A GUIDE TO ZONE HEATING
Spending time watching a movie or reading a book in the family room on a chilly evening can be even more enjoyable when the room is toasty warm. Now, its easier than ever before to obtain that kind of heat without turning up the thermostat on the furnace and heating the whole house unnecessarily. Simply install a hearth product as a zone heater and generate ambiance and penetrating heat while controlling home heating costs.
ZONE HEATING IS ROOM HEAT
While some hearth products have the capability of heating an entire house, most are designed to heat a room or a cluster of rooms, such as the living room, kitchen and family room. Using a hearth product as a zone heater is all about focusing heat where people spend the most time. After all, there is no point to heating bedrooms, or even a laundry room, to 68 degrees when not in use.
SAVE MONEY ON HOME HEAT
By turning down the thermostat on a central furnace and using a hearth product as a supplemental heat source, its easy to save money on home heating bills. This savings is a result of a reduction in the amount of fuel needed to heat a home. Zone heating is often most beneficial in homes with older central furnaces that tend to lose heat through inefficient operation and leaky duct-work.
MANY OPTIONS FOR ZONE HEATERS
There are many hearth products applicable for zone heating, including fireplaces, stoves, fireplace inserts and masonry heaters. Within these types, there are hearth products that burn firewood, natural gas, propane, pellets, oil, coal, corn and manufactured firelogs. The key to selecting the correct hearth product is determining the zones of the house to heat, the level of desired heat, available fuels, intended use patterns, and the convenience factor, as well as the style, design and layout of the home where the hearth product will be installed. Stuart's design team is knowledgeable about zone heating. They can arrange for the safe and reliable installation of a fireplace, stove, fireplace insert or masonry heater by a certified professional installer.
ZONE HEATING DECISIONS
Much like any other appliance, it is important to spend the time to choose the hearth product that fits your zone heating needs. Before making your final decision, visit a specialty retailer for experienced advice. A specialty retailer is knowledgeable about zone heating. He or she can arrange for the safe and reliable installation of a fireplace, stove, fireplace insert or masonry heater by a certified professional installer.
Stuart's design team will ask the following questions to guide you in the process of choosing a hearth product as a zone heater: What zone of the house do you wish to heat?
How many square feet are in this zone?
What type of central heat do you have?
What fuels are readily available in your area?
Do you have an existing wood burning fireplace?
What is the age and construction of your house?
What is your design style?
Is there available space to install a freestanding stove?
Information provided by HPBA
