When your crew is working during the cold parts of the year, having a reliable construction heater to meet your needs is a real blessing. But when you work hard, you need a heater that will work as hard as you will without dying on you or creating a dangerous work environment. In this post, we'll review three popular Dewalt construction heaters, compare which situations they'll do best in and take a good look at what you can expect from them. These three heaters are all electric, which means no nasty fumes from a propane or kerosene heater as well as a lower fire risk because there are no open flames involved.

DXH165

At 13.5 amps, the Dewalt DXH165 is a great little forced air electric heater. áIf you're working in a small space or just need to bring the temperature up a few degrees, this 14 pound pint-sized powerhouse will get the job done reliably. It's been designed and is certified by Dewalt to provide jobsite heat without constant supervision.áThe heater itself is designed with heavy duty construction, extra coil support and recessed controls to prevent damage from those work site "oops" that always take place.

The DHX165 features an adjustable thermostat with a range from 25║F to 95║F.áIt has a backlit power switch and an LED fault indicator to help you see whether it's still running from across the room. It runs 1650 watts at 115 VAC and requires a minimum of a 15 amp breaker. It provides 5,630 BTUs per hour and moves air at a rate of 120 cubic feet per minute.

DXH1000TS

When you need a construction heater that will provide serious output for your site, the DXH1000TX provides some serious power. Much like the DHX165, it also provides unsupervised operation and features heavy duty construction with additional coil support and recessed controls, and the adjustable thermostat also falls in the 25║F to 95║F range. But that's where the similarities end.

This heater steps up to a two-pole 230VAC power requirement and delivers serious heat. With two-stage operation, it can be operated on either a 30 amp breaker at 7,000 watts or a 50 amp breaker at 10,0000 watts. At the lower setting, it draws 28 amps while delivering 23,884 BTUs per hour, while the higher setting draws 42 amps while deliveringá34,121 BTUs per hour. Both settings move 350 cubic feet of air per minute. Testing has found that this unit delivers a 20% faster temperature rise, 12% higher air movement and that it heats workspaces 37% faster than the competition.

DXH2000TS

When you've got to get a larger jobásite heated up quickly, the Dewalt DXH2000TS is a very versatile, high powered unit. Much like the DHX1000TS, it provides unsupervised operation and features heavy duty construction with additional coil support and recessed controls, and the adjustable thermostat also falls in the 25║F to 95║F range. But it also provides a high and low setting when using 100 amp service and has a fan-only mode, making it a great option when you need to keep a jobsite cool in the summer or have to move fumes.

Using two-pole 230VAC single phase, it features a two-stage operation. Operating on a 60 amp breaker at 13,000 watts, it draws 54 amps while delivering 44,357 BTUs per hour, while on a 100 amp breaker at 20,0000 watts, it delivers up to 68, 242 BTUs per hour. Both settings move 600 cubic feet of air per minute, including fan-only mode. Testing has found that the DHX2000TS delivers a 30% faster temperature rise, 12% higher air movement and that it heats workspaces 30% faster than the competition.

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Photo credit: DeWalt.com

Sorces: DeWalt.com

Now, when you are doing something like a steam shower like what we have covered in one of our previous blog posts, you are not going to be able just to use a mold resistant board. You need a membrane or something between there that will keep the moisture from getting in behind. So, what we want to do is just chat with you a little bit about this topic to bring to your attention that when you are doing some of these different products that you must make sure that you are using the right type of moisture resistant board behind your tile to ensure that your shower never gets mold in behind it. This is just something to think about that moist areas are a lot different than areas that are in a house that are like a bedroom with really good ventilation.

You must do your research on your products. Like I said, the bare minimum you should be using behind a shower wall is a mold resistant drywall. Then you can go from there. There are roll-on membranes that you can go right on top of the mold resistant drywall. That?s next step up then there is full-on wall boards with membranes already attached to them. And you are just silicone the joints together or put patch flaps over the joints to get ready for your tiling. There are numerous systems. So, do your research find yourself a mold resistant or water proofing system that you are comfortable with and then carry on with your project.

With winter nipping at our heels, the rate of house fires will soon be on the rise as people try to stay warm during the cold depths of winter. With most American homes using drywall for their interior wall finish, what happens to drywall in a house fire and what's the difference between the different types? In this post, we'll talk about the differences in fire ratings for different drywall types as well as what other areas should be addressed so the fire resistance actually lasts that long.

What Makes Fire-Rated Drywall Different from Regular Drywall?

Regular drywall helps slow down fires because it has a 21% water content, which is released as steam during a fire, slowing down the transference of heat from one side of the wall to the other. Its failure point is when the drywall crumbles and the fire is allowed to continue spreading. By comparison, fire-rated drywall contains glass fibers and other materials that help the panel continue to conserve structural integrity for a longer period of time. Additional levels of fire-rated drywall provide additional fibers and materials to help retard the spread of fire further, but often costs more. For this reason, it's usually reserved for high-risk areas such as welding shops, restaurants and other areas where there is a much higher than usual risk of fire.

Fire Ratings for Different Fire Types

Standard 1/2" drywall provides about a half hour of fire resistance. It is commonly used in most areas of the home because it provides some basic protection at a lower cost. By comparison, 5/8" fire-rated drywall, also referred to as Type X, has a one hour fire rating and is typically installed between the garage and the rest of the home in a residential setting. Why? Because the chemicals and combustibles that are often stored in the garage creates a zone where fires are more likely to occur. It also has some sound-deadening effects, if loud is the only setting your household operates under. For specialty applications such as studios with kilns, forges or similar hot spots, or for homeowners who want a little more assurance that they can get everyone out and to safety, there are also two, three and four hour fire-rated drywall panels available, though they may require a special order to obtain them.

Other Factors That Can Affect Your Home's Performance During a Fire

Though fire-rated drywall can help provide some protection against a fire, it's only as effective at controlling fire as the other components in your system. What components, you ask? Do you have wood or steel studs holding the drywall in place? What about the interior doors in your home? A standard hollow-core door provides virtually no protection against the spread of fire when compared to a solid fire door that gives your family more time to get away. Do you have wood or tile flooring? Does your home have stairs that can create a thermal chimney effect, allowing the fire to spread more rapidly? There are many other considerations to think about when making your home safe from fire.

When it comes to house fires, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, sweep your chimney if you use wood heat, use seasoned firewood and make an evacuation plan for everyone to get out safely. Once you have a plan in place, drill it - preferably better than "The Office" did recently. With house fires on the rise during the winter, it's a great time to finish that project you've been waiting on with fire-rated drywall to give you a little more peace of mind. Download our Firestop Product Guide to start protecting your home and family today.

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Sources: http://www.certainteed.com/learning-center/gypsum/?qid=124

Woodworking projects have always been a passion, but the clean-up was a time-consuming chore. The Porter Cable Dust Extractor Vacuum cuts the time for removing wood shavings and dust that is created. It was soon discovered that this handy piece of equipment worked for other chores, as well. For example, when having to replace drywall in the kitchen, it can be used simultaneously with the saw and keep surrounding areas cleaner than expected. Feel free to share you're experiences using the vacuum in the comment section below. But first, the review.

Built In Outlet

When using a miter saw, the residue quickly covers the area in which you are cutting. With this vacuum, you can plug in your saw directly to the Porter Cable Dust Extractor Vacuum, and it will turn on at the same time as your power tool. This is quite convenient for sucking up loose particles and keeping your job much easier.

Filtration Efficiency

Compared to a normal shop vac, the level of filtration is unbeatable. Rated at 99.85%, almost no dust is left to circulate around the room so there is very little settling that can coat the room.

Vacuum Overrun

Cleaning up the particles that are left within the hose is always a negative surprise when turning off a vacuum but this unit has a unique feature that allows it to run for an additional 15 seconds after shutting off. There is no more overflow of debris to clean up after the job is completed.

Built for Great Suction

The 9-amp motor and slim hose with various attachments, guarantees great suction for small pinpointed areas or larger floor spaces. This is definitely a time saver with great results.

While a shop vac has a place in the barn for heavy chores, this dust extractor vacuum stays conveniently placed in the garage for hobbies and small remodeling jobs. Considering all of the small jobs, besides the woodworking hobby, you are able to keep dust away from family members when making minor repairs. Changing a door knob, replacing a piece of dry wall, or even sizing up a book shelf for your child's room, is no longer a messy chore. The ease of keeping dust to a minimum is certainly well worth the investment.á

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