| Electric heating has several unique advantages. It | | | | convenience of electric heat. An example of an |
| can be precisely controlled to allow a uniformity of | | | | off-peak system that is very common today is |
| temperature within very narrow limits, it is cleaner | | | | an electric plenum heater. Another newer form of |
| than many other methods of heating. It does not | | | | heating is a convective electric heating system. |
| involve any combustion and it is considered very | | | | Both use electric heaters to heat the air that is |
| safe because it is protected from overloading by | | | | then circulated with blowers throughout your |
| automatic breakers. It is quick to use easy to | | | | home. |
| adjust and it is relatively quiet. The main | | | | As you can easily see, heating with electric has |
| disadvantages of in industry are the higher cost | | | | some advantages and some disadvantages. The |
| of electrical energy compared to direct use of | | | | cost of electricity has continued to rise and will be |
| fuel, and the capital cost of both the unit itself and | | | | skyrocketing even higher in the future. Many |
| the electrical wiring required to deliver large | | | | states have either deregulated electric or are |
| quantities of electrical energy to the point of use. | | | | going to do so in the near future. With the |
| There tons of different types of electric heat. | | | | uncertainty of the future cost of electric and the |
| Some of these methods are resistance heating, | | | | waste of the transmission system of electric, |
| electric arc heating, induction heating, and dielectric | | | | many owners of electric heating systems are |
| heating. The most common of these is the | | | | deciding to convert to hydronic baseboard heating. |
| resistance heating. With the resistance heating of | | | | With the very high efficiency of today's gas and |
| electric baseboard heating, water heating and | | | | oil boilers, they are becoming much more |
| kitchen ranges, you don't have to worry about | | | | attractive to many homeowners. Combining a high |
| carbon monoxide or unvented gases. However, | | | | efficiency gas or oil boiler with hot water |
| direct with electric is really not considered | | | | baseboard or radiant heat, will give great comfort |
| ecologically sound because most electricity uses | | | | and low utility costs for many years to come. |
| fossil fuels. With about two-thirds of the energy in | | | | Electric heat does have a place where it does |
| the fuel being lost within the power stations, and | | | | shine, a seasonal cottage that will only be used a |
| in transmission line losses. Some of the most | | | | few times a year. It is very easy to shut down |
| popular choices for electric heating systems are | | | | the heat and restart it on arrival. There is also |
| thermal storage systems, electric radiant heating, | | | | very little that can go wrong from the long |
| hydronic electric heating and even convective | | | | periods of non-use. In this situation electric is a |
| heating. You can also install an off-peak system | | | | very good choice. This is the only situation in |
| that can save money and also give you the | | | | which I recommend electric heating. |