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Thread ID: 111927 2010-08-17 01:44:00 Heaters kbp (7436) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1128593 2010-08-17 01:44:00 Anyone know which is the most economical and cheapest heating system to use at homes? Electricity is killing ... I use Oil fin heaters and work out so expensive. Any ideas friends? kbp (7436)
1128594 2010-08-17 01:44:00 wood prefect (6291)
1128595 2010-08-17 01:46:00 dont have a fireplace kbp (7436)
1128596 2010-08-17 01:50:00 I would say Heat Pumps are the cheapest, certainly a lot cheaper than conventional heaters, you get a lot more heat per $

Nothing beats a log burner for comfort however :p
Battleneter2 (9361)
1128597 2010-08-17 01:58:00 agreed but the Heat pumps are expensive to install .. friend told me he got it done for around $5k ... kbp (7436)
1128598 2010-08-17 02:26:00 agreed but the Heat pumps are expensive to install .. friend told me he got it done for around $5k ...

Yea somewaht true. Depends on the size of your house but a smaller house can be 3k-4K.

When you calculate the power saving it might take 8 years to get back your investment but you will be a lot more comfortable than 8 years with conventional heaters. Heat pumps are generally thought to last around 15 years, but clearly dependant on a wide range of factors, brand, usage, luck!


Going from a house some time ago with conventional electric heating to a heat pump, all i can say is if you have the money and plan to stay put, don't even think twice, you will only regret not doing it sooner.
Battleneter2 (9361)
1128599 2010-08-17 02:33:00 I still remember a very good answer posted by qazwsxokmijn quite some time ago:

pressf1.pcworld.co.nz


Heaters. Heaters heaters heaters. Damn things suck up your electricity.

Only turn them on an hour before you go to bed an half an hour before you wake up. Use a timer to turn it on and off in intervals while you sleep.
Renmoo (66)
1128600 2010-08-17 03:21:00 dont have a fireplace

Sad. But wood is the cheapest. Well actually coal probably is and wood second cheapest.
pctek (84)
1128601 2010-08-17 03:27:00 well unfortunately they dont build fireplaces in new homes. kbp (7436)
1128602 2010-08-17 05:58:00 our winter bills were up to $500/mo when we had oil fin heaters, this year it has not toppled $250/mo. we put in a heat pump for the lounge. we used to have like 2x 2300W oil fin heaters going like 8hr a day. we also put in insulation but the lounge does not have cos the ceiling is too high - no attic.

now we still have the odd oil fin in the bedrooms.
cheapest IMO is really just putting it on a low setting like the oil fins might have 1 bar or 2 bar or both on = 3bars. try to use 1 bar only and wear a sweater like a merino top, trackpants and socks. duvet jackts are also quite nice too and comfy, thermals can be tight.

all heaters IMO are the same, oil fin IMO heats the room more uniformly than a fan or radiant heater. but they are all the same cost, electric heaters are 100% efficient, 1kW of electricity provides 1kW of heater (1,000W), so a 2.3kW heater cost maybe 2.3 x 20c a kW (these days) per hour if you have it at full whack.

i've seen heat pumps for around $1,600 depending on the size of your room, we have a 5kW I think with a 2-3m high ceiling. if you don't you could get a 2kW I guess. we have ours heating the lounge and the dining room. installation cost varies $500-800 depending how far away you need to fit the exterior unit.
Nomad (952)
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