Block Heaters
Cost factor: Low/Medium Energy savings: High Technical difficulty: Low
For convenience, many of us plug in our vehicle’s block heater when we arrive home at night. That means the block heater can be on an average of 14 hours a day. A maximum of four hours is needed to preheat an engine. These additional hours every day waste energy and cost you money — over $22.00 a month for each vehicle that is plugged in. If you have an in-car warmer plugged in with your block heater, you could be using as much as $48.00 every month. Over the winter it can add up quickly! It pays to use an outdoor timer or power saver cord. The rapid heat circulation caused by block heaters also aids the initial vaporization of fuel in the engine; because of this effect, block heaters reduce pollution, as poor fuel vaporization causes much higher emissions.
Automatic Outdoor Timers Automatic timers have an hourly setting that turns the power on and off at preset times. By setting the timer to provide power to the block heater three hours before using the vehicle, you can save as much as 80% of your plug-in costs.
There are two types of timers available. A manual timer has a 24 hour clock. The desired on-off times are set with pins. The times you set will be the same each day of the week. A programmable electronic timer offers more flexibility. A seven day program allows for different settings for selected days during the week and weekends. Remember to use an outdoor timer. They are best able to withstand the cold, snow and rain of our winters.
Plug In Costs Have you ever wondered what it costs to plug in a block heater for 3, 10, 14 and 24 hours a day? The following chart can help you out. Remember a maximum of four hours is needed as the engine doesn’t get any warmer when it’s plugged in for extended periods of time. When both a block heater and an in-car warmer are plugged in, your energy costs more than double.
- Calculations use an electricity price of 6¢/kWh. Actual electricity prices may vary.
(Note * Manitoba’s residential rates range from 5.16 cents/kWh to 5.78 cents/kWh, so the costs will be slightly lower – for now.)
Why Four Hours? A study conducted at the University of Saskatchewan found that about 95% of the maximum possible temperature is obtained by the end of the fourth hour. The results indicate that keeping the block plugged in for more than four hours (where there is continuous power) is a waste of electrical energy. Source: MB Hydro Fact Sheet
- All of this information is based on a well-maintained gasoline powered vehicle.
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