Despite what you might think, portable heaters are a very efficient way to heat your home. I’m Lou Manfredini, Ace’s “Helpful Hardware Man” and as we all know, every house has one room that is always colder than the rest. So instead of cranking up the heat in the entire house, consider plugging in a portable heater only where you need it.
Your most efficient electric heaters are those with metal coils. These models can be small and portable, but they certainly get the job done. You can also choose electric oil filled radiators, which are another great option. The electricity heats the oil in machine and once it reaches a certain temperature, the electricity turns off, but the oil stays hot.
The biggest concern with portable heaters, however, is that you must turn them off when you are done using them or leaving the room they are in. Make sure you keep them at least 3 feet from any combustibles and never plug them into an extension cord. I also recommend installing a smoke and CO2 detector in any room that has a portable heater. Another thing to look for when choosing a portable heater is anti-tip technology, which will cut off the heat, should the unit start to tip over.
A big no-no for portable heaters are kerosene heaters. Any heater with an open flame should never be used indoors.
There is nothing quite as romantic as an evening spent in front of a wood-burning fireplace, but boy do I hate the maintenance that goes with it. I’m Lou Manfredini, Ace’s “Helpful Hardware Man” and I’m here to talk to you about another way to use your fireplace, with gas logs.
The upkeep of wood-burning fireplaces is intense and can dissuade you from using your fireplace all together. Plus, you run the risk of encountering issues with drafting which can make your whole house smoky. With gas logs, there is none of this to worry about.
Gas logs can be installed very quickly and look quite realistic. And the upkeep is so much simpler! No more cleaning out the debris after every fire or lugging in chopped wood on cold days. Now, you’ll still have to have your chimney cleaned every 3-4 years, but that’s much less than the annual cleaning that I recommend for wood-burning fireplaces. You also might have to look at having a gas line moved, which would increase your cost to install. But in my opinion, it is absolutely worth it. Another bonus, gas logs turn on with the flick of a switch, or in some models, the click of a remote control. Talk about instant romance!
As many readers are aware, our Guest Author Program kicked off in late 2008, with the hope that we could dig up a few like minded people, to help everyone get just a bit more experience, on their own DIY Projects. We are thrilled to announce the participation of a very well known Do it Yourself Expert, Lou Manfredini, the Ace Helpful Hardware Man!
Who is Lou Manfredini?
After more than 10 successful years in construction, Manfredini had gained a tremendous amount of knowledge on homes that he began to consider ways to more broadly share his expertise with others. He believed that a house "was more like a living entity than an inanimate collection of lumber, wiring and plumbing." By showing people how various systems and components in a house rely on each other and instilling a greater understanding of a house as a "whole," Manfredini thought everyone could have greater success in their home improvement and do-it-yourself (DIY) projects.
Lou will be providing several tips and resources for readers, based off the topics that are currently on the minds of everyone! To see a sample of the quality advice from Lou, visit the Helpful Hardware Man Projects page.
Armed with his expertise and enthusiasm, Manfredini began his media career when WGN Radio in Chicago launched his idea for a home improvement call-in radio show. The show quickly caught on: today, The Mr. Fix-It Show is the number one Saturday morning radio program in Chicago.
Not long thereafter, Manfredini branched into television and print media. Currently, he is the official home improvement expert for NBC's Today Show and a frequent guest on numerous network television stations across the United States as well as programming for CNN, HGTV, Discovery, and the History Channel. Most recently, Manfredini is the host of his own television show, HouseSmarts, which airs on the NBC affiliate in Chicago.
Reaching millions of DIYers every month with his friendly persona and down-to-earth project advice, Manfredini also has authored these successful DIY books: Lou Manfredini's Bath Smarts (2004), Kitchen Smarts (2004), Room Smarts (2004) and House Smarts (2002); Mr. Fix-It Introduces You to Your Home (2002); and Mr. Fix-It: 101 Answers to the Most Commonly Asked Questions About Repairing Your Home (2000). These books have been featured in national magazines such as People and Newsweek, as well as major-market newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune.
Manfredini is a nationally recognized DIY expert, sought after both for his expertise and his energetic, entertaining style. In an extension of his ongoing effort to help people maximize the value and enjoyment of their homes, he is also Ace Hardware's "Helpful Hardware Man" and editorial media spokesperson. Along with his wife and four children, Manfredini lives in Chicago, where they also own and operate a neighborhood Ace Hardware store.
