A space heater is a mobile device that is designed to efficiently heat a small place. Most space heaters are powered by household electricity, and they employ a huge variety of heat technologies. When correctly used, a space heater will make you more comfortable and reduce the cost required to work with your primary heating system.
Kinds of Space Heaters
Frequent kinds of electrical space heaters include convection, radiant, ceramic and oil-filled. Convection units warm a room by passing air over a heat component and distributing this warmed air, frequently with the assistance of a fan, into the surrounding area. Radiant heaters generate infrared radiation that directly heats the people and objects in a room. Ceramic heaters are similar to convection heaters, but they are usually smaller and more efficient. Oil-filled heaters, also referred to as radiators, provide gentle, stable heat that naturally diffuses to your room.
Choosing the Right Heater
A space heater will supplement your furnace more efficiently if you choose a heater that is appropriate for your circumstances. A ceramic heater works well in small, enclosed spaces, or even in regions where it’ll warm specific parts of your body (like under a desk to heat your toes). Convection heaters and oil-filled heaters are great options for larger areas like basements or family rooms. Radiant heaters fast warm up people and objects but do not heat the surrounding atmosphere, and consequently they are often used in areas that do not need to stay warm, like garages.
Helpful Tips
Generally speaking, a space heater isn’t an economical supply of long-term warmth. Use your space heater when you’re in the room, and let your furnace keep the temperature during other occasions. If your primary goal is to heat yourself and not the whole room, then use a glowing heater along with a ceramic heater pulled near your body. Also, do not use an extension cord with your space heater; a longer cord consumes extra power.
Pros and Cons of Space Heaters
Some experts say it’s challenging to achieve substantial energy savings by using a space heater to supplement your furnace. As an example, a researcher at Cornell University’s College of Human Ecology discovered that heat one room using a space heater was nearly as pricey as heat a whole 1,200-square-foot house with a normal furnace. This doesn’t necessarily mean that space heaters are ineffective, but it will not indicate that you need to use space heaters carefully if you’re trying to reduce your heating costs.