Electric Space Heaters

According to the The U.S. Department of Energy it is more efficient to use an electric space heaters in one room than it is to heat an entire house with central heat. There are a number of options available when choosing an electric space heater. Since it is not possible to discuss them all this website will look at the various types available.

Small space heaters are used most often to supplement the main heating system or when central heating is too expensive to install or operate, such as in a vacation home. In most cases, small electric space heaters are cheaper to use if you only want to heat one room. They can also help raise the temperature in rooms used by people who are sensitive to cold, especially the elderly, without making the rest of the house too warm. A rule of thumb for sizing a space heater is 10 watts for each square foot. Using this rule, a 1500 watt space heater would heat 144 sq. ft. or a 12′x 12′ room.

Portable electric space heaters are broken down into several types. Among them are the a plain convection heater which is the simplest kind. Then there is the fan-forced convection type, oil filled electric space heater, infrared space heaters, and radiant heater. While each run on electricity, they each offer a slightly different means of providing heat. Most electric space heaters use convection to heat a room. They have a huge advantage over combustion heaters in that they are safe to use without venting. They dont need a chimney or other venting mechanism. Therefore, they are a good heating solution in many situations and in climates with only a few cold days during the year.

Infrared space heaters can cut your heating bill up to 50%. They use infrared heat to a room of up to 1000 square feet evenly and efficiently. They do not get scorching hot, cannot start a fire, and will not reduce the humidity or oxygen level in the room. They are very energy efficient and cost effective way of heating your home. Infrared technology does not use as much energy as the leading space heater and you will get more heating from an infrared heater than you would from traditional portable electric heating options. An infrared heater transfers most of the heat through direct infrared radiation to heat up objects being in the line of sight of the radiation to heat the occupants o the room. You save money by just heating people and not heating the whole room.

Oil space heaters are actually oil-filled. These units are heavy but portable. They are very safe to use. They are frequently used in children’s rooms. It can take a while before the oil heats up, but once heated the oil stays warm for a long period of time. This type of heater provides a steady heat source for an entire room and is one of the most energy efficient options. They are safe, silent, and energy efficient because they automatically maintain optimal room temperature.

With the start of the winter season, as the people feel the pinch of cold, they look for appliances like blowers, space heaters and air conditioners to keep their habitats warm. These actually make use of electricity or propane for their operation. However, those powered by electricity are much more cost effective and safer to use. Space heaters are used to heat small rooms or offices.

Presently, the market is flooded with different models and designs. Now, the question arises, which one to choose and which one to reject. Each shares their own list of merits and demerits. Homeowners can get the answer to this question in the below article. First and foremost consideration is to see the space you need to heat up. If you use it just to take the chill off a single room without having to crank up the heat in the entire house, a small size electric heater is sufficient.

Another most important thing to consider is availability of vent at the place where you want to install the appliance. Since, gas and kerosene operated heaters release carbon monooxide while operating arrangement for a vent becomes indispensable. For places, where vent is not possible, electric heaters should be installed.

Pay very close attention to the safety features available on each space heater. The most important safety features is a tip-over safety switch, which will turn your heater off it is tipped over. Some heaters also have a sensor that will automatically turn off the heater when the room is heated to a preset temperature.

Go for the appliance that has a label of energy star. This provides the detail regarding the energy consumption by the appliance yearly. It then, becomes the responsibility of every user to choose the one that offers low energy consumption.

Have a look on the appliance whether it is recommended by the Underwriter’s laboratory. This affirms that the equipment is first tested in the lab and safe to use now.

For the safe and efficient use of the space heaters, always follow the instructions mentioned on the operation manual of the appliance. Make sure, you do not use the heaters to dry the clothes this is simply energy wastage. Turn off your heater when you are not home.

Since, more and more people are opting for solar heaters nowadays; market has come out with the various models and styles. One can exercise the option of choosing a solar heater either by going to the market or even on- line through the Internet and confirm its cost etc