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Space Heater Questions... #7721551
11/19/22 10:13 AM
11/19/22 10:13 AM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,683
Newark, Ohio 83 years
Actor Offline OP
trapper
Actor  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,683
Newark, Ohio 83 years
I live in an older house built in 1903, it is very drafty and cold. It was never upgraded over the years and kept up to date like it should have been. Now, I have the house, but haven't got the money to pour into it, to bring it up to standard, as I see it should be. Cold weather is a killer and very hard to keep warm. I bought a smallish cabinet model space heater a couple of years that certainly helped out. Since that time the cost of electricity has slowly crept up to where it is hard to pay at times. I am not looking for a handout or money... Just information.

I have seen small space heaters that the say they will heat up too 200 to 300 sq. ft. for a very reasonable price. It would be a heater I could take from room to room. I spend most of time at; the computer, sitting in my chair watching tv or working on my fur projects, taking a shower, or in the cellar skinning and fleshing with my tanning. If I had a small portable heater, I could easily take it with me from to room.

NOW... my question is how do I tell from the information on the box or online how much current the equipment will draw that would drastically affect my electrical bill. I know when I used the cabinet model I have, it was an appreciable amount. Some of the info that is available is like... 5100 BTU, 1500 w, 750 w, one said 2 settings 1300w or 1500w. What do I need to look for that will keep my costs down. My electricity has increased by almost 50% in the last year and half, and my soc sec has increased only a few percent.

Thank you for any help you can give me. I have done a lot of wiring and other electrical jobs, but don't know the technicalities, when operating costs have been thrown into the works.

Garry-


“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”

Have been trapping 77 years…
Re: Space Heater Questions... [Re: Actor] #7721563
11/19/22 10:24 AM
11/19/22 10:24 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,755
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
trapper
Law Dog  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,755
Central, SD
Look into a Government program to weatherize your house or your just throwing money out the window. If that is not available weatherize a few rooms you use the most for the winter months.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Space Heater Questions... [Re: Actor] #7721568
11/19/22 10:30 AM
11/19/22 10:30 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,755
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
trapper
Law Dog  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,755
Central, SD
Just spent 3 weeks in a cabin in MO about the size of a 1 car garage that was very well insulated (the guy worked for Owen Corning) it was heated by a fireplace looking electric heater and a oil type electric heater. One heater heated it most of the time at times I had to turn both off it was so warm.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Space Heater Questions... [Re: Actor] #7721573
11/19/22 10:35 AM
11/19/22 10:35 AM
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,554
North central Iowa
B
Bob_Iowa Offline
trapper
Bob_Iowa  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,554
North central Iowa

Re: Space Heater Questions... [Re: Actor] #7721575
11/19/22 10:37 AM
11/19/22 10:37 AM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,468
Iowa
T
trapdog1 Offline
trapper
trapdog1  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,468
Iowa
I know I don't need to tell you this, but I'm going to anyway just as a reminder. Please be careful with space heaters. Some of them are tremendous fire hazards.

Re: Space Heater Questions... [Re: Actor] #7721582
11/19/22 10:42 AM
11/19/22 10:42 AM
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,206
Missouri
H
HayDay Offline
trapper
HayDay  Offline
trapper
H

Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,206
Missouri
I've been in a few of those old homes over the years. One of note was a big 2 story antebellum mansion built around 1840. Exterior walls solid brick.....an well over 1 foot thick. Magnificent home......in winter, cold as scorned lover's heart.

Old couple that owned it simply lived in two rooms of it when weather got cold. Small wood stove kept it downright balmy in the part they lived in. Cheap and highly effective.

Re: Space Heater Questions... [Re: Actor] #7721594
11/19/22 10:59 AM
11/19/22 10:59 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,457
ny
G
gcs Offline
trapper
gcs  Offline
trapper
G

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,457
ny
Making heat with electricity is expensive, "low cost" heaters use less electricity cause they put out less heat.

In a well insulated space it may be reasonable to use, otherwise you will be losing that expensive heat fast. Hard to defeat physics....

Re: Space Heater Questions... [Re: Actor] #7721603
11/19/22 11:15 AM
11/19/22 11:15 AM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,852
meadowview, Virginia
E
EdP Offline
trapper
EdP  Offline
trapper
E

Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,852
meadowview, Virginia
The watts drawn is the key and the site Iowa Bob sent you will tell you exactly what the cost will be. Electric resistance heaters, whether they be the type that look like an old fashioned radiator and are oil filled, electric fireplaces, hair dryers, toasters, or hard wired baseboard, all work the same and are a very expensive way to heat. Have you considered kerosene?

Re: Space Heater Questions... [Re: Actor] #7721727
11/19/22 02:24 PM
11/19/22 02:24 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,958
St. Louis Co, Mo
B
BigBob Offline
trapper
BigBob  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,958
St. Louis Co, Mo
Have you considered a wood stove?


Every kid needs a Dog and a Curmudgeon.

Remember Bowe Bergdahl, the traitor.

Beware! Jill Pudlewski, Ron Oates and Keven Begesse are liars and thiefs!
Re: Space Heater Questions... [Re: Actor] #7721746
11/19/22 02:53 PM
11/19/22 02:53 PM
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,206
Missouri
H
HayDay Offline
trapper
HayDay  Offline
trapper
H

Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,206
Missouri
When I was a kid, the house my grandmother lived in was not much tighter than the barn. They had a propane fired "warm morning stove".......what they called a floor furnace. Basically similar to one of the modern high efficiency gas fireplaces.....vented style. That thing sat out in the living room and would kick on and off. Some of them had a low speed blower......but they pumped out the heat. Need a propane connection and vent stack to the roof.....about the same as what a gas hot water heater would use. Will run you out of there if you crank it up and let it perc.

Re: Space Heater Questions... [Re: EdP] #7721782
11/19/22 04:13 PM
11/19/22 04:13 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,973
MD
D
DaveP Offline
trapper
DaveP  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,973
MD
Originally Posted by EdP
. Have you considered kerosene?


Have you priced kerosene lately?
WOW!

With current inflation,might be cheaper to burn dollar bills!

Re: Space Heater Questions... [Re: Actor] #7721821
11/19/22 05:41 PM
11/19/22 05:41 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,780
St. Cloud, MN
trapperkeck Offline
trapper
trapperkeck  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 9,780
St. Cloud, MN
We have a couple of these, Lasko ceramic heaters. They seem to be fairly efficient and much safer than the old milk house style heaters. I can easily keep an average sized room heated with one.
[Linked Image]

Last edited by trapperkeck; 11/19/22 05:41 PM.

"The voice of reason!"
Re: Space Heater Questions... [Re: Actor] #7721831
11/19/22 05:59 PM
11/19/22 05:59 PM
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,365
New York border
Cragar Offline
trapper
Cragar  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,365
New York border
Generally using an extension cord with a space heater is a bad idea. This is the cause of most fires with them. If you absolutely have to , use one of the short beefed up ones designed for an A/C. Definitely do not put the cord under anything like a carpet.
[Linked Image]

Using no extension cord is best.


NRA benefactor member
Re: Space Heater Questions... [Re: Actor] #7721901
11/19/22 07:49 PM
11/19/22 07:49 PM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,035
wyoming southeast
D
danvee Offline
trapper
danvee  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,035
wyoming southeast
Best heater I know of is insulation it will be well worth it otherwise all forms of heating will be expensive.

Re: Space Heater Questions... [Re: Actor] #7721906
11/19/22 07:53 PM
11/19/22 07:53 PM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,683
Newark, Ohio 83 years
Actor Offline OP
trapper
Actor  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,683
Newark, Ohio 83 years
After read everything and given considerable thought... I guess I will just put on another layer of clothing... Thanks guys for the info.

Garry-


“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”

Have been trapping 77 years…
Re: Space Heater Questions... [Re: Actor] #7721916
11/19/22 08:06 PM
11/19/22 08:06 PM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10,787
Asheville, NC
C
charles Offline
trapper
charles  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10,787
Asheville, NC
There are laws of physics that can’t be denied. Beware of claims that an Amish made electric heater can work wonders for the price of a 100W light bulb. Can’t be done. All energy forms contain a fixed amount of energy.

Insulation is your path to savings. I grew up in a house like you described. It was cold in the winter and impossible to cool in the summer. We did lower the ceiling height in the rooms we used most.

Re: Space Heater Questions... [Re: Actor] #7721936
11/19/22 08:24 PM
11/19/22 08:24 PM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 923
NW Oklahoma
O
Okie Farmer Offline
trapper
Okie Farmer  Offline
trapper
O

Joined: May 2008
Posts: 923
NW Oklahoma
I'm thinking about doing something like this to see if it helps any. https://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/mssun

I haven't ran any dollar costs for this project yet, I know everything is high right now.

Re: Space Heater Questions... [Re: Actor] #7722129
11/19/22 11:51 PM
11/19/22 11:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,646
Wisconsin
Scott__aR Offline
trapper
Scott__aR  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,646
Wisconsin
Warmest insulation for cheap is a cap/hat on your head.


Megapredator ... top of the food chain!
Member of WTA
Member of MTPCA
Member of NTA
Re: Space Heater Questions... [Re: Scott__aR] #7723298
11/21/22 11:22 AM
11/21/22 11:22 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 159
MONTANA
M
MTHunter Offline
trapper
MTHunter  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 159
MONTANA

Originally Posted by Scott__aR
Warmest insulation for cheap is a cap/hat on your head.


I put an additional R20 in my attic pushing it to R60! Best money I’ve ever spent!

Re: Space Heater Questions... [Re: Actor] #7723396
11/21/22 02:12 PM
11/21/22 02:12 PM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,683
Newark, Ohio 83 years
Actor Offline OP
trapper
Actor  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,683
Newark, Ohio 83 years
Well, went to state agency today and filled out application for assistance... to see if I could get some help to tighten up this old house. They said, I should know something in about a week.

I don't know that much about it, but not sure they can pump insulation into the walls... The construction is old horsehair mortar or lath and plaster. House constructed in 1903. The man that built it owned most of property around it. It still has the pipes protruding from walls where the gas lights were attached. I think most of windows need replaced,

Well... we will see. THANK YOU to those of you my friends, that gave me some guidance on researching it further and the inspiration to rise above my pride and ask for help.

Now if I could just figure out how to sew these darn muskrat hats together. ... cry

Garry-


“Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.”

Have been trapping 77 years…
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