Electric vs. Fuel Heaters

When purchasing a heater, is it rather difficult to decide which features are the most important. One of the most common questions surrounding heaters is the one concerning the different types of heaters: heaters that run on electricity and heaters that run on fuel. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages:

Electric heaters:

• are much less expensive.
• are easy to maintain.
• don’t emit pollutants or chemicals into the air.
• can be costly when used very often.
• have all passed rigid safety tests.
• feature many different safety features, including tip-over safety switches and overheat shut-off features.
• usually have lower surface temperatures.
• are relatively silent.
• can feature fans to speed up airflow.

Propane heaters:

• are perfect for instantaneous heat in large, well-ventilated areas.
• operate efficiently by using combustion to directly heat areas.
• don’t waste energy “heating up.”
• provide much more heat than electric heaters.
• are much more cost-effective for larger areas such as warehouses and construction sites.
• are not suitable for areas that are closed off, as they may emit carbon monoxide.

If you are still having a difficult time deciding which type of heater to use, you can even settle for the middle ground: kerosene heaters. These heaters run on fuel as well as electricity. They burn cleaner than propane heaters and warm more area than electric heaters. Kerosene heaters, like those that run on propane, should be used in well-ventilated areas such as patios and backyards, as they also emit carbon monoxide.

Tankless Electric Water Heaters: The Truth, The Myth, The Legend

Tankless electric water heaters provide hot water only when it is needed. Unlike tank-type water heater, they don't produce standby energy losses that cost you money. How they work is that the hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe and into the unit, and an electric element heats the water to deliver a constant supply of hot water.

Keep in mind that tankless electric water heaters typically provide hot water at a rate of 2-5 gallons (7.6 – 15.2 liters) per minute. Smaller tankless electric water heaters are not meant to supply enough hot water for simultaneous, multiple use in large households. This means that there will not be enough hot water supplied if someone is taking a shower and the dishwasher is running at the same time. To overcome the insufficient supply of hot water produced by smaller tankless electric water heaters you can install a whole house type tankless electric water heater, install two or more tankless electric water heaters or install separate tankless electric water heaters for appliances that use a lot of hot water.

Tankless electric water heaters are so beneficial because they are extremely energy efficient. For homes that use 41 gallons or less of hot water daily, tankless electric water heaters can be 24 percent to 34 percent more energy efficient than tank-type water heaters. For homes that use around 86 gallons per day they can be 8 percent to 14 percent more energy efficient. If you install a tankless water heater at each hot water outlet, you can achieve an even greater energy savings or 27 percent to 50 percent.

It is important to consider factors like location, size, demand and application before purchasing a tankless electric water heater. Make sure you are purchasing a tankless water heater with the correct voltage and amperage and that you have a circuit or circuits that will support your heater. It may even be necessary to put the tankless electric water heater on its own circuit or circuits. Also consider where you will be using the tankless electric water heater and how much hot water that location uses. Each fixture has specific demands that must be met to ensure the greatest efficiency and optimal operation.

One especially important factor is the flow rate. Tankless electric water heaters generate a temperature rise based on the flow rate demanded. Also consider the ambient incoming water temperature. This can be affected by the climate you live in. The most important thing to find out is how much temperature rise you will need in order for your hot water to reach the desired heat.

Tankless electric water heaters should be properly installed and maintained for proper operation and energy efficiency. This means it is imperative that you hire a qualified and license plumbing and heating contractor. Request cost estimates in writing, ask for references, check the company with your local Better Business Bureau and confirm that the company will obtain a local permit if necessary when you hire a contractor. Following all of these guidelines should ensure that your tankless electric water heater lasts the entirety of its 20 year life expectancy.

Have Some Fun This Winter - Heat Your Home With Vodka

In addition to cleaning glasses and killing weeds, vodka can apparently also be used to heat your entire home.

Larry Weingarten, a general contractor and water heater expert from Salinas, California, did just that. Prior to 2000, Weingarten had lived in an energy-efficient home where he utilized solar water heating and insulation. However, when he began building his new home on a 131 acre property, he decided to take energy efficiency to the next level: to construct and maintain a home that was truly cost effective with no electric bills and minimal heating costs.

Though Weingarten's home may not seem much more than a wood-shingled rural cabin, he has managed to save money by building a three story house aimed at functionality. He never has to paint his house because he has installed HardiShake shingles to the sides of his dwelling instead of the roof - saving him an estimated $14,000.00 - $18,000 every ten years. His deck is made from a combination of reclaimed wood and plastic which does not splinter or crack, and the banisters in the stairways are composed of steel pipes.

However, Weingarten has saved the most money through his inventive power and heating systems. Because he uses solar panels on the roof and a propane stove in the kitchen, he has no electric bills. His one utility expense is the meager $43 he spends on propane and gas in order to power his water heater, stove, refrigerator, clothes dryer; and in order to pay for the gasoline used to power his backup generator when there is not enough sunshine (not uncommon in Northern California). He also admits to using a wood-burning stove in the winter to supplement his heating system. Other than the relatively minor expenses mentioned above, the solar-generated heat and wood he uses for his stove costs him nothing.

To heat his house, Weingarten uses a combination of solar energy with radiant heating and gravity circulation. A freezeproof mixture of vodka and water is circulated in the basement through solar panels on the roof, as Weingarten claims the distilled beverage is more efficient and energy efficient than regular anti-freeze. With 8 inch thick walls and insulated panels, the heat stays in his home.

While the average person should not attempt to power and heat his home using the above methods, Weingarten's dedicated (although far-fetched) efforts at conserving energy is to be admired.