Small Space Heaters & Alternative Heating Information
Small space heaters are a common method of heating homes, as well as other confined areas. Very cheap to operate, many small space heaters are easily portable. They can be advantageous in a variety of circumstances and are often times more practical than central heating systems. Does this Spark an idea?
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Effectiveness
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Small space heaters can be a cost effective option in many cases. They are very useful for heating one room only and are also commonly used for 'extra heating' in households.
Small space heaters can also be a good option for individuals who easily get affected by cold, particularly for elderly people. Small space heaters increase the temperature of the room without overheating the house---as the heat is relatively confined to one area.
Power Sources
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These heaters generally run off of a variety of power sources, including: electricity, natural gas, propane, and kerosene. The most popular models run off of electricity due to being much more simplistic than models with other power sources.
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Heating Capacity
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The capacity of space heaters is usually between 10,000 BTU per hour to 40,000 BTU per hour. In terms of heating capacity---or the space that a heater can effectively heat---the standard is 10 watts per square foot. According to this rule, the heat provided by a 1500 watt space heater is sufficient for a 12 foot by 12 foot room.
Unvented Heaters
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There are two types of space heaters: those that have a vent and those that are unvented. According to Energysavers.gov, "Unvented combustion units are not recommended for use inside your home." The reason given for this is that they release undesirable products of combustion, such as nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide. They also cause the depletion of air where they are present. The use of unvented heaters that use kerosene as fuel is not allowed by law in most states.
Vented Heaters
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Units with vents are made in a way that they can be permanently installed alongside an outside wall---this helps in installing the fuel gas vent through a ceiling or on the opposite (outer) side of the inner wall.
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References
- Photo Credit propane heater image by FXTW from Fotolia.com
