Does a radiator reduce your energy bill?

**lullaby80** · 11-17-2007, 07:57 PM

We have gas heating in our house but since our townhouse is three stories the family room (in the finished basement) gets really really cold. So often times I only have the heater on because we want to spend time in the family room. Today we bought one of those oil-filled radiators which we keep in the basement. In your experience, do you think this will lower our heating bills for the winter? I know it's pretty "cheap" to use gas heating and I'm a bit worried that the electric bill will get bigger because of our new purchase.

**kabin63** · 11-17-2007, 10:48 PM

My mom has two of them and her bill didn't really increase at all. I think the radiator kind are supposed to be more energy efficient.
My neighbor has one too and hasn't complained about an increase in her bill either.

**Squirt** · 11-18-2007, 12:27 PM

I was just given 2 oil-filled radiators. I hope it doesn't increase the bill too much, as they're keeping BF's kitchen and living room nice and warm. He has fuel oil heat otherwise, and a $400+ tank only lasts about a month and a half in very cold weather. I don't want him to keep the house warm on account of me, but I worry about the dogs, who stay in the kitchen which is the coldest part of the house.

Can anyone else confirm that these radiators do not add a lot to the electricity bill?

**HandyMom** · 11-18-2007, 03:45 PM

My brother had a new one and somehow it smoked. The home owners insurance company had to pay ot clean his walls, carpeting, everything. He took it back to the store and didn't get another one.

I'm leary on getting one because of that.

**lovestoread** · 11-19-2007, 07:24 AM

I have one for my beauty shop that is in the basement. The shop is the only room that is heated in the basement, and doesnt' get very warm. I bought one of these last winter, and it does a great job. It can get warm enough to run you outta the room, tho, it has lots of temp adjustments on it. I love it.

**AngelB** · 11-20-2007, 12:31 PM

We used these last winter in MS, because we were working on a fixer upper and didn't want to have a new propane tank brought out yet. We heated about 700sq/ft with two of them and they worked great and fast. The bill was higher than before we started them, but even with using as exclusive heat source it only went up about $30 I think. hope that helps.