Space heaters provide the most convenient method to heat a small space without running your electric bill to crazy heights. Unlike the HVAC unit, a space heater will deliver the heat you need in that room only and not the entire house where it’s not needed. With so many models in the market, many people wonder which one will serve them the best and how much it will cost.
Types of Space Heaters
Ceramic fan-forced heaters–
Fan-forced heaters are good because they distribute the heat very quickly and you need this during winter. The ceramic center plate makes it possible for the heater to produce a lot of heat and it’s very durable.
Radiant and infrared heaters–
These kinds of heaters are perfect for small spaces because they radiate heat directly to the object in front. This means they are not the best if you want the entire room to warm up but they are very energy efficient.
Baseboard heaters-
For safety purposes especially if you have kids and pets, baseboard heaters are the best. They are mounted on the wall near the floor and they are cool to the touch. Baseboard heaters provide enough heat for the entire room very quickly.
Here are 3 crucial features you want to look for when shopping for a heater;
#1 Safety-
Space heaters have been a cause of house fires on a few occasions. It is therefore imperative that you look for a heater with safety features to prevent fires and other incidents. For example, an electric space heater should have a programmable timer that makes it shut off when the room is hot enough or after a set amount of time. It should also have an overheat shutoff feature, and tip-over shut-off features so it doesn’t continue working when it has fallen.
#2 Noise levels-
The last thing you want is a heater that is keeping you from hearing the television or sleeping because of the noise. Make sure the heater you buy is within the 32db range which is a soft whisper so that you can use it anytime without any disturbance to what you are doing.
#3 Energy efficiency-
Since saving money is a huge reason why you are using a space heater instead of the entire heating system in your house, you should ensure the heater is energy efficient. Portable electric heaters don’t have the EER ratings like their AC counterparts but you can still buy an energy efficient heater by looking at its wattage, programmable timer, and adjustable thermostat. There is also a formula that you can use to calculate how much power your heater will be using and the technician can help you with that.
Conclusion
These three features will help you to find a good space heater that won’t leave a dent in your pocket or risk your family’s life. However, you should also consider the heaters heating capacity in regard to the size of your rooms and of course how it looks because it will be a permanent fixture in that room. If you have some extra cash consider the remote control ones that you can just shut on and off without getting up.
You will find some of the best selling space heaters at Amazon.com for the lowest prices, including the Lasko-5409-Ceramic-Portable-Space-Heater-With-Adjustable-Thermostat, which has very positive feedback from many customers.