Electric or Gas in B.C. Canada

[Leeboy20]

I have a 900 sq fully insulated shop in Kamloops B.C. ( Canada=) Does anyone know what is more efficient to heat on evenings and weekends ? Electric or Gas/propane. I could see if i was a full time shop, it would be easier to figure out, but what do you guys think? ( Woodstove is not a option) The reason im asking is i can get a brand new (last one on shelf) Mr Heater Big Max 75,000 for $384 plus 20% of the pipe kit and thermostat. People keep tellin me radiant tube ( 10'6 ceiling) but for casual use in the winter to work on my race cars, do i need anything else?

 

[BackYardMech]

Gas will always heat faster and a hell lof a lot cheaper then electricity. even if you only use it once and a while the gas will warm it up in no time, electricity will take hours. if it get as cold there as in Saskatchewan the recovery time after you open your big door will be much better. may be a bit more to install but it will definitly pay for it's self.

 

[jvitez]

Check out this link for Manitoba prices.

http://www.hydro.mb.ca/your_home/home_heating_comparisons.pdf?WT.mc_id=2815

Don't you in BC have that pathetic "carbon tax" on natural gas but not electricity? The current Manitoba prices show 80% efficient NG heat is 57% cheaper than electricity. However, for weekend use it may not matter. How much would it cost you to install one vs the other? Can you do your own gas install in BC? We can't in Manitoba, so our installed costs are far higher for NG than electric heating I can install myself.

BC Hydro should have a cost comparison. Most NG unit heaters are 80% efficient. Electric heat is 100% efficient. But yes, a NG heater should be able to produce more heat than electric, therefore faster warm up.

 

[Salem747]

I just left Kamloops last May!

Anyway That is a good price for that heater. Is it at Princess Auto? I am looking to get a separated combustion unit. Because of dust and welding fumes in the garage. This is an expensive option tho but i don't want to ruin my combustion chambers in a year or two by feeding it dusty air from in the garage.

As far as radiant goes that is great if you plan on having the garage heated all the time. I only want it to get warm FAST when I go out there in -30 to fart around or just drink beer.

I am looking at a Modine Hot Dawg 45kbtu, HDS45.

 

[Leeboy20]

Ya , Salem, im the same way....Limited time in the winter, watch a hockey game , few cervezas etc.... So, my total before taxes with a thermostat and exhaust kit is $535,...So i bought it! Im in Valleyview, where were you?

 

[Salem747]

CRAZY! I was in Barnyardville! Sometimes we wish we were back in Kamloops. We are in North Bay Onterrible now. The tool stores here ****! In Kamloops we had KMS, that bargain tool place in valleyview, Lordco, NAPA, the list goes on. Here we have Cambodian Tire and some little home grown place.

I need new Miller MIG gloves and the best price I can find them here is $52/pr, at KMS they are $26 this month! It goes on and on like this.

North bay isn't a small town either. There are 54,000 in the city and then prolly another 30,000 in the area which is as big as Kamloops! We don't even have a Costco!

All the food is basically bar food, no sushi, no vietnamese, no alternatives at all. From what we can tell East Side Mario's is the best restaurant in town!!!!

Sad.

 

[s_morrison57]

What do you do that you moved from Kamloops to Nord Bay

 

[Salem747]

I am a mining engineer. I work for a mining contractor. We were doing a job at the Afton Mine then the client decided to put the brakes on so they moved me to head office in North Bay.

 

[Weedwaka]

Im in Salmon Arm.

I have a Mr heater big max here too just waiting to be hooked up. That is an excellent price you got.

Heating with electricity will kill you. We looked into heating with an electric micro boiler and electric baseboards / radiant etc. Not worth it even without the gas base charges like in the case of electric only hook up.

 

[JacobZ06]

Do the gas heater installation. I have used both electric and gas as sources of heat and the gas is far better at heating your space up in a hurry.

 

[tfi racing]

If the price of running a gas line,(or if you have gas service at the house) is reasonable/feasable,I would go with the natural gas heater in your area.It was too much grief to get a new gas line to my 1100 sq ft shop,so I went with a 5K watt electric heater.Next Hydro bill I will figure out how much it cost and post my findings,but our winter for the most part can be a LOT warmer than yours!

 

[jvitez]

If the price of running a gas line,(or if you have gas service at the house) is reasonable/feasable,I would go with the natural gas heater in your area.It was too much grief to get a new gas line to my 1100 sq ft shop,so I went with a 5K watt electric heater.Next Hydro bill I will figure out how much it cost and post my findings,but our winter for the most part can be a LOT warmer than yours!

I found 9 watt/sq ft of electric heat was adequate for my previous insulated garage, but no way would the 4.5 W/ft2 be enough here. If it is, capital cost vs operating cost becomes the deciding factor.

 

[Salem747]

I found 9 watt/sq ft of electric heat was adequate for my previous insulated garage, but no way would the 4.5 W/ft2 be enough here. If it is, capital cost vs operating cost becomes the deciding factor.

Is that the holy grail bunny?

 

[jvitez]

Is that the holy grail bunny?

Answer me these questions three, 'ere the other side ye see.......

The Legendary Black Beast of Arrrrrrrrghhhhhhh. "It has nasty, big, pointy teeth."

"That's no ordinary rabbit. It's got a vicious streak a mile wide."

Run away!!!!!

 

[Leeboy20]

Haha ....Havent seen that in years

 

[foss]

Definitely Ng, no comparison in every way.

 

[foss]

Answer me these questions three, 'ere the other side ye see.......

The Legendary Black Beast of Arrrrrrrrghhhhhhh. "It has nasty, big, pointy teeth."

"That's no ordinary rabbit. It's got a vicious streak a mile wide."

Run away!!!!!

Same here........A classic

 

[jvitez]

We were just talking about Monty Python with another 40-something colleague. It seems anyone who is about 40-65 who enjoyed sardonic humour has this little piece of their brain permanently embedded with Python-isms. It will never leave. "Doctor, my brain hurts." "I'm sorry, it will have to come out."

My colleague suggested at least kids nowadays are being reintroduced to Monty Python through youtube. I hope so.

 

[Salem747]

Funny thing, when I was working in the bush in the Kootenays doing silviculture stuff (spacing, pruning, herbicide) I camped with an English guy that came here to swing between the trees in the mountains of British Columbia!

Whenever we went off to work in the block he would be singing the lumberjack song.

"...I go to the Lavatry!"

 

[Leeboy20]

So, i have my brand new heater home now....Total cost with vent kit and thermostat is $521 ,,,,Im very happy! 75,000 BTU's comming up!

 

[Salem747]

Where did you buy it? That is a great price.

 

[Leeboy20]

I got the last one at Kelowna Princess Auto.... I would call around and ask for the same deal if a store still stocks one ...

 

[Salem747]

Ah yes, I saw them at Princess in Sudbury. But we are on propane so it has to be the smaller one. I was thinking separated combustion for dust issues etc but I assume the Mr. Heater is not separated.

 

[Leeboy20]

I read the instructions, and it says you can buy the propane conversion for like $25 ....