Flutterby™! : Induction Cooktops 2022-04-02 02:00:54.621001+02

Induction Cooktops

2022-04-02 02:00:54.621001+02 by Dan Lyke 9 comments

Since I've been thinking about how we could wean ourselves from natural gas: Ask MeFi question about induction cooktops

#Comment Re: Induction Cooktops made: 2022-04-29 22:44:01.780365+02 by: Dan Lyke [edit history]

Yeah, and as I discovered with my workshop heat pump, how often do they fail and vent all those fluorine refrigerants to the atmosphere?

#Comment Re: Induction Cooktops made: 2022-04-29 14:15:15.687572+02 by: TheSHAD0W

Yeahhhh... How much CO2 is produced in manufacturing those heat pumps? And how much more often do they break and require replacement parts or complete replacement that generates even more?

#Comment Re: Induction Cooktops made: 2022-04-20 21:05:57.752488+02 by: Dan Lyke

And, actually, 500 therms is nearly 3 tons of CO2, so moving that to electric, modulo embedded carbon and refrigerant problems with going to heat pump based water heater, spa heater, and clothes dryer, would accomplish something.

#Comment Re: Induction Cooktops made: 2022-04-20 20:35:51.297511+02 by: Dan Lyke

Trying to reduce the amount of methane released into the atmosphere as a side-effect of natural gas use.

Our local electricity grid is running between 64 and 80 lbs CO2e/MWh. Natural gas is running 2.3% of total gas generation in leakage. If we're using 500 therms a year and the CO2 equivalent impact of methane leakage is 25x, then we're talking on the order of... well... 4.25 lbs/therm, a factor of 25x for methane to CO2e, so a little over 1,200 lbs of CO2 equivalent from leakage annually, plus the minimal CO2 from the burning of it (it's mostly hydrogen).

When I put it that way, it's probably better to put the money I was gonna put into switching into the Nature Conservancy or other things that preserve carbon sinks.

#Comment Re: Induction Cooktops made: 2022-04-11 18:33:09.750235+02 by: ebwolf

Are you trying for more efficiency or reducing the number of dinosaurs you consume directly?

#Comment Re: Induction Cooktops made: 2022-04-08 17:57:46.403764+02 by: Bunny

Oh, and I was referring to boiling large pots of water for pasta, etc. I have one burner on the cook top that gets hotter for that reason, but it's still not as effective as induction would be.

#Comment Re: Induction Cooktops made: 2022-04-08 17:55:03.98511+02 by: Bunny

I made a huge mistake and bought a black glass cook top on my latest electric range. The last one I had was a grey, stippled-looking surface that didn't show fingerprints, minor scratches, etc. I have to clean this black top constantly, and yeah, cast iron pans are an issue. I finally decided to ignore the scratches and just deal with whatever food drippings, etc. The scratches are minor, not deep or dangerous. It just looks clunky. I love the concept of the glass top, but, boy, this black one haunts me. Next time I'll be more careful in my selection.

#Comment Re: Induction Cooktops made: 2022-04-07 19:15:00.35218+02 by: Dan Lyke

For boiling water, we've gone to a counter-top electric kettle, and holy crap that's something I put off for way too long.

Good to know on interference from the induction range. I'm also seeing things about the fragility of glass tops, which, given that I'm having to touch-up the enamel on this gas stove, and that I really like big cast iron pans, might be an issue...

#Comment Re: Induction Cooktops made: 2022-04-05 15:08:49.618283+02 by: Bunny

I'd love to have an induction hob, if for no other reason than boiling water. But, alas, I have a pacemaker, and am proscribed from being within about 2' of a working induction burner. I've been wondering if I could turn it on and off with a long-handled wooden spoon or something. Damned nuisance, this pacer, but the alternative is kinda worse. Anyway, guests wearing pacers or defib units will want to stay out of the kitchen while the burner is in use. FWIW.