How to Compare Electric Room Heaters

Electric room heaters are a great option if you need a little extra heat in a room. Electric room heaters produce just enough heat to warm up a room, but not enough to heat a large space or an entire house. As you shop for electric room heaters, take note of the electric room heater features that make that particular heater a good buy for your family. When you compare electric room heaters, you can determine what is and is not important to you so you end up purchasing exactly what you need.

Instructions

1. Save energy when you choose an electric room heater that provides radiant heating. Radiant heaters emit infrared radiation that warms anything in its line of sight. If you remain in line with the heater, and you only need heat for a few hours, radiant heaters are an excellent choice for efficiency.

2. Choose electric room heaters with a thermostat that allows you to control the heat. Heaters without a thermostat waste energy because they can overheat the room, and they pose a safety risk because they can become too hot.

3. Shop for electric room heaters appropriate for the size of room you need to heat. Each heater should have a general sizing table on the package to let you know how large of a space that particular heater can heat.

4. Look for a safety switch that automatically turns the electric room heater to the "Off" position if the heater tips over. Just in case a pet or a child knocks the heater over, you don't have to worry about the unit continuing to burn and potentially starting a fire.

5. Reduce the risk of burns when you choose an electric room heater with a heat-resistant exterior. These cool-touch cabinets are non-flammable and cool when you touch them, which eliminates any chance of burning yourself on the heater.

References

• US Dept. of Energy
• Sylvane