Does anyone know the +' and -'s of the different kinds of space heaters?  Do they heat differently?  Do they use different amounts of energy for comparable output?

Oil filled

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=35277-33454-EW6507L&lpage=none

Ceramic

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=210641-39646-5620&lpage=none

Check your PM's

I would be curious to know also? With my propane bill averaging 200.00 a month in the winter wondering also.

Heres a link that might help you some,http://www.consumersearch.com/www/house_and_home/space-heaters/index.html?refcd=GO036942c_space_heater&tsacr=GO441559342&gclid=CNL-jsy78I8CFQHgPAod_TVmKQ.   If you don't mind me asking a couple of questions I might be able to help you some more.  

Thanks for the link KYbass.  I ended up getting the DeLonghi oil filled radiator.

It's just that my oil bill for last yr avg'd $200/month.  I live in a 2 room studio apt.  The whole thing is roughly the size of a large master bedroom.  I'm on the 3rd floor but that "heat rises" theory doesn't apply much here.  Main doors stay shut and the hallways are not heated so I really don't get any help from below.

I figured, even if this thing costs me another $75 in electricity, I'm still ahead of the game.

The only thing is that it is a low amount of heat that is put out, knocks the chill out of the air but it takes a while to get there.  I am waiting on the first elec bill, if it has increased less than $50, I'll get another one.

Your answered my questions for me. I was going to say that if you owned you can do alot to help with conserving energy. but renting it tends to be a little harder. One thing you can do if you have to is buy a couple window sealing kits and seal the windows that your not using in other rooms If you have a water heater in your apt and its not one shared with everyone in the building you can check to see what the temp is set at on it. If you set it at 125 and 130 degrees it will save you some money there too. Also you can insulate the out going hot pipe on your water heater the first three feet and that saves money to as you lose alot of energy from that area. Here is another link that might help you. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/u Also I watched this Old house this weekend and they had a great show on how to save energy I will try to find a link. I know most of this info don't pertain to a heater but it will help in the long run. Also let me know how your heater does I have been thinking about getting one of those oil filled ones myself

That link would be great, this house was built in 1875.

We each have our own hot water heater, they are the small ones.  I can barely get a good long shower out of it, I would rather spend a little more money there if I could get a longer shower, any suggestions?

The idea of overall energy savings, while appealing, is not my major concern.  The system we have is old and I don't think it is accurate.   I want to disconnect my apartment from using it altogether.  There is 1 huge furnace and 6 circulators coming off it (6 apts here).  Each circulator is on it's own meter.  This is how he judges who used how much oil.  I just can't see how it could possibly cost $200+/month to heat a 20x20 room on the 3rd floor.

Wow I totally agree with you $200 a month and I can heat my house comfortably and its 2000 maybe more sg ft and thats using propane and a wood pellet stove.  I would see about getting your energy provider to do a energy audit and maybe check the systems accuracy on the meters.  There is no way a single person in a space that size could be using that much a month unless there is a gapping hole in the ceiling.  If your on a good basis with your neihbors find out what there spending and if theres is high as well maybe you guys can convice the landlord to up grade to a new system.   This just blows me away I could see if you was renting a house being this high.    Also if you think your landlord is gouging you and that might not be the case but it dosen't hurt to check, find out how many gallons the oil tank is and then call the oil company and get a price per gallon and see exactly how much a gallon of oil is and see what he is paying to have the tank filled.  He might be getting extra money from you guys by saying it's the heating oil costs.    

Your hot water heater unfortinutly there isn't much you can do other than insulate it well  or upgrade to larger one but renting makes that hard to do  and if your able to talk to your landlord about getting on demand tankless hot water heater.  they are efficent and you don't run out of hot water and they pay for themsevles in a year.  I encourage you to check out this link they have benifets for you and your landlord as well http://homerepair.about.com/od/plumbingrepair/ss/tankless_hwh.htm I hope this helps and I will answer what ever I can for you.   There are so many things your landlord can do to save him and you money but he has to be willing

My landlord really is a great guy.  The system is old and antiquated.

He has done many improvements recently (new windows, etc and this house is HUGE).  He has just run into a huge cost.  If you remember, we had a fire at a club here in RI where 100 people died, "The Station" night club fire.  Since then, the codes have been revamped and many land lords are learning they need HUGE upgrades.  My landlord owns 21 properties in this area . (it's somewhat affluent)  In THIS house alone, he had to change all the sills on the new windows (old ones had lead paint), and he has to hardwire the whole house for smoke and heat (about 40k).  He has deadlines that this all has to be done within.  Like I said, he's a super guy.  The oil, he has the guy downstairs monitor and order, landlord just pays the bill and then looks at the meters and splits it up according to who used how much.  I just think the system is homemade.  Can they still come check it for me if it's out dated and possibly home rigged?

I pay $400/mo for rent and I live on "main st" of an antique, seaside town.  Apartments on the edge of the ghetto , this size, START around $850.  I got it made, this place is beautiful (The house and the town)I don't want to make waves but don't want to go poor staying warm either.  

(When I said I don't want to make waves, this is the view from my kitchen.  If you look closely, each one of theose boats is on a school of Bluefish.  My boat is kept on the other side of those trees.....400/month!!!)

I really appreciate all your input KYBass

I wouldn't have them come check unless your landlord gives permission. I would have to think though that eventually he will replace this system and put in a more modern system. It sounds as if he might be heading that direction. I would talk to him and find out what his plans are. In many cases you can get tax incentives for up grading to a more energy efficent system and it will help lower the tenents costs a month if there is a modern heating plant in the house. Your landlord can have a home energy auditor come in and do an audit and this will help him see where he should spend money and where not to. Just like the on demand hot water is a great way to save you and him money. You because your not paying to heat water all day long and him because he may get a tax break on installing them. Your situation requires a bit of sales on your part. If you can convince him that it will save him money then eventually it will save you as well. Another thing he can do is insulate the duct work. Uninsulated duct loses an estimated 20 to 30 percent of heating energy during it's course of use. This year with fuel oil going to be higher than any other heating fuel it would be a good idea if he did switch to a different heating source. I know you guys have some cold winters up there and I really think this is something I would talk to him about because I really think between the amount of electric you pay for and the amount of heating costs you pay if you add it all up it's probally going to be around $350 a month this year, now is the time to look for ways to conserve When I get a little bit of time I send some more helpfull links your way  By the way that is a awesome veiw I would definatly talk to him about upgrading I wouldn't want to lose that view either.  

Hey KYbass1276,

Wondering if you might give me a hand. I am heating about 2800sqft. The house is about 30 years old though. Added insulation in attic which helped a little, have high efficacy furnace on two zones. The only thing a can come up with is the windows, which is on the list but that and everything else. They are andersons and in good shape but old. What else am I over looking or is that about what I should expect?

MichBass if you can insulate your duct work that will help you alot.  And the insulation in your attic needs to be atleast 15 inches thick.   Try not to smash down the insulation you do have up there because that takes away from the R value.   Another tip is to check around your exterior doors feel if there is a draft there.  If so you might need new weather stripping.   I would check the windows to see if there is no cracks around the caulking on the inside and out.   It might pay to get new windows the new windows today are more energy efficiant and will save you money in the long run.    Only 20% percent of houses built before 1980 were insulated properly.   Here is a link that I think will help you.  let me know if I can help you more  http://www.energy.iastate.edu/efficiency/HomeSeries1.pdf

You should pick up a kerosene heater the oil filled heater suck the juice like a hair dryer.  Or you can get a floor board radiant heater just put a plug on the end instead of hard wiring it.  Lowe's has an instant on demand water heater you can put in-line its about as big as a desktop computer case.  You can take them with you when you leave.  Nice view!

You should pick up a kerosene heater the oil filled heater suck the juice like a hair dryer. Or you can get a floor board radiant heater just put a plug on the end instead of hard wiring it.

If it's meant to be hard wired then thats what should be done, Not jimmyrig it.  Thats how houses burn down.  I would rather stay cold than burn up :

Old house = none or very little insulation

Ceramic will heat a larger area quickly as it is air driven heat.

Both will be more expensive than hot water convection system: baseboard heat

Neither are meant to heat an entire room but rather an area of the room

Unless all zones are balanced and of equitable size and BTU loss, there is no way to have an equitable split of the bill. If you like where you live than you are going to have to put up with the expense. I doubt that a space heater will save you money.

Go fishing - that will keep you warm.

You should pick up a kerosene heater the oil filled heater suck the juice like a hair dryer.  Or you can get a floor board radiant heater just put a plug on the end instead of hard wiring it.

If it's meant to be hard wired then thats what should be done, Not jimmyrig it.  Thats how houses burn down.  I would rather stay cold than burn up :

As long as you mount it on the baseboard like intended and the (outlet) circuit you plug it into can handle the amps ther is no safety issue :

OK  :

wear a sweater inside your house

MichBass if you can insulate your duct work that will help you alot.  And the insulation in your attic needs to be atleast 15 inches thick.   Try not to smash down the insulation you do have up there because that takes away from the R value.   Another tip is to check around your exterior doors feel if there is a draft there.  If so you might need new weather stripping.   I would check the windows to see if there is no cracks around the caulking on the inside and out.   It might pay to get new windows the new windows today are more energy efficiant and will save you money in the long run.    Only 20% percent of houses built before 1980 were insulated properly.   Here is a link that I think will help you.  let me know if I can help you more  http://www.energy.iastate.edu/efficiency/HomeSeries1.pdf

Thanks for the information. I had the attic added with blown in insulation. Existing was only about 3 inches. It is a R40 now. I think windows are my biggest lost. Planned on doing them but had to do a septic field instead It was a lot more important to me The price of new windows scares me though. I had two estimates both just over 30k. I plan on staying in the house for some time so I know it is something that need to be done.