Re: Electric space heater?

"Lone Haranguer" <linusz@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Blow the same amount of air around a couple of skinny electric heating
elements and also around a heated chamber with about 4 times the surface
area. The greater surface area will allow more heat to be transferred
even though the same number of BTUs are available.


Why do you keep repeating the same nonsensical statement?

The *fact* is that an electric furnace with 75,000 BTU output will have
the same heat output as a gas furnace with 75,000 BTU output. If the
system is properly designed, then either of them will heat the
appropriate house nicely, and a homeowner wouldn't notice any difference
in the heat output at the registers.

Now you're talking BTU "output" and "properly designed" How many are
wasted of the BTUs available?


The heat output isn't wasted if the *system* is properly designed--as it is
in most installations. If the *system* is poorly designed, then it doesn't
matter whether the *furnace* is electric or gas, because the *system* won't
work properly. An electric furnace doesn't waste any significant amout of
heat, because there are far more than "a few skinny electric heating
elements," and the overwhelming majority of the heat produced goes into the
air flow and into the ductwork.

Efficient heat transfer occurs if there is more surface area for the
amount of air being moved across it.

The heat pumps in our houses have gas-pack furnaces for backup heat,
instead of electric elements. Makes a world of difference.

That's why all the homes here have Carrier units with electric air and gas
heat in the same rooftop unit, using the same fan.


They use gas heat because gas is typically less expensive per BTU than is
electricity.

--
D.J., N8DO; FMCA 147762
dj[underscore]osborn at yahoo dot com


.

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