Comments on: Gas vs. Electric Heating

By: Doris

Wed, 02 May 2012 18:05:59 +0000

Pat I think that the gas furnace does dry out the air because it is heating up the air and forcing that hot air through the house.

By: Pat Lambert

Pat Lambert — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:37:48 +0000

already have gas for heating & air

By: fredllfixit.

fredllfixit. — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:55:19 +0000

A further electricity saving –
Instead of heating up a cylinder of water with electricity as a store of hot water as needed, I now heat water “instantaneously” as needed. To get a basinful of hot water, I extended the electric 7Kw. shower lead and head so it would reach the wash-basin. It is slightly on the slow side, the only disadvantage, but it’s plenty hot enough.To get a bathful of hot water, I use the usual immersion-heater cylinder, the full hot-load being just right for a bath, and I use ALL the hot water. I switch it on three quarters of an hour before use, and the thermostat switches it off just before that. Then I turn off at the usual manual switch.(It only heats about half the tank). So no waste there. I also substituted a much smaller electric kettle for my previous 2litre size. So making a cup of tea now wastes no hot water. ALL the hot water from the kettle is used. Co-incidentally, it now says on my Tetley tea-bag packets, “only heat as much water as you need”.
This has cut the weekly electricity consumption from around 66-68Kw/h. to around 56Kw/h. There is no disadvantage with these changes excepting a slight wait as outlined above.
Turning off at mains sockets all the “standby” consuming apparatus made no difference whatsoever to electricity consumption, as far as measuring it is concerned.
Energy costs have gone up in the interim from my last posting.
Electricity = 14p. per Kw/h.,
Gas = 62p. per CuMetre.
Supplier, Scottish Power. Price calculations from billing detail, it being impossible to understand their tariffs.
Fred, Leeds, England.

By: Pat

Pat — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 16:22:52 +0000

Does gas heat dry skin? Since we installed a gas furnace the inside of my nose & face are really dry.

By: Alex Petrocco

Alex Petrocco — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 01:47:37 +0000

I have a three bedroom house in Toronto . the area is all electric I have electric base board heaters and electric water heater . After 33 year I have replace my water heater once last year I own it I Installed it I owned the old one as well the house was built in the early 1960-64 I have the original base board heaters. I installed two electronic thermostats in the living room and the the basement big room. I also installed a timer on my water heater a insulated the tank and pipes.my question is how long does a gas water heat last and the cost and also a gas furnace. the money you save you will spend to repair and replace them in 15 years if they last. people talk about the gas and electric bill but no one adds the cost of repair service and replacements. I am a professional major appliance service tech. I know how much people spend to service there appliances,its not peanuts.

By: Alfred

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 02:23:37 +0000

Thanks for these very informative comments. I would add that heat can also be saved in winter by insulating your ceiling (in the attic) and your house from the outside. Planting shade trees on the south side of your house will save on air conditioning costs in summer. I live in western Canada, and heat my home with an outside wood-burning-furnace, as we do not have natural gas on this acreage. Electricity, in my opinion, is one of the most expensive ways to produce heat

By: Electric Heaters Review

Electric Heaters Review — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:11:01 +0000

Gas heaters able deliver more heat BTU-wise than electric heaters.
Take for example the portable Mr Heater ( http://electric-heaters-review.com/mr-heater-mh18b-portable-big-buddy-heater-review ), 15,000 BTUs. And what can the 2,000 Watts electric heaters do? 6,000 BTUs at their best but wast majority does around 5,000 on 1,500 Watts power.
You just have to decide if you take the risk by using gas heater indoors. (Fire-hazard, carbon-monoxide poisoning danger, etc).
I wouldn’t however would recommend them in garages and sheds, but never unattended.

By: HVAC MAN

HVAC MAN — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:20:16 +0000

Heating with electricity IS more efficient when a high SEER heat pump when below the 40th parallel.

By: Electric Heaters Review

Electric Heaters Review — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:49:40 +0000

Gas has more potential, more BTUs I mean. Electric space heater limit is around 5000 BTUs at 1,500 Watts.
But on the other hand gas heaters are pretty dangerous. The hazards and other safety issues and comparisons of heater types can be read on the main page of the http://electric-heaters-review.com website.

By: Shelley

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:21:49 +0000

My parents when they bought this house back in 1965 was an oil boiler with electric heat. When i took over the house when they passed away is gas boiler with electric heat. It is a good price so it seems to me. I live in Canada where I get all seasons and can either bring up the heat for down the heat and gas and electric heat.