"Jim" wrote in message
news
Sister has a condo that is all electric. Heating consists of elements in
the ceiling. Not exactly efficient.

Years ago installed electric baseboard heaters. Works, but not very well.

Would like to find something to assist her in having a decently warm
living environment. Wondering what is on the market that performs well
and in relatively inexpensive. Same applies to electric consumption.

All resistance heating is about the same in terms of basic efficiency.
However, the comfort level can vary. As you pointed out, ceiling heat is
poor in that regard. Baseboards are fine. Space heaters are fine. If your
sister owns the condo, perhaps she would be amenable to increasing the
insulation and changing windows (or adding storm windows). Simple things
like door gaskets can make a big difference. In other words, reduce the
heat loss and then it won't cost as much to maintain a comfy temperature.

Sister has a condo that is all electric. Heating consists of elements in
the ceiling. Not exactly efficient.

Years ago installed electric baseboard heaters. Works, but not very well.

Would like to find something to assist her in having a decently warm
living environment. Wondering what is on the market that performs well
and in relatively inexpensive. Same applies to electric consumption.

No option to change to any other mode of heating.

Related side factor being she has two pet cats she'd prefer not to
endanger.

Might also want to try space heaters in the form of oil-filled
radiators. I use two of these in my home (office, for daytime comfort
without heating whole house; bedroom, for same at night) and they are
quite safe with pets.

Jo Ann

Charles Schuler wrote:
"Jim" wrote in message
news
Sister has a condo that is all electric. Heating consists of elements in
the ceiling. Not exactly efficient.

Years ago installed electric baseboard heaters. Works, but not very well.

Would like to find something to assist her in having a decently warm
living environment. Wondering what is on the market that performs well
and in relatively inexpensive. Same applies to electric consumption.

All resistance heating is about the same in terms of basic efficiency.
However, the comfort level can vary. As you pointed out, ceiling heat is
poor in that regard. Baseboards are fine. Space heaters are fine. If your
sister owns the condo, perhaps she would be amenable to increasing the
insulation and changing windows (or adding storm windows). Simple things
like door gaskets can make a big difference. In other words, reduce the
heat loss and then it won't cost as much to maintain a comfy temperature.

wrote in message
oups.com...
Might also want to try space heaters in the form of oil-filled
radiators. I use two of these in my home (office, for daytime comfort
without heating whole house; bedroom, for same at night) and they are
quite safe with pets.

Jo Ann, there is nothing wrong with that concept, but again ... all
resistance heating is much the same when it comes to basic efficiency (near
100% ... ignoring the loss in the supply circuits).

Agreed. My points (not very well made, admittedly), were meant to be
that #1, it may be easier to approach on a room-by-room, as-needed
basis, rather than a whole-house fix; and #2, that if space heaters
were an option, this particular type is safer with pets than many
others.

Jo Ann

Charles Schuler wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
Might also want to try space heaters in the form of oil-filled
radiators. I use two of these in my home (office, for daytime comfort
without heating whole house; bedroom, for same at night) and they are
quite safe with pets.

Jo Ann, there is nothing wrong with that concept, but again ... all
resistance heating is much the same when it comes to basic efficiency (near
100% ... ignoring the loss in the supply circuits).

Jim wrote:
Sister has a condo that is all electric. Heating consists of
elements in the ceiling. Not exactly efficient.

Years ago installed electric baseboard heaters. Works, but not very
well.

Would like to find something to assist her in having a decently warm
living environment. Wondering what is on the market that performs
well and in relatively inexpensive. Same applies to electric
consumption.

No option to change to any other mode of heating.

Related side factor being she has two pet cats she'd prefer not to
endanger.

All resistance type electric is 100% efficient. Heat pumps do a little
more. The less than 100% part happens at the power plant in the wire
between there and your home.

Having it in a ceiling may end up being a little less efficient. Likely
more heat will end up going up through the ceiling than if you use baseboard
or better yet floor heat.

What exactly do you mean when you say "Not exactly efficient." and
"Works, but not very well."


--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

Jim wrote:
Sister has a condo that is all electric. Heating consists of elements in
the ceiling. Not exactly efficient.

Years ago installed electric baseboard heaters. Works, but not very well.

Would like to find something to assist her in having a decently warm
living environment. Wondering what is on the market that performs well
and in relatively inexpensive. Same applies to electric consumption.

No option to change to any other mode of heating.

Related side factor being she has two pet cats she'd prefer not to
endanger.

I would use a couple of space heaters that are strategically placed in
the locations she occupies the most. They are relatively inexpensive in
stores like Home Depot and Lowes.

Make sure the heaters have UL approval. I prefer the type of space
heater that has a 2-prong connector (no ground), I think they are
safer. Throw the heaters away and get new ones once per year. Check the
sockets and plugs routinely to insure there is a good connection. You
can do this by checking to see if the plug molding feels warm. Turn the
heaters off and then unplug them every night before you go to bed or
whenever you leave the house.

"Jim" wrote in message
news
Sister has a condo that is all electric. Heating consists of elements in
the ceiling. Not exactly efficient.

Years ago installed electric baseboard heaters. Works, but not very well.

Would like to find something to assist her in having a decently warm
living environment. Wondering what is on the market that performs well
and in relatively inexpensive. Same applies to electric consumption.

What is the real complaint? Drafty rooms? Never get hot enough? Uneven
heat? Blankets and a space heater will cover up most of that, but the real
solution is probably something else. Maybe even a ceiling fan to distribute
the heat more evenly.

On 5 Dec 2006 18:19:26 -0800, wrote:

Throw the heaters away and get new ones once per year.

Why????

Karl S wrote:
On 5 Dec 2006 18:19:26 -0800, wrote:

Throw the heaters away and get new ones once per year.

Why????

I have a heater that shorted out on me once--sparks all over the place.
I also have a friend that had that happen. He claims that if he hadn't
of been there it would have caused a fire for sure. In his case, he
used to sometimes sleep with the heater on. So, that's scary.

That's one problem. The other problem is that plugs carrying high
current tend to develop a higher resistance over time and heat up. You
can replace the plugs when that happens, but heaters are very
inexpensive nowdays and often only cost about $20.

Of course, if you don't use the heaters much, replacing them once a
year might be a little drastic.

The "black box" heaters with the ceramic element are supposed to be
safe, and efficient.

Also consider a vaporizer or humidifier. Moist air feels warmer.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

"Jim" wrote in message
news Sister has a condo that is all electric. Heating consists of elements
in
the ceiling. Not exactly efficient.

Years ago installed electric baseboard heaters. Works, but not very
well.

Would like to find something to assist her in having a decently warm
living environment. Wondering what is on the market that performs
well
and in relatively inexpensive. Same applies to electric consumption.

No option to change to any other mode of heating.

Related side factor being she has two pet cats she'd prefer not to
endanger.

On 5 Dec 2006 18:19:26 -0800, wrote:


Jim wrote:
Sister has a condo that is all electric. Heating consists of elements in
the ceiling. Not exactly efficient.

Years ago installed electric baseboard heaters. Works, but not very well.

Would like to find something to assist her in having a decently warm
living environment. Wondering what is on the market that performs well
and in relatively inexpensive. Same applies to electric consumption.

No option to change to any other mode of heating.

Related side factor being she has two pet cats she'd prefer not to
endanger.

I would use a couple of space heaters that are strategically placed in
the locations she occupies the most. They are relatively inexpensive in
stores like Home Depot and Lowes.

Make sure the heaters have UL approval. I prefer the type of space
heater that has a 2-prong connector (no ground), I think they are
safer. Throw the heaters away and get new ones once per year. Check the
sockets and plugs routinely to insure there is a good connection. You
can do this by checking to see if the plug molding feels warm. Turn the

He means that if the plug is warm, that is BAD** and unsafe. Room
temperature is normal.

I'm not saying I agree with the rest of the post.

**This also works with cars. Had a car that stalled and wouldn't
restart easily. Felt the battery terminals. One was hot. Should be
room or outdoor temperature. A bad connection makes heat. Cleaned
connection inside and tightened bolt and everything fine for years
after that.

heaters off and then unplug them every night before you go to bed or
whenever you leave the house.