Based on running costs alone, reverse-cycle air conditioning is by far the cheapest way to heat your home: our estimates show that a reverse-cycle air conditioner will cost only a little more to run for the entire year than an electric heater will cost to run just for three months over winter.
Generally speaking, Halogen heaters are one of the most inexpensive types of electric heater. They average around 1200W in terms of power output and because they provide instant-heat at close quarters, you shouldn't need to leave them on for long periods of time.
18° is the recommended night time bedroom temperature. 19-21° is the recommended daytime temperature range for occupied rooms. 24-27º is too warm and can put babies and young children at risk.
Natural gas, by definition, is more efficient overall than electricity, so if that is what you are going for—and your home isn't already natural-gas compatible—check with your local gas company to find out whether conversion to natural gas is possible.
Oil-filled heaters are up to 99% energy-efficient because they directly convert all the electric energy into heat energy with barely losses. Its thermostat, timer, and adjustable heating modes consume less than a percent of the heater's energy needs.
Electric blankets and throws can also work out as a cheaper alternative. One big jumper can seem cosy, but wearing lots of layers works better to trap heat. Base layers, including thermal vests, are fairly inexpensive. Keep an eye out for clothing made from wool, cotton or a fleecy fabric.
Gas heaters burn fuel such as propane, natural gas or kerosene. One big difference and benefit of gas space heaters is that they won't be affected during a power outage, since they don't use electricity. But gas heaters also usually have more safety considerations.
CHOICE experts have found that reverse-cycle air conditioning is by far the cheapest way to keep your home warm. But it does come with a large upfront cost. Here is a rundown of the most common types of heating, from cheapest to most expensive.
Get Your Fireplace Going
Firewood or some other solid fuel source is an effective means of keeping your house heated with minimal costs and work on your part. If you're lucky enough to have a fireplace, it will make heating your home that much easier and safer during an emergency like a power outage.
electric heating cost is much cheaper. A single kilowatt-hour (kWh) unit of gas costs around 4.65p, whereas the average price for a kWh of electricity is more than 20p. This doesn't mean that electric heating running costs are four times those of gas, however!
Any form of electrical heating – cooktop and oven, hot water, bar and fan heaters, hair dryers, kettles, heat lamps, in-floor heating, coffee machines, etc – use a lot of power, often as much as a standard Australian wall socket will allow, which is 2400W.
Overall, the cheapest electric heater to run are infrared heaters, costing around 26p an hour on average. Electric heaters with a timer function can save you a lot of money by limiting your usage.
The reasons your house is cold even with the heat on could be because of poor insulation, your furnace not working properly, rooms with high ceilings, or your heating system doesn't cover the whole house. Each of these issues can prevent your home from properly heating.
Solar air heaters can vary in size, cost, and heating capacity. A 32-by-18-inch window air heater panel costs $400 to $500 and can heat a small room; a 28-sq-ft. outdoor wall-mounted unit costs $2,700 and can heat 1,000 square feet.
Cold homes contribute to excess winter mortality and morbidity. Most of the health burden can be attributed to both respiratory and cardiovascular disease, especially for older people. In children, the excess winter health burden is mostly due to respiratory disease.
Plaster on walls can crumble, and paint or wallpaper can peel. Wooden window frames will start to rot, and even electrical equipment can be damaged as the water causes corrosion on components. Good ventilation in a property helps to reduce the amount of moisture trapped in the air.
Recommended Temperature When You Are Home
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends setting your thermostat no lower than 64 degrees (F) in the Winter months while people are in the home. If there are infants or elderly individuals, they recommend keeping the temperature at 70 degrees at a minimum.