Advice on an electric heater?

almostthere · #21 10/09/08, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manfred

I have an oil-filled radiator type and also a ceramic heater with a fan. Both are 1500 watt. The ceramic heater sure seems to put out much more heat.

We have a couple of those little ones too. But you go a few feet from warm to ice cold in the same room.

SolarGary · #22 10/09/08, 02:09 PM

Hi,
You can use this calculator to compare the cost of electricity, NG, ...

http://www.builditsolar.com/Referenc...uelCompare.htm

In most places, if you can get NG its the cheapest way to go, but the nice thing about electric heaters is that you can heat a limited area without heating the whole house.

Someone mentioned an electric blanket -- we use electric mattress pad heaters -- same idea, but they go under you rather than over:
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects...tricmattra.htm
They are terrific, and use much less power than electric blankets.

I think you might be better off to put the electric heater money into insulation and weatherization projects?

Gary

snowshoehair · #23 10/09/08, 04:17 PM

I agree with willow girl here. If you want extra heat in the bedroom at night, go with an electric blanket. Another option is an electric mattress pad. I have had one of each, and personally I prefer the elec mattress pad because the heat rises and I can set it on the lowest setting to keep me and my frozen feet warm!

mnn2501 · #24 10/09/08, 08:46 PM

I have a couple of small electric Ceramic Heaters I use to keep the rooms we need heat in comfortable while we keep the main gas heat turned low. They work great and are much safer than regular electric heaters.
While I now live in N Texs where it doesn't get terribly cold, I also used them when I lived in WI for the same effect. About $25 at Home Depot/Lowes, etc.

stef · #25 10/09/08, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mel-

one system I've looked at for a new room I'm thinking of building are ceiling panel radiant heaters. they require 220 but can be attached directly to drywall. they claim to be almost as cheap to run as a heat pump because you install them over your seating areas and again they claim to onlly heat objects and people, not air

Mel...
I have no technical knowledge about heating systems, however, I once rented an apartment that had forced air heat with ceiling vents.
It was horrible.
The warm air came down; it sank to the level of the wall thermostat and then shut off. The air on the floor remained very, very, very cold.
I would never choose ceiling heat.
The best heat I ever enjoyed was from the old-fashioned steam radiators.

just my 2 cents worth

Stef