Any Insight On The Best Way For Me To Heat My Home?
First a little background. I live alone (no kids or pets) in a 2bedroom duplex, about 500 sq ft. I have gas heat and hot water. My bill is usually pretty manageable but I don’t like the heat to just run. I live in E Texas, and it is getting colder which is a damp arthritic kind of cold that is just miserable. I know what is out there, just don’t know the ins and outs of choosing the right thing for my situation and why it is the best.
I have seen ads for those electric fireplace heaters, some Amish built, in addition to advertising as efficient they are decorative…too expensive. I have also seen the box heater that is cool to the touch. Then there are ordinary space heaters which I think I can use responsibly and safely.
Is one more efficient than the other? Safety comparisons? Are any more efficient than just boosting the gas heat? How much do these things increase the electric bill?
Thanks for your help!
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December 27, 2009 @ 12:10 pm
Generally, your gas heat will be cheaper to run than electric heaters. The way to save with an electric heater would be to heat only a single room instead of the entire living area and let the rest of the home go cold.
December 27, 2009 @ 6:37 pm
You don’t need any additional heating appliances. You need a better winter wardrobe. If you feel the winters are cold and miserable there in East Texas, invest in a couple of wool sweaters and some cozy slippers, plus some warm sweats or lined jeans. Some good wool boot sox would also help. If you’re too poor to buy new, shop garage sales. If you can’t afford wool or are sensitive to it, go to fleece. And if your head is still cold, wear a stocking cap. You can also buy some fingerless gloves if your hands get too cold.
And, for those times when you’re just sitting around watching TV, you can pull a blanket up over yourself.
Why spend more money on heat? A little money spent on clothes once will serve you for decades! With warmer clothes, you can also set your thermostat a little lower, thus paying for the extra clothing. I keep my indoor temperature at around 68 in the Winter.
December 27, 2009 @ 8:41 pm
There is a gas heater which is called a catalytic heater. It is very efficient and cost effective. It uses less gas then other gas heaters. It works similar to the catalytic converter in your cars exhaust. It has no open flame so it does not create carbon monoxide (but it still consumes oxygen). They are available at travel trailer dealerships. Electric heaters use 1500 watts per hour (on high). If your power costs 10 cents per kilowatt hour, then the electric heater will cost you 15 cents per hour to run on high. What ever heat source you get, remember to have a smoke alarm.