Hi. Let's see if I can explain myself. So, I have a couple of oil heaters in my two story house. My question is: My oil heater has 2 power switches and is 2800w in power, it also as a thermostat knob that goes from min. to max. One power switch is for like 1000w, and the second 1800w or something like that. The two together makes the 2800w. It has 11 elements. My living room never gets to be warm with the heater on full from 6pm to 2am. So, I keep the thermostat on max and the two switches on. The heater regularly switches on and off as it reaches top temperature and cools down again a bit. Since the room never reaches temperature (for clarification purposes, I have the room at 17ºC when I turn on the heater and when I go to bed it's at 20ºC which is still kind of cold in winter). What is the better setting to keep my heater? Should I leave it on full, with it turning on and off faster since it reaches its full temperature faster, or should I leave on one switch only, the less powerfull one? Thermostat always on max, ofcourse. I'm trying to find what would spend less energy. It being on for longer on lower power until reaching the top heater temperature and then turning off and later on again for longer time, or spending more energy (2800w/h) and having it reaching the top temperature faster, then off, then on for less time until off again? I am guessing the heating would probably be the same, just that it would spend 1000w longer times other than 2800w for shorter times. What are your thoughts? Please refrain from saying I should seal my house/room/windows/doors better etc... it's just the nature of the house, it's two story all open apart from the wc's and bedrooms. Also, no money to install central heating or air conditioning for winter time. Thanks in advance! via /r/DIY http://ift.tt/2wDSTGC
