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electric radiators

sugarmaple | Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on April 21, 2009 05:05am

Hello!
I am building a house in Northern California, and am considering using electric radiators.
They seem to offer many advantages:
– each room can be its own zone
– electrical wiring is straightforward as compared to plumbing or tin work for forced air
– modern thermostats offer flexibility in programing and control
– I like to comfort factor of radiated heat as opposed to convection.

Any differing opinions are most welcome. I am specifically looking for recommendations on brand, type and any gotchas.

Many thx!

Sugarmaple.

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  1. Clewless1 | Apr 21, 2009 06:59am | #1

    Good start. FYI ... electric baseboards ARE convection heat ... just not forced convection. 'Radiator' is a bit of a misnomer ... especially for electric baseboards as they simply set up convective currents to take heat into the room.

    Inexpensive to install, but VERY expensive to use ... electric heat might cost you 3 times what other heat does.

    You need to think about where the convective current goes .... possibly up behind the drapes to warm the window and lose the heat. The heat rises up ... keep an eye on what it will be doing. Set drapes and blinds inside the window recess if possible.

    Consider your alternatives. They are more expensive to install, but you have a lower bill. Electric heat during the day in California will end up being VERY expensive w/ the way they typically do their rate schedules.

    Once you put it in ... your options are limited. Personally I'd do Cadett in the wall electric forced air heaters before I'd do baseboard, I think. Put them on interior walls. Good insulation and windows will ensure minimal cost no matter what you do. Windows are expensive ... AND inefficient ... buy the best you can possibly afford. Orient them right ... buy the right glass for the right orientation ... clear for south protected glass ... tinting/mirror for west and east unprotected.

    Minimize the load and your bills will follow. Any plans for cooling? Often the need for cooling dictates ducted HVAC .... may as well go e.g. gas furnace then.

  2. mike_maines | Apr 21, 2009 02:54pm | #2

    Like Clewless said, electric baseboard radiators heat primarily by convection.  The only electric radiators I can think of are towel warmers, made by Runtal or others, or maybe the freestanding oil-filled upright radiators.

    Anyway, my house in Maine is heated by propane-fired space heaters (Rennai) but in the bedrooms and bathroom I have electric baseboard.  Used occasionally, to augment the Rennais, they are efficient and cost-effective.  I don't think I'd want to heat the entire house with them though.  With occasional use they add about $1/day to the electric bill, for two small bedrooms and a bathroom. 

    Most systems allow separate zones, if you plan for them.  If you like radiant heat, in-floor is the best.  The in-floor electric mats provide some heat, but I don't know if it's enough to heat a room.  Hydronic in-floor heat is great.

    You might also look at a forced hot air system.  With modern ones, you can hardly tell they're on.  They are conducive to electric-powered heat exchangers such as Hallowel's Acadia unit.  It's a little tricky to zone rooms, but you can zone floors and play with dampers to get the control you want.

    1. sugarmaple | Apr 21, 2009 04:02pm | #3

      Many thx for the replies.
      I want to point out, I did mean electric *radiators*. Either oil-filled, or using some other approach.There is a good article in some past FHB about the differences between convection and radiant heating. I agree with its conclusions that radiant heat is more comfortable.I saw on the internet that Runtal (spelling?) makes some towel warmers, but I am still wondering if there is an actual "best in class" recommendation out there for electric radiators (and as pointed out in your replies, not the convection-based electric baseboards.In the SF Bay area, I am building a 2200SQFT house, with fully insulated 2X6 walls. The heat is not needed for most of the year, and when it is, it makes sense to me to heat the people in the house, not the house itself or the air within it. I know the costs per BTU are in favor of natural gas, but when I factor in the system losses of inefficiency of heat transfer to water, then the transport loss from the heater/boiler, the installation costs, etc... it seems to be that electric radiators (again, not baseboards) are the ticket.All comments and suggestions most welcome.Many thx again.Sugarmaple.

      1. Scott | Apr 21, 2009 07:26pm | #4

        Are you thinking about the simple plug-in kind? You wouldn't be allowed to use these as the primary source of heat here because they are not considered a permanent fixture.Do you need A/C in your area? if so consider an air-to-air heat pump which provides a much more efficient source of heat than electrical resistance heaters (baseboards or plug-in) and provides A/C too.Scott.

        1. sugarmaple | Apr 21, 2009 07:36pm | #5

          am thinking permanent fixtures.Regards,Sugarmaple.

          1. mike_maines | Apr 21, 2009 10:04pm | #6

            If you're thinking of units like these:

            http://traco.manufacturer.globalsources.com/si/6008803640468/pdtl/Electric-heater/1006981602/Radiator.htm

            http://homstar.manufacturer.globalsources.com/si/6008811077893/pdtl/Electric-heater/1006032643/Radiator-Heater.htm

            http://odesun.manufacturer.globalsources.com/si/6008824927852/pdtl/Electric-heater/1011109324/Heater.htm

            I would stick with Runtal

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