Electric Oil filled space heater?? Wasteful or Not?

Xringer · 09-07-11, 03:50 PM

Kenwood 1,500-Watt

I've been looking at neat little 9000 BTU inverter mini-splits for my den..
But, the better mini-splits are over $1,000 on average..

So, since I'm retired, lazy, and already own the oil-filled space heater.
I've decided to try it out for real, in the den this winter!!
(We've used it before intermittently).

I plan to use the 600w (2047 BTU) setting and run it on the timer,
set at 70F for 12 hours a day (7.2 kwh per day= $1.512).

It will run during the 90 coldest days of the winter, (1080 hours total).
If it's really cold, 648 kWh will be used, at a cost of $136..

That's about 1/7 the cost of a good 9000 BTU inverter mini-split.
(Which might not last for 7 years)!

Come to think of it, will I still be above ground when I'm 73 years old?

Maybe I'm too old to be investing in new infrastructure..

Anyways, that's the plan.. I think it's kinda funny that our Sanyo is going
to be heating the rest of the house this winter, with a similar power use rate.

Comments?

Cheers,
Rich

Piwoslaw · 09-08-11, 12:47 AM

If just heating your den will allow you to reduce the temperature in the rest of the house, then go for it.

Daox · 09-08-11, 08:52 AM

If you ran both mini splits, wouldn't that allow you to run them both slower thus increasing efficiency?

Xringer · 09-08-11, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piwoslaw

If just heating your den will allow you to reduce the temperature in the rest of the house, then go for it.

Being old and slow, I didn't think of that!

Many times, when we try to heat up den in the winter, we crank up the Sanyo.
That makes too hot in the living room for a while.

Heating it up in there is slow, since it's got four 45x45 inch windows, and
a big sliding glass door on the north side. (Where Canadian air comes down).

My wife likes the den, since she can get up early and turn on the big TV
without worrying about waking me up..

It's 16x18 feet, with a Dutch door (mostly thin glass) and some wooden shudders (small window) connected to the kitchen area.

That 24x30 thing is the deck.

Xringer · 09-08-11, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daox

If you ran both mini splits, wouldn't that allow you to run them both slower thus increasing efficiency?

True, and I would love to have a mini-split in that room..
But right now, I'm looking for Cheap and Easy..
It's already starting to get cold around here.

Ryland · 09-08-11, 09:41 AM

An oil filled heater like that is going to heat the air first, if you were to get an infrared heater that would heat the objects and people in the room first.

You can get base board heater thermostats, more or less a 120v or 240v thermostat (most furnaces have low voltage wiring going to the thermostat) this would allow you to dial in an exact temp that you want the heater to keep the room at instead of setting #2 or whatever on the space heater.

Xringer · 09-08-11, 11:50 AM

A "Radiant" Floor Heating pad, under a throw rug? 470 watts isn't too bad..
RugBuddy 470 (5.5 x 8) Portable under Rug Heater by Speedheat Floor Heating

I wonder how this would work on top of an existing wall-2-wall carpet and pad.?.

My oil-filled heater does have a digital thermostat and it does shut off after the air temp reaches the set-point.

Ryland · 09-09-11, 09:51 AM

Under rug heating is going to be fighting the insulation of the rug so putting it on carpet might not work, but you should be able to find out, if it is safe on carpet then it really should work better because the floor is not going to soak up as much heat, also if your feet are warm the rest of you is going to stay warmer.

Xringer · 09-09-11, 10:58 AM

I would worry about wires breaking.. Since they are going to flex (when stepped on),
being on top of a soft surface of carpet & pad..

My wife wants to get new carpet in the den for some reason.. (And repaint the walls).
So maybe we could add one of these
CarpetMate 470 (5.5 x 8) Carpet Heater Panel | Model number USP.470.11.120 | Speedheat Floor Heating
470 watt 5.8' x 8' heaters right in front of the big couch.. That would keep the tootsies toasty..

The wire might be more durable, since it will be on top of the pad..
I wonder if foil under the pad would help.?. (reflect heat upwards)..

09-07-11, 03:50 PM	#1
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 115 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Electric Oil filled space heater?? Wasteful or Not? Kenwood 1,500-Watt I've been looking at neat little 9000 BTU inverter mini-splits for my den.. But, the better mini-splits are over $1,000 on average.. So, since I'm retired, lazy, and already own the oil-filled space heater. I've decided to try it out for real, in the den this winter!! (We've used it before intermittently). I plan to use the 600w (2047 BTU) setting and run it on the timer, set at 70F for 12 hours a day (7.2 kwh per day= $1.512). It will run during the 90 coldest days of the winter, (1080 hours total). If it's really cold, 648 kWh will be used, at a cost of $136.. That's about 1/7 the cost of a good 9000 BTU inverter mini-split. (Which might not last for 7 years)! Come to think of it, will I still be above ground when I'm 73 years old? Maybe I'm too old to be investing in new infrastructure.. Anyways, that's the plan.. I think it's kinda funny that our Sanyo is going to be heating the rest of the house this winter, with a similar power use rate. Comments? Cheers, Rich

09-08-11, 08:52 AM	#3
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	If you ran both mini splits, wouldn't that allow you to run them both slower thus increasing efficiency? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

09-08-11, 11:50 AM	#7
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 115 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	I see you point.. Radiant seems like it would be better. A "Radiant" Floor Heating pad, under a throw rug? 470 watts isn't too bad.. RugBuddy 470 (5.5 x 8) Portable under Rug Heater by Speedheat Floor Heating I wonder how this would work on top of an existing wall-2-wall carpet and pad.?. My oil-filled heater does have a digital thermostat and it does shut off after the air temp reaches the set-point.

09-08-11, 12:47 AM	#2
Piwoslaw Super Moderator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 964 Thanks: 189 Thanked 111 Times in 87 Posts	If just heating your den will allow you to reduce the temperature in the rest of the house, then go for it. __________________ Ecorenovation - the bottomless piggy bank that tries to tame the energy hog.

09-08-11, 09:41 AM	#6
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	An oil filled heater like that is going to heat the air first, if you were to get an infrared heater that would heat the objects and people in the room first. You can get base board heater thermostats, more or less a 120v or 240v thermostat (most furnaces have low voltage wiring going to the thermostat) this would allow you to dial in an exact temp that you want the heater to keep the room at instead of setting #2 or whatever on the space heater.

09-09-11, 09:51 AM	#8
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	Under rug heating is going to be fighting the insulation of the rug so putting it on carpet might not work, but you should be able to find out, if it is safe on carpet then it really should work better because the floor is not going to soak up as much heat, also if your feet are warm the rest of you is going to stay warmer.

09-09-11, 10:58 AM	#9
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 115 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	I would worry about wires breaking.. Since they are going to flex (when stepped on), being on top of a soft surface of carpet & pad.. My wife wants to get new carpet in the den for some reason.. (And repaint the walls). So maybe we could add one of these CarpetMate 470 (5.5 x 8) Carpet Heater Panel \| Model number USP.470.11.120 \| Speedheat Floor Heating 470 watt 5.8' x 8' heaters right in front of the big couch.. That would keep the tootsies toasty.. The wire might be more durable, since it will be on top of the pad.. I wonder if foil under the pad would help.?. (reflect heat upwards)..