Electric heaters all work the same

no mater how much they cost .

A 50 cent light bulb works as good as a $100 oil filled heater

There is a big myth running around that one electric space heater works better than another. For example that oil filled heaters work better than a cheap light bulb because they heat the oil and the oil keeps radiating after the power is removed by the thermostat.
    The truth is that all electric heaters are 100% efficient. It doesn't matter if it is a light bulb filament, a fancy quartz heater, the elements in your electric furnace, the elements in your electric hot water heater or your toaster. The fact is that 100% of the electrical energy is converted into heat and there is nothing you can do to increase or decrease that energy conversion.
    I get a big kick out of the expensive heater that are sold in the home improvement stores and home improvement magazines. The only major difference is that some are much safer than other but NOT more efficient.
    I contend that most house fires in major cities are caused by electric space heaters either overheating the wiring and outlets (aka receptacles) or setting the furnishings on fire if the tip switch fails. I am quite sure that the use of cheap extension cords is the cause of a lot of these fires.
    If you have an all electric house including electric heat you are doing the same thing if you run the light as if you run the heating system . In some cases you are better off running light bulbs because the heat from the light bulbs stays in your house. If you have an electric forced air system located in the attic or crawl space chances are you are loosing heat into the un heated area but the light bulbs keep the heat in the room.
    The advantage of a radiant heater is that it can heat just the objects in the room but not the air but all the heat eventually ends up in the room which is less costly.
A radiant floor system works the same way and is much safer although more expensive to install.
 This page will be updated soon.
 Scott


     Definitions:
  1. Blower: usually a squirrel cage centrifugal air moving device. Will move large volumes of air relatively quiet. Will use less energy with more back pressure.
  2. Fan: a paddle type air moving device used where noise is not a major consideration. Will use more energy with more back pressure.
  3. Combustion blower: A blower used on high efficiency gas furnaces or oil burners to move combustion air. usually 1/20 to 1/6  horsepower.
  4. OEM: Original equipment manufacturer.
  5. Horsepower: 746 watts
  6. RPM: revolutions per minute.
  7. Service factor: the extent to which a motor can be safely overloaded beyond its name plate ratting without over heating.
  8. Air over horsepower: The rating of a motor assuming air flow through the windings usually as a result of the air moving device.
  9. SAE: Society of Automotive Engineers.
  10. High efficiency furnace: Furnace that uses over 85% of the energy in the gas.
  11. Condensing furnace: Gas furnace that uses over 92% of the energy in the gas and condenses the gas into liquid condensate and hot air. If your furnace has PVC pipe venting it then you have a condensing furnace.
   To learn about your oil furnace click here.
To identify the components of your gas furnace click here.
To find out more about fan and blower motors click here
To find out what controls the fan in the heat mode or proper settings
To get parts look to Grainger or Johnstone.
For a list of my supply houses in Maryland and nationwide.
If your heat pump forms ice outside in the heat mode click here.
If your air conditioner or heatpump ices up in the cooling mode click here.
If you have water leaking problems with your air conditioner  click here to solve it.
For other heat pump problems click here.
For other heating system problems click here.
 Any other questions feel free to contact us by any of the means below. good luck Scott.
    If you were looking for Ice Machine repairs click here.

Written By:  Scott Meenen N3SJH of:
G&S MECHANICAL SERVICES.
Specializing in Mechanical, Controls and Electrical Modifications Of
Heating, Air-conditioning, Refrigeration, Cold storage,
Ice Production and Food preservation.
Anything having to do with Heat and Energy.
Serving MD, DC, and Northern VA.
Contact us by pager: 1-877-467-2914

Page us by e-mail 4103560613.3732505@pagenet.net 240Chrs max.
 

Email us at: jsmeenen@toad.net

                 This text written by: Scott Meenen * G & S Mechanical

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