Heater suggestions

Pho3nix

Pho3nix

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hi,

With winter basically here looking for a heater that won't kill the electricity bill. Gas is an option but *people* don't like the smell it gives or something.
Suggestions will be welcome, running away from a 1800w heater :sick:
 
Not sure what your budget is but we installed midwall split aircons throughout our place and our electricity bill is around R400 lower compared to last year this time where we used oil/fan heaters. Nothing fancy (Alliaince Air brand) and these guys did it for us http://xtremethermosystems.co.za. 1000W-odd input with around 3300W heating power.
 
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I second lcbxx. Any resistive heater (oil radiator/fan/heat bar etc.) has the same efficiency for power input (100% of power converted to heat), but heat pumps can give far greater efficiency (300%+). Pretty much every split aircon is a heat pump.
The initial investment pays off, and with the bonus of air conditioning too :D
 
baharini said:
I second lcbxx. Any resistive heater (oil radiator/fan/heat bar etc.) has the same efficiency for power input (100% of power converted to heat), but heat pumps can give far greater efficiency (300%+). Pretty much every split aircon is a heat pump.
The initial investment pays off, and with the bonus of air conditioning too :D
Click to expand...

lcbxx said:
Not sure what your budget is but we installed midwall split aircons throughout our place and our electricity bill is around R400 lower compared to last year this time where we used oil/fan heaters. Nothing fancy (Alliaince Air brand) and these guys did it for us http://xtremethermosystems.co.za. 1000W-odd input with around 3300W heating power.
Click to expand...

Help me out here.. The systems you guys recommended use as much or even more power than the element heater. Pro's of using aircon?
 
Pho3nix said:
Help me out here.. The systems you guys recommended use as much or even more power than the element heater. Pro's of using aircon?
Click to expand...

Yes, the effective heating power is much greater. Air conditioners are a type of heat-pump, and typically operate with "efficiencies" between 300%-800%. The portable aircon I linked you to has a capacity of 10 000 BTU/hr, or roughly 3kW of effective heating/cooling. At worst case (a COP of only 3) it'll use 1kW of electricity to deliver 3kW of heating (when in heating mode, same story for cooling mode).

Added benefit is when it is hot in summer it can cool you down.

While I love my portable aircon (~13 000 BTU) it does need to have a window open nearby to direct the pumped heat (or lack thereof). It's fine if you are directly in front of the aircon; otherwise look at a more permanent split unit.

:)
 
Portable air ons are kark and I strongly advise against them.
The gas panel heaters are the most effective heat wise and cost wise.
 
Firstly get decent clothes and layer them, you'll be amazed how much less external heat you need. Roof cavity insulation is also faqing incredible, not cheap though.
 
agentrfr said:
Yes, the effective heating power is much greater. Air conditioners are a type of heat-pump, and typically operate with "efficiencies" between 300%-800%. The portable aircon I linked you to has a capacity of 10 000 BTU/hr, or roughly 3kW of effective heating/cooling. At worst case (a COP of only 3) it'll use 1kW of electricity to deliver 3kW of heating (when in heating mode, same story for cooling mode).

Added benefit is when it is hot in summer it can cool you down.

While I love my portable aircon (~13 000 BTU) it does need to have a window open nearby to direct the pumped heat (or lack thereof). It's fine if you are directly in front of the aircon; otherwise look at a more permanent split unit.

:)
Click to expand...

Mindblowing! Why didn't anyone else suggest this in all the previous years winter heating suggestions? The aircon could have paid itself off by now.
 
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