While central gas heating will effectively heat up the entire house, it can also be quite expensive. In fact, many people have found that over 20% of their monthly income can easily be spent on heating, especially if the house is quite large or not properly insulated. Those who want to save a considerable amount of money should keep the thermostat turned low and invest in a space heater. These heaters are specifically made to heat small to medium sized rooms. An energy efficient space heater can save over 30% of the money that would have otherwise been spent on gas heating. Following are some tips on how to choose a good heater.
Practical Tips
A portable space heater is ideal for a person who wants to use the same heater in various rooms of the house. For instance, using a portable heater in the home office during the day and then use it in the bedroom at night.
While a space heater is economical, you will also want to make sure the house is properly insulated. Use thick curtains during the winter and keep the door of the room closed. Having carpet or using area rugs on the floor will also help to heat up the room.
Space Heater Safety
An electric space heater is safer than one that uses either natural gas or propane. However, some models are safer than others. If there are small children or pets, then it is important to make sure the unit is safe and cannot cause accidental burns. If you do opt to use a natural gas or propane heater, then a window should be left slightly open for ventilation.
Space Heater Safety Tips
Tips on Choosing the Best Space Heater
It is difficult to declare which particular model is the very best space heater. While some space heaters are better than others, a lot depends on the size of the room that needs to be heated, how much you want to spend on the heater and whether or not there are small children and pets in the house.
Radiant heaters are ideal for those who work long hours at a desk. Such heaters do not heat the entire room but are very effective in heating the immediate area. Radiant heaters are also very economical and will heat an area in a matter of a few minutes.
Convection heaters are the best option if an entire room needs to be heated. Many of these heaters are filled with oil or water that heats up as soon as the heater is turned on. The heated oil or water heats up the heater, which in turn heats up the air in the room. Convection heaters are not overly expensive but they do usually cost more and use more electricity than radiant heaters.
Popular Options
Those who are looking for durable, well made radiant heaters may want to consider Dr. Heater’s Infrared Portable Heaters. These electric heaters have no exposed elements and are therefore not a fire hazard. These heaters are energy efficient and unlike many other heaters only get warm to the touch and so can be used around pets or small children. There are various operation modes that make it easy to maintain the desired temperature. The heater is quiet and has wheels that make it easy to move around.
The Vornado Electric Heater with Digital Timer Thermostat has gotten numerous positive reviews and it is not hard to see why. This heater is built with a fan that circulates the hot air around the room. It is small and comes with a remote control to change settings on the heater without having to get up. Furthermore, this small, energy efficient heater has a thermostat and other easily adjustable settings to ensure the room will never get too hot or too cold.
The Lasko Remote Control Silent Room Heater is ideal for a person who is looking for an affordable, high quality convection heater. This particular heater is sold at numerous stores and can also be easily purchased online. This small but powerful heater can heat a room up to 300 square feet in size and has a thermostat, automatic shut off feature and remote control. A digital display clearly shows the present temperature of the room for easy reference.
The Honeywell Silent Comfort Heater is also a top of the line heater that can be purchased at a very reasonable price. It is small and compact but can heat a large room in a relatively short period of time. The heater is also very safe as it will automatically shut off if tipped over and a warning light will turn on if the cover of the heater gets too hot.
There are so many space heater options that you may wonder how to choose the right one. Following is a summary of some things that should be taken into consideration when choosing a heater:
- The size of the room to be heated
- How many people will be in the room. Radiant heaters with a ceramic core are best if only one person is in the room; otherwise, you will want to invest in a convection heater)
- How many watts of electricity are used. There are 400 watt, 800 watt, 1200 watt and 1500 watt heaters on the market, to name just a few of the options. The higher the wattage, the more heat will be generated and the more electricity it will use.
- Make sure the heater is safe for small children and pets
- Choose a reputable brand name
You will want to invest in a space heater that is economical, safe and well made. A smart shopper will consider the options wisely and choose a heater that meets their needs at a budget they can afford.