Best Space Heaters: Consider these things Before Buying

What Are Space Heaters and Why Are They Important?

When it comes to heaters, there are two types – the central heating and the space heating.

Central Heaters

This set of heaters are used when you want to cover many connected areas at once with only one system, it could be the whole house, a full office building or a portion of the building. While they are must-haves, they are not exactly cost efficient since they make use of a lot of energy to run smoothly. They are also too much if you only want to warm up a smaller area such as a dorm room, tent, living room or one room in your home.

Space Heaters

This set of heaters are needed when you only want to warm up a little area such as your dorm room, basement, office/cubicle, a room in your house, garage or have a warm camping experience.  They are cost efficient, can get you warm fast and some models are portable for easy movement from one area to another to keep you warm all day long.

Deciding on The Type

There are so many types out there, in terms of how they make heat, the components and fuel used in making the heat and how the heat is distributed. You need to know this because they all come to play in how much money you end up using in buying it, operating it and maintaining it.

Everyone appreciates extra cash so we are looking to help you save money in the long run.

Radiant/Infrared Space Heaters

These heaters generate heat quickly using infrared rays to warm-up things. They cannot pass through obstacles and only heat up whatever they come in contact with. They are the best heaters for spot heating. The good thing about them is you can carry them outdoors and still feel the heat, use it for patio heating or for a very small gathering as long as it is placed right. 

Some models are able to heat up to 1000 square feet as opposed to the typical fan-forced heaters that warm up only 400 square feet at average. There are also portable heaters under this category for easy movement and there are also others that can serve as furniture. The downside is they bring out a warm orange light as a result of the infrared rays and this may be disturbing, most especially in the bedroom. We will help you decide on the best infrared heater for large and small rooms to buy.

Convection Space Heaters

Convection heaters sometimes use a fan to circulate heat and the most efficient of them are filled with water and oil that mostly never need to be refilled. They are also easy to clean. Although they heat up slowly compared to the radiant heaters, they are usually quieter and the heat they generate last for a much longer time. They are the best heaters when it comes to heating up large spaces and as long as quick heat is not your priority, they are great most especially for home heating and office heating due to their silent nature. One disadvantage though is that a majority of models that are convection heaters are not kid or pet friendly because their surfaces are hot to touch but it can be used in your basement, living room, and any space you have as long as kids or pets are not involved.

Ceramic Space Heaters

More often than not, ceramic space heaters have a short body that can be placed on almost anywhere from a table to a bench to a chair, etc. They are lightweight heaters that are very easy to carry around. They use radiant heating to secrete warmth and some of them are fan-forced and this version is the most popular in the market. The fan-forced ceramic heaters provide very quick heating, you will get warm air within seconds of putting it on and this feature will also help you save on energy cost but they can be quite noisy. They are usually cool to touch and are therefore kid and pet friendly.

Hybrid Space Heaters

Hybrid space heaters make use of 80% convection and 20% direct radiant heat. Many models are created to be wall mountable and are usually lightweight. They are silent, put off no light and use the natural flow of air to give you heat but are not kid or pet friendly. Most models can be mounted in the bathroom without accidents.

Powering Component

Heaters make use of two types of power – electricity and gas/fuel. Under the latter category, we have propane powered heaters, natural gas heaters, fuel, oil and wood pellets. Portable space heaters can use either power method.

In the end, it’s up to you to decide which is best for you in cost, efficiency and safety, we will show you the advantage and disadvantage of using heaters powered with either of the power components.

Gas-Fuel Heaters

This set of heaters can be cheaper to make use of since gas is relatively cheaper than electricity however if saving the planet and convenience are a priority for you, it is not what you need. They need an outlet to let out carbon monoxide and this could be an exhaust pipe or chimney. However, some manufacturers create models that don’t expel too much carbon monoxide that you wouldn’t even notice. A gas furnace is complex to install and you will need professional assistance to put them together. Heaters in this category are cheap to maintain but have a shorter lifespan compared to electric heaters. They make the best camping heaters.

Electric Heaters

Electric heaters can be portable or wall mounted. They are easy to plug in and you can set it up all by yourself which means you save money on installation cost. At the point of purchase, you will notice that they are cheaper to get but in terms of cost of operation – in this case, electricity use – you will spend more money. They have a longer lifespan, are simple and cost effective in maintenance and are safer than the propane powered heaters in terms of gas leaks and carbon monoxide but high-power electricity still has the risk of starting a fire.

If you live in a really frigid climate, you may find using electric heaters a bother since they take time to heat up but once they do, you can stay toasty for as long as you want.

Other Necessary Things to Consider

We have described the different types as well as powering methods but there are also other things to think of before you can decide on which space heater you will be getting.

Heating Capacity

You definitely will not want to purchase a heater that will not warm up the entire space you want it to warm up. One of the most important things to consider is the heating capacity of the heater you are looking at; how far and wide can it go in warming your space and how big the space is in relation to the capacity of the heater. To determine the best heater for you, check out the heat wattage rating. For each square foot of space, a portable heater will use 10 watts of heating power. However, this low wattage space heater guideline does not apply to every model.

Radiant/infrared heaters are generally made to cover more space than fan heaters but overall convection heaters tend to get farther than most, this is not the case for all models though.

Cost

Money is sometimes the first thing that comes to mind when you decide you are going to purchase new equipment, furniture or a heater for your space. Most electric heaters are not too expensive to buy but considering electricity cost, they may rack up high bills for you. Some manufacturers have put this into consideration and have set in certain features that will help you save money. They include:

• Energy saving modes.
• Adjustable thermostat.
• Programmable timers.

Safety

Heaters can easily become fire hazards mostly when you buy the wrong one or you don’t use the right one appropriately. A lot of heaters these days are made with cool-to-touch surfaces. Some also come with an internal switch that will automatically turn off the power if the heater is knocked down or tipped over accidentally. You need to also put down overheat protection on your list of must-have features. This ensures that the heater will turn off automatically if the internal components reach an unsafe temperature and this will save you from fire outbreak.

The place the space heater will be placed will also determine how safe it will be. Always ensure you check the manual out after making a purchase so your heater can be placed in the right place, away from any combustibles in your home. If the space you have is so small that you can’t get it placed at that feet range, then get a heater that is stated to be safe to keep at a closer distance.

You need to also check if the manufacturer has safety certifications, the presence of safety certifications means laboratory testing is certified.

Noise Level

You may be able to handle noise in the garage but may not be able to tolerate it inside the house. fan-forced heaters produce some noise during operation that can be unbearable for some. Heaters that use the natural flow of air to disperse heat tend to make lesser noise.

Furniture or Heater?

Some heaters come as hardware cabinets, you can use them as coffee tables or lamp stands while they still serve their purpose in warming up your space. They are very attractive to look at and are most time more expensive than those that are not made as alternative furniture but do not provide anything more in heating than the other types.

If you are looking to buy a coffee table or any little stand/table in your home and need a heater at the same time, why not save cost and get this two-in-one product.

Space Heater Reviews – The Best of The Best in The Market

Best in the Home Heating Category – Delonghi HMP1500 Mica Panel Heater

This slick space heater is perfect for any décor, space, and application. It can fit in anywhere and has so much to offer you and your folks, let’s dig in.