Heaters

There are quite a few posts on this topic online. From my research in order of energy consumption from least to most:

Infrared
heat pump
fan
gas
oil
resistance bars


however cost of purchase and/or installation is prohibitive on some of those.

A fan heater (IF you do not leave going for hours) is about the best option. They are inexpensive to buy (R149 last week at Shoprite). They heat up instantly so no wastage in waiting for oil or elements to warm up, and blow hot air directly at you, making for instant defrosting. They also warm up an enclosed volume of air pretty quickly. BUT at 1000/2000 Watts this is NOT for leaving for hours. It's great for a quick heat up (i.e. to get dressed in the morning, or after a shower) and the switch off again until the room cools.

It's even better if you sit with a blanket over your knees and pop it on for a few mins with the air blowing under the blanket. Makes warm as toast in a few minutes, and it stays warm for ages so long as you aren't up and down like a yo-yo letting cold air in.
 
I've been using my gas heater almost every evening for the last month. I usually start it off on 2 panels for about 10 minutes to take the chill off my room, then leave it on 1 for an hour or 2 after which I'm actually getting quite hot, so I then turn it off and chill in bed.

From the weight of the bottle, I'd say that there a good half tank left. So that translates to about R80-R90 per month.

Plus I can pack it away in winter and use the bottle on the gas braai.

Winning!
 
bromster said:
I've been using my gas heater almost every evening for the last month. I usually start it off on 2 panels for about 10 minutes to take the chill off my room, then leave it on 1 for an hour or 2 after which I'm actually getting quite hot, so I then turn it off and chill in bed.

From the weight of the bottle, I'd say that there a good half tank left. So that translates to about R80-R90 per month.

Plus I can pack it away in winter and use the bottle on the gas braai.

Winning!
Click to expand...

The gas heaters use +\- 100g of gas per hour per pannel.

Now you can work out how far/cost 9000gram would get you.

In CPT seems avg price for 9kg gas is R176.
 
hj2k_x said:
We have four panel heaters across 3 rooms. The one in the bedroom has split down the middle twice. One was a Salton and one is an EconoHeater. None of the others has ever split down the middle. And I drilled fresh holes for the replacement EconoHeater so I don't think it's the installation... Anyone have any ideas what's causing it?
8c36c19cac221015e682f987ff9e154c.jpg
Click to expand...

Pretty normal really and happens to most of them.

Doesn’t affect its ability to heat.
 
SauRoNZA said:
Ha ha ha.

It shouldn’t do that as it has a metal grid inside from what I recall.

Or are you worried it would happen in future?
Click to expand...
Well the Salton one that had a massive crack down the middle I had to break completely when throwing it away. It offered little resistance...
 
WaxLyrical said:
Do you usually leave the bedroom unit on for longer than the others.
That unit is definitely getting hotter.
Click to expand...
Ya. That could be it, I suppose. When the days and nights are as cold as they currently are, we seldom turn the thing off...
 
We have one of these hobbies in the lounge https://m.takealot.com/#product?id=PLID38673153

I wonder if one in the bedroom constantly on low, would use a lot more power than the apparently 400W rated panel heater which keeps breaking...

The oil Fin heaters are all rated at 2000W max, but you could have only one side on, and not at full power. Presumably that should use a lot less power. And not split in half...
 
hj2k_x said:
We have one of these hobbies in the lounge https://m.takealot.com/#product?id=PLID38673153

I wonder if one in the bedroom constantly on low, would use a lot more power than the apparently 400W rated panel heater which keeps breaking...

The oil Fin heaters are all rated at 2000W max, but you could have only one side on, and not at full power. Presumably that should use a lot less power. And not split in half...
Click to expand...
I noticed that fan heaters are the best for maximum heat dispersal and minimum energy consumption.
 
daveza said:
Likewise not a fan of gas but my little Safeway fan heater just eats electricity.
Click to expand...
For now I've bought a second fin heater. For R849 from Game. It has 11 fins and is much smaller than our existing Delonghi but it seems to be doing the job. And it hasn't split in half yet...
 
I remember reading some analysis somewhere that a cheap fan heater that shifts a good quantity of air is the most efficient way to heat a room quickly. They're the only thing that heats up the air in a room quickly and efficiently. Gas and electric bar heaters radiate heat but don't heat up the air in the room efficiently, oil and panel heaters heat slowly and use convection to circulate the air but this takes a very long time.
 
Used a 3 panel gas heater. Since fitting aircons we have not used the gas once this year. Invertor aircons are light on power and warm up a part of the house in a few minutes.
 
daveza said:
Would this be a good option - these are the cheapest prices I can find.

View attachment 446440

View attachment 446442
Click to expand...

Get the heater, but dont buy the bottle, get yourself a 9kg bottle that you swop, they ask a deposit, the bottle is never yours or your problem, and pay R175 for gas only, take empty in, walk out with full one, no need to wait.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X