Space heaters

To either to assist your central heating system or save money on heating costs by heating certain selected areas, a supplemental heater can be very practical once the cold weather sets in. Since these devices come in various modes, it becomes possible to select one (or more) that is ideal for your own and your family’s needs.
Project guide service
Ceramic calculator
Insulation
Carpet or linoleum
Related Projects
Related Tips
Page 1/2
Types
Characteristics
How to buy and use your space heater
For those bigger jobs
More about extension cords

Types

There are four basic types: 1) Convection Heaters, 2) Fan-Forced Heaters, 3) Ceramic Heaters and 4) Radiant Heaters. All offer roughly the same heating efficiency and the same number of heating units (BTUs). The maximum allowable size is 1500 watts that delivers approximately 5000 BTU/HR. The principal difference among the various types lies in heating time. The cost to use a 1,500 watt heater is about $0.11/hour, although this can vary according to prevailing electricity prices. The units are safe, as they are grounded to prevent shocks, and equipped with a safety switch to avoid overheating. All the units discussed below are electrical and equipped with thermostats.

Convection heaters

There are two popular types of convection heaters: 1) Oil-filled and 2) Baseboard heaters. A convection heater is most often used as a permanent heating source in a cold room. It is built length-wise to catch as much cold air on the floor as possible and transform it into warm air. The heater is generally installed near a window or a door. The heater is silent and dries the air less than fan-driven models because its heat is generated by an element and diffused by radiation. It will, however, take longer to heat up a room. Another advantage is that the heater never becomes too hot to touch, an important safety feature especially if you have children.
  • Oil-filled radiators use oil much in the same way that water was used in the old water-filled radiator/boiler systems. They are designed to slowly heat up and maintain the temperature in a room and, since they have no moving parts, they have the advantage of being completely silent.
  • Baseboard heaters are long, low and sit near the ground where they draw cool air from the floor and heat it by contact through a system of baffles.

Fan-forced heaters

Cool air is drawn over a heating element, warmed and expelled out into the room. This feature makes forced air heaters very efficient when it comes to quickly heating a room. While the fan can present certain advantages, take note that the machine produces some noise and will dry the air, an important consideration in the winter when the air is already quite dry. If you plan to use this unit regularly, you may want to consider adding a humidifier to the home. Fan-forced heaters come in both fixed and oscillating models.

Ceramic heaters

One of the newer technological types on the market, this heater’s element is made of a ceramic material that does not heat up to the same temperature as the more widespread glowing red element (radiant) type. A fan is used to circulate air over the element, the aluminium baffles and into the room. These devices are self-regulating and are quite safe to have in a house where there are children, pets and a lot of traffic.

Radiant heaters

These types use a red-hot element and infrared light to quickly heat up the air and are often equipped with a fan for air circulation. Although quite safe, they do offer very hot surfaces and should be kept out of reach of young children.

The quartz heater, that also radiates heat, is another new technology that has recently been introduced to the consumer market. It employs glass-covered wire elements and a shiny metal reflector. It is mostly recommended for heating larger areas and for combating colder temperatures.
Page 1/2