ruin the shaft and it will not come out of the wheel! A new wheel will be needed if this happens.

With the motor out we can now remove the mounting bracket and attach it to the new motor. Some motors have the bracket welded to the motor from the manufacturer so they will not require this step. Now everything is reversed for the re installation of the motor. We must be sure the wheel spins freely in the assembly without hitting anywhere before we raise it back with the 2"x4" lumber into the furnace. Once it is bolted back in place we reach in to the wheel area and spin it once again to be sure it is running free.

All that is left is to re install the wires (including the green ground wire that goes to a metal unpainted part of the blower), on the control board or fan center and mount the new capacitor or re use the old capacitor if it is the correct one for the new motor. We now go turn on any power source switches and or breakers that we previously had shut off. Turn the thermostat up to call for heating and our furnace should be running at this point. Be sure the rotation of the motor is actually blowing air through the registers, if not we may have to reverse the rotation wires on the motor. We will now check the amp draw of the motor with an amp meter and compare it to the amp rating that is on the motor or documentation that came with the motor to be sure the motor is operating as it should be. This amp draw check must be done with the blower door on however.