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November 2009 Along Those Lines
Space heaters
Out-of-this-world claims brought back down to earth
 Space heaters are small, versatile, and generally good at warming a room, and at some point most people consider purchasing one. However, some manufacturers claim that their electric space heater can significantly cut a home’s heating bill. Do these claims make sense?
Some basic facts about space heaters will help get at the truth of the matter.
Space heaters work best as a supplement to a furnace or heat pump — they are rarely used as the primary heating source. Three main types of space heaters are available, which can usually be bought for $30 to $100: radiant heaters, convection heaters and combination heaters.
Radiant heaters
A radiant heater heats objects and people — not the air — in a room. They are best used in rooms where the person who wants to be warmed can be in direct line of sight of the heater. Radiant heaters can be a good choice if you are in a room for a short period of time and want instant heat. They can pose a burn or fire risk and should not be placed near furniture, drapery, pets, or small children.
Convection heaters
Convection heaters are designed to heat the air — not people or objects — in a room. Hot air from the convection heater rises to the ceiling and forces cooler air to the floor. The cooler air is warmed by the heater and rises to the ceiling, creating a cycle that continues as long as the heater is on. These are typically either baseboard heaters or oil- or water-filled heaters. The oil- or water-filled heaters are the most efficient and typically look like a small radiator. Convection heaters are generally warm to the touch and, compared to a radiant heater, have a decreased fire and burn risk.
Combination heaters
As the name implies, a combination heater tries to bring the best of the radiant and convection heaters into one package. They often have an internal fan that aids in distributing heat throughout the room. These heaters are versatile and more common as a result, although they do not typically perform as well as a radiant or convection heater.
Before purchasing a space heater you should determine how and where it will be used, and whether a radiant, convection, or combination heater will do the job best.
Combination units are versatile, but you will most likely get better performance from a radiant or convection heater. Use a radiant heater if you want heat instantly and will not move from one spot. If you need to warm an entire room, a convection heater should do the trick.
What about the claims?
But can using a space heater cut your home heating bill as many ads claim?
Keep in mind: a 1,500-watt electric space heater, no matter its design, is a 1,500-watt space heater. At the typical 10 cents per kilowatt-hour rate, it will add 15 cents to your electric bill for every continuous hour it runs. It doesn’t matter if it’s a $50 unit from the local retailer or a fancy $500 mail order unit with a wooden mantel.
Space heaters can only heat a small space efficiently. So, space heaters do have their place in warming a room in the house. But they simply cannot replace energy efficient central heating or weatherization improvements to the home. For example, all electric space heaters produce 1 unit of heat for every 1 unit of electricity consumed, meaning they are 100 percent energy efficient. Heating systems that use natural gas are 80 percent efficient at best. In comparison, geothermal heat pumps can produce more than 3 units of heat for every unit of electricity consumed, making them 300 percent efficient.
As with any technology, understand how the device is to be used, and understand the energy claims of the manufacturer before purchasing.
Could you reach some of those advertised big savings? Maybe … if you’re willing to turn the thermostat of your central heating system down considerably (as low as 50 degrees in some cases or all the way off), place the space heater in a room that is occupied by people, and close that room off from the rest of the home. This method of “zone heating” could save money. While it may be technically possible to cut your heating bill by 50 percent this way, it is impractical for most people.
Written By: eceditor
Date Posted: 10/29/2009
Number of Views: 246
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