which is more economical, electric baseboard heating with a thermostat and one that will run continuously on a low setting

He's nuts. The more it's on, the more heat it puts out, the more you pay. Twice the heat, twice the cost. Unless you live somewhere where there are tiered rates, in which case if you use twice as much you would pay more th an twice as much if you go to the higher tiered rate. I'd have a thermosta t set to a low temp to prevent freezing.

No, he's an idiot. To raise the temperature of a room you need a given about of energy, no matter the source or the fuel. In your case, you can have the heat set on low, say 1000 watts for 24 hours and the cost is the same as 2000 watts for 12 hours cycling with a thermostat, or

On a warm day, if no heat is needed the T-stat will turn it off, his setup will keep it going even if slow. Think of it as filling a gallon jug with water. Turn the faucet on fast it will fill fast, turn it on slow, it will take longer. In either case, the result is a gallon of water.

replying to Sue, Iggy wrote: He's very wrong to have it run regardless. But, he's very right to always maintain the same temperature...this is true with any heating system. However, the only way to make maintaining a set temperature work efficiently is to have a thermostat that tells the unit to kick on only as needed.

I agree with the others HOWEVER>>>>

Check to see what he really means.

For example, in my wife's studio there is a 220v baseboard heater that simply has a knob that can be set continuously high through low. When she is not in there she keeps it set to low. It's not a calibrated thermostat but it will turn off if the temp. goes over it's set point.

If that's what he's referring to it's OK.

Maybe, except for the part where she says whatever it is that's without a thermostat (or precise temp control, per your point), it keeps the house warmer than they think is necessary. Anytime you're running electric heat and keeping it warmer than necessary, it can run up some big bills fast. But I agree, we don't know at lot here and it's not explained well. Does she mean the choices are leaving the thermostat upstairs on

Sue posted for all of us...

If you were as smart as you think you are you would know the answer.

It's still a thermostat-- - - - - - - - - -- -- -

I bet if you look in there High to Low is actually a thermostat but it is only looking at the heat right there. If it gets warm enough, that will turn off. I had 2 of those wall pack toaster wire heaters here for years.

Farmers use electric tank heaters for their livestock drinking tanks. Would such a thing work for a water softener? That might be cheaper if so.

Or just drain it like everything else. IDK if there are issues with draini ng a water softener compared to any other tank, but if not, drain it. It also solves the problem of what happens with a cabin if it loses power in a winter storm.

yep just drain everything for the winter.....

then plan to add a better heating system for the future.....

There is no easy way to drain the resin tank and if it really gets cold the brine tank could freeze too.

Your correct, it's a pain in the ass butt it's possible.