Apartment Heater/Air con efficiency

unhappywizard on 18/05/2020 - 20:21
Last edited 18/05/2020 - 20:40

So have a question for you guys.

My apartment complex has ducted aircon with cooling towers on top of the building.

Each individual apartment has their own little heat exchanger / fan unit.

This fan unit has a heating function that I am pretty sure is just a heating element in front of the fan. (When I turned it on there was that feint smell of burnt dust before it cleared.) as apposed to some super energy efficient reverse cycle.

Now my question is; would it be more efficient to run a little electric or oil heater? Or should I just run the big fan system system.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • jason101 on 18/05/2020 - 22:09
    +5

    Without specifics as to the current draw of the heater you really need to take a reading of your electricity meter at idle over a period of time to determine an approximate base load and then again with the heater turned on. Subtract the base load from the 2nd reading to determine the approximate kw draw of the heater. Then you can work out if a small heater running from a power point at 1800-2400w is more efficient. Probably hard work if you are in an apartment, the electricity meters are probably hidden in a locked cupboard in the basement.

  • Keplaffintech on 18/05/2020 - 22:34

    If the fan unit is outdoors then it wouldn't be just a traditional heating element.

    From your description it sounds like a reverse cycle system, and would be much more efficient to run than an electric heater.

    Do you have pictures of the system?

    • unhappywizard on 18/05/2020 - 23:46

      The actual unit is in the ceiling cavity and runs through the ceiling to various vents around the apartment.

      I'll see if I can get photos.

      • Keplaffintech on 23/05/2020 - 15:14

        Can it be set to cool in summer? If so it's most likely a reverse cycle.

  • JimmyF on 18/05/2020 - 23:01
    +1

    Now my question is; would it be more efficient to run a little electric or oil heater? Or should I just run the big fan system system.

    Without pictures, we have no idea. Post some pictures of the inside and outside unit.

    • John Kimble on 18/05/2020 - 23:08

      You have an air con fetish mate :p

      • JimmyF on 18/05/2020 - 23:22
        +1

        haha well they do keep me warm on these cold lonely nights ;)

        Honestly people seem to think we can all read 'minds' about what they have installed.

        • ScuseMe on 19/05/2020 - 08:03

          I thought the smell of burnt dust would have narrowed it down

          • JimmyF on 19/05/2020 - 09:10

            @ScuseMe: A little bit, but then just 'guessing', or it could have been dust blowing out of the unit that people thing is burning. Who knows? Picture will clear lots of things.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join