Convectair:

Heaters, comfort and savings

With the cold season kicking in, we tend take a good look at our energy bills. Only to realize that the cost of heating has risen— again. The average price of electricity in Canada increased by 23% between 2000 and 2007, while oil and propane went up 50%, and natural gas shot up a whopping 74%?¹ Surprised? You are not alone.

We are overwhelmed with information, so most of us do not have clear idea of our heating costs. And when the time comes to choose a heating system, it's hard to know where to start, let alone what figures to believe. Everybody claims to have THE solution. Examining and understanding the pros and cons of each product will help you make the right choice.

Heating rooms, not houses

The secret to saving energy and money is zoned heating. The temperature in each room is set individually, which means you don’t heat the entire house when only the bathroom feels cold. You simply use what you need—without losing comfort. While watching TV or working at a desk, most people are comfortable at 23ºC (73ºF). At night time, we sleep better if the bedroom is at 17ºC (62ºF). An empty guest room can be kept at 13ºC (55ºF), with the door shut. If you’re moving about in a room, 20ºC (68ºF) is warm enough.

No baseboards

The keys to a good heating system are well distributed heat and energy efficiency. If you are looking at electric heaters, baseboards used to be the only choice. However, they take a lot of wall space and they don’t do the job well. A natural convection heater will use less energy, furnish a more even distribution of heat in the room while being totally silent.

Skeptical? After all 1500w is 1500w right? Try this: if you had to choose between a 6-ft baseboard and a clothing iron to heat a room, which would you choose ? Both appliances are resistance heaters and both provide 1500w of heat. But they don't distribute the heat in the same way. If you chose the baseboard, you would be right, of course. A natural convection system works even better.

For the best possible heater and thermostat combination, choose a heater with its own built-in electronic thermostat. This creates a comfort zone from the feet up, instead of shoulders up —a difference you can feel when you’re watching TV.

Different types of heat for different needs

Natural convection is good, but it is not a universal solution. Different needs call for different solutions. You probably know someone who is always feeling cold, no matter what. Usually, a radiant heater will work wonders for them. Radiant heaters directly heat bodies and objects, creating a gentle feeling of warmth. Therefore, they are perfect at the bottom of a staircase or in a solarium. In a bathroom, they can warm your towels —and your body— while keeping your bathroom comfortable.

If you are concerned with comfort and energy efficiency, these new electric heaters are a solution you need to look at, whether you only need to heat a cold spot or are looking for a whole house heating solution.

¹ Source: Consumer Price Index, Statistics Canada