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Heat pump vs space heater

2K views 6 replies 5 participants last post by  Missouri Bound 
#1 ·
HI all.
I have an aprtment with a heat pump and live in PA, a cold climate right now. MY electric bill is way high. Now I live mostly in one room, the bedroom. MY computer is in there and I spend 99% of my time there. I'm thinking of getting a space heater and turning the heat pump way down. I'd like opinions on this. Will/can it save me money? I'm fine with everyother room being very cold. Which type of space heater should I purchase?

Thank you very much.
D
 
#2 ·
I bought an $11 Pelonis "small room" fan-forced electric heater new from Wal-Mart. Takes a few hours to get the entire room warm from not being on all day while at work but once there the roOm is tOo hot. I often wake up and have to turn it off.

I don't think you need anything special but if it's below freezing than perhaps one meant for a bigger room. I saw them for $30-ish upwards.
 
#3 ·
Here's the problems, if your home has older wiring it, may keep tripping the breaker, so you do buy a space heater look for at the amp rating.
Look into the Comfort Glow heaters. I have customers that live in 100 year old houses that just love them.
 
#5 ·
More than likely you will save money by turning down the heat to the rest of the home. But can you actually live that way? More than likely you will need to keep the door closed in that room to keep the heat in. And joecaption made a VERY good point about the wiring. You have already added more that that room was designed for, a computer w acc.....a television?...and now a heater. How about a small refrigerator? It adds up fast. Any idea how many circuits you have for that room?
 
#6 ·
Space heater 1.5KW per hour to heat the one room. Typical heat pump 2.2-2.4 KW per hour to heat the whole apartment so not much savings there but some. The real meter spinner is the electric back up elements for that heat pump. I'd be tempted Disconnect W at the thermostat so they don't come on and then use the space heater in the bedroom when occupied.
 
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