How to Choose Electric Space Heaters
Using an electric space heater allows you to heat areas where you are working and playing without heating your entire home. There are a variety of electric space heaters on the market, but it is not a matter of finding the best heater; it's about finding the one that is right for you. Different heaters are good for different areas. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Selecting Features
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Select an electric heater that bears the Underwriters Laboratories mark, which indicates that it meets the voluntary safety standards of UL.
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Choose a heater that is the right wattage for the area you want to heat. Your heater should have a 10-to-1 ratio of wattage to square feet. In other words, a 1,500-watt electric heater can heat an area of 150 square feet.
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Look for a heater that has a timer or is controlled thermostatically to avoid overheating a room.
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If you need to move your electric heater around, check the weight and find one with a handle. Some heaters are lighter than others.
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Choose a size of heater that will fit the area you need to use it. If you plan on placing it under your desk, you will want a small heater.
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For safety, select a heater that has both a tip-over switch, which shuts off the heater if it is knocked over, and an automatic shutoff, which turns off the heater if it gets too hot.
Types of Electric Heaters
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Choose a fan-forced convection heater if you need to heat an entire room or heat an area quickly. These heaters provide warmth by blowing air over a heating element. They should not be used where noise is an issue since they can be quite loud.
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Choose an oil-filled or water-filled heater if you need an economical, quiet heater for an entire room. These heat internal oil to provide warmth to a room. Caution should be used when using these heaters around children since they are not as cool to the touch as other heaters. Oil-filled heaters are often shaped like the old-fashioned radiators or baseboard heaters.
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Choose a radiant heater if you need to heat a small area. Radiant heaters heat objects rather than the air around them, making them more energy efficient but impractical for whole-room heating. Two types of radiant heaters include infrared and quartz/carbon (reflective) heaters. Infrared red heaters transfer heat through the use of electromagnetic waves. Reflective heaters use halogen bulbs to transfer heat and use a lower wattage than other space heaters.
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If you need to heat your garage, choose a heater especially designed for that function. Garage heaters are usually radiant heaters but are designed to be mounted on the wall for safety.
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Choose an electric fireplace heater if you want a heater that is both aesthetically pleasing as well as functional. Electric fireplace heaters use the same heating elements as other electric heaters but are safer than wood-burning fireplaces.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't use extension cords with electric space heaters. Always turn the heater off when you are leaving a room or your house or going to bed. Place the heater at least 3 feet from furniture and curtains. Keep heaters out of reach of children and pets.
Resources
- Photo Credit Techtoucian, Underwrtier Laboratories, Nick Johnson, doortoriver, midorisyu
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Comments
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Good notes. Very helpful.
