A blanket
This may be a stupid question, but how exactly does the electric blanket work to keep it warm and at the right setting? What causes the heat and makes it stay on a control setting so it doesn’t get too hot?
it is what is refered to as a controlled short circuit. it works just like a toaster, but the thermostat only allows so much current, so it does not get red hot. btw there are no STUPID questions when trying to learn!
We are trying to save money this winter and I was wondering if it would be cheaper if we turn down the thermostat at night and used electric heating blankets in bed to stay warm or should we just turn up the thermostat and warm up the entire house and not use electric blankets? (We have oil for heat) Which way would save us the most money?
We would only be using one electric blanket since its just my husband and myself.
The average electric blanket is 200 watts, and makes 682 BTUs per hour. A US gallon of oil makes 130,000 BTUs, but with efficiency losses the net is about 104,000 BTUs. So, a gallon of oil is worth 152 hours of electric blanket use.
The typical residential furnace/boiler is rated at 150,000 BTUs, and so burns 1.15 gallons of oil per hour. Heating oil here on the east coast is going at about $2.08/gallon on ‘contract’. Electricity is $0.16/kwh.
The blanket uses $0.032/per hour. Oil is costing you $2.392 per hour. If you can save one gallon of oil per day by using the electric blanket for 8 hours, you will save approximately $2.14 per day.
Hope this helps.
Inspect Fittings
Which fittings need inspection? Check all of the following: Look at the hot line and cold line. They are on top of the water heater. The cold line is on the right and the hot line is on the left always. If you don’t notice any rusting, then move on. Next, inspect the T&P valve. The T&P valve is located on top for some electric water heaters. All other T%P valves will be found on the side of the tank. It looks like a spout with a one inch long movable lever. A piece of plastic pipe may be connected to the spout, but not in all cases. Sometimes there is no pipe attached to the spout at all. Check the drain valve which is at the bottom of the water heater. It looks like a standard outdoor hose bibb. Also check the thermostat located behind a panel on the upper half of most electrical water heaters. In order to check these areas, simply wipe a cotton swab all around the areas. Look at the wiped swab for rust or moisture. If rust or moisture appear, wrap these areas with teflon tape or disassemble these parts and replace them. A plumber should be used for this maintenance. Check the lower element on an electrical water heater as well. It will be found behind a panel on the lower half of an electric water heater. If moisture appears here, the gaskets will need to be replaced. Call a plumber for this service as well.
Leaky Fittings
As already discussed, the problem areas for leaks are the drain valve, heating elements for electrical water heaters, and the hot and cold connections on top. The ball valves on hot and cold lines can leak around the nut used to rotate the lever. Remember the hot and cold lines are the two plumbing lines on top of the water heater. This leak can in time destroy the tank enough to warrant a new tank. If you notice water stains on and around the tank, do not forget that the ball valves on top may be leaking all over the water heater. If you’ve followed some energy conservation advice and installed an insulation blanket around your water heater, just be aware that leaky fittings will be hidden beneath this blanket. Rusting may occur under a blanket more quickly than without one. Do not insulate directly around fittings, especially the hot and cold lines and the T&P valve.
John Haynes
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/inspecting-leaky-fittings-on-water-heaters-and-stopping-them-from-causing-floods-or-worse-68542.html
What’s the best electric blanket to get? For what it’s worth, we have a Cal King bed, but I’m not really sure that’s relevant.
I’m cheap, my partner’s a spendthrift, so whatever you recommend will satisfy one of us.
if you do get an electric blanket, make sure it’s pluged into a GFI outlet. therfore if it shorts out it’ll just trip the outlet, not your brain waves. you can get a GFI that plugs into a standard outlet, and plug the blanket into it.
as for sugestion: BUY NEW! DO NOT buy a used electric blanket as this may be unsafe!
i use a sunbeam electric blanket. it’s certified and works great, however i only use it to heat up my bed 5 minuites before in get in it and turn it off before i fall asleep. it has a thermostat to shut off at a selected temp but i just feel safer shutting it off while i sleep.
Old or damaged blankets cause more than 5,000 fires a year. Research has shown that electric blankets ten years old (or older) still in use in homes in Britain are responsible for 99% of the fires caused by electric blankets. And each year 20 people are killed and 100 injured in such fires. Local testing events by Trading Standards departments, The Fire Service and the voluntary sector are a further valuable means of reducing such accidents.
good luck and dont burn you house down!
Handy warming blanket with automatic thermal control heats up to 120 F, Plug into 12V cigarette lighter to use; 7.5 power cord, 100 polyester fleece, Dual thermostat and thermal fuse safety protection, 55×39