Anybody heat their home with Electric

[JET]

I burn about 80 bushel (4500#) a winter for 2000 sqft (1000 each level). That is about $250 worth of corn at today's prices. My dad dropped his natural gas bill (way cheaper than electric) in his store from $3800 to $600 worth of corn. He also has one in his house.

[sleepydsm]

Anyone one have those electric water heaters, that dont use a tank? We're looking into getting one. Supposed to be about 25% more efficient? I'm pretty sure the hot water is produced almost immediately, on demand. Any thoughts?

[A//// Guy]

Yea those are nice, but they are really expensive compared to a regular electric.

[JET]

I have also heard to stay away from the electric ones, they can't keep up to demand. The gas ones are much better and some are great. Some of the lower end ones vary the temp of the water too much, so it gets hotter and colder while they run. That is one of the dangers with those since they don't have a tank. You are looking at about $800 for a nice gas one.

[xveganxcowboyx]

One thing to watch for on the electric water heaters is the type of water. If you have high mineral concentrations they will clog.

I stayed in a lot of places in Thailand that had little ones attached to each shower and they were awesome. A little warm up time, but not really worse than waiting for regular hot water.

[Jakey]

My parents' house is heated by electricity. After growing up in that and living in 3 different residences since then with gas heat, I'd go back to the electric heat at my parents any day. Two reasons:
1. You do not have to worry about carbon monoxide poisoning with electric heat
2. I hate the bursts of heat that forced air systems have. When electric heaters turn on, they're hardly noticeable. Personally, I believe that electric heat does a much better job of holding a constant room temperature. Electric heat has the ability to repeatedly turn on and off while forced air turns on and off in big bursts.

I'd comment on the price of the electric heat in my parents' house but I have no idea what it costs.

Originally Posted by JET

I burn about 80 bushel (4500#) a winter for 2000 sqft (1000 each level). That is about $250 worth of corn at today's prices. My dad dropped his natural gas bill (way cheaper than electric) in his store from $3800 to $600 worth of corn. He also has one in his house.

The fuel cost is obviously lower with corn. However, what is the furnace versus corn stove price difference?

[Jakey]

If I were building a house now, I'd go 100% in floor heat with a few radiators scattered around to also run the water through. In floor heat is incredible.

[Onefast99gsx]

Hey everyone- thanks for all the input on this. I appreciate all the feedback. I'm looking at a WHEDA loan right now and seeing what i'm approved for. I'd like to get a little more for updates.

My friend actually has a wood pellet stove which is basically the same as burning corn. The wood pellets burn cleaner than corn but is obviously more expensive.

I have infloor heat but i'm renting a duplex that doesn't have any basement. It's definately the way to go for a garage or for a house that doesn't have a basement. Even if you don't plan on doing it, it's not a bad idea to at least run the PVC tubing throughout the floor just in case you want to upgrade later on.

Hey JET are you saying you heated your entire house for $250 for the entire last winter?! If so, did you soley heat it with corn or was this in conjuction to a natural gas system.

[Jana]

Originally Posted by sleepydsm

Anyone one have those electric water heaters, that dont use a tank? We're looking into getting one. Supposed to be about 25% more efficient? I'm pretty sure the hot water is produced almost immediately, on demand. Any thoughts?

My parents have hot water heat, and that's what I had been used to since as long as I can remember. I couldn't tell you what the monthly expense is, but it's not cheap.

[joem]

Originally Posted by JET

Yep, get yourself a corn burner! I have one in the shop and one downstairs. I also happen to work there full time. Let me know, I could probably hook you up!

I can get a better price. Corn is the way to go.
1. You do not have to worry about carbon monoxide poisoning with electric heat
And with corn stoves you do?
The fuel cost is obviously lower with corn. However, what is the furnace versus corn stove price difference?
Corn-wood stoves 1200.00- 4500.00
furnace 1000.00--2500.00
Corn-wood stoves can pay for themselfs in a heating season easy.

BURN CORN RUN CORN EAT CORN SHIT CORN THAT WILL BE THE LIFE FOR ME!!!!!!
Joe

[JET]

The corn stoves run costantly too, so it is a nice consistent heat. Also, corn is not dirtier than pellets if you have a good corn stove, he is probably used to the cheaper corn stoves. The Bixby can burn corn or pellets, just flip a switch. It also dumps the ash by itself, lights itself, and makes your coffee in the morning!

[2003eclipse]

Originally Posted by Onefast99gsx

Yes, i know that he pays that much but I don't know his living habits and I don't really know how much wood he burned last winter in conjuction to that. So to heat solely with electric would be alot higher of course. I don't have access to a woods that I could log out for heating wood so I'd have to buy it from someone.

73k is a pretty good deal. That's in my home town which is 12 miles from where i'm at now. That house in my current town would be 90+ easily. I was thinking of getting it and fixing it up and making some money on it.

You can see in the attached pic that it clearly needs something done with the countertops.

Yeah those countertops are pretty sweet. Something straight out of napolean dynamite. If you want to spend some money on countertops check these out. They are all made at my work. You can get fiberoptics in them to. Ask denny hecker how he likes his.

http://www.concretearts.com/Always.Q...untertops.html

[Jakey]

Originally Posted by Onefast99gsx

I have infloor heat but i'm renting a duplex that doesn't have any basement. It's definately the way to go for a garage or for a house that doesn't have a basement. Even if you don't plan on doing it, it's not a bad idea to at least run the PVC tubing throughout the floor just in case you want to upgrade later on.

What does having or not having a basement have to do with being able to utilize in floor heat?

[Jaei Sun]

Jet does it get hot on the outside to the touch? Is it possible to have one installed like a furnace and use some sort of forced air system?

[JET]

The MaxFire version doesn't get hot on the outside except for the door, but there is a child protective safety screen. The UBB (Ugly Black Box) can be ducted into current duct work, but that does get hot on the outside.