Dave Murray says it is going to be the coldest December in a decade!  Your heating bill will probably rise no matter what but if you have a brick home that cost could be substantially less. Recent studies indicate that masonry homes lower heating costs by up to 8 percent when compared to vinyl.  This is because of masonry’s "thermal mass", which is a fancy way if saying it holds heat longer.

Here are some additional tips for keeping warm this winter without high heating bills.

• Wash your clothes in cold water
• Close your fireplace draft when not in use
• "Layer" your home with thick curtains and door draft blockers
• Invest in a programmable thermostat (about $25-$50) 
• Run ceiling fans on reverse at the lowest setting to circulate warm air

This month’s issue of Masonry Magazine features an article on the growth  of Masonry Fireplaces.  Here are some of the highlights:

• * Suppliers and contractors  on the West Coast are seeing much larger than the standard three foot width, sometimes as wide as 10 feet. 
• * More efficient fireplaces are also on the rise as quick and easy to install chimney caps and heat circulators are becoming more requested. 
• * Outdoor fireplaces are more common, but still in high demand. Even less expensive homes can have a patio turned into an outdoor living space.
• * Meticulously detailed mantles are increasingly requested, especially in "jewel box" homes.

For the full story, click here:  Hot Trends in Fireplaces