How much does it cost to run an electric blanket compared to a heater?

Electric blankets are much cheaper than electric or gas heaters and can cost as little as 4 cents an hour to run. Just ensure you take safety precautions, especially if you have younger kids using them.

How do I calculate heater running costs?

Calculating your heater's running cost is simple and the first step before shopping around for a cheaper one. 1. Find the label that describes the input power in MJ for gas or kW for electricity. 2. Check your power bill for the usage rate you're paying for your gas or electricity. 3. Multiply the input power by the usage rate to find your running cost per hour. What if I want to know the cost for the whole of winter? To calculate an estimate of how much you'll pay to run your heater over the whole of winter, just take your formula a few steps further. 4. Take the running cost per hour and multiply it by the number of hours you think you'll use the heater each day. 5. Multiply that figure by 90 (the number of days in winter) to get your total winter running cost. Your total winter cost all up will be higher or lower depending on if you bought a new heater or already had one. Simply add your retail price and your total winter running cost and you'll have your full heating and appliance cost figured out.

What are the different types of heaters?

There are broadly 3 types of heaters available: Gas heaters Gas heaters are typically capable of heating a room faster than an electric heater. They come in 2 types: convection and radiant convection. Convection gas heaters draw in cold air and heat it via a gas-powered element which is then released back into a room. Radiant convection heaters have an element that is slightly exposed, providing more focused heating. Due to the risk of carbon monoxide, Australian laws require some gas heaters to have a flue to vent any emissions. This makes them less portable. Portable electric heaters There's a greater variety of electric heaters and unlike gas heaters, they tend to be highly portable. Convection and panel electric heaters work similarly to gas heating drawing in cold air, heating it via an element and dispersing it back into the room. Oil-filled column heaters use electricity to heat oil inside a column which slowly heats the room. They can heat the room slower than other heaters. Fan heaters blow hot air at a single location while tower heaters are similar but typically oscillate, spreading hot air around the room in an arc. Reverse-cycle air conditioners Reverse-cycle air conditioners can be a good investment as they can heat in winter and cool in summer. They may have different energy efficiency ratings for heating and cooling and will typically use more power to heat than cool.