Category: Interior Design

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How Can You Save Money with A Gas Fireplace Insert?

gas fireplace inserts Denver

Possessing a classic fireplace in your home is a wonderful thing – nothing is more atmospheric, nothing confers your room more inviting coziness and comfort than a large, masonry fireplace. However, operating a classic fireplace is more than expensive, that is why many people, including homeowners who have or who do not have masonry fireplaces in their home, opt for fireplace inserts.

A fireplace insert is practically a box made from a fireproof material and insulation and that comes in varieties that can run on a variety of energy sources, depending on the fuel type it has been designed for. The most common type of units used today are gas fireplace inserts – Denver homeowners consider these inserts to be the best option for a number of reasons, one of them being the energy efficiency that translates into money savings. Here is how you can save money with your gas fireplace insert.

The Process of Burning Gas

Gas burning fireplace inserts are very efficient and able to transform around 80% of the energy used into heating your room. The heat delivered by fireplaces can be measured in the several different standard units, one of the most common units of measurement being BTUs (British Thermal Units). Average gas-burning fireplace inserts deliver 25,000-40,000 BTUs – calculating with 20 GTUs needed for heating 1 square foot, an insert able to deliver average capacity is able to efficiently heat 1,250-2,000 square feet of space, quite a lot and certainly more than a traditional log-burning fireplace would be able to put out.

When you buy your gas insert, talk to local gas fireplace inserts Denver retailers and obtain information about the unit’s energy needs. If you check the figures and do multiply the unit’s consumption figures by the price of gas in your area, you will see that your insert is an excellent partner in your energy saving efforts.

Durability

Another feature that makes the fireplaces that run on gas so great for your budget is the fact that they are very durable and long lived. A good, sturdy insert is composed of very few components that could sustain damage, so you will be able to enjoy the cozy warmth delivered by your fireplace for a long, long time. The unit’s durability and resilience also means that you will probably not need to spend too much money on getting your unit repaired for the entire lifespan of the appliance.

Low Maintenance

The fact that your gas fireplace insert is made up from very few components that could go wrong also means that the appliance will require very little maintenance. One of the components that we all need some of your attention occasionally is the set of gas nozzles that may become clogged with the impurities that inevitably make their way into the appliance. The other thing that you need to pay attention to is the gas sensor that signals if something is wrong with the appliance and gas is leaking. These sensors are usually battery-operated, which means that the battery needs to be checked regularly and replaced if necessary. To make sure that everything is in perfect order with your gas insert it is a good idea to call a local specialist for checking the appliance each year before you start using it, but these services are very affordable and gas inserts being such resilient appliances, your specialist isn’t likely to find any fault to fix.

 

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Is It Worth the Money to Do A Bathroom Remodel?

bathroom remodel in Denver

If you are considering a bathroom remodel, you are probably wondering whether the improvements that you are planning to do are worth it, indeed. There are two scenarios in which a bathroom remodel is surely worth the investment: if you are planning to stay in your home for at least five more years and if you are planning to sell it soon. However, either of the two scenarios require a different approach – here are some tips for you.

Remodeling for Long-Term Comfort

If the goal of the renovation is to enhance your household’s long-term comfort, you should perform a detailed analysis of your finances and allocate the largest possible amount of money that you can afford – after all, you will be investing into improving the quality of life in your home.

The bathroom is the room that can absorb any amount of money, but it is also the space that can be efficiently amended if you are on a budget, too. Start the process with a design phase – create a roadmap for the bathroom remodel Denver project and include every component in the bathroom that needs to be replaced or repaired, including the plumbing, the electric wiring, the water lines, the flooring and the walls, the fixtures and the furniture.

If you want to reduce the costs, try to figure out whether there are project phases that you can handle safely on your own and look for alternatives to expensive, high-end fixtures and furniture, such as second-hand items or items made from affordable materials.

When it comes to the lighting, look at the offers in stores and online, but don’t forget yard sales and vintage shops either – you can find spectacular items that are in great condition and can be turned into a classy and stylish addition with some sandpaper and paint.

Remodeling for Resale

If the purpose of the remodeling is to make your home more attractive for potential buyers and to add resale value, it is a good idea to consider the amendments that bring the highest return on investment. Get the entire home inspected and address the issues identified during the inspection – start with solving the structural issues and move on to cosmetic aspects only afterwards. Try to figure out whether your bathtub can be refreshed or you need to replace it and consider replacing components that attract the eye, such as the tiles on the wall.

If your bathroom furniture is in good shape, but it looks a little worn, consider replacing only the cabinet doors, or, even better, try to refresh them using some sandpaper, a fresh coat of pain or a roll of wallpaper and some classy knobs. Cabinet remodeling can take a while, but it can be done without any special tools or previous experience and it is great fun as well. If you have easy-to-remove vinyl or linoleum flooring, you can choose to replace it yourself (the process is quick and easy and linoleum or vinyl sheets are inexpensive and available in an incredibly wide range of designs), but if you have tiles or hardwood on your floor, it is a good idea to call a Denver bathroom remodel professional to replace it.