Heating a room for 8p a day using flower pots

Parsimonia

Hubby and I had a bash with two flowerpots and a loaf tin tonight, and it definitely takes the chill off the room. We used 4 tea lights and placed it in the centre of our dining room, which is 12' square....we weren't exactly sweltering, but it definitely emanated some heat, despite our tealights being of crap quality.

We may try with slightly smaller flowerpots tomorrow and see if that makes any difference.

sb44

keicar wrote: »

Tried all variations of this my my small office (2.5 x 2m). It certainly takes the chill off.

IMO just one flowerpot works as well as multiples.

I use a 7" sponge tin with a round microwave grill rack over the top, and the flowerpot on top of that, depending on the outside temperature I vary the amount of tea lights, anything from 3 to 6, although I haven't used more that four yet.

Combined with the heat of the PC it raises the temperature of the room from 14deg ish in the morning to 21deg in the evening, and it will hold the temperature if I go out.

I use a 2p piece to close off the top for the pot to warm up more quickly.

I use Sainsbury's basics tea lights (approx 4 hours) at I guess an average cost of 20p per day, having a 1kw electric heater for just half that time would be approx 70p per day, but the temptation to keep in on longer would be too great.

I works for me for now, although the weather hasn't been too cold just yet.

Thanks for the microwave grill tip, I never use mine but will give it a try tomorrow.

Pre 1992 2p's are 97% copper and copper is a good heat conductor (copper bottom pans!), so best to use older 2p pieces.

Solomon_Broad

I've been fiddling about with one of these, and trying to compare it to 4 candles on their own. When holding my hand roughly 12" above the 4 candles, I could feel a lot of heat. When holding it above the heater, I couldn't feel very much at all. The reverse was true when holding my hand 6" to the side of the candles, and the heater.

I'm no scientist, but what I figure is this: the heat from the candles just rises up to the ceiling, where it's not doing me any good. The pot prevents this heat from rising away from where I am and turns the convected heat into radiated heat. Like I said, I'm no scientist and this is quite possibly wrong.

All I know is that the pot is keeping me warmer than the 4 candles on their own. Neither method is very effective at heating a very large area, sadly. The heater does need to be quite close to be of any use, but at least I don't have to hover on the ceiling to feel the warmth.