Choosing a Portable Heater
Other People Are Reading
-
Size of the Room
-
Portable heaters vary based on their size and heat settings. If you want to heat a small, enclosed room, a small, inexpensive space heater should do the trick. If you want to heat a large room, such as a living room that cannot be sectioned off, look for a large heater that can produce between 30,000 and 250,000 British thermal units (Btu). Multiply the room's cubic feet by five to determine how many Btu your portable heater needs to produce.
Fuel Options
-
There are numerous fuel mechanisms contained in portable heaters. Proper ventilation and fire-safety precautions should be taken into consideration before determining which portable heater is right for you. The heater can be fueled with natural gas, but this type requires keeping the heater stationary because it has to be hooked up to a gas line. Some heaters can be hooked up to propane or kerosene tanks. These need to be used outside for proper ventilation. Electric heaters, which produce heat as soon as they are plugged in and turned on, use convection, radiant, oil-filled or fan-forced heaters.
-
Portability
-
If you're planning to always keep the heater in the same room, consider purchasing a larger, more expensive heater. If you want a heater to keep your feet warm as you move from room to room, choose a small, compact heater that has handles. These heaters are usually no more than a foot tall or wide, and they should fit easily under a desk. Look for a heater with control settings, which will allow you to control the level of heat produced. Some heaters also have timers or automatic shut-off features, which can prevent fires or malfunctions if the heater is left on for a long time. Some heaters also contain fans, which make them dual-functioning because they produce heat in the winter and cool air in the summer.
-
Resources
- Photo Credit cookingfor.us
