Area Heaters - What Type To Buy?

"John Gregory" wrote in message

Has anyone done a recent "study" that resulted in a determination of what type of area heater (ceramic, element, oil bath, kerosene, etc) is the most cost effective?

All electric heaters are the same if they are the same wattage, as one kilowatt produces 3412 British thermal units, it does not matter if you have a one kilowatt radiator that is all rusty or a brand news shiny 1 kilowatt radiator, the heat output is exactly the same.

In <RamRod Sword of Baal> writes:

"John Gregory" wrote in message Has anyone done a recent "study" that resulted in a determination of what type of area heater (ceramic, element, oil bath, kerosene, etc) is the most cost effective?
All electric heaters are the same if they are the same wattage, as one kilowatt produces 3412 British thermal units, it does not matter if you have a one kilowatt radiator that is all rusty or a brand news shiny 1 kilowatt radiator, the heat output is exactly the same.

almost but not quite 100 percent accurate... While the net heat input into a room will be, as noted, exactly the same, the _effects_ of that heat may be different.
Taking an extreme example, if you have a radiant heater sitting five feet in front of you hanging from a ceiling, the infra-red hitting you will make you feel a lot warmer than the air temperature would suggest.
So you might be comfortable with an air temp of only fifty five degrees, whereas in a "normal" situation you'd want in the 70s.
Now "real world" heating doesn't make quite the same level of difference, but the type of heater used can push the comfort margin a couple of degrees either way. :wq
-- _____________________________________________________ Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key dannyb@panix.com [to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded]

danny burstein wrote:

... While the net heat input into a room will be, as noted, exactly the same, the _effects_ of that heat may be different.
Taking an extreme example, if you have a radiant heater sitting five feet in front of you hanging from a ceiling, the infra-red hitting you will make you feel a lot warmer than the air temperature would suggest.

And a radiant floor or ceiling can raise the mean radiant room temp for the occupant, making him/her feel warmer with a lower air temp.
And if you sit at a table with a cloth that reaches the floor, a small electric space heater with a thermostat (I like the Holmes HFH111, 1500W with a quiet fan, $12.88 at Wal-Mart) can warm you more than the room.
And a heater in the middle of a room can be more "efficient" than heaters near exterior walls and windows, because it lets the walls and windows stay cooler, with less heat loss from the house.
And a radiator in a closet with vents at the top and bottom can be more "efficient" than a normally-exposed radiator, because bouyant closet air can make air flow faster past the radiator.
Then there's exercise. A little movement can make a big difference.
Nick

The point I beleive he is trying to make is that gas and oil and wood and corn and coal ALL have chimneys and loose a portion of their heat to the outdoors. Even high efficency furnaces of this type loose a portion of their heat. Electricity doesn't have a chimney (in the home anyway). Now if you are talking about cost, well that is a different story.
On Wed, 30 Nov 2005 22:20:08 -0500, " Solar Flare" wrote:

If you don't have an answer because you are embarrased maybe just do ad hominem attacks and whine about the question being invalid. Your history here indicates this is your repetitive style. I am sure this will be no different. You next response is well documented as in previous disagreements due to your persecution complex.

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Don wrote:

"Steve Spence"> wrote
John Gregory wrote:
Has anyone done a recent "study" that resulted in a determination of what type of area heater (ceramic, element, oil bath, kerosene, etc) is the most cost effective?
Mine is wood. Very effective, and cheap to use. Paying $40 / face cord, cut/split. Heats my 2100 sq. ft. home with no problem, even when temps drop below -30F.
What brand and model is it? BTW: I found lots of interesting stuff on your site. I'll be back.

It's a Vestal Classic. http://www.green-trust.org/wiki/index.php?title=Wood_Heat
-- Steve Spence Dir., Green Trust, http://www.green-trust.org Contributing Editor, http://www.off-grid.net http://www.rebelwolf.com/essn.html

Let me repeat the original post again.
"Has anyone done a recent "study" that resulted in a determination of what type of area heater (ceramic, element, oil bath, kerosene, etc) is the most cost effective?"
This guy just get bored and likes to be trolling asshole frequently for some unknown reason. He doesn't really want to resolve anything other than his own insecurity.
"Adiabatic" wrote in message

The point I beleive he is trying to make is that gas and oil and wood and corn and coal ALL have chimneys and loose a portion of their heat to the outdoors. Even high efficency furnaces of this type loose a portion of their heat. Electricity doesn't have a chimney (in the home anyway). Now if you are talking about cost, well that is a different story.
On Wed, 30 Nov 2005 22:20:08 -0500, " Solar Flare" sf.lare@hotmail.invalid> wrote:
If you don't have an answer because you are embarrased maybe just do ad hominem attacks and whine about the question being invalid. Your history here indicates this is your repetitive style. I am sure this will be no different. You next response is well documented as in previous disagreements due to your persecution complex.

----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

Exactly. The thread was twisted for trolling and other purposes.
OP "Has anyone done a recent "study" that resulted in a determination of what type of area heater (ceramic, element, oil bath, kerosene, etc) is the most cost effective?"
wrote in message

danny burstein wrote:
... While the net heat input into a room will be, as noted, exactly the same, the _effects_ of that heat may be different.
Taking an extreme example, if you have a radiant heater sitting five feet in front of you hanging from a ceiling, the infra-red hitting you will make you feel a lot warmer than the air temperature would suggest.
And a radiant floor or ceiling can raise the mean radiant room temp for the occupant, making him/her feel warmer with a lower air temp.
And if you sit at a table with a cloth that reaches the floor, a small electric space heater with a thermostat (I like the Holmes HFH111, 1500W with a quiet fan, $12.88 at Wal-Mart) can warm you more than the room.
And a heater in the middle of a room can be more "efficient" than heaters near exterior walls and windows, because it lets the walls and windows stay cooler, with less heat loss from the house.
And a radiator in a closet with vents at the top and bottom can be more "efficient" than a normally-exposed radiator, because bouyant closet air can make air flow faster past the radiator.
Then there's exercise. A little movement can make a big difference.
Nick

"John Gregory" wrote in message

Has anyone done a recent "study" that resulted in a determination of what type of area heater (ceramic, element, oil bath, kerosene, etc) is the most cost effective? IF ALL THE DIFFRENT TYPES OF HEATERS HAVE THE SAME BTU OUTPUT WOULD THE LAST PART OF YOUR QUESTION BE THE SAME. (HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE TO MAINTAIN

THAT TEMP).