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Electric vs. gas heating: which is better?
HVAC.com ^ | 7/31/23 | HVAC.com

Posted on 02/10/2025 11:21:25 AM PST by DallasBiff

As we step into the winter months, it’s time to consider your heating options. Whether your home is warmed with electric heat or a gas furnace, you want to know your family will be comfortable when the temperature drops.

Understanding your heating options, like electrification or a hybrid system, supports a comfortable home and manageable energy bill. To help you decide the best way to heat your home, we’ll explain the differences between electric and gas heat, and give a brief introduction to the hybrid dual fuel system.

(Excerpt) Read more at hvac.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: electricity; heating; homeheating; natgas; naturalgas
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To: Jamestown1630

Same system at my old home except the heat was steam. The old boiler in the basement looked like something out of startrek warp engines with dials and water drains and spickets. Lastly, the ashes needed be hauled out each morning and the firebox loaded with coal at least each evening.

Converted over to natural gas and it was like a dream, no ashes just maintain the water levels. Since those days have been in electric heat pumps. Never feel warm.


21 posted on 02/10/2025 11:36:55 AM PST by Mouton (A 150MT hit may not solve our problems now but is a good start. )
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To: Tell It Right

“yet in post 12 you incorrectly say that plants emit CO2 (hint, they take in CO2 and emit O2 LOL).”

I was 100% correct. Go do your homework.


22 posted on 02/10/2025 11:37:02 AM PST by TexasGator ('/111'r/11111.111''!11)
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To: DallasBiff

It really depends on where you live. I live in the North West where electricity is comparatively cheep because of all our hydro damns. I can’t believe what my family is paying in So/Cal, its 4X to 5X what I pay.

Since there’s no natural gas in my neighborhood anyway the choice was clear.

One thing I did do when I bought this house was rip out the baseboard heating and install a forced air heat pump and AC unit. Its cheep, efficient and reliable.


23 posted on 02/10/2025 11:37:33 AM PST by usurper (AI was born with a birth defect.)
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To: DallasBiff

I’d love to get baseboard heaters installed. Had some in an apartment in the early 90s. Worked great.


24 posted on 02/10/2025 11:38:03 AM PST by RandallFlagg (Democrats should have been barred from elections since The Battle Of Athens.)
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To: TexasGator

Sorry, I read it wrong; probably because I don’t know why a ‘de’-humidifier would be needed with radiators.

They don’t build apartment buildings like that anymore; really big rooms, windows on three sides, so plenty of cross ventilation; we were almost never too hot in summer (despite no AC in those days) or cold in winter.


25 posted on 02/10/2025 11:38:49 AM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: Tell It Right

I believe that depends on whether or not sunlight is present.


26 posted on 02/10/2025 11:38:57 AM PST by GingisK
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To: TexasGator

Plants emit a very tiny portion of CO2 at night relative to how much they take in through photosynthesis during the day. They’re a net CO2 absorber. (Just don’t tell Bill Gates. LOL)


27 posted on 02/10/2025 11:39:19 AM PST by Tell It Right (1 Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: DallasBiff

Depends on where you live.


28 posted on 02/10/2025 11:39:27 AM PST by WASCWatch ( WASC)
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To: cymbeline

Yes, see 25.


29 posted on 02/10/2025 11:39:28 AM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: DallasBiff; anyone
My primary is wood. I made my own mini-version of a Russian Stove, or heat sync. Weighs about 1000 pounds and sits atop my regular CEMI iron stove. I have it divided into compartments with a channel for the hot gases to flow through the interior. Takes it about 1/2 an hour to 1 hour to heat up but once it does it radiates heat evenly. It also stores heat for 2-3 hours. Usually by the morning the wood is ash but the bricks are still warm to the hand. I used leftover bricks from a construction site and scrap steel from a recycle yard. It is held together with silicone caulk that hardened into a nice solid. For the base atop the CEMI stove we used the leftover slab of granite from our kitchen counter. I calculated I save 3 ricks of firewood a winter—minimum. IMG-0610
30 posted on 02/10/2025 11:39:48 AM PST by Phoenix8
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To: Tell It Right

I didn’t see your apology ...


31 posted on 02/10/2025 11:43:11 AM PST by TexasGator ('/111'r/11111.111''!11)
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To: Jamestown1630

My 1896 house in PA still has the old radiators (28). The seven on the third floor are more plain - not the beautiful ornamental ones. They used to be heated by a large coal furnace which was converted to oil sometime in the 1950’s. The original system was convection, so the piles got larger (up to 10”) as they got closer to the furnace.. when it went to oil, they put in a circulator pump but kept the old pipes.

When I bought it in 1987 I got rid of the furnace and piping which was all covered with asbestos (what a project) and put in a Weil McClain gas burner woth 5 zones. The only iron pipes we left were the 3/4” near the radiators - the rest is copper tubing.

If I could afford it, I’d put on a new gas furnace as they are far more efficient now.


32 posted on 02/10/2025 11:44:01 AM PST by enumerated (81 million votes my ass)
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To: DallasBiff

bkmk


33 posted on 02/10/2025 11:49:05 AM PST by linMcHlp
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To: DallasBiff
During my lifetime, I've used heat pump (electric), natural gas and coal for winter heat. Natural gas and coal provide a penetrating heat compared to electric heat pump.

Gas is much cleaner than coal. In my experience, natural gas is the best source for heating a home.

34 posted on 02/10/2025 11:51:58 AM PST by JesusIsLord
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To: cymbeline

Just put a match near the old tail pipe if you want proof.


35 posted on 02/10/2025 11:52:21 AM PST by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: enumerated

Some of those old radiators were really beautiful. I think I would have kept one around just for ‘decor’.

I’ve seen a couple of videos of people refurbishing old parlor stoves, and sometimes fitting them with electric fires.

Can’t find the best one I’ve seen right now, but here is another:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73LS6C7VAE0


36 posted on 02/10/2025 11:54:02 AM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: enumerated

This is the one I was trying to find:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Sx4lnLyAc


37 posted on 02/10/2025 11:58:56 AM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: TexasGator

Plants, also, emit CO2 when they breathe.

Wrong plants ‘inhale’ CO2 and ‘exhale’ O2.


38 posted on 02/10/2025 12:02:32 PM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: DallasBiff

To me there’s no discussion. Gas is much cheaper. When the electricity goes out one still has the option to light the stove’s burners, something we’ve done several times. Keep a little fresh air coming in, and the burners won’t kill you.

We also heavily favor firewood, which heats our home most of the day.

I feel sorry for those living in commieland where their natural gas will soon be history. Having to rely on electric heat when the grid can’t take it will not be fun. Voting for the wrong people does have its drawbacks.


39 posted on 02/10/2025 12:07:21 PM PST by redfreedom (Happiness is shopping at Walmart and not hearing Spanish once!)
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To: PIF

I think plants ‘inhale’ and ‘exhale’ both.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/understanding-plants/how-plants-breathe


40 posted on 02/10/2025 12:08:32 PM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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