some electricity saving questions
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2005
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some electricity saving questions
going off the thread about the light bulbs, i am getting more and more aware about spending money on electric, that college income has to do with a lot of it.
anyway, about heaters, i live in a one, soon to be a 2 bedroom flat, about 1100 square feet. what would be a cheaper way of heating it? would just heating one room with an electric space heater running for awhile be cheaper than cranking the central heating on for a few mintues every now and then be more efficent?
i am greatly trying to reduce all unnecassary costs right now, any other electric saving tips would help, i got pretty much all of them, but maybe some stuff i never thought about. thanks.
anyway, about heaters, i live in a one, soon to be a 2 bedroom flat, about 1100 square feet. what would be a cheaper way of heating it? would just heating one room with an electric space heater running for awhile be cheaper than cranking the central heating on for a few mintues every now and then be more efficent?
i am greatly trying to reduce all unnecassary costs right now, any other electric saving tips would help, i got pretty much all of them, but maybe some stuff i never thought about. thanks.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
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Depends on the efficiency of both.
Space heaters I know of run on about 2500 watts but are easier to control the temp in small areas.
Old furnaces cost more to run than new High efficiency furnaces.
But furnaces use both N.gas & electricity.
Space heaters I know of run on about 2500 watts but are easier to control the temp in small areas.
Old furnaces cost more to run than new High efficiency furnaces.
But furnaces use both N.gas & electricity.
Last edited by Mil1ion; Feb 3, 2007 at 12:38 AM.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2007
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Electric heat is by far the most expensive and it puts out by far the least heat when compared to other modern day heating equipment (propane heaters, natural gas heaters, exc.).
Also you will be limited to a 2,400 watt heater if you don’t have 220 volts in the room. And that’s a 2,400 watt heater if you have a 20 amp circuit to plug it into. Otherwise you are limited by a 1,800 watt heater. An 1,800 watt heater wont do too much. I have a 1,400 watt heater in my vehicle to keep it warm in there over night and with it set to medium its still only like 75 degrees in there. And we are talking about like 25 square feet. Not 1,200.
I dont know how much money you are looking to spend but a fireplace of some type will save you big money in the long run. A 2,400 watt electric heater on high will cost 21.6 cents per hour to run assuming you get charged 9 cents per kilowatt hour (you probably get charged more). If you keep it on 24/7 it will run you $160.70 per month. As you can see its not efficient. And keep in mind I am using a low price. Most people get charged more then 9 cents per kilowatt hour.
Also you will be limited to a 2,400 watt heater if you don’t have 220 volts in the room. And that’s a 2,400 watt heater if you have a 20 amp circuit to plug it into. Otherwise you are limited by a 1,800 watt heater. An 1,800 watt heater wont do too much. I have a 1,400 watt heater in my vehicle to keep it warm in there over night and with it set to medium its still only like 75 degrees in there. And we are talking about like 25 square feet. Not 1,200.
I dont know how much money you are looking to spend but a fireplace of some type will save you big money in the long run. A 2,400 watt electric heater on high will cost 21.6 cents per hour to run assuming you get charged 9 cents per kilowatt hour (you probably get charged more). If you keep it on 24/7 it will run you $160.70 per month. As you can see its not efficient. And keep in mind I am using a low price. Most people get charged more then 9 cents per kilowatt hour.
Last edited by SPL Tech; Feb 3, 2007 at 12:36 AM.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,902
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From: Pasadena, Maryland
check the temperature setting on your hot water heater. I turned ours down to 110 degrees. It was at 140. Saved us about 30 bucks a month. We dry our clothes outside when it's warmer out, hard to do in the winter though. The electric rates in our area are going up another 47% come summer. So much for air conditioning! I have yet to turn on the oil burner, our woodstove runs 24/7 lately. Doesn't heat the whole house as well as I would like, but it's free! Good luck in your endevour.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 14,941
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From: North of Normal
Get a timer for your water heater runs about $60.00 and set it to where it comes on when you need it and stays off when you don't. Or you can do Like I do just turn it off until needed saved about 60.00 the first month.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: MI
Install a digital thermostat, I recommend a Honeywell Digital Round, for the central heating system and leave it set at one temperature 68-70 degrees. It is the equivalent of setting the cruise in your car.
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: South Texas
20 years ago when I built my home, I installed a high efficiency gas (propane) furnace. It cost about half again as much as the standard systems available at the time. Everyone, including the finance company told me I was crazy for spending that much on the system. Now I have the last laugh.
I am heating my home an average of 3 years on a single 125 gallon propane thank fill. I do live in an area where heating is not used much during the year (deep south Texas), but even at that rate, you cannot beat it.
The system was sold by Sears, but is a Lenox design. The exhaust flue is vented by PVC and the design guarantees that the exhaust stack temps will neve exceed 90 degrees F. (That is how efficient the heat exchange is)
My point is "pay me now or pay me later". If you are going to do it, get the hignest efficiency unit you can find and go with it. You will thank yourself for years to come.
Now, if I could get the electricity costs for air conditioning down, I would be in hog heaven.
I am heating my home an average of 3 years on a single 125 gallon propane thank fill. I do live in an area where heating is not used much during the year (deep south Texas), but even at that rate, you cannot beat it.
The system was sold by Sears, but is a Lenox design. The exhaust flue is vented by PVC and the design guarantees that the exhaust stack temps will neve exceed 90 degrees F. (That is how efficient the heat exchange is)
My point is "pay me now or pay me later". If you are going to do it, get the hignest efficiency unit you can find and go with it. You will thank yourself for years to come.
Now, if I could get the electricity costs for air conditioning down, I would be in hog heaven.
