What Type of Heater is cheapest to run? Infrared Type Heaters.

Infrared heaters provide exceptionally efficient room heating using radiation – heating people, objects and surfaces directly without wasting energy warming the air.

The cost of a heater is an important consideration in the selection process. There are two cost components to bear in mind: the purchase price and the cost of running the heater. The purchase price is an easy, direct comparison. Running costs depend on the type and cost of the fuel source and the efficiency with which the heater turns this fuel source into useful heat.

In South Africa, we mainly make use of electricity or gas as fuel sources for heaters. The benefit of gas is that it provides instant heat and is available when electricity supply (loadshedding) is a concern. The downside is, however, that gas in South Africa is considerably more expensive than electricity (despite recent electricity price hikes). Almost all electrical heater options are significantly more economical than gas heaters.

Decide what type of heat you need – quick and warm (convection type heaters) for people staying in a room for short periods of time will be more expensive than slow and warm (wall panel type heaters) for bedrooms.

Infrared heaters are more electricity efficient than other space heating systems. These types of heaters can be used both for spot heating and area heating. They transfer energy directly by radiation, creating heat and comfort instantly without the use of air-circulation fans. An infrared heater will warm the people in the room rather than the space. Infra-red heaters often use metal-sheated infrared radiation elements, reflector lamps or quartz tubes.

The oil filled heater is the safest type of heater for the bedroom. A thermostat control switches the unit on and off as required, but to save energy, only use on the lowest comfortable setting.

Electric blankets consume little electricity. However, the correct method of use is to switch them on to the highest setting and warm the bed just before climbing in – then switch them off.

Close doors and windows when using a heater.

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It is important to give some thought to how you are likely to use the heater and select the best type for your application. Consider the cost of running the heater in your preferred way. Also bear in mind the safety of open elements, gas leaks, etc. Whichever option you select, be sure to start with no cost or lowest cost warming options first. Dress warmly, make sure curtains are drawn, windows and doors are closed, and openings are sealed. Ceiling insulation is generally a good option to save heating costs. Hot water bottles and electric blankets are other alternatives available for localized warmth at low costs. And remember don’t ramp up the heat too quickly. Hot and stuffy rooms require ventilation which leads to wasted energy and unnecessary costs!

Wall panel heaters have amongst the lowest running costs. These heaters are suitable for heating rooms of up to 12m². They are easy to install on a wall. However, they use a low wattage so the heat they provide will be less than a gas heater or fin heater, for example. And they aren’t portable.

Most models of infrared heaters have cool-to-touch exteriors and are safe to use with young children and pets in the home. Though clearances are not as much of an issue as with hot-coil heaters, you should remove clutter in the heater’s area to ensure that heat can freely be dispersed to the room. As with any electrical heaters, keep papers, clothing, magazines, and other similar items away from the heater.

Infrared heaters are designed to be room, zone, or space heaters.

The overall efficiency of the infrared heaters depends greatly on how the unit is engineered, constructed, and how much it’s being used in coordination with other heat sources in your home.

There are three models of electric infrared heaters: portable wheeled units with infrared heating technology, compact heaters with (partial) infrared capability combined with other forms of heating systems, and freestanding electric infrared fireplaces.

Bonus Electricity Saving Tip – Insulation

In parts of South Africa, during winter, the heating of rooms is one of the largest sources of electricity consumption in a home. Improving a home’s thermal insulation can save hundreds of Rands a year in space heating costs and improve the home’s comfort.

Insulate The Ceiling:

Insulating the ceiling helps make a home a comfortable electricity efficient place. As much as 50% of heat losses in a house can be attributed to a lack of ceilings and ceiling insulation. If a home’s ceiling is well insulated, heating and cooling expenses can be kept low. The effectiveness of ceiling insulation depends on the type of material from which it is made, its thickness and its density.

Ceiling insulation in SA varies from fibreglass insulation to a type of insulation prepared from a mixture of paper and other materials. The latter is blown into the ceiling, sealing the total roof area. Any of the methods are equally effective and the supplier of these insulation’s will be able to offer reliable information about ceiling insulation.

The One Small Appliance Most Hated by National Servicemen? The Iron!

Those soldiers will take cold comfort in knowing that the modern day iron has its roots in ancient history. Circa 400 B.C., Greeks would heat a round bar – known as a goffering iron – and use it to produce pleats on robes.

An iron consumes as much energy as ten 100 watt light bulbs. Several steps can be taken to increase ironing efficiency:

• Iron low temperature fabrics first to reduce warm up time.
• Iron large batches of clothing at one time to avoid wasting energy reheating the iron several times.
• Switch your iron off before you are finished and complete the ironing on stored energy.
• Prevent scorching and wasting energy by not over heating the iron.
• Use only distilled water in steam irons.
• Be sure to turn your iron off if you are interrupted whilst ironing.
• Use the permanent press feature on your washer and dryer if it is available.
• By removing clothing promptly from the dryer and folding them carefully, many items will require no ironing, or just a quick press.

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What modern consumers would identify as an iron first appeared in Europe in the 1300s. Called a flatiron it was simply a smooth piece of metal affixed to a handle. The iron would be heated over flames until sufficiently hot, at which time it would be picked up with an insulated glove. A layer of cloth would cover the article of clothing to prevent soot from the iron from staining the finished garment. Once the flatiron cooled, it would be reheated and the process repeated. Besides smoothing wrinkles, ironing served another important function, killing germs in clothing and reducing mildew.

Metal technology began developing in the 1800s, hastening the evolution of the smoothing iron. Flatirons could be heated atop cast iron stoves, making the job much easier and cleaner than fire. By 1870, wooden handles were used, preventing users from receiving burns, as wood is an insulator.

Gas irons were patented in the 1870s, making the devices even easier to use. A gas line would carry fuel to the appliance, which contained a burner to provide the heat.

The invention of the electric iron coincided with the widespread electrification of American homes in the 1880s. In 1882, Henry W. Seeley of New York City received a patent for the electric flatiron. His model had built-in coils and was heated on a rack. The problem was that it took a long time to heat and cooled rapidly once in use.

Perhaps the biggest breakthrough in smoothing-iron technology occurred early in the 20th century, when irons were made with electric cords. The development helped solve the centuries-old necessity of constantly reheating the iron. Improvements also were made to the sole plate (bottom) of the iron and by the 1920s, many irons came equipped with thermostats to control the level of heat.

In the mid-1920s, the Eldec Company unveiled the steam iron, which facilitated the pressing of dry material. Up to that point, users had to sprinkle water on the fabric. The steam irons funneled water vapor from a receptacle to small holes on the sole plate.

Other improvements in the following decades included the development of an aluminum sole plate that would not rust. In the 1950s, irons capable of both wet and dry operation were introduced, and in 1995, most sole plates had nonstick coating.

Improvements on the sole plate have resulted in more efficient and energy savings. Improved coatings make it less susceptible to scratches from zippers or buttons on garments.

In 2012 Rowenta announced the Eco Intelligence Iron with a new patented Microsteam400 3De soleplate (Patent US no. 7,305,780). Apparently the soleplate is the crux of the energy-efficient design – helping to concentrate steam on the fabric, reducing loss of steam and therefore saving on water usage. The iron is claimed to reduce energy usage by 25%. At a price of around $170.00 (shipping and taxes included) one would have to iron a lot of clothes to justify the price, though.

The most Energy Efficient Tumble Dryers are? Heat Pump Condenser Dryers.

Tumble dryers are very energy intensive appliances since significant amounts of energy are required to heat clothes in order to dry them. As a result, tumble dryers can be one of the major users of energy in households and consumers should carefully consider the energy use of a tumble dryer before making a decision to purchase, as the lifetime cost of using a tumble dryer is often very high.

• Clean the lint filter on the dryer after each operation to maintain full air flow and to maximise the drying efficiency.
• Dryers equipped with an electronic humidity control are the most efficient because they automatically shut off the drying cycle when the clothes are dry. Other models are equipped with electric timers which, allow you to select the length of the drying cycle. Here it is important not to overestimate the length of the drying cycle.
• A permanent press cycle with a “cool-down” period saves energy and dries efficiently.
• Compact dryers are economical provided that you only have small amounts of clothes to dry. Never overload a tumble dryer but avoid under-loading as well.
• Use correct temperature settings to minimise the amount of electricity consumed.
• Over-dried clothes feel harsh and waste energy. Experiment to find the right setting. Some natural materials such as cotton and wool should retain some moisture to avoid wrinkling.
• Clothes should never be placed in the tumble dryer dripping with water. They should have as much moisture removed beforehand and they should never be folded before being placed in the dryer.
• Dry clothes in consecutive loads where possible. The dryer will be warm already and will save on initial energy consumption.
• On sunny days take advantage of good weather and dry your clothes outside.

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To protect consumers from purchasing inefficient tumble dryers, Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) have been set for tumble dryers. Currently, only tumble dryers with an Energy Efficiency Rating of Class D or better can be sold.

A key consideration for consumers considering buying a tumble dryer is the annual cost of running a tumble dryer.

It was Frenchman Pochons, who in 1799 created the ventilator – and it was this initial design that became the early antecedent of the tumble dryer. Essentially a metal drum with holes, clothing was placed inside the drum and dried over an open fire with a hand cranking system.

It was a design that worked, but it did suffer the major disadvantage of leaving clothes smelling of smoke and occasionally dusted in soot. Its basic design, however – a ventilator system comprising of a metal drum with holes – remains the foundation of all tumble dryers.

American George Sampson, patented the first name ‘clothes dryer’ in 1892. It took the basics of Pochon’s original design and dramatically improved on them – he came up with the idea of a metal drum with a rack that dried clothes but away from the main source of heat. Replacing the original open fire concept with a stove, it made the dryer not only more efficacious, but also safer.

Even as early as 1915, it was possible for consumers to purchase early design tumble dryers for their home. As with any new technology, however, it came at a price, and the luxury of being able to dry your clothes so quickly and conveniently came with a hefty price tag.

It wasn’t until 1938 that another inventor, J. Ross Moore, further refined the tumble dryer’s design that made it possible for the general public to purchase the dryer at a more cost-effective and pocket-friendly price. Called ‘June Day’, it came in gas and electric models.

The 1940s saw tumble dryer sales go stratospheric, and it wasn’t long before a battle commenced amongst various manufacturers and brands keen to capitalise on the dryer’s success. For the consumer, this had the advantage of driving the price down even more.

The end of World War II saw the baby boomer generation take advantage of even further advances in tumble dryer technology. The mid-to-late 40s saw the addition of temperature controls, timers, exhaust mechanisms and a cool cycle.

In the 1950s a dryness sensor was invented, meaning that the dryer would automatically switch off when the clothes were dry – an innovation that saved time and money for consumers.

1965 saw the release of the permanent press cycle. In the mid-70s a microelectronic controller facility was added to tumble dryers – a feature that improved on the dryness sensor that effectively controlled all aspects of the drying cycle, including the length of time and levels of dryness.

1983 saw the additional feature of delayed start timers in tumble dryers, meaning people could set their dryers to start at specific times of the day.

Saving energy is the 21st century mantra, but in the mid-80s this was a revolutionary way of allowing people to monitor and conserve their energy usage.

Further advances have been made to cater for the green culture and modern obsession of energy efficiency, and these developmental leaps mean money and natural resources continue to be saved.

The Hydronic Dryer was created by Hydromate Technologies, and uses hydronic power to dry clothes. And LCD touch screens – similar to the control functions of many modern appliances – are a common feature of contemporary tumble dryers that allow you to, for example, pre-set buttons and functions of the drying cycle, including start and stop times.

Even one of the most common complaints about previous dryers – the noise – has partially been remedied by new models which have noise reduction features, as well as specially designed suspension systems that reduce the levels of shaking of the machines.

Is a Front or Top Load Washing Machine the most efficient? Front Loading Machines are the most efficient.

A key consideration for consumers when buying a washing machine is the size of the machine. Running a washing machine with a large drum but with a load that is much smaller than its capacity will waste electricity, so consumers should select a washing machine size that is appropriate to their household size. Washing machines with a smaller drum are best suited to households that do regular, small washes. Washing machines with a larger drum are best suited to households that need to wash large loads at one time.

Energy Savings Tips for Washing Machines:

• Washing machines that are used regularly can be significant users of both energy and water in households. Purchasing a more efficient washing machine will save electricity and water for years to come.
• Buy a washing machine, which offers a variety of water temperature settings.
• A front loading washing machine uses less water and costs less to operate even though the purchase price may be higher than a top loader.
• Use warm and cold water setting as much as possible in order to cut down on energy needed to heat the water.
• Take advantage of special features on your washer that can save money. For example, soak cycles remove stubborn stains in one wash cycle.
• The automatic washing machine uses the same amount of electricity for a full load as it consumes for a single item. Save dirty clothes until a full load has accumulated.
• Never overload your automatic washing machine. Overloading will reduce the cleaning action. (Varying the size of garments in a full load improves the cleaning action by allowing free circulation).

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Are energy efficient washing machines worth it?

As it turns out, yes. A shiny new High Efficiency washer will save so much in operating costs throughout the next several years, it’ll be like getting the matching dryer for free. HE washers cost less to operate because they use less water, electricity and even less detergent.

Currently LG has three washing machines in the Energy Star Top 5 most efficient washing machines list.

We owe the invention of the washing machine to Jacob Christian Schäffer (1767). 30 years later, an American, Nathaniel Briggs, obtained the first patent for a washing machine. It involved pouring hot water into a tank, turning a lever to wash the clothes and then wringing them between two rollers. The tank was then drained using a tap.

210 years further on, the electric washing machine was invented.

In 1905, the first drum washing machines appeared. They were still hand-operated but the steel tank allowed for a coal burner to be included.

Towards 1920, the first electric machines were born: only the turning mechanism was electric. The remaining controls were still manual.

It was only in 1930 that the machines became automatic. Pressure switches, thermostats and timers were included in the new models. From the 1980s onwards, advances in the field of electronics meant washing machines became reactive and ecological: Adjustment of parameters thanks to sensors: water level, rate, spinning; Weight sensing; Different cycles: colors, whites, wool, synthetics and Energy & water saving.

In 1990, a British inventor, James Dyson, produced a washing machine with two cylinders which turned in opposite directions, thus reducing washing times and giving better results.

Nowadays, washing machines are connected to the internet and may have integrated Wi-Fi for deferred startup of washing programs, for instance during off-peak times when electricity costs are at their lowest. Some models work without detergent, thanks to electrolysis, which separates the positive and negative ions.