All About Space Heaters

Cost-efficient heat for that one cold person in every house

It seems that in every family, there's one person who's always cold. They get out of bed in the middle of the night and turn up the thermostat, causing everyone else to wake up an hour later gasping for air.

Portable space heaters are the solution to this problem. A portable space heater placed in the appropriate room of your house will provide economical and focused heat, ensuring that everyone in your home sleeps warmly and well.

Different types of space heaters

In general, space heaters fall into the categories of vented and unvented. Depending on its fuel source, your portable space heater may need a ceiling or wall vent to prevent the unsafe buildup of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, or water vapor. Some types of unvented heaters have actually been banned for internal home use because of safety concerns.

Space heaters are also divided between convection heaters and radiant heaters. The difference between the two is that convection space heaters heat the air directly and radiant space heaters heat surrounding objects by directing heat in a straight line until it encounters an absorbent surface.

Electric space heaters are the only kind of unvented space heaters that are safe for indoor use. Electric space heaters can be convection or radiant heaters. The highest quality electric space heaters are usually oil-filled space heaters.

These space heaters have a radiator-like appearance and permanent oil supply. Oil-filled electric space heaters work by heating oil with the electrical element, a process that helps to maintain a constant temperature, thus requiring less electricity.

Non-electric space heaters use alternative fuel sources such as kerosene, natural gas, and wood.

Space heater safety

One topic that should always come up in any discussion involving space heaters is safety. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission calculates that over 25,000 house fires are caused every year by space heaters, resulting in over 300 deaths and 6,000 hospitalizations. When shopping for space heaters, safety should be your first priority.

Here are some safety guidelines you should follow whenever you use electric space heaters:

Place space heaters at least 3 feet away from any flammable objects. Do not drape flammable objects over your space heater.

Position electric space heaters on the floor ONLY.

Avoid the use of extension cords, and make sure the space heater is plugged securely into a safe electrical outlet.

Keep children and pets away from electric space heaters.

Do not leave space heaters on if they are unattended.

If you intend to use your electric space heater while you're sleeping, purchase a space heater with a thermostat sensor or preset on/off timer system.

Look for electric space heaters featuring a tipover switch that will turn the heater off if it's knocked over.

Space heater efficiency

To maximize the energy savings gained by using space heaters, only run your space heater when necessary. Further, don't simply buy the biggest space heater you can find. Use a space heater that is sized appropriately for the room it will be heating.

More information on electric heaters