"Amish" Space Heaters: Will these lower your heating bill? | WCPO Channel 9 in Ohio

I felt that this article is appropriate due to so many people being suckered in by a very deceptive tv ad campaign. Why I even got into a pretty heated argument with a family member because were convinced that honest, innocent Amish people created this beautiful heater with some unknown (and cheap) electrical heat source.
Please don't buy it until you know exactly what you are buying.

Does anyone disagree?

I think you are correct. It might be an excellent heater and it will probably lower your heating bill some.

However,your electric bill will have to go up. It is probably rated between 1200 and 1500 watts. Wall receptacles in homes are not rated for much more than 1500 watts.

You can buy a 1200/1500 watt electric heater at any hardware store between $29.00 and $69.00 that will do the same thing. I use a small electric heater in our family room when it is very cold outside.

It does a nice job and cost $39.99.

What you are actually doing is replacing a lower cost per B.T.U. heat source (oil or gas) with the highest cost per B.T. U. heat source.(electricity).

As the article says, the only way it can feasibly work is for you to keep the heater in one closed-off room and set the rest of the house at 55 degrees. Hopefully the room where the heater is will be insulated and, only then, can you realize any savings.

IN these ads they also relate the energy consumption of this heater to that of a coffeemaker. What people don't understand is that coffeemakers will raise your electric bill if you keep them for hours, as they consume about 1000-1500 watts, which is the same as a hairdryer.

In January when electric rates go up 30%, trust me, these heaters will be worthless.

I use coal. Nothing beats coal (so far), unless these operators get greedier and continue to raise prices.

Buyer beware!

hey

Beware

Some basic info on power and costs for these units.
They are two speed equating to 750W and 1500W.750W gives you 2559 BTU and 1500W gives 5119 BTU at heater interface.
Results in 1.5 KWH per hour of operation at 1500W and .75KWH per hour at 750W.
Based on 110V at the outlet, the Amps at 1500W are 13.5A. Most homes have a mix of 15A and 20A outlets depending on location in the home and the age of the home.
I don't know the PP&L residential rate schedule, but average fuel plus non-fuel rate per KWH is about 10 cents.
At full power, 1500W, the cost would about 15 cents per hour of use.

Maybe useful in Fla. milder temps.

dgac wrote:

Maybe useful in Fla. milder temps.

Bottom line, these units are really for "fireplace" look.Turn the fireplace light on but not the heater. They can "take the chill out" but not truly effecient for true heating purposes.
Sort of like a heat pump, great at 40 degrees or above but not for cold weather areas.

challenger99 wrote:

<quoted text>Bottom line, these units are really for "fireplace" look.Turn the fireplace light on but not the heater. They can "take the chill out" but not truly effecient for true heating purposes.
Sort of like a heat pump, great at 40 degrees or above but not for cold weather areas.

Yea that's for sure!

challenger99 wrote:

Some basic info on power and costs for these units.
They are two speed equating to 750W and 1500W.750W gives you 2559 BTU and 1500W gives 5119 BTU at heater interface.
Results in 1.5 KWH per hour of operation at 1500W and .75KWH per hour at 750W.
Based on 110V at the outlet, the Amps at 1500W are 13.5A. Most homes have a mix of 15A and 20A outlets depending on location in the home and the age of the home.
I don't know the PP&L residential rate schedule, but average fuel plus non-fuel rate per KWH is about 10 cents.
At full power, 1500W, the cost would about 15 cents per hour of use.

T

11c/KWH

They say it is no more expensive than a coffee pot to run. If you run your coffee pot for 10 hrs a day 30 days per month, it will add up to $45 per month all winter long.

Challenger99 I wanted to say thank in my last post. You were dead on.

Tamaqua bob wrote:

Challenger99 I wanted to say thank in my last post. You were dead on.

Thank you! Happy Holidays to you and your family!

Happy Holidays and do stay warm!!