Small electric heater or gas heating

Banana on 30/09/2014 - 21:53

I recently moved into a 3-bedroom unit with a friend. There are only two of us but we somehow managed to used $190 of gas in 41 days. I think it was mainly due to the excessive use ( IMO) of heating. My housemate is extremely sensitive of the cold and she turns the heating on whenever she is home, while I would walk around in short-sleeves. Sometimes she forgets to turn the heating off and leaves it on overnight.I know summer is coming up, however the warmer days last week did not stop her from turning the heater on.

The bill obviously gave me a shock and got me started thinking whether it is worth getting her an electric heater, that would mean she would just turn it on in her room when she wants, instead of turning the heating on for the whole house. But then, it also means I would have less control over how often heating is turned on. Obviously electricity is more expensive. ( We are paying about $40 pm atm)

Home & Garden

Comments

  • ESEMCE on 01/10/2014 - 08:38

    Check the service costs of Gas.. you'll likely find that half or more of your bill is just to have it supplied to your place before using anything at all!
    Then work out the costs of running an electric heater.. It's going to chew through 30c/hour at least (for a 1000W heater) so on a timer switch for 8 hours a day it's going to cost and extra $2.40/day… over 90 days that's $216…
    Lots of assumptions in there, but the answer is probably no… Electric heating is ludicrously expensive especially if you have Gas connected and in use for Cooking/Water Heating.

    • Banana on 01/10/2014 - 10:24

      $190 was after connecting fee. But thank you. I think if the issue persists I might just talk to her about it :)

  • mskeggs on 01/10/2014 - 11:04

    I wish the connection fee was a big part of my bill! We have central heating with a gas furnace heating air ducted through the house. Keeping the thermostat at 18 and turning it off at bed time and during the sunlight hours we still have a gas bill over $1000 in the winter quarter.
    Gas is going up substantially, and won't offer as much discount per unit warmth as it has previously to electricity, so don't immediately discount using electricity.
    I would suggest:
    - talk to your housemate about the cost of heating. As a rule of thumb, a small 2000w fan heater costs about 60c and hour to run, the central heating about >$2. Point out the climate change pollution savings from using it less if the financial cost isn't important to her.
    - consider making a gift of a small fan heater for her room. Ideally, get one that only does 1000w. This is plenty for a room with a closed door, and costs about 30c an hour to run.
    - ask her to turn off any heating once she has warmed up from being outside.
    - point out a hoody is cozy and free!

    I favour the little fan heaters as they are instant and you can point them at someone at a desk or couch. Oil column heaters or panels often use just as much power, but tend to be run a lot longer as they take a long time to warm up the room.

    • ESEMCE on 01/10/2014 - 11:42

      Time to invest in some weather strip and insulation..

      • mskeggs on 01/10/2014 - 12:58
        +1

        Have done. But a 120yro house with 12ft ceilings and big rooms costs a bomb to heat, and it gets cold where we are.

  • vroomkroom on 01/10/2014 - 11:47
    +1

    Lets be honest here,she needs a nice warm place to live but if you think its bizarre that she needs heater all the time and you are feeling uncomfortably hot then you need to have chat and then find out as to why she is different.
    I have the same situation at home but after few years of living with the missus, consulting with GP's, I have been told the below,

    • Body needs the correct amount of GOOD FAT
    • Hemoglobin content/ other metrics in the blood should be at optimum level
    • All the Vitamin level should be at optimum level

    One GP put it this way -
    Body has a natural temperature control and lots of factors needs to be right for it to be efficient !!

    Also, I found leaving the heater constantly ON at 22 through out winter will work out cheaper if the house is insulated. Most of the rental property will not qualify for this !!

    If you care about your housemate/friend then the best advise is to ask her to check with her GP. You can also advise her to wear a jumper at home. Other tips is big her a big hug/cuddle if you are warm all the time ( Hey its greenest way )

    • Banana on 01/10/2014 - 20:58

      Whao this is really interesting! I will talk to her about it! Thank you!

  • teardrops21 on 01/10/2014 - 21:11

    Buy her a beanie

  • lenlynn on 09/11/2014 - 11:12

    Hmm how about getting her a portable gas heater so she can pay her own heating costs? That was what my housemates and I did. And telk her to try putting on heat rubs like vicks on her soles and chest and wear socks!!! Lol

  • gimli on 11/07/2015 - 21:43

    Tell her to get her thyroid tested

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