If you’re like us, you’re familiar with cold weather and just how irritating it can be, especially when it gets really cold outside. If you have a central heating system, it’s not so bad—having a furnace or other form of central heat is super effective. However, if the space that you’re trying to heat is small, a furnace might be overkill for your needs. There are plenty of other options that are far more cost efficient—and effective—for the space it’s trying to heat.
Electric Space Heaters
Everyone’s familiar with electric space heaters. They come in all shapes and sizes, from small boxes to large radiators. They all function in a similar way: using an electric coil and a fan, they heat the air by warming that electric coil and, by extension, the air around that coil. The electric bill will be higher, of course, but it’s still more efficient than installing a whole furnace for a 100 sq. ft. room. They’re cheap to buy and to replace, and oftentimes provide the safest and most effective way to keep a space warm short of starting a fire. However, remember that if you’re heating too large a space with them, you’ll be facing a larger electric bill as you’ll never have the chance to shut it off. If you buy one of these, be sure to purchase a heater with the power necessary to heat the space you’re in.
There’s little risk with a space heater. The element is usually well-contained inside of the heater and they often have a safety switch that turns off the element if the space heater is disturbed. However, older electric heaters have major risks. The safety mechanisms aren’t as good (if they exist at all) and pose the risk of burning the house down. Be careful when you use these!
There are gas space heaters, too. These are a bit more complex and require more installation, but there’s nothing like the heat that gas provides. There are two types of gas heaters: vented and unvented models. The vented models send the exhaust gases to the outdoors so that carbon monoxide and other exhausts don’t build up in your home. Conversely, unvented models expel those gases into the room, requiring you to ensure that your own ventilation systems are both present and in working order. However, unvented models can be portable whereas vented models are, by necessity, permanent installations.
There is also the gas space heater’s brother, the kerosene heater. Functionally, they’re the same, but instead of a gas, it wicks kerosene to a radiative plate so that the heat can spread throughout the room. They’re also subject to the same risks as the gas heaters, including carbon monoxide buildup and fire hazards (as it is an open flame heater). The odor involved in a kerosene space heater is also an issue in small spaces. Small amount of the fuel can become a vapor and escape combustion, leaving a distinct smell in the air. There’s also the issue of carbon buildup and smoke—no joke for a small space! When the heater is operating properly, there is no risk, but it might not be worth it to take the chance in a smaller space.
Heat That Space!
Don’t sit in the cold. It’s a dangerous thing if the temperature is too low and can make you more likely to get ill due to the stress it puts on your body. Remember that if you need a heating solution, be sure to call us here at HeatSource. We’re here to assist you with your needs and get you a heating solution—fast!