The winter season is here and the chilly winds will start hitting hard very soon. It gets difficult to sustain the cold breeze day by day. Having a fireplace at home can be a savior, but not everyone owns one. If you are looking for another option other than a fireplace, you can look for a space heater. Space heaters are compact electric devices used to generate heat in the house during the winter season. The heaters are loaded with many advantages and of course, have a few disadvantages as well.
However, many people don’t know much about the space heaters, their work, whether they are safe or not, whether they will consume a lot of electricity, and the pros and cons of using them. If that is the case with you, simply check out this complete guide on space heaters. By the end of this article, you will gain complete knowledge about space heaters and whether they fit with you or not.
What is a Space Heater?
A space heater is a compact electric device that heats space. They heat the air in the room thus increasing the room temperature. However, the big drawback is that they eat up a lot of electricity if not used properly. They can be operated in a way that they generate a good amount of heat and yet don’t consume much power. By dedicating the space heater to a single room than the entire house can solve the high electricity consumption issue to great extent. You can also choose space heaters that are environmentally friendly and use less energy.
How Much Electricity Does a Space Heater Use?
To exactly know how much electricity your space heater consumes, you have to know the wattage of your appliance. You can find the wattage of the device on it printed or on the user manual that came with it. The wattage indicates the amount of electricity required to run the space heater. The common wattage used by the space heaters is 1,500 watts. Let us do a simple calculation to find out how much power your space heater consumes. As 1,000 watts equals 1 kilowatt, given that your space heater requires 1500 watts wattage, it uses 1.5 kilowatts of power.
Nevertheless, the electricity bill is estimated in kilowatt-hours, which is the amount of energy consumed while running a 1-kilowatt appliance for one hour. You can simply multiply the number of watts on your space heater by the number of hours you use the heater to get the exact figure.
For example, if you plan to use it for 2 hours:
1,500 watts x 2 hours = 3,000 watts
Now divide it by 1,000.
3000 watts / 1,000 = $7.5
Depending on the charges of your electric company your power bill can be calculated. Just multiply the above number with the unit charges of your power distribution company. You will get the final amount.
How Much Does It Cost To Run A Space Heater?
Space Heaters are great inventions that keep us warm on super frigid days. The average usage of a space heater is 15,00 Watts and it depends on the number of hours you operate that decides your current bill. You can know the exact figures only after using it in a stretch for a month.
How Does a Space Heater Work?
As you have calculated the cost of electricity consumed by the space heater you can now learn about its functionality. The main purpose of getting a space heater is to raise the room temperature to keep it warm but to use a space heater effectively, the central heat should be shut off and only the space heater should be utilized. You can choose the room you want to stay in and heat only that room which will eliminate high electricity consumption.
Why Should Avoid Using a Space Heater?
The biggest concern about using a space heater is the fires that reportedly are caused by using it. The number has seen a growth gradually, which brought it an unwanted stature. Only the well-versed people should take the chance to use a space heater to avoid any unfortunate incidents. It is better to avoid using space heaters if you have kids and pets at home. You can check out the following rules if you insist on buying a space heater.
- The heater should be running only if there are people in that room.
- Never use the space heaters outdoors.
- Do not use extension cords with your electric space heater.
- Keep the space heater away from flammable materials.
- Get a space heater that can automatically turn off in an emergency.
- Operate the space heater only after going through the user manual thoroughly.
- Always buy a space heater that has a thermostat and self-timer.
- Do not use the space heater overnight.
Types Of Space Heaters
There are two major types of space heaters available in the market. However, the most commonly used heaters are coil and infrared heaters. Coil heaters as the name read use metal coils to transfer electricity and warm up the room using the heat produced from them. Whereas, infrared heaters use infrared radiation to produce heat. Both the heaters are safe but can be dangerous if kept together with flammable substances or materials. Also, it is always recommended to buy good quality and highly reviewed space heater rather than something rustic and second-hand.
It is a good habit to keep the space heater off when you are not around. Even when you are going out for a short while, make sure to turn it off to avoid fire accidents. Though the newer models are much safer than the older ones, it is better to stay alert for your good. Coming to the infrared version of space heaters, they are said to harm skin and eyes, but there are no such proven cases.
Buying Guide
Space heaters can help us a great deal in the winter season by shielding us from the frigid winds. If you are only limited to a small place, using the space heater is the best decision you can make. This is because using the heater in a small space consumes less electricity thus saving your almighty dollars. If you have decided to purchase a space heater, you have to look through all the things that we have covered in this article. Make certain to read the safety certification from the appliance’s company before you buy for trust issues.
Conclusion
There are tons of varieties of portable space heaters designed for home use. They are efficient and can generate a good amount of heat to keep the warmth in the room. You can pick an electric space heater that can quickly heat the room in seconds without much waiting. Try to do some good research on the heaters before investing a hefty amount. This winter season, avoid the freezing winds and enjoy cozy months with a wonderful space heater. On the money front, try to use the heater as and when needed instead of using it unnecessarily. In a nutshell, managing the electric output skillfully can save money.