Energy Efficient Electric HeatersLowering Energy CostsThese frugal strategies to save money on energy efficient electric heaters will certainly make your wallet happy. It's all about lowering costs by adapting these heating sources to match your living needs.
Energy Efficient Electric HeatersAre Electric Heaters Really Energy Efficient?The truth is, no! Electric heat is usually the most expensive and least efficient heating source. In fact, if you have the option of going with a central "gas" forced heating system, it will certainly cost you less.However, you may not have this option if your home heating is electrical based or perhaps the cost to convert to a central forced-air furnace is too expensive. If this is the case, there are definitely ways to work with your electrical heating to make it cost effective for your needs – please see below. Energy Efficient Electric Heater OptionsCentral Electric Based Heating. This is a forced-air electric furnace. If you have this heating system, you'll find it is set up very similar to central gas forced furnace heating. It has ductwork and discharge vents running throughout the rooms of your house.If you have one of these, you probably have noticed that you've been paying a good amount of money in heating bills. You end up paying more than you would if you used a gas-forced system since utility companies have been gouging people with significant electricity cost increases year over year. There's a solution! You can recover the cost of converting from an electric to a gas forced furnace by the additional cost savings you'll get from the gas-forced if you plan on living in your home for at least 5 years. Don't forget, you already have the advantage of having the ductwork and discharge vents already set up. You can also make your existing forced-air electrical heating system more energy efficient. You simply adjust your furnace fan to blow at a lower starting temperature and stop blowing after the heating elements stop receiving power at a lower temperature. Baseboard Electrical Heaters. As you see in the picture below, this heating system is mounted to the walls throughout your home.
Baseboard UnitYou'll find that most homes originally built with electrical heating, used baseboard over central electrical heating. What's nice about baseboards’, is they don't require ductwork and their inexpensive. If you use baseboard heating and are considering upgrading to what is supposed to be more efficient baseboards, please don't waste your hard earned money. Your baseboard heaters should already be at 100% efficiency. Instead, you can keep the baseboards you have and save on your heating costs by focusing on window and door weather-stripping. Caulking and better wall, floor and attic insulation will also help you to better keep the heat in your home. If you do decide that you want to buy new baseboard electrical heaters, you'll want to get the ones with programmable thermostats to reduce room heat at times when your sleeping our out of the house. Portable Electric Heaters. My house is heated by a central gas-forced furnace, but my office in the basement is the only room that's not well heated. So, I use my portable electric heater in this room to better warm myself, including my feet. You'll find the portables also come in handy for colder rooms where you may only need part of the room heated up; like my basement office example.
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