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Free Radiant HeatSusan Penney For some people, a fireplace might as well be a video of flaming logs. Their primary interest is the welcoming ambiance a fireplace’s blaze presents. If, however, you expect your fireplace to provide heat in exchange for your log-carrying, fire-building efforts, or in the case of gas logs, in exchange for your gas bill, it’s time to maximize your fireplace’s heat output. There are various contraptions designed to return more of a wood or gas fireplace’s heat into the room and stanch the flow of that precious heat from escaping up the chimney. Many of them involve fans and vents and considerable expense. But one of the most time-honored, hassle-free, and least expensive methods of increasing a fire’s heat output is making a comeback: the fireback. A fireback is a sheet of metal, sized in proportion to the fireplace, that’s placed against your back fireplace wall. Firebacks can be set on the hearth’s floor and just leaned against the back fireplace wall, but often they are secured by placing them in supporting braces which keep the fireback from sliding. Firebacks come in two main styles: the cast iron fireback and the stainless steel fireback. The traditional cast iron fireback, popular in earlier times and making a revival now, is a sheet of heavy, black, cast iron. Often they are cast with a design, such as a fleur de lis or eagle, to add a decorative touch to this functional fireplace accessory. The cast iron firebacks work on the same principle as heating radiators. The metal is heated by hot water in the case of radiators and by the fire in the case of firebacks, and then that heat is radiated into the room. Although attractive and functional, the cast-iron firebacks are too heavy for many people to manage easily. Their weight also adds to their shipping costs, and therefore to their total price. A more modern fireback design, one that is growing in popularity, is made of a sheet of very gently curved, tempered stainless steel. These stainless steel firebacks warm your room in two ways. First, like the cast iron firebacks, they radiate the heat of the fire forward into the room. But they also reflect the heat, as well as the light, of the fire into the room. Stainless steel firebacks weigh only one-sixth as much as a similarly sized cast iron fireback, so they are easier to manage and less costly to ship. But their main appeal may be their price: They cost only a fraction as much as their cast iron cousins. Whereas a cast iron fireback, depending on size, can cost $250 to $700, the stainless steel versions usually go for $50 to $150. Both cast iron and stainless steel firebacks dramatically increase the room-warming capacity of your wood or gas fireplace fire. The addition of this simple fireplace accessory to your hearth can mean warmer toes and lower heating bills.
| RELATED ARTICLES How to Modify Your Landscaping to Protect Your House from Burglars Believe it or not, landscaping can be an important part of a good home security plan. A burglar who is "casing the joint" from the street will choose the house with tall shrubs and trees that provide hiding places. Homes with little or no outdoor lighting are preferred targets as well. The Bathroom…The Forgotten Area Of Your Home The bathroom in your home is the one room that has undergone a complete transformation in the past several years. A transformation that is as far as how it is defined. Kitchens are to cook and eat in, living rooms are still for living and entertaining in and the garage still holds vehicles and junk not to mention lot’s of tools. But the bathroom has evolved so far beyond its traditional functions that to truly reflect its current status in many homes, "spa room" or the "retreat" might be more appropriate names for it. Set Out a Feast for your Feathered Friends February is “Feed the Birds” month in much of North America. And what great timing! If you’re going through a cold winter, you can help the wintering birds that are going through it with you. If you live further south, you’ll have not only year-round feathered friends to feed, but also an influx of migrating visitors from colder climates. Home Decor Tips Home décor tips can bedroom from a messy, dirty cave where you hide your filth into a peaceful oasis in which you seek solace from the everyday craziness that is our lives. In order to create a space that makes you want to relax and enjoy your surroundings, follow these simple steps. Youll be at peace in no time flat! Life’s a Beach – A Shore Theme in Your Outdoor Space Twentieth century American architect Phillip Johnson once said, "I hate vacations. If you can build buildings, why sit on the beach" Mr. Johnson evidently didnt how to relax, but as another summer is slipping away, you can. Did you visit the beach this year Do you wish you had Either way, you can create a seaside feel in your outdoor space and enjoy memories of the shore at home! Here are some quick tips. How To Give Your Home More Space Have you been wondering how to free up space in your homeDo you live in a dorm or an efficiency where every inch ofspace counts New-age Paint Thickening & Rheological Additives : Solvitex & Solvizen For Paint Manufacturers worldwide, there has come a radical new development in the legion of Thickening Agents & Colloidal stabilizer for Aqueous Latex Paints. So far most of the companies producing aqueous Paint emulsions, the most preferred thickening agent was Hydroxy ethyl cellulose HEC. The HEC based thixotropic additives is produced by some of the renowned multi-national companies such as Hercules, Akzo Nobel & Dow. How To Make Money With Garage Sales Drive through almost any neighborhood in any city or town on a weekend, and youre sure to see garage sales scattered throughout. 10 Quick Ways to Change Your Fire-less Fireplace from a Black Hole to a Worthy Focal Point Everyone loves a fireplace aglow with a roaring fire or flickering embers. But your fireplace need not be a gaping empty hole--like a picture frame without a picture—-those times you choose not to have a fire. 10 Home Decorating Ideas To Quickly Update Any Room Not all home decorating ideas require a heavy investment of time and money. If youre looking for a few affordable home interior decorating ideas to freshen up a room over a weekend, try these ten: Home Sweet Home All of us live in houses but how many of us know how to make it a real ‘HOME’. Bare Root Roses The following article was written by David G. Hallstrom for and originally published by National Realtors Directory.com. Re-Define What "Clean" Means for You and Your Home Theres an old saying - A person doesnt buy a drill because they want a drill. They buy the drill because they want a hole. The same is true for vacuum cleaners. A person only buys a vacuum cleaner because they want their home to be clean. They care about getting rid of dirt and airborne irritants - even if theyre too small to be seen. The measure of a vacuum cleaner is the quality of "clean" it delivers. 5-Minute Fabric Decorating Tips for Unlit Fireplace Candelabra Who doesn’t appreciate flickering flames in a fireplace For those who don’t have the inclination or time for burning firewood in their fireplace, fireplace candelabra are the obvious answer. They provide that special glow without the hassle or, in warm weather, the heat. But how do you keep those fireplace candelabra worthy of the visual focal point of your home even for those times when you haven’t lit the candles What does it take to be an Interior Designer When trying to decide if Interior Design is right for you, it helps to know what that really means. Interior Design is not simply the profession that “makes rooms and places pretty”; it takes a little bit more than that. You need to know how to do some of the technical aspects of design also. Some of these technical things include: Satellite TV Installation: DIY or get the Pros One of the question that always arise when you are setting up your satellite TV system: to get installation service by professional or to install by own How To Choose The Right Television For You Watching television has progressed from a luxury that only few had in their homes in the middle of the last century to the point where most consumers not only have one television, but often they may have several. And television programming has expanded greatly from just the three big networks to a whole host of other channels as well. Make Your Hardwood Floors Shine You have just installed hardwood flooring in your home. Now what How do you keep your hardwood floors clean and shiny Read the following Q&A in which two hardwood floor owners are asking just that. Brighten Your Path By Installing Decorative Landscape Lighting Landscape lighting can add a beautiful quality to any home. There are many choices available to someone who is considering it. Landscape lighting, and any outdoor lighting, can help protect a home as well as keep people from stumbling in the yard. Mainly, people purchase landscape lighting to enhance the appearance of their yard or landscaping. Five Tips For Garden Sanctuaries The design of your garden has an amazing affect on your family’s health and well-being. Here is how you can create harmony in your garden—which is considered a living entity—and bring peace and happiness within your home. |
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