Re: Electric space heater?

D.J. Osborn wrote:

"Lone Haranguer" <linusz@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


D.J. Osborn wrote:


You stated that as a question, which leads me to think you haven't found it to be true.


That's your problem. I've found it to be true, which is why I mentioned it.

It's not generally true of residential electric furnaces, which is why I called you on it.

You called me on what I stated but then went on to make a number of qualifying statements, none of which applied to my original statement.



My statements applied to your original statement.

Not true. You modified your argument to "properly designed" and "output BTUs". You never addressed the reason the OP preferred the gas packs.

How many electric furnaces do you find in motorhomes or RVs?


Therefore, I'm not the one with the problem of making

flase statements.

If any portion of my statement was false, WHY is the OP happy that his unit has gas packs instead of electric?



Different people have different preferences. So what?

Because they work better is the reason he was happier.


You've been avoiding his original statement.



No, I haven't been avoiding anything.

I've repeated the OP's original statement. You keep snipping it.
Very telling.


The OP stated why he was happy with gas rather than electric. Because it was more efficient. Why do you think his unit was designed that way?

I have not read a statement from him that gas is more efficient than electricty. Even if he did make that claim, no data have been provided to substantiate such a claim.

He's happier with the gas is what he said.



A statement of preference doesn't necessarily imply that gas is more efficient.

"The heat pumps in our houses have gas-pack furnaces for backup heat,
instead of electric elements. Makes a world of difference. In fact, any
time I want all gas heat, I can switch the thermostat to "emergency
heat" and get really warm air."

Guess what "Makes a world of difference." means?

Provide the quote,

I already provided the quote, so never mind the stalling and tap dancing.



No, you didn't provide a quote.

Liar. I provided it and you've snipped it more than once.


since I don't recall him making that statement. Even if

he made that statement, it's simply a statement preference, and not a statement of efficiency comparison.

His statement and the reason he is happy with it is what I commented on.



He didn't state why he was happy.

"Makes a world of difference" is why he's happy....liar.

Gas DESIGNS are more efficient in providing heat for the amount of BTUs expended.

No, they aren't. Even the most efficient gas furnaces have a flue that exhausts waste heat.

And harmful carbon monoxide. How efficient it is at capturing the input BTUs is a matter of design.

By design, electric furnaces dont send waste heat out a flue, while gas furnaces do.

But the OP is happy he has gas packs instead of electric heating filaments. Have you figured out yet why that is?



I don't know--and I don't care--why he's happy.

Because the gas packs "make a world of difference" booby.


Electric furnaces have no flue to exhaust wasate heat.

But they use more input BTUs to heat the same amount of air.

> Another false claim. The "input BTUs" go into heating the air--and not out the flue.


But the electric heating elements don't transfer heat well and they burn out and need replacement lots more frequently than a gas unit.


What happens to the heat you falsely claim they don't transfer? The furnace doesn't have a flue, and it doesn't melt down, therefore, the heat is transferred to the airfl owing to heat the residence.

How many heating elements does it take to equal the heat transfer area of a gas burner using the same BTU input? That is the efficiency question.


The price of electricty has remained at the same levels for years while propane has doubled in price. At what price would you consider switching to an electric furnace?

That's a red herring--because we're not discussing the price per unit of energy--we're discussing whether or not electric furnaces waste energy, as you have falsely claimed they do.


I'm comparing them to gas. Now, what would the price of propane have to reach before you would switch to an electric furnace?

No dancing. Put your money where your mouth is.

I'm not the one making false claims; you are.

Nothing false about them. If electric furnaces were so great, we'd see more of them.
> They *are* great, and very efficient--but they're expensive to operate because electricity is so expensive.

I've just pointed out that electricity costs have been virtually stagnant for years while gas prices (especially propane) have doubled in just a few years. And still gas heat is preferred over electric.

That means that I'm not the

one "dancing"; you are. A gas furnace has a flue to get rid of waste heat, while an electric furnace does not.

Even with a flue to get rid of carbon monoxide, you admitted that gas is still cheaper than electricty, in spite of gas prices doubling in the past few years.



Of course gas is cheaper than electicity, but that has *nothing* to do with whether or not gas furnaces are more efficient than are electric furnaces.

I think electricty is cheap. I'm paying 12 cents per KwH and used $43 worth last month for a house.


If electric furnaces were such an efficient method of heating, we'd see a lot more of them.
> That statement completely ignores the cost of fuel; therefore, it's nonsensical.

The last propane I bought was $2.19/gal. Just a few years ago it was 99 cents. Electric rates haven't changed in years. If electric furnaces were more efficient users of energy, why aren't any being installed in all the new homes being built here? All use the Carrier units with electric Air Conditioning and gas heat.

They must know something you don't.

My bet is you don't own one.
> I have owned both electric and gas furnaces; you lose your bet.

"Have owned" doesn't cut it. Gas is a lot more expensive now but still you stick with "inefficient" gas heat and builders continue to use gas heating units.

Therefore, it's quite clear that an

electric furncae is more efficient than is a gas furnace.


Ask Carrier why their many units have electric air conditioning but gas heat.
> I *know* why "their many units have electric air conditioning but gas heat." Gas is a much les expensive fuel than is electricity.

So why not have gas cooling in the same unit as gas heating instead of the combo?

Yours is a general statement of no value when both electricity and gas prices vary widely around the country so you have no backing for your claim.
LZ
.

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