Comments on: Convert from gas to electric space heating http://www.iwilltry.org/b Climate change is real. You're causing it. You can stop it. Will you try? Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:51:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Len http://www.iwilltry.org/b/projects/make-the-switch-to-electric-space-heating/comment-page-1/#comment-5782 Len Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:54:27 +0000 http://www.iwilltry.org/b/projects/make-the-switch-to-electric-space-heating/#comment-5782 Mary, There are two things to consider. The first is that if you use two 1500w or three 700w heaters on the same circuit, you will blow the breaker all the time. You may find you can get around this by trying different outlets in the same room for different circuits. However, I have found that 500w is enough to keep up to about 150 square feet warm... in fact I think that the fins on the oil filled heaters are actually 200w each so my 5 fin 1000w heater on low is probably only 400w. My 1400w heater says it should be able to heat 400 square feet. So most rooms are a lot smaller than that... use the lowest setting there and buy one where the lowest setting fits your needs... and your breaker box. Because we started out with some baseboard heaters and a 60amp sub panel in the garage, we have a 200amp panel. A lot of gas heated houses have only 100amp or even only 60amp (if the stove is gas too). I have seen three kinds of oil heaters, The seven fined one, a five finned one with the same size fins as the 7 and a shorty (not sure how many fins). I think you may find the 7 fin one may throw breakers if you are using too many of them at the same time even on low, however, they do have the most surface area and radiant heat feels warmer even with lower air temp. I would say that the 5 fin heater would be best at its lowest setting you may even get as many as 4 on the same circuit at the same time... if nothing else is going ;-), but 3 for sure. In my case I am thinking of getting a 7 fin and modifying it to use less of its elements for more surface area but less power. Please note, I am very comfortable doing these kinds of changes as this is an area I was trained in... you may have to work with what you can buy... Which ever one you get, try to place it in plain view from where you sit so that your body can take full advantage of the radiated heat, just as you would sit facing a fireplace for example. Put the wide side towards you. This is in my opinion one of two pluses for the oil filled heaters, the other being that it does not burn the air (or the dust particles in the air) and give that scratchy throat feeling. Len Mary,
There are two things to consider. The first is that if you use two 1500w or three 700w heaters on the same circuit, you will blow the breaker all the time. You may find you can get around this by trying different outlets in the same room for different circuits. However, I have found that 500w is enough to keep up to about 150 square feet warm… in fact I think that the fins on the oil filled heaters are actually 200w each so my 5 fin 1000w heater on low is probably only 400w. My 1400w heater says it should be able to heat 400 square feet. So most rooms are a lot smaller than that… use the lowest setting there and buy one where the lowest setting fits your needs… and your breaker box. Because we started out with some baseboard heaters and a 60amp sub panel in the garage, we have a 200amp panel. A lot of gas heated houses have only 100amp or even only 60amp (if the stove is gas too).

I have seen three kinds of oil heaters, The seven fined one, a five finned one with the same size fins as the 7 and a shorty (not sure how many fins). I think you may find the 7 fin one may throw breakers if you are using too many of them at the same time even on low, however, they do have the most surface area and radiant heat feels warmer even with lower air temp. I would say that the 5 fin heater would be best at its lowest setting you may even get as many as 4 on the same circuit at the same time… if nothing else is going ;-) , but 3 for sure. In my case I am thinking of getting a 7 fin and modifying it to use less of its elements for more surface area but less power. Please note, I am very comfortable doing these kinds of changes as this is an area I was trained in… you may have to work with what you can buy…

Which ever one you get, try to place it in plain view from where you sit so that your body can take full advantage of the radiated heat, just as you would sit facing a fireplace for example. Put the wide side towards you. This is in my opinion one of two pluses for the oil filled heaters, the other being that it does not burn the air (or the dust particles in the air) and give that scratchy throat feeling.

Len

]]> By: Mary English http://www.iwilltry.org/b/projects/make-the-switch-to-electric-space-heating/comment-page-1/#comment-5300 Mary English Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:32:35 +0000 http://www.iwilltry.org/b/projects/make-the-switch-to-electric-space-heating/#comment-5300 Hi I bought the two Danby freezers this summer. Thanks for the advice; I have shared it with a few people. I have a 40 year old furnance in a BC Box House. I am going to use oil filled heaters this year. Lancaster has a 700 W small heater, Canadian Tire are selling for $25. This is a lot less surface space and less oil than the Nova 700/800/1500 7 fin model $56. Have you any predictions about which heater would be most economical. Thanks Mary Hi

I bought the two Danby freezers this summer. Thanks for the advice; I have shared it with a few people.

I have a 40 year old furnance in a BC Box House. I am going to use oil filled heaters this year. Lancaster has a 700 W small heater, Canadian Tire are selling for $25. This is a lot less surface space and less oil than the Nova 700/800/1500 7 fin model $56. Have you any predictions about which heater would be most economical.

Thanks Mary

]]> By: Len http://www.iwilltry.org/b/projects/make-the-switch-to-electric-space-heating/comment-page-1/#comment-4729 Len Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:59:40 +0000 http://www.iwilltry.org/b/projects/make-the-switch-to-electric-space-heating/#comment-4729 Our house was originally heated by a wood heater in the "basement" and two electric baseboards in the dining/living room at the other end of the house (splitlevel). The former owner had replaced the wood box with a natural gas fireplace and a gas water heater. When we moved in we found the gas fireplace was not good enough. I also noticed that I was paying $10 per month for gas even when I was only using $20 to heat water. The water heater was converted back to electric (the wiring was still there) and I put a timer in to turn it off when not used. As you live in BC as well you may have heard that the cost of turning gas back on includes paying the $10 per month for all the months you have been turned off... even if you have been turned off for years! We won't ever be going back as far as I can see. My hydro bill went up by less than my normal summer gas bill. The two baseboards have timer thermostats and in the bed rooms, I chose one outlet, put a hole in the wallboard directly above and ran wire from the outlet up. I put the same timer thermostat in that box and took power from the top plug on the duplex outlet to power it. I separated the plugs and the thermostat powers the bottom one. The oil filled heaters. I found setting them to 500w was good enough up to about 150 square feet. I get about 4 timed settings per day. in one room I took an electric "fireplace" and added a separate power cord for the flame display. I also made it a 750w heater instead of 1400w. The heater plugs in the bottom thermostat controlled plug and the display in the top... I will put a small timer in there... someday. The CFL lamp lasts longer than the incan bulb it came with. Anyone want a gas fireplace? My winter hydro bill has gone up, but near as much as my gas bill used to be... Our house was originally heated by a wood heater in the “basement” and two electric baseboards in the dining/living room at the other end of the house (splitlevel). The former owner had replaced the wood box with a natural gas fireplace and a gas water heater. When we moved in we found the gas fireplace was not good enough. I also noticed that I was paying $10 per month for gas even when I was only using $20 to heat water.

The water heater was converted back to electric (the wiring was still there) and I put a timer in to turn it off when not used. As you live in BC as well you may have heard that the cost of turning gas back on includes paying the $10 per month for all the months you have been turned off… even if you have been turned off for years! We won’t ever be going back as far as I can see. My hydro bill went up by less than my normal summer gas bill.

The two baseboards have timer thermostats and in the bed rooms, I chose one outlet, put a hole in the wallboard directly above and ran wire from the outlet up. I put the same timer thermostat in that box and took power from the top plug on the duplex outlet to power it. I separated the plugs and the thermostat powers the bottom one. The oil filled heaters. I found setting them to 500w was good enough up to about 150 square feet. I get about 4 timed settings per day.

in one room I took an electric “fireplace” and added a separate power cord for the flame display. I also made it a 750w heater instead of 1400w. The heater plugs in the bottom thermostat controlled plug and the display in the top… I will put a small timer in there… someday. The CFL lamp lasts longer than the incan bulb it came with.

Anyone want a gas fireplace? My winter hydro bill has gone up, but near as much as my gas bill used to be…

]]> By: Rob Steves http://www.iwilltry.org/b/projects/make-the-switch-to-electric-space-heating/comment-page-1/#comment-4687 Rob Steves Tue, 21 Apr 2009 06:32:03 +0000 http://www.iwilltry.org/b/projects/make-the-switch-to-electric-space-heating/#comment-4687 Hi Dan, I don't know what specific 400W heater you're referring to so I can't say for sure, but I have found that generally oil filled heaters are better quality than fan-type heaters. Whether or not your pipes will freeze depends on a lot of factors: outside air temperature, inside air temperature on main floor, ground temperature, amount of insulation in floor, amount of insulation in crawlspace walls, etc. In my home with insulated crawlspace walls, but non-insulated floor, the temperature in the crawlspace is about the average of the main floor air temperature and outside air temperature (for example, if it's 20 degrees C on the main floor and -10 degrees C outside it might be around 5 degrees C in the crawlspace. Hope that helps. -Rob Hi Dan,
I don’t know what specific 400W heater you’re referring to so I can’t say for sure, but I have found that generally oil filled heaters are better quality than fan-type heaters. Whether or not your pipes will freeze depends on a lot of factors: outside air temperature, inside air temperature on main floor, ground temperature, amount of insulation in floor, amount of insulation in crawlspace walls, etc. In my home with insulated crawlspace walls, but non-insulated floor, the temperature in the crawlspace is about the average of the main floor air temperature and outside air temperature (for example, if it’s 20 degrees C on the main floor and -10 degrees C outside it might be around 5 degrees C in the crawlspace. Hope that helps. -Rob

]]> By: Dan D. http://www.iwilltry.org/b/projects/make-the-switch-to-electric-space-heating/comment-page-1/#comment-4685 Dan D. Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:45:13 +0000 http://www.iwilltry.org/b/projects/make-the-switch-to-electric-space-heating/#comment-4685 I am also considering the oil filled systems for my entire house which is just under 800 sq. ft. I already own one, its 600-1500 watts adjustable. Are those 400 watt that I see all the time any good? Also I have a 2 ft. crawl space(if that).....would my pipes freeze? Thanks I am also considering the oil filled systems for my entire house which is just under 800 sq. ft.
I already own one, its 600-1500 watts adjustable.
Are those 400 watt that I see all the time any good?
Also I have a 2 ft. crawl space(if that)…..would my pipes freeze?
Thanks

]]> By: brad :) http://www.iwilltry.org/b/projects/make-the-switch-to-electric-space-heating/comment-page-1/#comment-4666 brad :) Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:00:57 +0000 http://www.iwilltry.org/b/projects/make-the-switch-to-electric-space-heating/#comment-4666 I am highly considering the switch from gas to electric. I've been doing the math and number crunching for quite awhile now, and your site helps re-enforce my beliefs regarding the cost savings of such a switch. I am highly considering the switch from gas to electric. I’ve been doing the math and number crunching for quite awhile now, and your site helps re-enforce my beliefs regarding the cost savings of such a switch.

]]> By: Rob Steves http://www.iwilltry.org/b/projects/make-the-switch-to-electric-space-heating/comment-page-1/#comment-3206 Rob Steves Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:24:33 +0000 http://www.iwilltry.org/b/projects/make-the-switch-to-electric-space-heating/#comment-3206 Hi Rebekkah, I wish my home was built tall like yours. It is a much more efficient design with less outside surface area (especially ceiling area) through which to lose heat. I'm curious if your heat pump is an air-source heat pump or a ground-source heat pump. Air-source heat pumps are not as efficient since it's much harder to extract heat from cold air than it is to extract heat from comparatively warm ground. The ground temperature several ft below the surface is relatively constant year round (about 12°C where I live). Hi Rebekkah,
I wish my home was built tall like yours. It is a much more efficient design with less outside surface area (especially ceiling area) through which to lose heat. I’m curious if your heat pump is an air-source heat pump or a ground-source heat pump. Air-source heat pumps are not as efficient since it’s much harder to extract heat from cold air than it is to extract heat from comparatively warm ground. The ground temperature several ft below the surface is relatively constant year round (about 12°C where I live).

]]> By: Rob Steves http://www.iwilltry.org/b/projects/make-the-switch-to-electric-space-heating/comment-page-1/#comment-3205 Rob Steves Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:55:32 +0000 http://www.iwilltry.org/b/projects/make-the-switch-to-electric-space-heating/#comment-3205 Hi Milandon, Oil filled radiator style heaters with no fan are the safest. They provide a large surface area at a relatively low temperature. Even at their maximum power they are not too hot to touch. The only likely way one could cause a fire is if you draped several blankets over it, insulating it and thus allowing the surface temperature to rise. Good ones have a thermal shutoff that will disable the heater if it gets hotter than it should under normal conditions. Convection heaters are not as safe. They can overheat if something obstructs the airflow through them or stops the fan from spinning. The most common way air can be obstructed is if the heater tips over. Therefore good convection heaters include a sensor that turns the heater off if it tips over. That is a good feature to look for. I would not be comfortable leaving a convection heater unattended for very long but I leave my oil filled heaters unattended all the time. The oil filled heaters are also silent except for an occasional "click" when the element turns on and off. Hi Milandon,
Oil filled radiator style heaters with no fan are the safest. They provide a large surface area at a relatively low temperature. Even at their maximum power they are not too hot to touch. The only likely way one could cause a fire is if you draped several blankets over it, insulating it and thus allowing the surface temperature to rise. Good ones have a thermal shutoff that will disable the heater if it gets hotter than it should under normal conditions.

Convection heaters are not as safe. They can overheat if something obstructs the airflow through them or stops the fan from spinning. The most common way air can be obstructed is if the heater tips over. Therefore good convection heaters include a sensor that turns the heater off if it tips over. That is a good feature to look for.

I would not be comfortable leaving a convection heater unattended for very long but I leave my oil filled heaters unattended all the time. The oil filled heaters are also silent except for an occasional “click” when the element turns on and off.

]]> By: Rebekkah http://www.iwilltry.org/b/projects/make-the-switch-to-electric-space-heating/comment-page-1/#comment-3201 Rebekkah Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:44:04 +0000 http://www.iwilltry.org/b/projects/make-the-switch-to-electric-space-heating/#comment-3201 Due to a heat pump (a contradiction in itself) that fails to provide warmth when it is needed most (when it is coldest outdoors), I heated my entire house last winter using three space heaters. There is about 1800 sq. ft. of space that we actually use. My home is built tall (2 stories with a basement) instead of long. I mention this because I feel it is important to consider the way your home is laid out to help in determining how many heaters you will need. If your home is taller you probably won't need but a few heaters. I purchased a Honeywell heater that blows warm air. I use this one in my bedroom, using the lowest setting and the temperature is perfect. If I crank it all the way up, it is downright toasty. The living room/kitchen is warmed by a single "Comfort Essentials" (purchased at Wal-Mart) ceramic rod heater with a blower. It works wonderfully (placed under one of the living room windows). It is 69 degrees according to the thermostat on the opposite wall. It is 28.7 degrees outside as I write this. The upstairs is heated using a DeLonghi oil-filled heater (that looks like a radiator) which is placed in the upstairs foyer. I saved about $110/month last winter on my electric bill. I didn't need to do a lot of calculating to determine that this was a much more efficient way to warm my home. I paid about $30-$40 for each heater. They paid for themselves in only one month. This past summer I found that 2 small window AC units (the small ones, no less, placed in the upstairs bedrooms) cooled my entire home with the help of my central air fan circulating the air. I don't believe I'll ever use that "heat pump" again. My power bill has gone down dramatically in the past year. With the economy as it is, we need all of the help we can get. Due to a heat pump (a contradiction in itself) that fails to provide warmth when it is needed most (when it is coldest outdoors), I heated my entire house last winter using three space heaters. There is about 1800 sq. ft. of space that we actually use. My home is built tall (2 stories with a basement) instead of long. I mention this because I feel it is important to consider the way your home is laid out to help in determining how many heaters you will need. If your home is taller you probably won’t need but a few heaters. I purchased a Honeywell heater that blows warm air. I use this one in my bedroom, using the lowest setting and the temperature is perfect. If I crank it all the way up, it is downright toasty. The living room/kitchen is warmed by a single “Comfort Essentials” (purchased at Wal-Mart) ceramic rod heater with a blower. It works wonderfully (placed under one of the living room windows). It is 69 degrees according to the thermostat on the opposite wall. It is 28.7 degrees outside as I write this. The upstairs is heated using a DeLonghi oil-filled heater (that looks like a radiator) which is placed in the upstairs foyer.

I saved about $110/month last winter on my electric bill. I didn’t need to do a lot of calculating to determine that this was a much more efficient way to warm my home. I paid about $30-$40 for each heater. They paid for themselves in only one month.

This past summer I found that 2 small window AC units (the small ones, no less, placed in the upstairs bedrooms) cooled my entire home with the help of my central air fan circulating the air. I don’t believe I’ll ever use that “heat pump” again. My power bill has gone down dramatically in the past year. With the economy as it is, we need all of the help we can get.

]]> By: Milandon http://www.iwilltry.org/b/projects/make-the-switch-to-electric-space-heating/comment-page-1/#comment-3194 Milandon Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:52:42 +0000 http://www.iwilltry.org/b/projects/make-the-switch-to-electric-space-heating/#comment-3194 I heard that space heaters are a big fire hazard. What can be done to reduce the risk? I heard that space heaters are a big fire hazard. What can be done to reduce the risk?

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