Celecting the Right Space Heater.

During cold weather months, space heaters are an inexpensive way to warm only the parts of the house, room or office you're using, making them a good addition to the central-heating system in any home or building. Before you run to the big-box or home-improvement store to buy a unit, though, consider these important factors. They'll help you select the right space heater for your needs this season.

Room Size
If you buy a space heater designed to heat a larger or smaller room, you're wasting energy. You may also wear out or break the unit if it's working overtime all day or night to keep a too-large area warm. Usually, you'll look at square-foot measurements, so know those before you go shopping.

Do your home-work first, and determine what room(s) you want to use the space heater in. Get a rough dimensions of those room(s) (length x width) to get square feet. Then selecting your new heater from the ones that are designed for this range of sizes gives you the best value for your money. In general, a 1500 watt heater is good for a room about 150 square feet. That same ratio of 10 watts per 1 square foot of room can be a good rule of thumb to follow.

Safety Features
If you want to heat the bathroom before you take your morning shower or evening soak in the tub, look for a bathroom-safe heater; they're marked as such. These units are designed to withstand moisture; they should also have a Ground Fault Interrupt to prevent a horrible accident if the heater is exposed to water. And be sure you plug the heater into a GFCI approved outlet.

Despite the safety features you should always, of course, prevent these situations from occurring. Keep the heater away from water and, if you see signs that anything is broken or damaged--a frayed cord, a GFI that doesn't trip or set like it should--contact the manufacturer for instructions.

 

 

Other rooms have different safety needs. For example, space heaters automatically shut off when they're tipped or kicked over: an invaluable feature for homes with pets and children or offices with lots of foot traffic. To prevent burns, look for a unit that's designed to keep the hot elements well away from fingers, toes, and paws. Look for overheat protection as well, which means the space heater will shut off if it runs too hot. Another nice feature is an always-cool handle; it doesn't get hot even after you've run the unit all day, so you can safely carry the heater afterward.

Materials
Heaters have a few ways of warming the room; they aren't equally efficient. You may have to trade off a little energy savings for better heating depending on the room and your needs. For example, a ceramic-tile bathroom heater may be more expensive up front, but save you money later on your heating bills. A radiant heater, full of oil that slowly warms, is good for keeping a room at a steady temperature for long periods; it, however, costs a little money in monthly utility bill to operate. Fan forced space heaters heat the air with coils then blow the air in the room(s). Look at each type's pros and cons, including energy ratings, to decide which one is best for your situation.

Energy Source
Most indoor space heaters use electricity, but you have other options. For example, some companies make propane heaters specifically for rooms (usually outdoor type rooms). This gives you more options, though you should never use a heater in places the manufacturer warns you against; not all propane heaters are safe in your kids' bedroom or your office. There can be a safety hazard if used improperly.

 

 

In general, also get an energy efficient model – meaning one with a great EER as well as BTU rating. When comparing space heaters to buy, a higher BTU rating means it is a better unit with higher performance and energy efficiency.

Ultimately, you have several aspects to compare before you buy a heater. Safety, energy efficiency, room size, cost to utility bills and other factors should be considered. This seems like a lot of work but, if you make the effort now, you'll avoid lost energy savings, and potentially unsafe situations, later.