How To Build A Solar Air Heater

June 06, 2010  //  Posted by: qwcdirect  //  Category: Eco Homes, Home Care, Home Improvements

Solar air heaters are simply made effects that are used as alternative interior heating sources. Such a device can be assembled from soft drink containers made of a light metal which is a good conductor of heat. The implement can then be placed on a higher plane like on the roof of a house to insulate the sun’s rays. In a small room they can be very effective in decreasing the level on the electricity meter having the capacity to build up room temperature by several degrees.

A box is built in which about five aluminum containers are inserted. Plastering of the box is then done to harness the hot air inside. On top of the structure a transparent glass is fixed to allow the ingress of sun rays inside the vacuumed box. A pipe is also directed to the bottom of the box to draw in the cold air while obstructing the heat coming from the top that is directed to the garage for heating.

Make A Window Box

April 26, 2010  //  Posted by: qwcdirect  //  Category: Eco Homes, Home Care, Home Improvements, Windows & Doors

Starting a miniature garden using a window box is one way to decorate your home as well as grow vegetables right from your window. It’s a cheap and easy way of decorating your home as well as saving on space. The window box not only brings beauty and life to the interior of the house but also to the exterior as most window boxes are visible outside.

Best wood to use for making the window box is cedar, which is strong and very resistant to rotting. First join two boards at a right angle either by using nails or screws, and then tighten it by adding wood glue to make it stable. Attach a board at the bottom of the two joined timber and secure it by using screws and wood glue. The final part of this is to join the rest of the timber so as to make a rectangle that has a board at the bottom.

Tips For Building A Planter Box

April 17, 2010  //  Posted by: qwcdirect  //  Category: DIY, Eco Homes, Garden & Landscape, Home Improvements

The planting season is quite near and most home owners don’t like planting vegetables in their back yards thus they opt to use the planter box to grow all their vegetables as it is more convenient. Well building the planter box is quite easy for those who have never tried to do so.

Have a planter box in your home is convenient as it does not take up a lot of space and also they are neat and cost effective. In order for you to reach one corner of the box without stepping into it, it should be 4 feet across and also rectangular. The length of the box should be at least 8 feet and 4 feet wide. Landscaping timber is best for this job. To keep the walls from toppling over, hammer stakes in the ground alongside the walls. Fill the box with soil and you are ready to plant.

Which Type of Wood Burning Stove to Choose

February 22, 2010  //  Posted by: admin  //  Category: Eco Homes, Energy, Gadgets for home, Home Care

nullThe most important thing to consider when choosing a wood burning stove is the BTU rating. This is a standard measure of the output to which a good stove should be able to achieve.

It is not good to purchase a stove that is very powerful. If the stove is much oversized, chances of a fire hazard occurring are very high. Chimney fires may easily occur in such stoves due to build-up of creosote.

You may choose a wood stove that functions as a catalytic combustor. Alternatively, you can go for non-catalytic combustors. You don’t have to keep cleaning a catalytic combustor every now and then. This makes it a good choice for a wood burning stove. A stove with a cast iron body is the best. In the case of a catalytic combustor, you need to ensure that direct frame does not come into contact with the cast iron.

Winter Saving Tips for Maximizing Heating Efficiency

February 14, 2010  //  Posted by: admin  //  Category: DIY, Eco Homes, Energy, Home Care, Home Improvements

nullDue to the extremities of the cold climate that are experienced during winter, it is always advisable that as much energy as possible is conserved. This can be done by using the mode of heating that exudes the most heat energy and consumes the least energy producing resource. It is advisable that one should close all the air inlets in the house since every leak brings in the cold air into the house.

The heating ducts should be inspected for leaks and the chimney dumper should be blocked any time that the fire is not burning. This is because a leak in the heating duct loses a considerable amount of heat that could be used in the house. The chimney dumper works like an air inlet and it brings in the cold air. Any leaks say, at the windows and the doors should be sealed too to avoid leaving any inlets of the cold air.

Invest In an Energy-Saving Fireplace

January 04, 2010  //  Posted by: admin  //  Category: Eco Homes, Fireplaces

nullA fireplace is an ideal feature in any home and it’s always advisable for the home owners to invest in the fireplaces. The fire places make use of gas, firewood or even electricity. Energy saving fireplaces has gained massive popularity in the recent past because they are easy to install and they are also cheaper. A good fireplace is vent less thus allowing the fire to burn more giving more heat.

The levels of carbon monoxide are also considerably reduced. The fireplace can be made more energy saving by installing a sealing chimney damper instead of a fireplace throat damper which is less efficient as it allows warm air to escape; cast iron, which has been placed at the back of the fireworks, puts the fire back on when it goes off. Installing a heater system as well as glass doors on the fireplace will lock the fire place when it is not being used.