space heaters?

[flash]

Having a basement, two stories, and an attic, the masterbedroom is always freezing relative to the rest of the house. I have a Vornado space heater I plug in for a few hours before we come to bed, then turn it off.

Anyone know the break point between when it's more cost effective to use an electric space heater versus resetting the thermostat, or any other ideas? Our heat is fuel oil, so it's cheaper than electricity, but the house is bigger than my old California rancher.

Thanks

[sweeps]

My gut feeling is that using the space heater would be more efficient than raising the temperature of the whole house by, say, 2 or 3 degrees. But I think there are so many variables (cost of electricity vs. fuel oil, efficiency of space heater vs. furnace, draftiness of room vs. the whole house, etc.), it would be difficult to say for sure.

This depends on how your house is laid out, but can you set up a fan to blow warm air into the master bedroom? The fan should be on low, of course.

Also can you close certain vents to help better distribute the heat throughout the house?

[sweeps]

On the other hand, perhaps I'm wrong.

[PRICEPLUS]

While space heaters should be avoided sometimes they are a necessary evil. I have one for when things get uncomfortable for grandma. Sometimes you need a little extra heat in a certain location.

[BillsGirl]

not for florida!! we have a huge state heater called the sun!

[flash]

Am familiar with sun, used to see if when we lived in San Diego.

Thanks for all the info and advice. We do try to readjust the vents between summer and winter requirements. Flannel sheets are helping too.

[pyotr]

Hair Dryers are energy hogs and an average one might use like 1300watts. So does keeping a hair dryer on for some hours sound like an energy savings to you (versus dialing up your thermostat)? It'll take some calculating based on your home's insulation ratings, your home volume, heat sinks etc. So not an easy answer, but my gut feeling also is that in general your not saving alot of any by using space heaters. Unless by space heaters your including wood stoves. In general, the best way to save is to use lots of blankets sleeping and lots of layers of clothing and keep the thermostat at 65 to 68.

[shelbylovesmelby]

in the bedroom that is cold, dh & I use an electric blanket w/ dual controlers. He has it set up so that it's under the bed sheet & then we cover up with a regular comfortor.

I have been thinking about one myself if it would be a cheaper alternative than to jacking up our heating bill. Mind you the warmest room is the basment!!! If it wasn't for the occasional mouse that likes to make it their home, I think we'd all hibernate down there.

[Fern]

To: Shelbylovesmelby:

Years ago when living in Vermont my mother, trying to do me a favor, gave me an old electric blanket she didn't use. In the dead of night i woke up to a toxic chemical smell. The electric blanket, which was UNDER some blankets, was smoking and catching fire. Burnt a large hold right thru all the layers of blankets.

fire chief told me at the time NEVER to put other blankets on top of the electric blanket and not to use one that's more than a year old. That's all they're good for, he said.

don't make the same mistake i did

[shelbylovesmelby]

Thanks for the info Fern I'll have to tell dh about that.

[chrysnblue]

I use to live in a two story townhouse with a combination of gas and electric. I used spaceheaters in the bed rooms while we slept. The temperatures could be set and a time to automatically turn off. They really did save in costs. Before using space heaterswith the thermostat on 70 the bill was between $100 - 150. After sapce heaters I placed the thermostat on 68 and the bill dropped to around $40, the electric bill only rose betwen $5 - 10 depending on how much I used the space heater.

A good fleece blanket does well too. My friend had a fleece set that I would use when I visited. She kept the house around 62 degrees, really had to have it cold when she slept, and I was always warm in it.

[acezz4e_tish]

if your space heater is electric vs the heat being fuel, i would call your local agency to see when off peak hours are. i seen online one site said peak hours between 9 pm and 9 am, but that is for their area, it varies and said to call my provider, my co op said they have no off peak hours right now. i was like wow! i cant believe we dont have any! so i would think thats the best advice, call ur provider and ask what off peak hours are, if its at 9 pm like that one site, then maybe juicing it up from 9-10 before bed would be the best time. hope this helps, huggellzz, tish.

i recently started using an electric space heater in my bedroom and lowered temp in rest of house (oil heat) to 55 at night. my theory is that it's got to be cheaper to use the electric space heater in the bedroom rather than heat the whole house.

[sweeps]

Originally Posted by Claudia

i recently started using an electric space heater in my bedroom and lowered temp in rest of house (oil heat) to 55 at night. my theory is that it's got to be cheaper to use the electric space heater in the bedroom rather than heat the whole house.

Lower the heat just a little more and you won't need to run the refrigerator any more either.

[contrary1]

I added a feather bed to my down comforter. Also made a huge "bed buddy" that I heat and stick in the bed just before I want to get into bed. Wonderfully warm!!!

[ChillPhatCat]

Originally Posted by Sweepsplayer

On the other hand, perhaps I'm wrong.

Using the 1500 Watt estimate you could easily calculate a good approximation of cost per month. Find out how much a Killowatt hour costs during the time you're using it and multiply that by 1.5 KW (1500 Watts).