I’m interested in installing cove heaters in my bedrooms, but i’m not finding much information on them online except for sales pitches. My local electric co-op didn’t even know what i was talking about and i can’t find local sources to buy them. I’m owndering if this is just custom or if there is a reason for not using them.
Searching BT, i find Mike Smith uses them as back-up for solar, but i haven’t found much on how comfortable they are or if there are any drawbacks, e.g. does your head get too hot, how do plants respond, do the elements make noise, does 110V or 220V matter..that sort of information. Any experiences or advice for me? Better brand names? A calculator for sizing? (I used the calculators on two different websites and one told me 1800 watts and the other told me 4500 for the same room.)
Replies
OK, I'll bite...what's a cove heater? I never heard the term.
I hadn't heard about it until recently either. It's an electric radiant panel that mounts just below the intersection of wall and ceiling on brackets. No fan and no dirty-stinky fins. Here's a picture:
View Image
never seen them used...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Thanks - that was a mystery to me!
might know them under a different name...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
No, never encountered them before. Learn something new every day at BT!
Doesn't look like anyone else knows about them, either. Must be a BT first...
In Nebraska they are used a lot.
Take a lok at http://www.nppd.com/my_home/product_brochures/additional_files/cove_heating.asp
Have you experienced a room heated like this? I see that same graphic in all the ads, but i'd like to hear from folks who've used them, too.
Some utilities are even giving rebates with them or selling them at reduced priced for their customers, so they sound good...
I have used three-footers in small bathroom spaces, where there was no other way to get some heat in there. My sparkie wired them on 110V.
They work OK, and don't get your head too hot.
Thanks, Gene. Do yours have a thermostat on the wall, or the dial mounted on the bottom of the unit itself? I read instructions for the latter, but i don't think i'd be tall enough to reach it!
My in laws have had them for years and think they are great. They live in Nebraska. I have not personally used them.There is a good cost comparison at http://www.nppd.com/My_Home/Product_Brochures/Additional_Files/heating_costs.aspI think geothermal is the way to go in the long run.
Edited 9/1/2006 1:42 am by gb93433
Geothermal and solar will be my options when i do a house from scratch, but this time my options are propane and electric. When efficiency is factored in, the costs are not far apart for running, while installation of the electric is much easier. Also i like very much the cove heaters are out of the way of furniture and that i can zone romm-by-room.Thank for pointing out the graphs to me. I figured out the costs of electric v. propane for a girlfriend and found out propane would need to hit $2.12 to be the same as the costs of electric, IF she actually got 86% efficiency out of a propane on-demand heater. Propane hit $1.98 already LAST year, so we went with the electric SEISCO heater for her RFH.