Do Space Heaters Save Money?
Space heaters can help you save money on your heating costs in winter months. Using space heaters lets you heat only the rooms you use, so you can heat your home more efficiently.
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Comparison
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Space heaters are electrical appliances which heat a small space. Central heating systems usually run on natural gas and heat your whole house. Space heaters are more efficient than central heating, since they convert 100 percent of electricity to heat, whereas central heating systems are about 55 to 85 percent efficient, since they lose heat through combustion and as the hot air moves through ducts.
Benefits
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Since you don't use all the rooms in your house as much, using a space heater to heat the room you're in while leaving the rest of your house cold can help you save money. Lowering your thermostat to 62 degrees Fahrenheit and adding a space heater to one room can save you $200 a year, according to research by Good Housekeeping.
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Considerations
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Electricity is more expensive than natural gas, so using too many space heaters can cost you money rather than saving it. According to Consumer Reports, using space heaters will save money as long as you have to heat less than half your house. If you need to keep most of your house heated, take other measures to lower your heating costs, such as lowering the thermostat by one or two degrees and improving your home's insulation.
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References
- Photo Credit propane heater image by FXTW from Fotolia.com
