Any reliable, reasonably priced electricians with a specialty in radiant heat? Our SCE bill for January was
over $400 and I'd like to have our radiant heating system checked - it is in the ceilings of all the rooms
rather than the floors which is counterintuitive since heat rises
COMMENT 366925
|
2013-01-24 09:50 AM |
|
Be careful of the "apprentice" fees that some electricians use - they can be scam artists at times. Be sure you are clear on the pricing before they start the job. I have been very satisfied with Gaelic Electric (Steve) - 684-8035.
|
| |
COMMENT 366934P
|
2013-01-24 09:58 AM |
|
That sounds like an expensive hunt for the problem...might be cheaper to abandon the radiant heat and install a furnace.
|
| |
COMMENT 366954
|
2013-01-24 10:26 AM |
|
Compare this year's bill to last year's. Granted it wasn't as cold last year but it could give you a sense of how your electric use spikes at the coldest and darkest time of the year. Also if this is your first winter in this house you may be suffering the sticker shock of electric heat over gas.
|
| |
COMMENT 366965
|
2013-01-24 10:44 AM |
|
Never heard of an apprentice fee, but agree with above posts.
|
| |
COMMENT 366970
|
2013-01-24 10:58 AM |
|
We don't use our heater - just more blankets - cost this year Zero
|
| |
COMMENT 366977
|
2013-01-24 11:11 AM |
|
It either works or it doesn't, it is a heating coil just like a toaster or an electric stove. If the wire is cut or broken it will just stop working, it won't use any electricity. Turn the thermostats down especially at night and during the day when you are not at home. Generally, there is a journey mans hourly rate and an apprentice hourly rate. This is a journey mans job to am probe your circuits, no apprentice necessary to be there.
|
| |
COMMENT 366987
|
2013-01-24 11:22 AM |
|
TJ Meyers Electric! (805) 896-0883 Super friendly to work with and a local too!
|
| |
AUNTIE S.
|
2013-01-24 12:31 PM |
|
Thanks for the name 987. Fortunately I have no problems but it's always good to have a name,. especially for something as odball as this. I too have radiant heat in the ceiling and have for years. Electric bill is a little high but one month a few years ago it was so cold that I warmed up one room that I had always kept turned off and for that month the bill was over $500! So the OP is not alone. I usually keep it set in low 60's and am pretty comfortable.
|
| |
COMMENT 367229
|
2013-01-25 06:30 AM |
|
Here's my recommendation, There is a guy that goes by "Your Local Electrician" who specializes in troubleshooting things like this. I supervise a management company and only have him come out when we have projects such as these. His contact is 805 358 5330, I know that he advertises free estimates. Good Luck!
|
| |
RICHYRICH
|
2013-01-25 09:27 AM |
|
Radian heat would be a plumber not electrician. Dexter's is one who has been doing radiant heat systems in SB for many years.
|
| |
COMMENT 367303
|
2013-01-25 09:30 AM |
|
Agreed Richyrich. My Mom has it and it's primarily a plumbing issue.
|
| |
COMMENT 367329
|
2013-01-25 10:09 AM |
|
No it is both, there is radiant electric and Radiant with hot water, so it is either a plumber or electrician depending on the system you have. Both expensive
|
| |
THINKERBILL
|
2013-01-25 11:27 AM |
|
Suggest re-thinking. Electric heat is much more expensive. I see it as outdated. That's very especially true with electric radiant heating in the ceiling. Try thinking about the overall problem, cost and comfort. Smile at sweaters and hot water bottles. Consider a whole-house insulating, heating, air conditioning, and electrostatic air cleaning. Smile again and get a great old-fashioned floor furnace so you can hit the 1930s-type 1-2-3 light button and stand over the marvel of hot air that heats you immediately and heats the rest of the area in minutes.
|
| |
MICHELE
|
2013-01-25 12:25 PM |
|
I have the same heating system, arguably the stupidest concept in the world. We routinely had winter electric bills over $500 for decades, despite keeping the thermostats set to 62 degrees, as suggested by SCE for my house. I replaced refrigerators, lighting, etc. with energy-saving alternatives, to no avail. All these years later, my bills have plunged by hundreds of dollars a month (!) since I got rid of my water softener and switched to a portable exchange service. I highly recommend trying this. I have been told by numerous electricians that there is no one locally who can fix or repair these ceiling radiant heat systems.
|
| |
COMMENT 367449
|
2013-01-25 01:51 PM |
|
These radiant electrical ceiling heating systems were used in "Gold Medallion Homes", which were all electric homes. (a very bad idea) Heating with electricity is so expensive that it is not practical.
|
| |
COMMENT 367568P
|
2013-01-25 08:56 PM |
|
I know that Murphy Electric has repaired a ceiling radiant heat system for a former employer's friend and Waterfall Electric has done repairs on the under tile mats. In my opinion, Nuheat produces good quality and easy to instal radiant floor mats. If you have an all electric home and the utility will charge upwards of $25k just to bring gas to your neighborhood, will you heat with gas or electric? An engineer friend of mine prefers electric over gas just because of the fire and CO poisoning potential of gas. He reasons that the cost ends up being about the same anyway. Good luck to the OP.
|
| |
