The cheaper way to heat a house in difficult times…. The cheaper it is to heat a house and which heat source is better - advice from professionals How to heat a house better

It is possible to provide a cheap and efficient heating system. The electric convector is built on the principle of natural air circulation. Warm air moves upward from the heater, thus stimulating the movement of air inside the room and ensuring uniform heating. However, a convector is effective only in warm climates, when the temperature does not fall below 10-15 degrees.

pros

• No forced air blowing. Even in the cleanest home there are particulates that lie on surfaces. When warm air is artificially blown out of a heater, this dust becomes part of the air we breathe. Natural air circulation is not so active, so dust does not rise into the air.
• Small size with sufficient power. The heating elements of convectors heat up quickly, converting electricity into heat with an efficiency of up to 80%. In addition, there is a system of operation in different modes, as well as thermostats that allow operation not constantly, but only when the air temperature drops.
• Mobility, allowing you to move the convector around the room, to places with maximum cold flow.
• The possibility of creating a heating system exclusively using convectors or using them as part of a more complex heating system.
• The electric heating element does not heat up more than 100 degrees, and the body - 60 degrees. They have an increased level of protection from moisture, which allows the convector to be used in the kitchen and bathrooms.

Minuses

• The disadvantage of electric convectors is the installation of heaters in every room of the house.
• In addition, if you turn them on at the same time, there is a possibility of exceeding the permissible power limits.

However, the disadvantages can be turned into advantages by installing a relay for turning on the heaters one by one. The relay will allow you to create a stable temperature in the house, reduce energy costs and remain within the permissible power limits. There is another argument in favor of a system of convectors - they will not all fail at once. Replacing one or two appliances without losing heat is not difficult.

The photo shows an electric convector from Nobo, Norway

Method 2 - tubular electric heaters

They transfer heat from a tubular electric heater to a liquid-based coolant. Typically, water and oil are used as a coolant, sometimes antifreeze. The design principle of heaters is the same as that of electric kettles, which is why they are also called heaters and oil radiators. In fact, it is a boiler placed in a vessel with water. The efficiency of such devices is quite high, and heat loss for heating is minimal.

pros

• The undoubted advantages of tubular heaters include their safety, operational reliability and versatility of use.
• Can be used in both gaseous and liquid media.
• Not explosive, and not afraid of vibrations and shocks.
• Tubular heaters are available in a variety of design solutions, which allows you to economically heat a private home with electricity without disturbing the aesthetics of the interior.

Minuses

Heating heating elements have a high cost due to the expensive metals that are used in production. Since scale forms on the tubes, it is necessary.

A tubular radiator is a thin-walled metal tube with a spiral inside, so if you do not need particularly high temperatures, then you need to take a heater with carbon steel tubes. If the device must produce a consistently high temperature or operate in an aggressive environment, then you need to take a device made of stainless steel.

The photo shows a tubular electric heater made by yourself

Method 3 - warm floor

As the only source of heating, they are chosen to free up usable area, i.e. arrange heating without using radiators. In addition, uniform distribution of heat in the room helps reduce dust in the air. I recommend buying electric floors in the form of heating mats - this will greatly simplify installation.

Method 4 - electric boiler with heating element

Their popularity is determined by their safety, low cost and reliability. Most consumers opt for heating element boilers - they are much cheaper than electrode and induction boilers, and they are easy to maintain.

However, due to the use of a thermoelectric heater (TEH), such heating cannot be called the most economical. In addition, before purchasing, I recommend checking the operating mode of the local electrical networks - perhaps the networks will not cope with the load you need and the purchase will be in vain.

The photo shows an electric boiler KOSPEL, Poland

Method 5 - induction boiler

This is a transformer with two types of winding. The resulting eddy currents follow the short-circuited loop, which is the boiler body. The secondary winding receives energy, which is converted into heat, which heats the coolant.

Induction boilers heat your home quickly, can operate at low voltage, and have no parts that can fail. The efficiency of such a boiler is almost 100% and does not depend on the service life.

The photo shows an induction boiler EPO Evan 9.5 kW, Russia

Method 6 - electrode boiler

Inside there are electrodes that act as a heating element. When current passes through a liquid, heat is generated. This means that in electrode boilers there is no actual heating element on which scale could form. The absence of scale will greatly facilitate operation.

Electrode boilers are highly reliable and operate much longer than tubular heaters. In addition, they are small in size, which is very convenient for a small residential building. The disadvantages include high requirements for the liquid used as a coolant. Water must undergo special treatment. Often, antifreeze generally must be exclusive - from the device developer.

The photo shows an electrode boiler Galan, Russia

Method 7 - infrared heaters (the most economical)

Infrared heaters are considered the most economical of all types of electric heaters. They do not need heating elements and water pipes. Infrared heaters heat objects, not the room. Then the heated objects heat up the air. If an electric boiler can be compared to a kettle, then an infrared boiler can be compared to a microwave oven.

Infrared panels are especially popular. They are installed on the ceiling or walls of residential and industrial premises. Since the heating area is increased, the room becomes warmer faster than usual. Such a panel can be used as an independent heating source or as an addition to an existing system. An infrared heater goes well with electrode boilers. For example, an infrared heater can only be turned on in spring and autumn, when it is too early to turn on the main heating, or when it suddenly gets cold outside.

Pictured is a GROHE infrared panel, Germany

conclusions

1. It is generally accepted that heating a house with electricity is not cheap. This is certainly true if we only mean payment according to tariffs. However, to the price of heating you need to add the cost of the equipment, as well as the costs of its maintenance and repair.
2. If you compare bills for electricity, firewood, coal, pipes, boilers and other equipment, you can come to the conclusion that private heating with electricity is cheaper than stoves and other systems alternative to gas heating.
3. In addition to money, there is another argument in favor of electric heating - it saves time: turn it on, leave and forget. The only downside is a sudden power outage.

Below, watch a video about how we managed to create cheap heating with electricity for a large private house.

In Russia, where in most regions it is cold or very cold for six months at a time, the problem of heating a room is more pressing than anywhere else. So, when choosing a heating system for your home, it is important not to make a mistake. What do you pay attention to first?

The diagram clearly shows the comparative cost of heating a home using several of the most popular types of fuel (click on the photo to enlarge the diagram). An average house with an area of ​​200 square meters is taken as an example.

What is important for heating equipment

First of all, they are determined by the type of energy carrier and the power of the system. You need to have information about what the permitted power consumption is specifically for your home. If you already have answers to these questions, you can start selecting one or another heating system.

Of the currently known variations of individual heating of private houses, the most common is the water heating system. Heating devices such as stoves, fireplaces, and especially various types of electric heaters in the form of oil radiators, heat fans and guns, infrared heaters, and even the increasingly popular “warm floors” are in fact usually used as auxiliary heating sources. If you think about air heating systems, you will rarely see them at all.

What is a heating system

This concept includes the entire set of relevant devices, including pipelines, pumps, shut-off and control equipment, automation and control devices - in general, everything that ensures the transfer of thermal energy received by the generator directly to the premises.

The optimal choice of an individual heating system for a private home will depend on the chosen scheme, its correct calculation and installation, the quality of components, competent operation and timely maintenance.

Electric boiler

If you need to maintain a comfortable temperature in the room of about 20 degrees when the frost outside is about -25, the required power of the equipment is calculated in accordance with the volume of the premises or their total area. For this, appropriate coefficients are used. So, if you need to calculate power consumption, you need to multiply one kW of energy by the area of ​​​​all premises. This calculation would be appropriate for a house with an area of ​​no more than 200–300 square meters. m. As practice shows, it is quite possible to use the boiler for about 8 hours a day.

Furnaces

Today's heating stove may look quite elegant, but the modern user will already consider their maintenance a troublesome task.

This is the simplest traditional option for heating houses. It is still common in villages. It is difficult to do it correctly without being a trained specialist, and, as a rule, they use the services of a good stove maker who knows the nuances. Furnace structures usually last a long time. If a stove is installed between rooms so that one of the walls is heated, such a device simultaneously heats several rooms.

Stoves in Russia are heated with wood - there is a lot of wood, and they stock it up in advance. But coal is also often used. If we talk about firewood, then hard wood is preferable - oak, hornbeam or beech, and logs will give more heat if they are dry. In Siberia, heating is mainly done with birch and other firewood.

It is believed that stove heating is simple. But this is not entirely true, since it requires constant care. Not only must the stove be properly designed so that the chimney is properly equipped, but the ashes must also be removed regularly. And to keep the house warm, you need to add firewood to the firebox several times a day. Certain precautions are required to avoid fire. The floor directly next to the stove is covered with an iron sheet - a spark falling on the bare floor can cause a fire.

Fireplace heating

Heating with a fireplace is similar to a stove. True, there are differences. Traditional fireplaces are installed more for aesthetics and romance, and their heat usually warms a relatively small area.

A fireplace is associated with comfort, warmth and coziness in the home, but it can only heat a small area around it

To the question of how to heat a house with a fireplace, the answer is: It will not be possible to warm the entire room with a fireplace in winter- if your room is not 20 square meters. m., you will have to worry about the heating system of the whole house. Fireplaces will provide only local heating. The design of an ordinary fireplace is such that it burns a lot of wood, and as for heat, very little of it is retained in the room. Fireplaces are usually heated with wood, sometimes with coal.

In people's minds, a fireplace is associated with coziness, comfort, and a romantic atmosphere - many people like to contemplate an open fire. Often a fireplace flame is simulated using various types of electrical devices.

Water heating

In order to do so, it is necessary to equip a heating system specifically for this purpose. For this purpose, a heating container is purchased - usually called a boiler, in which the liquid is heated (such heating is conventionally called “water”; in fact, in recent years, antifreeze, or “anti-freeze liquid”, is often used in pipes); liquid pipeline, heating radiators, pump and expansion tank.

Everyone is concerned about the price issue - how much does it cost to heat a house with hot water? There is no answer here in one word, it all depends on the equipment.

So, we purchased a boiler that will heat the water. The liquid in the boiler, having warmed up, increases in volume and is fed by gravity into the pipeline. Water flows through pipes to heating radiators located in the premises. Through warm radiators, the air in the room warms up. The cooled water (return) returns to the boiler, where it is reheated. And so on. The movement continues - the system operates in a closed cycle.

Pumps are used to force liquid into the system. Since the heating of the liquid occurs in the boiler, it is the central focus of the entire circuit. Therefore, you need to take the choice of a boiler seriously when trying to answer the question of what is the best way to heat a house.

Boilers

A gas double-circuit boiler will heat the house and provide it with hot water

Boilers come in wall-mounted and floor-mounted designs. The latter are more massive. Single-circuit boilers heat only water for heating. If there is not one, but several circuits, it is already possible to heat water for a shower and be able to heat water for the pool.

Boilers operate on various energy sources. Heating boilers are generally divided into categories:

• electric boilers that heat liquid with electricity;
• diesel (liquid fuel) boilers;
• solid fuel boilers;
• gas boilers;
• biofuel boilers.

Electric or gas boilers are most often used in practice.. In Russia, gas supply is not available in all regions. The price of electrical energy is rising. So-called solid fuel boilers can operate in different versions: coal and wood. True, you will still have to regularly add fuel and remove ash.

How to choose the right gas boiler (video)

Heaters

A heating system is necessary if people live in the house all year round, and not just during the warm season or for short stays. In the latter option, it would be optimal to heat the house quickly and temporarily with a simple electric heater. They often stop at the oil cooler. This heater consumes little energy while maintaining heat for a long time.

When there is a real need to warm up only one room, it is not necessary to warm up the entire house. A small room can be locally warmed up effectively in a short time using an infrared heater, which is both economical and safe. For a dacha, the option is quite optimal.

How to choose a heater (video)

Gas convectors, electric convectors

A well-insulated home can be warmed up quite quickly with a convector, but still this method is suitable mainly for small rooms, for example, country houses

Another way to heat a house is with a convector. The convector can be gas or electric.

A thoroughly insulated house can heat up quite quickly using convectors. Again, this method is good for small country houses. And you can install the appropriate automation on them, which will help turn on the heating and warm up the room before the owners arrive.

New technologies in heating

It is difficult to describe in detail all possible options for heating houses in one article. Bio-fireplaces and heat or gas guns are used; various improved modifications of potbelly stoves fired with wood are also known.

In Europe, a number of countries have already adapted to successfully use the heat of the earth to heat their homes. In fact, it is a completely reasonable decision - at certain depths in the earth there is a lot of heat. And if special technologies allow water to be pumped deeply in winter, warming up, it will begin to give off heat to batteries placed in the premises.

While such heating is prohibitively expensive, such equipment is not widely produced in series. But these technologies are attractive because they are renewable, just like heating from solar panels or from wind turbines.

Automated pellet boiler is easy to use

As we know, people have been using wood to heat their homes since primitive times. The stone hearths of ancient people gradually grew into various types of ovens and other devices. As man developed, fireplaces and various other devices were developed, opening up the possibility of using the heat obtained from burning logs to heat rooms much more efficiently. And although many places in Mother Russia continue to heat with wood, conventional “wood-burning” stoves have lost their dominant position.

According to current ideas about comfort, a heating system should, if possible, be automated, which means it should successfully operate without the participation of an operator (as a fireman is now called in fashion) - it is convenient for a modern person to have the system work “by itself” and not have to look into it more than once a week is normal!

The development and mass production of automated heating systems using wood fuel for heating and hot water supply of houses and cottages began actively when, by the end of the 20th century, a new type of solid fuel was invented in Germany. We are talking about wood fuel pellets, the so-called pellets. The calorific value of pellets is 5 kW/hour per 1 kg, i.e. 4500 Kcal/kg.
In appearance, fuel pellets are small cylinders-sticks, like fragments of pencils. They are compressed from sawdust or small shavings wood, usually coniferous. This is essentially industrial waste, and in the “forest” country of Russia there is plenty of such goodness. As a rule, pellets are made without any unnecessary additives such as glue and other unnecessary chemicals. They are simply pressed from sawdust under a pressure of about 300 atm.

Let's compare costs

All of us, of course, are primarily interested in prices. In the European part of Russia, where the level of gasification of farms is relatively high, it is currently most profitable to heat with gas. In places where gas is not available, other types of heating are considered. If we evaluate the cost of purchasing fuel, then today it is more profitable to heat cottages with sorted brown coal than with the same pellets. Coal is also available everywhere. And there is also automated equipment for coal devices that is quite effective, and besides, it is one and a half to two times cheaper than heat generators. (for example, Hungarian Carborobot boilers from PONT-GB-GANZ). Of course, in terms of calorific value, granular fuel is not inferior to brown coal (about 18 MJ/kg). But in terms of price, they are noticeably more expensive at the moment - it turns out that their price is 3-5 times higher than coal. Ecologically, however, pellets win.

Let's compare the calorific value

Gas - 1 t. pellet = 485 cubic meters of gas
Fuel oil - 1 t. pellet = 775 l. fuel oil
Diesel - 1 t.pellet = 500 l.diesel. fuel

As an example, let’s consider the possibilities of heating an autonomous house with an area of ​​about 200-250 sq.m. with pellets. With appropriate thermal insulation, heat a room of 10 square meters. m. will be enough, according to some sources, about 1 kW.

So it turns out that for the specified area of ​​the house you will need a 20 kW boiler (or a little more - to have at least a small reserve).

It is believed that the heating boiler is approximately involved in operation per year on average about 1750 hours (based on 73 days) in terms of its full capacity.

The calorific value of pellets weighing 1 kg is 5 kW/hour, which means that 20 kW pellet boilers consume about 4 kg of fuel per hour, that is, about 7 tons/year.

If we take today’s average price for fuel pellets of 6 rubles per 1 kg, the average costs will result in 42,000 rubles.

conclusions

From this we can conclude: the price of heating an autonomous house with a pellet boiler is 200-250 sq. m area per year will approximately be about 45 thousand rubles.
On the other hand, if you have access to main gas, then at today’s prices for blue fuel there is still no alternative to it in Russia. Electricity is quite expensive, liquid fuel is even more expensive. Now, if you don’t have gas nearby, then yes, you can install a heat pump unit. By the way, you can also consider the option of heating from a solid fuel boiler, but not with coal, but with pellets - they are now quite affordable, more expensive than coal, but they are much more convenient to burn than coal.
There is an even more attractive option - in the opinion of our most meticulous readers - and it’s hard to disagree with them, this is to build a large Bubafonya-type stove from a large container and heat it with whatever comes to hand. Read about how to make such an effective stove installation as Bubafonya here.

To begin with, I would like to note that the most efficient gas heating system today is. If for some reason it is not possible to install it (for example, there is no gas main at the dacha), give preference to electric heaters. Next, we will look at the most economical electric heating systems for private houses and apartments.

Why electric heaters?

You will immediately ask yourself why classic water or stove heating of rooms is not considered? The answer is simple - this is due to the fact that installation work and maintenance for approximately the same money will be reduced to a minimum.

Now we will provide several reasons why it is obvious that the best and most economical heating system for a private home is electric.

1. Electric heaters are silent, do not require additional resources (coal, wood, liquid fuel) and do not pollute the atmosphere. This means that in a private house there is no need to have space in the utility room for fuel, make a chimney, and also remove soot every year. All you need to do is connect the system to the network and enjoy the warmth.
2. Installing an entire electric heating system does not require a huge upfront cash investment. For example, installation of a water heating main is carried out once. A project is created, all pipes, radiators, a boiler, as well as additional automation are purchased. You will not be able to complete part of the work (for example, in one room), and if you have money, you will not be able to complete the project over time, and if you succeed, many problems will arise. It will be necessary to drain the water, cut into the finished highway, etc. In the case of electric heaters, everything is much simpler. You can install equipment in each room separately as you earn money. At the end of spring, buy convectors for the bedroom, later - for the kitchen, bathroom, etc.
3. Today there are many ways. Of course, this option requires considerable expenses, but rest assured, over time they will pay for themselves. Installing economical and solar panels on the roof of a house is becoming popular.
4. installation of a boiler or even a convector can be done with your own hands, significantly saving money on calling a specialist.

As you can see, electric heating in a private home really outperforms alternative options, so installing such a system is quite profitable.

We bring to your attention a video example of creating a cheap and at the same time effective autonomous system:

Homemade economical electric battery heating system

Heating system options

So, let's look at existing equipment that will make electric heating in the house economical and cheap.

Using the boiler

, which will heat water in the home heating system, warming the room, is the first, least effective option. Of course, on the Internet you can see a bunch of information that talks about economical boilers that can reduce consumption by up to 80%, but all this is nonsense. The only option to reduce costs is to install thermostats and various automation systems, which will turn on only when the temperature in the room drops, as well as at certain times of the day. All other talk about new product designs or reduced power is just a publicity stunt. If you buy a small-power boiler, it will take more time to heat the water for heating the house, so that’s what it will do.

Using IR panels

A smarter solution and most likely the most profitable one. The fact is that these products do not heat the air in the room, but certain objects (floor, walls, closet), from which heat is subsequently transferred. If in the previous version the hot air will rise to the ceiling and immediately cool down, then in this case the heat is directed to the floor, which is more reasonable (people do not walk on the ceiling).

This diagram shows the efficiency of an economical heating system for a private home:

You see everything for yourself, so there is nothing more to prove. It should only be noted that IR devices can work more efficiently if you add thermostats to them. One regulator is enough to control three heaters in an economical heating system for a private home. We talked about this in a separate article.

Using convectors

Many manufacturers convince us that an electric convector effectively heats a room and at the same time consumes a small amount of electricity. The issue is of course controversial, because, in fact, the principle of operation of the products is similar to the option with radiators (the air rises upward). The advantage of convectors is that their installation and connection are not difficult. In addition, heating of the heating element takes about one minute, which is undoubtedly faster than in the case of water radiators.

Other advantages of electric convectors include:

• low cost (from 2 to 10 thousand rubles);
• fire safety (which is especially important when);
• you can gradually increase the heating system (one convector for a room is not enough, buy another one and connect it to the network without any problems);
• attractive appearance;
• trouble-free operation during power surges (also important in the private sector);
• compact sizes.

Application of heated floors

We analyzed reviews from customers who used this option and saw that most people were satisfied with the purchase. The main thing is to additionally install a temperature regulator in order to make economical electric heating in the house with your own hands.

Installation of heated floors

Another modern and effective way to economically heat a home is the use of electric heating mats. They are placed under the floor covering and heat the room through the floor. As a result, warm air rises, completely warming the room. It is better to install a heated floor system in combination with an additional heating source, for example, IR panels.

Speaking about the heating mats themselves, I would like to highlight the products of the EKF company. You can choose heating mats exactly to suit your conditions - ready-made kits vary in size and power. EKF thermomats can be controlled by a mechanical or electronic thermostat, with which it is possible to program on/off for a week. In addition, I would like to highlight the complete shielding of current-carrying conductors, which ensures uniform heating of the floor surface. You can find out more about EKF heating mats by clicking on the link: https://ekfgroup.com/catalog/sistemy-obogreva/sistema-teplyy-pol.

Which option is better to avoid?

We talked about cheap and effective systems for economical heating of a private home, but we would also like to point out the most expensive options that should be avoided. The top of the ranking is occupied by oil radiators. They are known to everyone for having high power, so when working in winter you can see a noticeable increase in electricity consumption.

Not only do these products have high power, but their heating efficiency is also very weak. For example, an IR panel of the same dimensions and the same power will make the house warmer faster, so it is better to give preference to it.

In addition, an infrared heater is installed on the ceiling or wall, thereby not occupying free space, which cannot be said about electric radiators.

Another not recommended option is fan heaters. These devices not only burn oxygen, but also “drive away dust” and are also noisy. The effectiveness of their use is not very high, because... between the ceiling and floor, the temperature may differ by several degrees, despite the fact that the power of the products is high (from 1.5 kW).

How to increase efficiency and reduce costs?

Simply buying an economical electric heater and installing it in a country house is only half the battle. At the same time, it is far from a fact that as a result of the work you will be able to verify the significant efficiency of the economical heating system made. The reason for this may be poor thermal insulation of the room. All kinds of cracks, gaps in windows and even the lack of insulation on the walls contribute to the rapid cooling of the room. It has been proven more than once that with high-quality insulation of walls and ceilings, heating efficiency can increase up to 80%, although this figure usually reaches 40%.

Another important nuance is the use of automation. For example, if no one is at home all day (everyone is working), then there is no point in heating the rooms. It would be more correct to install a controller that will turn on the heaters an hour or two before your arrival. This time will be enough to completely heat the premises.

I almost regularly go to the dacha in the winter on weekends. Breathe clean air, relax and work a little. I go into a frozen room.
I light up the stove. I pour a glass so that it doesn’t get boring and wait. This is my hobby. My wife went once. He doesn't want to anymore.
I’m interested to know how others get out of the situation in my case? How and what do you use for heating, people, if you come for the weekend? In what time?
I have a brick heating and cooking stove. A heat exchanger is inserted into the firebox. I heat in one room 25 sq. m. Summer cottage. Log, but insulated. The coolant is non-freezing. EC. Pump. Three batteries under the windows. Depending on the outside temperature, the heating rate is 3-5 degrees per hour. The finally comfortable temperature stabilizes in at least 12-20 hours until the walls, ceiling, and furniture heat up. I heat it 1-2 times a day with wood. In the morning and evening up to +25. I love warmth. Above the stove I installed two fans connected in series, which slowly mix the air and prevent heated air from accumulating at the top.
At floor level not lower than +14 degrees. .

We heat 1 room 10 m2. Stove with cast iron top and Nordica Max firebox. 6 kW. There is a single pipe, more than one and a half meters in the room (there is an album in my profile).
I arrive when it’s frozen to 10-15 degrees on Friday afternoon and start heating. The window is open all the time. After an hour and a half, it’s already completely warm, more than 20 degrees, and the whole environment is warming up. But the floor and walls are still cold. The stove is heated like a battery (like smoldering, but more primitive) until 12 o'clock in the morning. I scoop everything out and don’t drown it at night. I close the window and the damper. In the morning at 10 o’clock in the room it’s 10-12 degrees, if the temperature outside is minus 10-15 (if it’s colder, then the room is smaller). At night the heating is maximum “Good Warmth” at the bedside, about 230 watts. (I recently checked the load on a new meter)
The house is a panel house filled with old slag, a lot of boards, penofol.
Then the stove is heated on Saturday again all day like a battery. You have to put it down every 2-3 hours. On the second day, all the slag in the walls and expanded clay in the floor are completely warmed up, and at night it is warmer than on the first day.

My wife also rarely travels in winter. A couple of times during the holidays. Because it’s cold everywhere except the heated room - on the terrace it can be down to minus 15. Through the door.

I don’t do anything extra intentionally, neither IR, nor any oil radiators or self-switching automation (I’m also afraid to leave this unattended). I don't have time to think about it and maintain it. Radiators take a lot of electricity. It’s normal and so in fact, and so is my wife. But for her - only in the room. And in other places in winter - he doesn’t like it.

As a result of the steady increase in energy costs, the demand for economical heating among owners of private houses is naturally increasing. The fact that the vast majority of dwellings were built during the Soviet era and in the early 90s also plays a role. Then people did not think about how much this or that energy carrier costs and how to heat a house with low incomes. Now it is important for the owner of a country cottage to figure out which heating is cheaper before organizing one at home.

Which heating is more profitable in the Russian Federation

Before determining the cheapest heating method, we list all the energy resources available to residents of the Russian Federation:

• various types of solid fuel - firewood, briquettes (eurowood), pellets and coal;
• diesel fuel (diesel fuel);
• waste oils;
• main gas;
• liquefied gas;
• electricity.

To figure out which heating is the cheapest, you need to find out how much heat each energy carrier can produce and how much it will cost, and then compare the data obtained. The table containing the calculation results will help you determine the most economical heating:

Note. The prices in the table are taken for Moscow and updated as of July 15, 2019. Due to constant increases in energy costs and currency exchange rate fluctuations, the presented figures become irrelevant over time.

Anyone can perform a similar calculation by substituting the heat load on the heating system of their building and the cost of fuel in the region of residence into the table. The calculation algorithm is as follows:

1. Column No. 3 contains the values ​​of the theoretical heat transfer per unit of fuel, and column No. 4 - the efficiency (efficiency) of heating equipment using this energy carrier. These are reference values ​​that remain unchanged.
2. The next step is to calculate how much heat actually enters the house from a unit of fuel. The calorific value is multiplied by the boiler efficiency divided by 100. The results are entered in the 5th column.
3. Knowing the price of a unit of fuel (column No. 6), it is not difficult to calculate the cost of 1 kW/h of thermal energy obtained from this type of fuel. The unit price is divided by the actual heat transfer, the results are in column No. 7.
4. Column No. 8 indicates the average heat consumption per month for a country house with an area of ​​100 m², located in central Russia. You should enter your heat consumption value for the calculation.
5. Average monthly costs for heating a home are indicated in column No. 9. The figure is obtained by multiplying monthly heat consumption by the cost of 1 kW obtained from various types of fuel.

The table shows 2 types of firewood usually available for sale - freshly cut and dry. This will help you understand how profitable it is to heat a stove or boiler with dry wood.

Analysis of calculation results

The calculations show that in 2019, the most for private houses in the Russian Federation is still provided by natural gas; this energy carrier remains uncompetitive. Please also take into account the fact that gas-powered equipment is relatively inexpensive, and is quite effective and comfortable to use.

When using condensing boilers, efficiency can be increased by another 5-6% compared to conventional gas heat generators. True, condensing equipment will not be cheap (30-50% more expensive depending on the model).

The problem with gas in the Russian Federation is the high cost of connecting to existing pipelines. To heat your home economically, you will have to shell out 50 thousand rubles. (in remote regions) up to 1 million rubles. (In the Moscow region) for connecting to a gas pipe.

Having learned how much a connection costs, many homeowners are wondering how and with what to heat their home. The remaining energy sources are listed in the table:

1. Firewood dried and wet. According to column No. 9, it is noticeable that it is much more profitable to burn good dry wood than fresh wood, even if purchased inexpensively. Wood heating equipment is quite affordable for a wide range of users.
2. Burning briquettes, pellets and coal can also be considered cheap methods of heating a private house without gas; their cost is approximately the same. One clarification: automatic pellet and coal boilers are more expensive than conventional ones (1.5-2 times).
3. Electric heating at night rate. Considering the minimal costs for equipment and its installation, it is quite possible to heat with electricity cheaply, but only at night. A suitable option for both a country house and an apartment.
4. Used engine oils occupy a middle position between cheap and expensive energy sources. But burning them is associated with certain difficulties, which will be discussed below.
5. Heating with liquefied gas can no longer be considered an advantageous heating method. Especially if you take into account the cost of a gas tank and its installation, cylinders can only be used to heat a dacha.
6. Diesel fuel, liquefied gas and electricity at a daily rate are the most expensive energy carriers in the Russian Federation; it is not possible to organize economical heating with their help in the near future.

The use of purely electric equipment for heating a house around the clock cannot be called profitable, since the cheap night tariff is valid for 8 hours a day, and the rest of the time you will have to pay the full rate. So it won’t be cheap to heat with electricity alone.

The cheaper way to heat a house in Ukraine

Due to the increase in the price of firewood in 2019, the overall picture of the cost of heating in Ukraine looks very interesting. The layout is reflected in a similar calculation table:

Note. Electricity tariffs are indicated based on 2 conditions: the home has electric heating according to all the rules and energy consumption does not exceed 3000 kW/h per month.

The first place in terms of cheapness of heating in Ukraine is still occupied by dry ones, used at night. But due to the rise in price, their cost has almost become equal to the price of natural gas, which has fallen in price by 5...10% (in the current conditions it is not easy to announce the exact figure 😊).

Please also take into account this point: the 2019 table shows average fuel prices. Pellets and briquettes of poorer quality can be bought cheaper, and electricity and gas cost the same everywhere. So, energy resources are arranged in the following order (from cheap to expensive):

• electricity at night tariff;
• main gas;
• dried firewood;
• pellets, sawdust briquettes;
• freshly cut wood;
• used oil;
• anthracite coal;
• electricity at a daily rate (for consumption up to 3600 kW/month);
• liquefied gas;
• diesel fuel.

It is impossible to predict the size of gas and electricity tariffs in Ukraine due to the unstable economic situation. It is unlikely that energy resources will become significantly cheaper; subsidy payments are decreasing annually.

On the issue of supplying main gas, Ukrainians are in the same position as Russians, whose houses are not connected to gas pipelines due to the high cost of the service. Both have to burn different types of solid fuel or use electricity at night.

Comparative analysis based on other criteria

In addition to the purely economic calculation of the cost of heating, there are other factors that influence the choice of energy source. For example, it is difficult for an elderly pensioner to chop and carry firewood to the boiler room. Some people don’t like the smell of diesel fuel or the dirt from coal, while others don’t have the opportunity to store a supply of pellets or briquettes. That is, choosing fuel for heating only from the point of view of economy is wrong. Additional criteria need to be taken into account:

• comfort during use;
• possibility of storage;
• frequency and cost of service.

Nuances of operation

It is most convenient to use electricity for heating, although it is difficult to classify it as an economical energy source. The electric boiler does not require supervision, the system is fully automated. The unit is easy to control remotely, and the boiler room is quiet, clean and free of unpleasant odors. An important point: electrical heating installation, which greatly simplifies and reduces the cost of installation.

In addition to the high price, electric heating has another disadvantage. Not every private home has sufficient electrical power or a limit has been set that does not allow the use of energy for heating. And connecting units with a power of over 6 kW requires a 3-phase input with a voltage of 380 V.

It is almost as comfortable to operate boilers that burn natural and liquefied gas. But they require a chimney and good ventilation of the furnace room. Burning diesel and used oil is no longer so comfortable, since an odor inevitably appears and periodic replenishment of the fuel container is required. In this respect, a diesel heat generator is similar to a pellet heat generator, but the latter benefits from the absence of odors and dirt.

The champion in inconvenience is the wood and coal boiler, which requires constant attention and physical exercise. With the most economical method of heating with wood, the smell of combustion and dust mixed with dirt in the boiler room cannot be avoided (especially for coal). An exception is an automatic coal boiler, which operates on the principle of a pellet boiler, but it also requires periodic replenishment of the bunker.

About fuel storage

The nuances of warehousing and storage are easier to identify in the list:

1. The electric and gas heating system of a private house operates from external sources; no storage is needed.
2. For reliable operation of any solid fuel boilers, you need a supply of fuel; accordingly, it is necessary to organize its storage. You will have to make a firewood shed under a canopy or a warehouse in a barn.
3. The supply of diesel fuel and waste also needs to be stored somewhere and, preferably, outside the residential building. It is necessary to purchase and install a container of sufficient volume.
4. The most difficult thing is to organize storage with autonomous heating using liquefied gas as an alternative to natural gas. The cost of an underground gas tank and its installation will quickly make you forget about economical heating of your home.

There is another, cheaper way to store liquefied gas - in cylinders. But “thanks to” frequent replacement and refilling of cylinders, comfort when operating a propane boiler is equal to exercises with firewood when loading a solid fuel heat generator.

Equipment service

Electric heating systems require virtually no maintenance (check and clean once every 2 years). If it were not for the draconian daily tariff, then with the help of electricity it would be possible to organize a “economical smart home” system. Gas boilers will have to be serviced more often; they require annual preventative cleaning of the heat exchanger and chimney. But here you can save money if you clean the unit yourself, as described.

Due to the low quality of diesel fuel, diesel heat generators will need to be cleaned as they become dirty, which can happen several times a season. The same applies to waste oil boilers, and the cleaning process is very dirty. Faced with problems like this in the middle of winter, you'll think twice about whether you need energy-efficient heating while working.

It is advisable to clean the smoke pipes with the firebox of a boiler using wood and pellets once a week, and the ash pan daily. When working with wet wood from the combustion chamber, it is important to remove soot and tar more often before they become completely stuck.

After conducting a comprehensive analysis, we can draw the following conclusions about choosing economical heating for a private home:

1. Residents of the Russian Federation, whose houses are connected to gas mains, can continue to sleep peacefully - they cannot find a more economical method of heating. Unless you properly insulate your home in order to reduce fuel consumption. In the near future, natural gas will remain uncompetitive.
2. The cheapest heating without mains gas is burning solid fuel. But for the sake of financial gain, you will have to sacrifice the time and effort spent on loading firewood and maintaining equipment. In this case, you should pay attention to solid fuel one of them.
3. If you have financial capabilities, the best option for economical heating is a pellet boiler. If you have little space for storing pellets, then the issue can be resolved by periodically supplying pellets during the season, although the purchase cost will then increase.
4. The best results in terms of efficiency are obtained by a combination of 2-3 energy carriers. For Russia, the most popular pair is solid fuel and electrics at a night rate. For Ukraine - electricity at night and natural gas during the day (including subsidies and without exceeding the limit of 3600 kW).
5. You can only tolerate dirt and odors in the boiler room if you can get used oil inexpensively. Like diesel fuel, mining is not the best option for a residential building, unless you place the equipment in a separate building.
6. Residents of the Russian Federation with above-average income can afford to heat their homes with liquefied gas for the sake of comfort. In Ukraine, this method is practically not considered as very uneconomical.

At the moment, when energy prices tend to European ones, insulation of private houses is becoming increasingly important. This is also a way to get economical heating, because with low heat losses it becomes possible to constantly use an electric boiler with a water heating system or local electric heaters, which is very convenient.