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Hey I know this is a car forum but I figured I'd throw this out there and
see what comes up. I rent a townhouse where nothing is included except the
well water. I use propane to heat my water and fuel the furnace. Around
here heating costs just keep rising every year(probrably everywhere else as
well).
Unfortunately by renting I can't get a woodstove to help save some money
but an electric heater that's somewhat portable would work just fine. So
here's the big question: Would I save money in the long run by buying a new
electric/ceramic heater? I hear the newer ones are getting better and
better but are they enough to pay for themselves if not better than
sticking with just gas. Anyone have any ideas on $/BTU between what I have
and what I can get. Keep in mind the furnace is a nice bryant which is
pretty good. I generally go through about 200gallons every 5 weeks in the
winter, not bad but with propane over $3.25 now a 200gallon fill costs a
pretty penny, and as the cold moves in prices will go up.
DBain
I was always under the impression that the only time an electric heater
will save you money is if your propane heater isn't divided into zones and
you only want to heat one or two rooms. In other words, if you only need to
heat the bedroom over night, instead of heating the whole house with the
propane heater, just put a little electric space heater in the bedroom. For
the most part though, gas heat is more efficient, and thus usually more
cost effective, than electric heat. Of course it will vary from place to
place, especialy if you have to factor in delivery costs.
depending on how old the furnace is, you should be ably to find the
efficiency rating. same goes for an electric heater. look at your utility
bill and find out what you are paying for electricity and do the math.
One gallon of propane contains about 91,690 BTU's. multiply that by your
furnaces efficiency rating, and you have the number of BTU's you use per
gallon. times the number of gallons, and you have the total BTU's used to
heat your home. (with a little effort you could subtract the aproximate
amount used to heat your water.) A new electric heater will tell you how
many watts per BTU, times your cost per watt, and you have the cost.
long winded and discombobulated, I know:ohcrap: but hopefuly that helps
some.
dvdrose18
Interesting. I'll definately look into it. How can I find the rating on my
furnace? Look up the serial online or something? As you said I'm just
looking to heat a small area on the top floor(between two bedrooms directly
across from each other). Two zones for the furnace, bottom and second
floor. The third floor usually stays a few degrees above the second. I
figure leave the thermostat set at 60-62 and warm up the bedrooms at night
w/ electric.
As you said it's common knowledge that fossil fuels give you more heat but
they've been saying electric's the most expensive since they said a barrel
of crude would NEVER reach $100.
I'll check into it though, thanks for the help.
DBain
If it is a newer furnace, it might have an energy star sticker on it, which
should tell you, otherwise you just have to google the model number, even
then you might not find it, but you should be ably to find a round
number.
Keep in mind that by letting the temperature drop over night, the furnace
will have to work harder/longer to get it up to temperature, so you don't
want to let it drop too far, or you will have left for work before it gets
up to temperature. 60-62 sounds reasonable.
When you rent, it makes it difficult to add things like insulation in the
walls, etc. but some of the tips here
(http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/pollprev/WHConservationTips.html)
should help.
dvdrose18
Well I went out a bought a little ceramic forced air job. It's a 1500W max
but has all sorts of fan speed and temperature adjustments, along with a
safety auto-shut off. Didn't pay too much for it but it'll take the chill
out of a room quick. Next month ask me how much the light bill went up and
we'll see how a made out.
DBain
Figured I'd throw this out there for anyone interested. I was talking to my
boss the other day and his brother bought some ceramic panel heaters. He
liked them so much he went out and bought three more. Aparently they're
warm to touch(not hot) and only use as much electricity as a 100W light
bulb. They come with or without thermostat control but it's probrably
cheaper just to buy a x-mas tree timer and set it for evenings and
mornings. He'll be getting me some more information soon so if anyone's
interested let me know. I believe they're ball-parked at $90/ea.
DBain
