best electric fireplace heater insert image
geewiz
We currently have a wood burning fireplace. We would like to get an insert. Any suggestions as to electric or gas or pellet? What are the pros or cons? Cost? Installer? DIY?
Answer
If you choose pellet, use good quality pellets or you'll pay more in the long run on having the unit cleaned than you saved buying cheap pellets. Quiet and beautiful flames. The big bags of pellets are a con.
If you can do gas, I'd go with that. As long as the unit is outdoors. I knew someone who bought a $2000 gas heater and once it was installed, he realized it stunk the whole house up with a kerosene-like smell. Ugh And it was noisy too.
If you choose pellet, use good quality pellets or you'll pay more in the long run on having the unit cleaned than you saved buying cheap pellets. Quiet and beautiful flames. The big bags of pellets are a con.
If you can do gas, I'd go with that. As long as the unit is outdoors. I knew someone who bought a $2000 gas heater and once it was installed, he realized it stunk the whole house up with a kerosene-like smell. Ugh And it was noisy too.
How should I heat my home for this winter?
nimkiw
We don't have a gas hook-up, so we are looking at either kerosene or electrical. We also have no duct work in place. Should we go with a couple of the lasko small heaters, or should we go with a large quartz or something and then fan it throughout the house? We need something that will be cheap and efficient.
Answer
Kerosene, number one diesel, is smelly and rather expensive. Also kerosene heaters burn up oxygen and produce carbon monoxide. People do use them to take the edge off a large room with a large airspace. But I wouldn't want to live with them used to heat a house and then breath those fumes. You are supposed to leave a window open for fresh air in any space you use them. I would only use coleman fuel since it is highly purified and doesn't contain the additives for automotive use. But it is grossly expensive. Yes you can find cheaper kerosene at a pump but you shouldn't be around the fumes if used in a heater.
Electric is your fair choice. In the past electric was the most expensive. Now it seems with oil at $80 a barrel it is cheaper. That is a change from they way it was almost my whole life.
I suggest you consider an oil filled electric radiator. They heat slower but since you will be heating for long periods it provides a more even heat. One cost with the small heaters with a fan is that people tend to intermittently overheat a room or space costing more. I would use a combination of the two in your case.
Also they draw a bit of power when heating so make sure any outlets you use are in good shape. You might want to consider replacing the outlets if they are older. A 1200 watt unit is 10 amps on what is normally a 15 amp circuit so it is stressing your electrical. And an outlet that doesn't grab a plug well may arc and smoke a plug with heavy use.
Be safe. Remember there is some fire danger with the little fan forced heaters should they get near anything flammable. The oil filled don't get as hot.
It sounds like you need to address a longer term solution but it won't be cheap. A through-the-wall heat pump has a high initial cost but is the cheapest heat. One drawback is that they can't produce much heat with the pump under 45 degrees ambient, outside, temps. Many have electric strip heat for when the outside temp is too low.
How about a wood stove or fireplace insert with a fan?
Good Luck
Kerosene, number one diesel, is smelly and rather expensive. Also kerosene heaters burn up oxygen and produce carbon monoxide. People do use them to take the edge off a large room with a large airspace. But I wouldn't want to live with them used to heat a house and then breath those fumes. You are supposed to leave a window open for fresh air in any space you use them. I would only use coleman fuel since it is highly purified and doesn't contain the additives for automotive use. But it is grossly expensive. Yes you can find cheaper kerosene at a pump but you shouldn't be around the fumes if used in a heater.
Electric is your fair choice. In the past electric was the most expensive. Now it seems with oil at $80 a barrel it is cheaper. That is a change from they way it was almost my whole life.
I suggest you consider an oil filled electric radiator. They heat slower but since you will be heating for long periods it provides a more even heat. One cost with the small heaters with a fan is that people tend to intermittently overheat a room or space costing more. I would use a combination of the two in your case.
Also they draw a bit of power when heating so make sure any outlets you use are in good shape. You might want to consider replacing the outlets if they are older. A 1200 watt unit is 10 amps on what is normally a 15 amp circuit so it is stressing your electrical. And an outlet that doesn't grab a plug well may arc and smoke a plug with heavy use.
Be safe. Remember there is some fire danger with the little fan forced heaters should they get near anything flammable. The oil filled don't get as hot.
It sounds like you need to address a longer term solution but it won't be cheap. A through-the-wall heat pump has a high initial cost but is the cheapest heat. One drawback is that they can't produce much heat with the pump under 45 degrees ambient, outside, temps. Many have electric strip heat for when the outside temp is too low.
How about a wood stove or fireplace insert with a fan?
Good Luck
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Title Post: What is better and more economical than a wood burning fireplace? gas, electric or pellet?
Rating: 100% based on 99998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thank FOr Coming TO My Blog
Rating: 100% based on 99998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thank FOr Coming TO My Blog
No comments:
Post a Comment