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radiant electric heat panels?

kb | Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on August 16, 2005 05:41am

Am looking for alternative options for electric baseboard heaters. Adding rooms above garage which will be used only half the week, live in Pennsylvania where we have to heat and cool. No central system. Hopefully, tight construction and good insulation will keep utility costs reasonable.

Anyone have knowledge/experience with electric radiant heat panels? Or electric wall mounted heaters? I am trying to avoid placing the electric heaters near the floor where they will most likely be covered by furniture or be a fire hazard for children who aren’t very careful about where they leave their clothes, etc.

Any thought would be appreciated, thanks

KB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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  1. CJH | Aug 16, 2005 06:43am | #1

    I have some of the radiant cove (wall mounted) heaters in a long, narrow room. They are pretty nice but I got them for dirt cheap and had just enough room on my panel to run them on 220V.

    If I had to pay full price and run them on 110V I'd be a bit disapointed I think.

    The ceiling mounted heaters I don't know as much about. I have heard decent things about Enerjoy and one other company on the east coast. I'll try to look that name up.

    If you do go this route get some advice on the best way to insulate for the type of heat they produce. My floor, ceiling, and walls all have some sort of foil-faced product.

    1. kb | Aug 16, 2005 03:37pm | #2

      Thanks,

      I haven't seen the Enerjoy product yet when on-line searching, I'll check it out. I had seen an electric panel that runs on 4oo watts, supposed to heat a 100 sq'. It is mounted with an inch airspace behind it on the wall 6" above the floor. It is 2' x 2' and 1" thick. I think it is European made. I wonder if anyone out there has ever used or seen these?

      KB

      1. CJH | Aug 16, 2005 03:50pm | #3

        I know the ones you are talking about. I believe they are quite popular in radiant saunas. I know nothing about them.Personally, I prefer having them up near the ceiling. In the room where I use my cove heaters I'll eventually use every inch of wall space and really do not want anything pushed up against any type of baseboard heater.My room is 17' long, 9' wide and just a bit over 8' tall. I have one 750 watt heater at each end of the room. Overkill, but I got a deal on that specific size. With the smallest sized ceiling fan running my vertical temperature gradiant in the room is only 1.5*F. That's pretty good for having heaters with surface temps in excess of 300* up near the ceiling at each end of the room.

        1. bosn | Aug 18, 2005 03:34am | #4

          My brother is an Electrical contractor. He installed Elec cove in his attic addition.  He loves it.  Be sure to install according to the directions thiough, it expands and cantracts alot.  Proper installation will allow for that.If you haven't drawn blood today, you haven't done anything.

          1. CJH | Aug 18, 2005 03:43am | #5

            The husband of my wife's coworker (think I got that right, LOL) is an electrician and installs a lot of them. Says they're very popular. He did the install for us.I was not aware of the expansion/contraction issue. Now that I think about it I can see how the brackets would allow for a bit of float.The main thing I was warned about was not to touch or clean the surface. Oils from our fingers and certain cleaners can burn in, leaving a mark. Not an issue for my application, but that would be a concern in a finished room.

  2. stinger | Aug 18, 2005 04:31am | #6

    I had my sparkie sub install radiant cove heaters in bathrooms where we had no other option, due to space limitations.  They went in over doors and windows.

    Looked like this, and they are by Q-Mark.

    View Image

    They work great, and are available in lengths up to almost 12 feet.

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