Hoyt A. Stearns Jr. <hoyt-stea...@cox.net> wrote: In cold climates, they make nice localized heaters, and will probably cost > less than what your electric furnace would have cost to run . . . >
The energy cost is exactly the same as a resistance electric heater. The equipment cost is far higher. A small, 1.5 kW resistance electric heater costs much less than 15 light bulbs, and it lasts much longer. In most geographic locations, space heating or water heating with electric resistance is extremely uneconomical. You should use a heat pump in warm locals, or gas heating in cold, northern ones. In a few places such as Washington state they have a great deal of hydroelectricity in winter, so it makes sense to use resistance heating. In a cold place with lots of excess wind energy it would also make sense to use resistance heating. An on-demand electric water heater is sometimes an economical solution, such as in a spread-out house where a bathroom is far from where a hot water heater tank can be located. You run only a cold water line to the distant bathroom and heat the water on demand there. - Jed
