Cuddle up to that Heater

It’s that time of year when you just want to stay inside and cuddle up next to that warm heater. Sure the central heat is on but sometimes that’s not enough. Everything outside is white and frosty, and on some days, unless you huddle by the heater vent, it seems impossible to get warm. That’s when you are glad you have that wall-mount heater, portable office heater, or perhaps even a patio heater. Home heating has never had so many safe, energy-efficient heating options, and it’s nice to have a wide selection to customize your home heating sources.

At the office you probably don't have the ability to turn the heat up. (Come on, we all know how tight the boss is.) Add to your comfort by taking a portable electric panel heater to use as your office heater. It will make the day much more bearable during these cold months.

As for home heating, well, home improvement has so many heating options now that it’s almost difficult to decide which way is best to stay warm. But you can't go wrong with a stylish, energy-efficient wall-mount heater. Wall-mount heaters are fairly easy to install and can make the biggest difference in the comfort of some areas of your home that it would pay for itself just in comfort. ECO-heaters and Climastar heaters, bathroom heaters/towel warmers can simply be hung on the wall and plugged in. Install a wall-mount heater in your office where you spend much of your time and enjoy a warm work environment. You may end up looking for excuses to spend more time at the office . . . okay, maybe that's a stretch, but at least you'll be comfortable while you work.

Heating mats for pets are also available, so why not spoil your best friend as well? I can only imagine how comfortable your dog will be when he curls up on that heated mat. The electric heated mats are extremely durable and weatherproof, and can be placed under the blanket or carpet in a dog house to provide warmth for your beloved four-legged buddy. Mmm, in my next life . . .

Hang A Heater, Watch Your Wallet Grow

For those of you reading who have recently relocated your family to a dark cave in the mountains or joined a cult and are currently still in the “brainwashing” orientation phase, you may not know that we are facing an economic crisis. If your cave has the Internet, you may now be accessing this page and others like it and finding out about the   thousands of jobs at risk across the country, that stocks have plummeted, and that the American people are struggling to find ways to stretch their dollar.

Many of us are spending more time in our homes and are finding ways to make do or do without. This is no time to scrimp on home heating. Despite smaller wallets, keeping food on our tables and heat in our homes during the cold winter months is something we are still willing to spend money on. However, finding ways to save money and be efficient in our home heating is of the utmost importance to us.

In some homes there are rooms and spaces that seem to always be colder or have a constant draft, making efficient home heating more of a challenge. A simple and affordable home improvement that remedies this problem is the purchase of a wall-mount heater. Replacing old furnaces or out-of-date heating systems may be cost prohibitive right now, yet a wall-mount heater is a low cost alternative solution to warming problem areas.

Homeowners may also find savings simply by heating only the rooms in use or the rooms used most frequently. Installing a wall-mount heater may be the only home improvement you can afford this year but will go a long way in maintaining proper home heating without breaking the bank.

Does My Piggy Bank Look Fat to You?

Anyone here want to save money on their home heating bill? Yep, I thought so. We are all feeling the squeeze and searching for solutions to save money anywhere we can. May I offer a few tidbits of sage advice that may save you money on your monthly home heating bill?

• Check each room in your home for air leaks. Windows or doors with a draft may be the culprit when losing any amount of warm. Seal any leaks found with weather stripping or caulk. If the rooms are still cold, consider installing an inexpensive wall-mount heater.

• Consider turning down your central heating system and using smaller wall-mount heaters or space heaters that cost less to operate in rooms your find yourselves most often.

• Close the heating vents in rooms or areas you rarely use.

• Inspect your chimney and make sure the flue is closed when not in use. Cold air can seep in or warm air escape when this is open.

• Let the sun shine! Natural light can be a truly affordable (try free) home improvement. On sunny days, open your blinds and curtains and let earth’s natural heater do the work for you.

• A programmable thermostat is another way to achieve optimal energy saving heat. Set the temperature lower at night while you sleep under those thick, warm blankets and program it to warm up as you rise in the morning. This will significantly impact your home heating system.

• Treat yourself to a simple luxury that won’t break the bank. You want to be frugal not feel like a financial reject. Consider a towel warmer and bathroom heater, which offers an affordable and efficient way to step from a warm shower to an equally warm towel. This also saves on dryer time, thereby cutting down on further energy uses that can add up on your monthly bills.