Does anyone have CAC "electric heat"

With all the talk about converting to gas and high oil price bills, I noticed that my new CAC system has an option on the air handler for what they call "electric heat".

It says on the air handler brochure: "Electric Heat (optional): The optional factory installed electric heat has exclusive sheath type electric heating elements for greater efficiency and reliability".

I guess this is some sort of forced hot air option since the heat would be coming out of my AC vents. I wonder what type of costs this would incur as compared to oil.

I would still be using oil for my hot water and my showers, but I would be cutting my oil bill by more than half in favor of electric heating. I average a gallon a day of oil during the summer and close to 3-4 gallons a day during the winter.

The other advantage this could have is I wouldn't have to worry about pipes freezing, so I can literally only turn the heat on when I need it.

It probably wouldn't cost much to upgrade my CAC to be able to provide heat as well.

With oil hitting $5.00 a gallon, I would think electric heat for just the winter would be a cheaper option than heating with oil. And I think I would rather go this route than switch to gas since I don't have a separate hot water heater and don't really have the room for one either.

Thoughts?

Re: Does anyone have CAC "electric heat"

We have CAC but DH installed a Geotherm Heating and Cooling unit which gives us forced heat and/or A/C through our ceiling vents. It's all used from the energy from the ground where all our piping went. Yes, we will save alot on OIL.

Only hot water is being used currently for oil.......but in time that will be obsolete since eventually we will get a hot water heater.....and use propane instead. And never have to worry about an oil bill again. It seriously is rediculous. So far the electric has been OK and not much of a diference so I see it as saving..... in the long run especially.......

Re: Does anyone have CAC "electric heat"

I was going to mention the ceiling vent issue.

I guess that's not an issue since forced hot air typically works best with vents on the floor?

Re: Does anyone have CAC "electric heat"

We have our CAC coming through the same ductwork and vents as our forced air heat. The vents are not on the floor, but are low on the walls. Not optimal for CAC, but it works. We have gas heat though, and we put in a tankless water heater last year that saves so much room and energy costs.

Re: Does anyone have CAC "electric heat"

We have forced hot air, but because our system is ineffecient, we installed Hydro-Sil heaters in a couple of the rooms and we plan to install them in our basement when we remodel. They're awesome!

Doesn't answer your question, but the Hydro-Sil is worth looking into if you want to save $.