Buying Guide: Space Heaters

During the freezing months, there’s no other piece of home or office equipment that comes in super handy than a space heater. Unlike other types of heaters, a space heater is used to produce supplemental heat rather than central heat. That’s why it’s made to be portable and powerful enough to warm a small room.

But with all the various space heaters and space heater brands out there, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place.

You can check out our reviews of the top 10 best electric space heaters or read on and find out what factors you need to consider before buying a portable heater.

Space Heater Type

If you’ve ever looked up space heaters online, you may have come across numerous types of these HVAC units. It can be daunting at first, but there are only a few common types of space heaters, and they’re categorized according to how they emit heat.

Convection heaters make use of the natural phenomenon called convection—hot air goes up, cold air goes down. These heaters draw in the cool ambient air, heating it up using its heating element, and allowing the heated air to rise. Because of this, convection space heaters produce evenly distributed heat throughout a room, making them the most energy-efficient type of space heater.

Radiant space heaters mimic the sun’s natural heat without its damaging ultraviolet rays. They generate infrared heat and warm nearby objects, so they’re great for quick spot heating. Unlike other space heaters, they don’t circulate dust and other allergens or affect the ambient air inside a room—perfect for those suffering from allergies.

Fan-forced heaters come with built-in fans, which blow out the heated air through the units’ heating elements. While they generate a bit of noise, they can produce widespread heat in no time.

Lastly, you have the option to choose between a gas space heater and an electric space heater. Gas space heaters run on propane, kerosene, or natural gas, so they’re less expensive to operate than electric space heaters. But the downside of using gas heaters is that they pose health hazards, like carbon monoxide poisoning.

If you want a space heater for indoor use, you should opt for an electric space heater. It’s safer, more heat efficient, and easier to use than a gas space heater. Just plug it in, and it’ll instantly convert electric current into heat.

Heat Coverage

To understand how large of a room a certain electric space heater can heat, check its wattage and divide that number by 10. This is the general formula for rooms with 8-foot high ceilings.

For instance, a 1,000-watt electric space heater can produce heat throughout a 100-square-foot room. Or if you need heat in a 50-square-foot room, you should choose a 500-watt electric space heater.

Heat and Energy Efficiency

Another important thing to consider when buying an electric space heater is its heat efficiency and energy efficiency. Most, if not all, electric heaters are 100% heat efficient since they are designed to convert 100% of the electricity they consume into heat.

But if you want to cut down on electrical costs, it’s always a good idea to check the heater for its energy-saving features. Some of these include programmable thermostats, timers, energy-saving modes, and low wattage.

Safety

Most importantly, you have to ensure that the space heater you’re eyeing comes with the necessary safety features. Electric space heaters typically feature a tip-over switch, which automatically turns off a space heater when it’s accidentally knocked down. You also have to check if the heater has an overheat protection feature, which automatically shuts down the unit once it reaches its temperature limit.

Engineer Warehouse offers space heaters and other electrical heaters with energy-saving and safety features. Made by the best HVAC brands, these heaters can give your home or office the most energy-efficient supplemental heat. Buy electric heating equipment online today!