Heating - Electric
- What is the most efficient way to use electric baseboard heating?
- What is the "auxiliary" or "emergency" heat switch on my heat pump thermostat?
- How does it affect my heating bills?
- If I have a heat pump, should I set my heat back at night or when I'm away during the day?
- What is a "geothermal" heating system?
- What is a "thermal storage" heating system?
- Can thermal storage heating be used in combination with a heat pump?
- What is a "radiant" electric heating system?
Q. What is the most efficient way to use electric baseboard heating?
A. Electric baseboard heating typically has a separate thermostat in each room. With this type of system, you should heat the room you are in to a comfortable temperature (typically 20 - 21°C / 68 - 70°F), and set unoccupied rooms back to 13 - 16°C (55 - 60°F) keeping interior doors closed.
Q. What is the "auxiliary" or "emergency" heat switch on my heat pump thermostat? How does it affect my heating bills?
A. Most heat pumps are supplemented by electric resistance heating elements, which provide additional heat in very cold weather and "emergency" heating if the heat pump's compressor malfunctions. The supplemental heat comes on automatically when the heat pump is unable to meet the heating demand, while the emergency heat is switched on manually. Excessive use of this supplemental or emergency heat can increase heating costs significantly. Most heat pump thermostats have a small light that indicates when the supplemental or emergency heat is operating.
Q. If I have a heat pump, should I set my heat back at night or when I'm away during the day?
A. With a typical heat pump, which uses electric resistance elements for back-up heat, you should either get a programmable thermostat specifically designed for a heat pump, or set the thermostat at a comfortable temperature and leave it alone.
Q. What is a "geothermal" heating system?
A. Geothermal means "heat from the earth". A geothermal system is a heat pump which absorbs heat from either the ground or from water pumped from a well or pond. Both the ground and ground water tend to be warmer in the winter than outdoor air, enabling the system to operate more efficiently and less expensively.
Q. What is a "thermal storage" heating system?
A. Thermal storage systems typically are used only where electric utilities offer "off-peak" rates. They use electricity to produce heat at off-peak times when rates are lower, and some type of storage medium (stone, masonry or ceramic materials) to store the heat until it is needed. When the thermostat calls for heat, the fan blows air across or through the storage medium and then through ductwork to the home.
Q. Can thermal storage heating be used in combination with a heat pump?
A. An electric thermal storage system can be a good supplement to a heat pump. When the heat pump is unable to meet the heating demands of the home, electric resistance heating is typically used for supplemental heat, which can increase operating costs significantly. By using electric thermal storage for the supplemental heat, the cost of supplemental heating can be reduced, thereby reducing overall operating costs.
Q. What is a "radiant" electric heating system?
A. An electric radiant heating system typically uses specially designed ceiling panels, with built-in low-powered electric heating elements. The heat is "radiated" downward into the room, in much the same way that the sun's heat warms the earth. Like sunlight, radiant heat works by "line of sight", meaning that it can be blocked by furniture or other obstructions. With careful furniture placement and proper system design, this can be a very even, comfortable type of heating.
