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i got a reply back saying $200 for january for the whole electric bill. strikes me as really low based on everything i read. the base boards can be configured in each room so that might help. but i am not sure how these people live so maybe they dont turn them on at all often. who knows.
my fear is what you posted - getting a $700 bill each month i can't really afford.
This was an extremely mild winter for most of the country. So $200 in a mild winter would be much more in a normal winter, much less a cold one.
You don't need "ducts" for gas. There are LOTS of homes heated with gas fired hot water. The switch from electric baseboards might be easy IF there is piped gas service available.
The newer "mini-split" type AC systems can also be purchased with a heatpumps to warm in the winter. There are also heatpumps that will supply heat hydronically to perimeter style baseboard radiators with no need for ducts. The costs for each of these conversions could be evaluated for the "pay back period" based on current and future utility costs... https://www.furnacecompare.com/payback-period.html
The OP may also consider eliminating the existing electric water heat and replacing heating/cooling/hot water for cleaning and such with an INTEGRATED device -- Air-to-Water Heat Pumps | GreenBuildingAdvisor.com
BTW -- Anyone that claims "electric baseboards" are cost effective is WRONG. The way a heatpump works it costs about A QUARTER as much to run as electric baseboards. The "efficiency" of converting electricity directly into heat is "complete" in the sense there there is PURELY resistive heating inside the dwelling, compared to a COMBUSTION process that uses gas there are "loses" related to things like the warmth going up the chimney to expel combustion gases and water vapor. By that measure a heatpump is MORE THAN 100% efficiency because the compressor is capturing "free warmth" from outdoors and "concentrating" in the dwelling -- https://energy.gov/energysaver/heat-pump-systems
Of course any home that is "super insulated" will have LOWER ENERGY costs than one that is under-insulated REGARDLESS of the source of the heating / cooling...
You don't need "ducts" for gas. There are LOTS of homes heated with gas fired hot water. The switch from electric baseboards might be easy IF there is piped gas service available.
The newer "mini-split" type AC systems can also be purchased with a heatpumps to warm in the winter. There are also heatpumps that will supply heat hydronically to perimeter style baseboard radiators with no need for ducts. The costs for each of these conversions could be evaluated for the "pay back period" based on current and future utility costs... https://www.furnacecompare.com/payback-period.html
The OP may also consider eliminating the existing electric water heat and replacing heating/cooling/hot water for cleaning and such with an INTEGRATED device -- Air-to-Water Heat Pumps | GreenBuildingAdvisor.com
BTW -- Anyone that claims "electric baseboards" are cost effective is WRONG. The way a heatpump works it costs about A QUARTER as much to run as electric baseboards. The "efficiency" of converting electricity directly into heat is "complete" in the sense there there is PURELY resistive heating inside the dwelling, compared to a COMBUSTION process that uses gas there are "loses" related to things like the warmth going up the chimney to expel combustion gases and water vapor. By that measure a heatpump is MORE THAN 100% efficiency because the compressor is capturing "free warmth" from outdoors and "concentrating" in the dwelling -- https://energy.gov/energysaver/heat-pump-systems
Of course any home that is "super insulated" will have LOWER ENERGY costs than one that is under-insulated REGARDLESS of the source of the heating / cooling...
I'm guessing you've never had electric baseboard heat or have not done an "apples to apples" comparison between the various methods.
If you had you'd know you are incorrect.
This was an extremely mild winter for most of the country. So $200 in a mild winter would be much more in a normal winter, much less a cold one.
Was it really? Our winter here was so bad that we were setting records left and right all winter. I also Apparently I went into tunnel vision mode and just assumed that everyone else had a bad winter also.
I'm guessing you've never had electric baseboard heat or have not done an "apples to apples" comparison between the various methods.
If you had you'd know you are incorrect.
Not really incorrect- you're both kinda right..
Resistance heat is 100% efficient- zero heat is lost up a chimney.
Heat pumps are 3x more efficient than resistance heat, per unit of electricity.
So, if a kilowatt hour of resistance heat gives you ten btus, a heat-pump would give you 30 btus.
Gas heat might still be less expensive though, even if the furnace is only 80% efficient, just cause gas so tightly packed with energy.
Funny that the posters in this thread that actually used electric baseboard heat say it wasn't that bad & the detractors haven't ever used it.
If I lived where gas wasn't available, I'd choose electric over having a "pig" in my yard, or heating with logs.. it wouldn't ever be my first choice, but I'd buy an all electric house in the future, if the circumstances were right.
Was it really? Our winter here was so bad that we were setting records left and right all winter. I also Apparently I went into tunnel vision mode and just assumed that everyone else had a bad winter also.
Yup. We set records for the warmest January ever. We barely got any snow.
I wouldn't pass on the house over this but I agree with other posters- I would instantly put a mini-split system in to cover most of your heating except for the coldest one or two months of the year, and you'll also save a lot on cooling since they are more efficient than any AC the house would already have. DIY can be done for under $1k and you'll realize at least that much in savings in year 1.
I'm also surprised that there isn't a natural gas line near the house given the location; if you can connect to natural gas on the cheap then you can also get a majority of your heating through a single appliance, such as a centrally located fireplace with ventless logs or other natural gas heater.
Electric hot water is annoying but when the thing dies you can get a heat pump water heater for about the same price, assuming your powerco offers rebates (we get a 50% rebate here).
Heat pumps and natural gas are on pretty equal footing in terms of heat per dollar, all in. Baseboard heat flushes money down the toilet although some powercos give a discounted rate for those who heat with electric so the bite might not be quite as bad.
everything about this house i am considering is perfect but everything is electric. hot water heat, stove, base board heaters, etc.
im in the philly area so it can get cold in the winter
my concern is getting stuck with ultra high ultity bills in the winter
anyone have experience with this ....mainly base board eletric heat as the only heating source?
I wouldn't touch it.
Gas is cheap, oil goes up and down but elec is always high.
I'd expect oil to remain reasonable for the next 8 yrs.
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