FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

Electric Radiant Heat

booch | Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on October 22, 2002 12:51pm

Radiant Electric Heat is offered as a heating solution for a cottage I’m building. I’m wondering what is hype & what is real.

WWW.electricheat.com is the source I’m having quote the parts. The center of the quandary is this phrase:

“Efficient use of electricity…Heats people not empty space.”

I guess I’m confused. It is supposed to be an infra red heat source. It mounts easily, the wiring is simple, and the maintenance is limited to dusting.

Anyone have a comparison to a high efficiency gas furnace? I suspect electricity is more expensive per heat unit than gas, but the strength of this is supposed to be in the fact that this heats the objects and not the air.

It differs from other electric heaters they say but I’m not sure how.

Reply
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Replies

  1. User avater
    BillHartmann | Oct 22, 2002 07:24am | #1

    Well you can get radiant and infra red heat in gas also.

    But all of the gas infra red heaters that I have seen have been designed for garage/warehouse/outdoor use.

    But no mater how efficient the electric is if you are paying 20 cents a KWH and have a fee gas well in the back yard then it isn't cost effective.

    The first thing is that you need to find out what your local rate structure is.

    Also you called this a cottage. Does that imply that it will be used infrequently and that maybe it is winterized most of the winter.

    1. booch | Oct 22, 2002 03:48pm | #3

      Yep it will be winterized, although it is well insulated the thought to heat it all winter seems silly.

      Electricity is $0.075 per KWH plus about 8 percent in various taxes & fees.

      In BTU's The energy calculation is about 60,000 at the coldest.

  2. TLRice | Oct 22, 2002 03:08pm | #2

    Booch,

    A typical comparison for gas vs electric heat.

    The average cost of residential electricity in the lower 48 is about $0.08/kwh and natural gas runs anywhere from $0.30 to $1.00/therm, normally, the average being around $0.50/therm. In low supply/high demand, the price can exceed $2.00/therm. A therm = 100,000 btu.

    1 kilowatt = 3413 btu/hour, used over the period of 1 hour = 1 kilowatt-hour (kwh).

    For a heat loss at 50,000 btu/hour the cost to operat a 90% efficient furnace, that has a 1/4 hp blower motor is:

    5.8Ax120V 696w=0.696 kwh x 0.08= 0.06 +

    50,000 btu/0.9= 55,556 btu input /100,000 = 0.556 therm x 0.5 = 0.27

    = total/hour about $0.34, if gas cost $1.50/therm (very high cost for NG) total = $0.89

    for the same energy into the space with electicity:

    50,000 btu/3413 = 14.6 kw x 0.08 = $1.17, if electricity cost $0.04/kwh (a very low cost) = $ 0.59.

    So unless gas is VERY expensive in your area and/or electicity is VERY cheap, gas wins the price war easily.

    I have LP as fuel at my house and contract for $0.84/gallon. I figured that at $1.00/gallon, electricity would have to cost me less than $0.035/kwh to be equal. Never going to happen in my neck of the woods.

    1. booch | Oct 23, 2002 12:44am | #4

      Lp is $.86/gal here.

      Thanks, I just left the place and I'm having the P&H guys install the furnace. sealed combustion Armstrong 80Kbtu.

      After your post I was convinced this type of heating is great for an outdoor hotdog stand but in the house it would be silly. If I had alergy problems or an aversion to a gas furnace then it would make sense. It is an interesting phenomonon but it doesn't seem right for this application.

      Financially I don't have any gain I can see. Thanks for making this resolved in my mind.

      1. xMikeSmith | Oct 23, 2002 06:38am | #5

        Booch.... we've used electric radiant heat since the mid-70's... the ones we use are the electric cove heaters... you can see them in a Grainger's catalogue..

        they look like long panels about 3" thick... 4" high and anywheres from 3' to 10' long.. they mount on the walls about 5" below the ceiling...

        they are faster response than electric convector heaters.. they do heat objects  which in turn heats the air..

        they will radiate right out a window.. so it's best to mount them on exterior walls.. their installed cost is very low compared to a boiler or hot air heater  so the pay back can be as quick as 3 years or so... the benefit is no combustion products.. no chimney... a more efficient use of electricity than baseboard convection heaters... fast response... easy on / off..pretty ideal for a weekend vacation home..

        drawbacks.. higher operating cost.... some don't like them mounted on a wall

        since our house is heated by solar hot air about 60% of the time.. they do make an ideal backup heat source for the solar...

        Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

        1. booch | Oct 23, 2002 02:06pm | #6

          They truely look like a good heating source but it is hard to imagine that many "Pods" hanging off the wall. Still it seems a good way to warm the room as a backup to the sun.

          As I wrote above my die is cast as I just turned on the P&H contractor to finish the LP Gas furnace.

          Like yourself there are many enthusiasts in the country that appreciate this heat source. If I wasn't in the Frozen Tundra I would have gone that way. As it is, the need for heat is not a supplementary concern in my neighborhood.

          Just out of curiosity, how do you control the heat? is there a collection of thermostats, one in each room? What about switching the power to the heating elements. Is that (the power switching) done with a contactor in a box run by the thermostat?

          1. xMikeSmith | Oct 23, 2002 03:41pm | #7

            the solar hot air is central and controlled by one thermostat.. if it doesn't have enough heat to satisfy.. the rooms start getting colder... each room has it's own electric heat thermostat which we set at what ever we want... so for example... in the family room.. if the solar doesn't satisfy.. it cools down to say 65.. the radiant heat calls and maintains 65... as the solar gains heat, the electric heat shuts off... (KISS)Mike Smith   Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

      2. TLRice | Oct 23, 2002 04:00pm | #8

        "Lp is $.86/gal here."

        Not a bad price. I had all electric baseboard heat in the house I own and pay around $0.07/kwh. At $1.00/gallon for LP and a 90% furnace, LP was less than 50% of the cost to heat with electricity.

        "... sealed combustion Armstrong 80Kbtu." 80,000 btu/hour (btuh) would typically designated as 80 Mbh. no kilo's with btu's. I don't know why.

        "If I had alergy problems or an aversion to a gas furnace.." I couldn't address any aversions, but if you did have allergies, a forced air furnace, with the right accesories and set up properly, would be more beneficial for your breathing than any other type of heating. The wetheads will disagree, but they're wrong.

        1. booch | Oct 23, 2002 06:11pm | #9

          "... sealed combustion Armstrong 80Kbtu." 80,000 btu/hour (btuh) would typically designated as 80 Mbh. no kilo's with btu's. I don't know why. "

          I work selling electrical products to industry. The world there is M,D,C,L,X. for piece parts (wire ties and the like), Watts (VA) is K. Never really thought about it. I guess it is Kilo-Watts. Must be some arcane europeen reference/language. Not that M from Latin is any less arcane.

          1. User avater
            BillHartmann | Oct 23, 2002 07:11pm | #10

            Commerical vs scientific notation.

            M,D,C,L,X are from the Roman numerials and as you said they are often used for counting parts and the like.

            Kilo, mega, deca, micro, etc are from the greek are are used as prefixes to scienctific measurements.

            Beside power you will see them used on the parameters of the parts that you sell (resistance, capacitance, leakage, etc), almost any medical parameters, computers (mega bytes) and the like.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Video Shorts

Categories

  • Business
  • Code Questions
  • Construction Techniques
  • Energy, Heating & Insulation
  • General Discussion
  • Help/Work Wanted
  • Photo Gallery
  • Reader Classified
  • Tools for Home Building

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Drafting the 2027 IRC

Key proposals for the next edition of the International Residential Code tackle room sizes, stair specs, emergency egress, and deck guards, among other requirements.

Featured Video

Video: Build a Fireplace, Brick by Brick

Watch mason Mike Mehaffey construct a traditional-style fireplace that burns well and meets current building codes.

Related Stories

  • Podcast Episode 695: Saving Bricks, Cut-and-Cobble Insulation, and Waterproofing Foundations
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Waterproofing Below-Grade Foundation Walls
  • Midcentury Home for a Modern Family
  • The New Old Colonial

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 333 - August/September 2025
    • A Practical Perfect Wall
    • Landscape Lighting Essentials
    • Repairing a Modern Window Sash
  • Issue 332 - July 2025
    • Custom Built-ins With Job-Site Tools
    • Fight House Fires Through Design
    • Making the Move to Multifamily
  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

Enjoy unlimited access to Fine Homebuilding. Join Now

Already a member? Log in

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data