Mica or Oil?

Micathermic heating units, also know as mica flat panel heaters, share many of the heating advantages of oil filled radiators.

Each is a 1,500 watt radiant heaters and depend on convection (rising heat) to distribute their warmth. This enables them, for the most part, to run noiselessly. Even though an oil filled heater might generate a few pops and crackles as it heats up, they are only temporary; as opposed to the never ending noise from a fan equipped heater which can make some individuals insane.

And, because there is no fan to incite a dust cloud of allergens, these radiant convection heaters are beneficial to those afflicted with symptoms of asthma or other sorts of respiratory troubles.

Now let’s explore some of the noticeable and notable differences between micathermic and oil filled heaters. The first and most obvious is size.

Almost all oil filled heaters are 2, and sometimes 3 times as heavy as a micathermic heater. Though radiator type heaters are equipped with wheels, it could be challenging for some individuals to move to a different location if necessary. And the sheer bulk of a radiator could be an impediment to placing it precisely where you need it the most.

On the other hand, the slim line profile of a mica panel heater is unobtrusive and lends itself nicely to tight spots or cramped spaces. Also, a number of mica heaters offer you the flexibility of optional wall mounting.

A pet peeve numerous people encounter with radiant convection heaters is the time it takes to heat the room. But this is where the thermal properties of mica come into play.

The efficient heat transfer properties of mica, a staple of industial heating applications, allow for instant heat circulation. And so the choice is yours - heat in an instant or eventually.

Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit Expires - Others Given New Life

December 31, 2011 marks the expiration of the Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Credit Program. The technologies that are now ineligible for the maximum $500 personal tax credit are:

Water Heaters, Furnaces , Boilers, Heat pumps, Central Air conditioners, Building Insulation, Windows, Doors, Roofs, Circulating fans used in a qualifying furnace, and stove that use biomass fuel such as wood pellets, wood, and corn.

But the good news is the 30% tax credit for renewable energy products has been extended through 2016. Here is how the extended credits work for the 3 following systems:

Geothermal Heat Pumps - Wind Energy Systems - Solar Energy Systems 

Credit: 30% of cost, with no upper limit

Must be "placed in service" by Dec. 31, 2016
Available on principal home or second home.
New and existing homes

Fuel Cells 

Credit: 30% of cost, up to $500 per .5 kW of power capacity

Must be "placed in service" by Dec. 31, 2016
Available on principal home or second home.
New and existing homes

You may also be eligible for state, local, and utility incentives.

 

Energy Star Space Heaters – Do They Exist?

Whether you’re using a space heater to add a little extra comfort to one of your rooms or attempting to reduce overall heating costs, it’s only natural in this era of expensive energy that consumers would be concerned about space heater efficiency.

For us non-scientific types the definition of energy efficiency is simply getting the level of service we expect from an electric appliance for the least amount of energy. But it would be extremely helpful if a simple, reliable system existed for evaluating space heater efficiency.

We’ve all seen the easy to understand, yellow EnergyGuide tags that estimate the yearly operating costs for a wide variety of household appliances, but unfortunately they don’t exist for electric space heaters.

The reason for this omission is stated by the EPA on the Energy Star website: “EPA does not currently label space heaters as an ENERGY STAR qualified product, but has evaluated them and has no plans to label them in the near future.”

Despite manufacturers’ claims to the contrary, there isn’t a measurable difference in efficiency among the hundreds of makes and models of space heaters worth noting; which is a possible explanation for the EPA’s decision to ignore this category of electrical appliance altogether.

So rather than waste time chasing the elusive “most efficient space heater” we can look at a few ways to make the most efficient use of a space heater.

How fast does the room heat up?
One method to measure the efficiency of a space heater is by how fast it heats the room. It stands to reason that the quicker the room gets up to temperature, the sooner the thermostat will shut the heater off.

And the fastest way to distribute heat throughout a room is by incorporating a fan into the heater. Although fan noise is an annoyance for some people, a space heater equipped with a fan will warm up a room three times faster than one without.

Is the heat distributed evenly?

Another measure of space heater efficiency is how evenly the heat is distributed throughout the room. Balanced heat distribution that eliminates cold spots is best accomplished by an oscillating (side to side motion) heater, or one designed to efficiently move large amounts of air throughout the room.

Make efficient use of your space heater

The product description of many space heaters refers to the lower of the two available heat settings as the one being more efficient. This is true in an obvious sort of way if you’re using only 750 watts to keep your bedroom warm at night instead of the full 1,500 watts.

It’s not that the space heater is more efficient at a lower wattage; it’s that you’re using the space heater more efficiently.

One thing you can rely on is how space heater owners rate their experience with individual heaters. At SpaceHeater Reviews we feature only the best of the best rated 4 stars or higher.