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We sized up various heating devices to determine which will keep you the most cosy for the least cash
Last Updated: 15 May 2017
One of the first things we Capetonians do when the weather starts to turn a little nippy is hauling out the old heater – it’s a sure-fire way to defrost those icy fingers and toes quickly and conveniently. The only issue is that it can also be an uber expensive option. According to Eskom, domestic space heaters can account for up to 16% of your electricity bill, so if you’re going to use one (and let’s be honest, no one’s willing to give theirs up), it’s important to choose the most energy-efficient of the lot and to employ it in the right contexts in order to bring down costs.
To help you save some dough this drizzly season, we chatted to the folks at Eskom and, with their help, put together a comparison below that outlines various heating options and the pros and cons of each. This way, you should be able to make a safe, informed and an economical decision about how to warm up your cave when the cold sets in.
COMPARING HEATERS ON COST-EFFECTIVENESS
Oil Heaters
Pros:
Cons:
Fan Heaters
Pros:
Cons:
Bar Heaters
Pros:
Cons:
Underfloor Heating
Pros:
Cons:
Infrared Heaters
Pros:
Cons:
Wall-mounted Heaters
Pros:
Cons:
Gas Heaters
Pros:
Cons:
The Verdict: Infrared heaters are the most cost-effective option if you’re just looking to warm up your icy body. To heat up spaces at home though, it’s recommended that you use a 2-kW fan heater if you want to rapidly increase the level of warmth in an average-size room (3 x 3 x 2.5m) over a short timeframe of about one hour. If you want to slowly and steadily pick up the temperature in an enclosed, average-size room over around three hours, an oil heater with an output of 2kW is the most penny-wise option. Any heater you use must be controlled by a thermostat. Stay away from underfloor heating if you don’t want to burn a hole in your budget.
Photo Credits: Ruthanne Reid and Jason Woodhead | Wikimedia Commons
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