Cooperative Living January 2014 - 28

WI$E ENERGY U$E
HARD FACTS ABOUT
SPACE HEATERS
by James Dulley, Contributing Columnist
Q.
A.
I'm considering
a small electric
space heater for
my living room and bedroom.
What space heaters
are best for these spaces,
and will they cut my
utility bills as some ads
claim? - Greg R.
Small electric space heaters
can reduce your utility bills, but
only if you set your central heating
system (heat pump or furnace) thermostat
lower. They make sense if there are only
one or two people living in a house, with no
need to keep vacant rooms warm.
Another common situation is when there
is a room or two in a house that do not stay
warm enough. Often a person gets chilly in
one of those problem rooms and turns the
central thermostat higher. This warms the
entire house and more heat is lost through
the walls, windows, and ceiling. It is much
more efficient to use a small space heater in
these rooms.
First, it is important to understand all
electric space heaters are effectively 100percent
efficient. Don't let advertising
stating this fact influence your buying decision.
This just means all of the electricity it
consumes ends up as heat in your house. It
does not mean it's cheap to operate.
Also, the maximum heat most small
space heaters can safely produce is about
5,100 Btuh (Btu per hour). Houses typically
use central heating systems with a capacity
of 50,000 to 100,000 Btuh, so a single space
heater cannot heat an entire house. Be wary
of advertising stating a small electric space
heater can allow your central system to run
dramatically less for 50 percent or more
savings.
There's not a 'best' electric space heater
Space heaters can satisfy the
need for warmth in a small
space, but they're not right
(or cost-effective) for every
situation.
26
for every situation. The proper selection
depends on the room and how you plan to
use the heater. For example, are you looking
for quiet heat in a bedroom at night, heat for
just one person watching TV, or will there
be a group of people in a large room?
Choose between direct radiant and convection
(air circulation) space heaters; both
types have advantages. Within each group,
there are many comfort features and options
that may impact your decision. If you have
young children, there are also safety
considerations.
RADIANT SPACE HEATERS
Radiant-style heaters heat quickly. These
use a red-hot ribbon, long quartz or carbon
tubes to produce infrared heat radiation
similar to the sun's rays. They primarily heat
objects and people directly in front of them.
Carbon tubes produce infrared heat that
penetrates objects and skin slightly below the
surface. This makes it very comfortable,
effective heat.
Radiant heaters are quiet and ideal for
heating a specific spot. For example, I use
one across from my computer desk to keep
me warm while I am writing. My body and
the furniture in its path gradually reradiate
the heat so the room air also heats up slightly.
To heat a slightly larger area, select a
model that automatically oscillates.
CONVECTION SPACE HEATERS
Convection heaters are designed to heat
the air in the room. This is often done
using a built-in fan to circulate room air
over the heating elements. Oil-filled, old
radiator-style heaters use natural air circulation
(hot air rises) to move room air over
the heat source, gently warming a room
without bursts of heat.
For a living room, often the largest room
in a house, consider a convection-style
heater. This heats an entire room more
effectively. Choose a model with a thermostat
and multi-speed fan to control the heat
output. A ceramic convection heater is safe
around young children. If the air flow gets
blocked, the heating output automatically
drops and there are no red-hot ribbons.
For a bedroom, where quiet operation is
important, use an oil-filled radiator or a
convection heater with a low-speed setting.
Another option is a radiant model facing
the bed if you don't mind the red glow. A
horizontal-shaped one will heat the entire
bed area.
The following companies offer electric
space heaters:
Delonghi, 866-528-8323
www.delonghi.com
Holmes Products, 800-546-5637
www.holmesproducts.com
KAZ/Honeywell, 800-477-0457
www.kaz.com
Lasko, 800-233-0268
www.laskoproducts.com
Slant/Fin, 516-484-2600
www.slantfin.com n
Send questions to James Dulley, Cooperative
Living inquiry, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati,
OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.
Cooperative Living/January 2014
http://www.delonghi.com http://www.holmesproducts.com http://www.kaz.com http://www.laskoproducts.com http://www.slantfin.com http://www.dulley.com
Cooperative Living January 2014

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