Fan Heater - Electricity Usage

SydOzber on 28/08/2015 - 15:53
Last edited 29/08/2015 - 12:19 by 1 other user

Hi There

I moved houses last month and setup my electricity account with Powershop(Sydney - Inner west suburbs)

I bought a ceramic fan heater(http://www.celsius.co.nz/product-catalogue/heating/ceramic-h…) from Coles last month and used it for about 8 hours every day for a month.

To my surprise when I made my first meter read, it came out that we have used 1030kWh for 1 month for 2 adults.(approx. $240 a month). I doubt that its the heater which sucked up all the Power.

We don't have a washing machine. We bought a Samsung fridge(https://www.masters.com.au/product/101714854/samsung-top-mou…), Omega electric stove and there's a hot water system in the bathroom and no other major appliances.

Could someone please share their opinion/experience with running costs of Fan heaters ?

• 

  bonezAU on 28/08/2015 - 15:55

  +6

  1500W heater for 8 hours a day?!

  I doubt that its the heater which sucked up all the Power.

  I have no doubt that it's the heater which sucked up all the power

  Could someone please share their opinion/experience with running costs of Fan heaters ?

  Yeah, they are really cheap to buy but expensive as hell to run

• 

  nocure on 28/08/2015 - 16:01

  +2

  .45¢ per hour.
  $3.60 per day.
  $108.00 per month.

• 

  SydOzber on 28/08/2015 - 16:19

  any recommendations on the heaters with low maintenance ?

  • 

    Steptoe on 28/08/2015 - 16:25

    +1

    maintenance or consumption?

    • 

      SydOzber on 28/08/2015 - 16:27

      sorry I meant energy efficient

      • 

        Steptoe on 28/08/2015 - 16:31

        Anything using refrigeration cycle as zelamax suggested below.

        How big is the room?

      • 

        SydOzber on 28/08/2015 - 16:34

        @Steptoe: 10 X 10

      • 

        Steptoe on 28/08/2015 - 16:39

        +2

        @spk:

        Wow (Assuming metres not feet)

        Seal air leaks, insulate and fit heavy curtains with pelmets first. A/C will be ~$2000.

        Maybe just get a Snuggie?

      • 

        Diji1 on 28/08/2015 - 16:58

        @Steptoe: >A/C will be ~$2000.

        Well that depends - if they buy a window unit it will be cheaper.

        Also while I don't suggest purchasing on I think even a portable air-con is more efficient than a "always on" type of electric heater as even these don't run their heating/cooling all the time in a small room.

        Also 10 feet is 3 metres, this is pretty typical for a small bedroom in a contemporary house I think.

      • 

        Steptoe on 28/08/2015 - 17:01

        @spk:

        10 X 10

        Please clarify units of measure.

• 

  zealmax on 28/08/2015 - 16:22

  +2

  Fan heaters heat up the room very quickly. I use them all the time. Mine has a thermostat and cuts off when it gets to a certain temp. People say oil heaters or convection heaters use less. All of the standard heaters you buy, whether it be fan, convection, oil all send electricity to the the heating element to produce heat. At the same temperature for the same period, they would use similar if not the same amount of electricity. Unless you have a heat pump or reverse cycle air conditioner you won't notice savings between the regular heaters.

  • 

    Diji1 on 28/08/2015 - 16:55

    -3

    You are incorrect regarding non-heat pump heaters energy consumption. They are not all the same energy efficiency.

  • 

    keverns on 28/08/2015 - 19:32

    oil takes longer to cool down too. so you'd be running that fan for a longer period of time before the oil gets cold.

• 

  Steptoe on 28/08/2015 - 16:23

  +3

  1500W = 1.5kW

  1.5kW x 8 Hours/day = 12kWh/day

  30 days x 12kWh = 360kWh

  So, about 1/3 of your consumption is the heater

• 

  try2bhelpful on 28/08/2015 - 17:02

  +2

  I suggest you invest in some decent thermals, some blankets and ensure you have heavy curtains and good insulation. That is what we do to supplement our heating. I also agree with the person who suggested you get one with a thermostat; it allows you to set a room temperature and the fan only turns on if it drops below that.

• 

  keverns on 28/08/2015 - 19:29

  most would be coming from that hot water system? I'm assuming its electric because you've got a electric stove, generally they're paired up.

• 

  Euphemistic on 29/08/2015 - 07:48

  Only times we've used a fan heater is when it's not worth hearing more than one room, and it's only on for about half an hour at a time.

  Get a jumper., or three.

• 

  ramshead on 29/08/2015 - 08:23

  +1

  Check the overflow valve on the hot water system. If it's buggered it will be leaking out hot water 24/7.