Keeping Warm Without a Furnace
Mar 24 '06
The Bottom Line Space heaters come in different shapes and styles and there is a right one for most needs.
Space heaters are an important appliance in many homes, especially those located in colder climates and those whose furnace doesn’t distribute the heat evenly throughout the living space. I own three different space heaters, with a separate type of heater to fit the need at the moment. With three options, I can almost always find the right unit for the job.
Most people don’t put much thought into the purchase of a space heater. They just go to the nearest Home Depot, Lowes, or even Wal- mart and grab the first heater than catches their eye. But there are some important differences and considerations to make when it comes to selecting a space heater. Let’s take a look at the different options available to the consumer:
Types of Heaters:
Space heaters come in both small and large sizes and they derive and distribute their heat in different ways. Here are some of the different types available:
Radiant Electric- This is a popular type of space heater and most stores that sell space heaters have a large stock of this type of device. These heaters usually feature a metal or plastic outer case with different wattage options to control the output of heat. They get their heat from electricity and you can see and feel the heat. Coils on the inside become red hot when the power is activated and the heat produced by these heaters feels much like that from the sun. It’s like standing in direct sunlight on a warm, clear day.
Oil Filled Electric- These electric heaters feature a design that looks like a radiator. The radiator- like columns are filled with oil and the oil is responsible for producing the heat. When the power is turned on, the oil warms up inside the columns and, gradually, the hot metal casing releases the heat into the surrounding air.
Fan- Enhanced Electric- These heaters use radiant heat, like the other heaters mentioned above. But with these heaters, the warm air is released by the aid of a fan. Also, in most instances, this type of heater has coils that are hidden from view. Thus, you cannot see the red hot coils within. And the outer case is usually designed from plastic, lessening the chance for a burn.
Kerosene- These heaters are not as popular as they once were, mainly because they have been known to cause fires. The modern style of kerosene heater is plugged into a standard outlet and, like the oil filled electric heaters, derives its heat from fuel. But with a kerosene heater, the fuel is gradually burned and depleted. Unlike the oil- filled electric heaters, kerosene heaters have to be refilled periodically.
Which Space Heater is Right for Me?:
With all the different types of space heaters available, how does one decide which one to buy? Well, space heaters are often a matter of preference and consumers, unfortunately for them, often don’t choose the best one for the job. Many people will select a heater on impulse, without really thinking about what they just purchased. A certain heater might look attractive to the eye or have an attractive way that it functions, leading consumers to purchase a heater that will produce the heat they need, but not necessarily in the most efficient way.
The first thing that you need to ask yourself is: What am I trying to heat and how quickly do I need the heat? If you live in an apartment or have a small area that needs occasional spot heating, then you should fulfill your needs with something simple, like one of the small electric fan heaters. These are usually very compact and while they don’t produce an exceptionally large amount of heat, they are just right for a small space. Also, you need to think about the speed of the heating process. The oil filled radiator- type heaters take a while to warm up and they take a long time to heat up a room. But the other types of heaters become hot within seconds.
Second, you need to consider whether or not you have small kids in the house. If safety is an important concern, then you should avoid heaters with metal casing because the outside can get very hot to the touch. And you should avoid kerosene heaters because they can get knocked over and can create a hazard. In the absence of small kids, these metal heaters and kerosene are good options because they create more heat. But they are risky when kids are around.
Third, you need to think about the maintenance. Most heaters are utilitarian in nature and require little or no upkeep. But in the case of kerosene heaters, the owner is going to have to refill them periodically with fuel. In some areas of the country, kerosene can be purchased and delivered to one’s house. In other areas, it has to be purchased at a gas station or other place of business. Whatever the method, it still requires giving up time. You have to be ready to refill the heater with more fuel as it runs out, and this fact alone could make a kerosene heater impractical for many consumers.
Fourth, you need to consider the electrical usage required to operate a space heater. Portable heat sources are nice and they create lots of needed warmth, but this sometimes comes at a high price. Space heaters usually have multiple wattage settings, and the highest setting is likely in the neighborhood of 1,500 watts. If this or some other high level is selected and the heater is run many hours per day, the impact on one’s electric bill will be substantial.
The Good and the Bad:
Space heaters offer consumers a way to concentrate heat in a specific place and they can come in very handy when there is a problem with one’s furnace or a problem where a specific room(s) is not properly vented to receive the heat from a furnace. They are relatively inexpensive to own, and they are a necessary appliance for some people who live in colder climates or who have older homes with unreliable furnaces.
But there are certain drawbacks to using space heaters. Besides the price of the electricity (mentioned above), other risks include burns and fires. The types of space heaters that have metal casing are the most likely to cause a burn because the outside surface of the heater can get very hot to the touch. And in the case of kerosene heaters, there is a risk of fire if the unit is tipped over. There is also a risk of electrical shortages and electrical fires. If you live in an older home and your electrical system is out of date, the high wattage from a space heater can cause an overload; shutting off all the power to a section of the house. And in some instances, it can even lead to an electrical fire.
Final Thoughts:
Space heaters have been a part of my household for as long as I can remember. At present, I own three different space heaters: Holmes Ceramic Heater, Lakewood Radiant Heater, and Holmes Quartz Tower Heater. These range in size from compact to large respectively and with three space heaters to choose from, I usually have no problem to find the right one for the job.
I don’t live in an extremely cold region so I have never needed a space heater as a source of continuous heat. I have had my gas furnace fail a few times in the past and had to rely on my space heaters for general warmth. But this is the exception for me, not the rule. Most of the time my space heaters are accessed when I need some added warmth in one specific part of the house. More often than not, this specific area is the bedroom. There is nothing more unpleasant than waking up in the morning on a cold winter day in a bedroom that doesn’t feel much warmer than the outside air. It makes it difficult to climb out of bed and often causes me to be late for work. During the coldest days, I will often plug in one of my space heaters and set the thermostat to the right level of comfort. It makes sleeping more pleasant and it makes it much easier to get out of bed.
Different people have different needs when it comes to space heaters. This is why I have three of them in my household. I like having the different options available. My small ceramic heater, for example, features an oscillation (like many heaters of this type often do) so it’s good for those occasions when I want some extra heat and I want it better distributed throughout the room. My Lakewood heater is good for medium- duty heating even though it does get very hot to the touch. My Holmes Quartz Tower is my largest and most powerful heater and it comes in handy for the larger heating jobs, like that of the family room.
The greatest concern consumers voice when they consider purchasing a space heater is safety. It is true that one can get burned and that fires can result when space heaters are mishandled. I have never been badly burned, but I have had my share of blisters on the fingertips from accidentally bumping into the metal case of a space heater in operation. Fortunately, manufacturers over the years have responded to this concern by adding safety features to most all space heaters. With the plastic casing on many heaters, the chance for burns is diminished. And with most heaters, there is a built in mechanism that automatically shuts the unit off if tipped over or if the heat reaches an unsafe level. Other heaters (like my Lakewood) also have an alarm that buzzes not only if the heater is tipped, but even if it is bumped in the slightest way. This is nice for use when sleeping. The alarm will quickly awaken anyone in the room if the unit is moved in any way, thereby minimize risk of burns and fire.
Kerosene heaters are generally off limits for most consumers because of the risk factors. The main reason I don’t own one isn’t so much the risk as the inconvenience. I don’t want to deal with a heater that has run out of fuel when I need it most and I don’t want to make special trips just to stock up on kerosene. But one thing I can say in defense of kerosene heaters is that they are very warm. They produce a large amount of heat- more than most other types of portable heaters- and they use less electricity. They make a good choice when a very large area needs to be heated.
Space heaters are often an impulse purchase for most consumers. The majority of people don’t use their space heaters enough to justify the necessary investment of time to find the best type of heater for the situation. But if the opportunity exists, it is better to think about what you need and how you plan to use your space heater before you make a buying decision. Prior planning will result in the most efficient heater for your unique situation.
This was submitted as an entry in mmcphee’s “Advice” Write-Off. For more information or to join in the fun, click the link below:
Advice Write- Off
To read reviews on the heaters mentioned in this review, click the following links:
Holmes Ceramic Compact Heater
Lakewood Radiant Ribbon Heater
Holmes Quartz Tower Heater
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