What Is A Space Heater? Consumer And Buying Tips

Source: DHgate, Tag: Home Garden

Want to keep your home warm during winter? Find out about the space heater, and what it can do to heat your house up.

• The space heater is a common device in many homes; usability and types are relative to the people of the community of people using it. You will probably find space heaters in cold-weather places, like Europe and northern America. Places like Russia, Germany, and Switzerland are clod regions, aside from the Icelanders, who might also need a space heater.
  The device can be defined as a heater used to heat up the small-sized, medium, or large-sized area. Some companies or buildings have a central heater that can be majorly used for interconnected areas. Small-sized houses and rooms in different apartments can use a small heater to heat up their rooms when needed.

• The heater is powered by different fuels or energy; it can be electricity, burnable fuel like natural gas, wood pallets, or even oil.
  For someone living in a cold region during the winter, keeping their room warm is very important but at times can be complex. While setting fire to warm the room and closing the windows can keep you warm a little, but getting a heater is a great way to keep your room warm. Space heaters are excellent portable devices that efficiently heat up small areas in your home or vehicle. You can keep your space heater in any corner of your room to keep you warm.
  Space heaters come in handy for indoor and outdoor use as they keep you warm for as long as you need to. These devices come in different and improved technology suitable for indoors and outdoors use. You can use a space heater in your home, office, and car. Every space heater is made specifically for a different purpose. This portable device is perfect for warming up a small room or space where a central heating system can't be coupled for indoor use like your room.
  This article will discuss the fundamental information you need to know before buying a space heater and give you some insight into what you should consider while buying a space heater. But let's first discuss the basic things you should know about a space heater.
  Five basic things you should know about a space heater
  Ensure that you keep at least a 3-foot perimeter of the heater unit clear: it is a heater, so it is important to understand that a heater heats things up, leading to a fire out bust if not carefully handled. Do not keep clothes, curtains, your bed, or furniture close to the space heater. Please do not cover the cord or put any substance on it. Many people think the space heater is a dryer, and it is not, therefore keep your towel away from your space heater.
  Please don't leave your heater unattended: you must ensure you switch off the space heater before going to sleep. You easily warm up your room and switch it off before sleeping, which should be your rule of thumb.
  Be careful with where you plug it into: many people plug their space heater into an extension or a socket that cannot handle the heat. Note that you should only plug the heater into a direct socket. You can easily make a strong socket for your heater once you know where you would like to plug it into.
  Keep your kids and pet away from your heater: kids and pets are a very strong example of displacing things and playing with everything. Ensure to keep them away from the space heater, and make sure that you unplug them when it is not in use.
  Maintain and inspect: the heater has its season; sure, it is not used throughout the year unless you live in Iceland. So when you bring it out for use, ensure that you check it and confirm that it is in good shape. Ensure that the wire has not pilled off, and make sure that the top is not hot when it is in operation; that indicates that the space heater is having a problem.
  Different Types of space heater
  There are different types of the space heater, many of which are categorized based on their unique usage of the size of the room or space you are using it. Another angle to this is the placement of that heater, and if you are using it for your home or a car, some even use it for outdoor activities. Below are the different types of the space heater.

  • Baseboard Heater: Baseboard heaters work by heating the air from the floor of your room to the ceiling and then balancing air within the room brought in from cold or outdoor air, especially when it's put under the windows. The baseboard heaters are more used for basements because the models supply regular heat, low-cost application, and noiseless operation.

  • Ceramic Heater: Ceramic heaters require the use of an internal ceramic heating element to produce warmth. They are able to regulate their temperature without using wire and coils. The ceramic heating element regulates itself by reducing its temperature once it reaches the required heater temperature. This set-up ensures safety during heating, reliable warmth, and long-lasting.

  • Wall Heater: Wall heaters are fixed on interior walls to supply extra heat to cold areas in your home, like bathrooms and basements.

  • Convection Heater: Convection heaters are mostly used to warm up a single space. The convection heaters have the capability of heating up a whole room for an extended period. They work by distributing convection currents through heating elements such as electric wire, oil, and electric coil to produce heat or warmth in your room. The majority of the models have fans installed to distribute warm air through the rooms.

  • Radiant Heater: Radiant heaters are perfect for site warming as they supply targeted warmth to areas facing the heater. The radiant heater supplies almost immediately warm to a targeted space instead of heating up before circulating warmth. They are mostly used or preferred in office spaces, bedrooms, or other small spaces. This heater is a popular type known as an Infrared space heater, and the infrared space heaters use the infrared bulb to supply quick heat to your room.

  • Oil-filled Heater: Oil-filled heaters are popular because they are reliable and often prepared by users to other types of heaters. Oil-filled heaters supply heat through diathermy oil in the heater. The oil spreads through the heater fins and distributes the heat-up oil. The heat-up oil is then spread by radiant heating. The heat is passed or supplied evenly in the room through the natural convection process.

  • Fan forced heater: These are heaters that use internal fan technology to blow their heating elements.

• 1. Things to consider before buying your space heater (Pro Tip)
     The heater is one of the easiest ways to raise the temperature of a room so that you can add warmth to such a room or other spaces. They are available in different sizes and styles. Another advantage is that the heater can help you offset the cost during the cold winter months. Some heaters have special features like automatic oscillation, while some have digital control. These features are common among electronic space heaters.
     When buying your space heater, you ask questions like whether it will be adequate for my space and how much it will cost to operate it. While you can look into some other unique features that can come in handy for you, but before you can make a concrete conclusion, let's consider the following five pro tips:
     Heater type
     There are different types of heaters, as we have explained; therefore, when you are buying your heater, you must consider the application of your heater. Electronic heaters fall under three technology categories, and we have the radiant, fan forced, and convention systems. The convection heaters are typically good for providing even heat into a whole room; as for radiant, it is more compactable for small spaces, while fan-forced is blowing heat across its heating element. It is advisable for you to select what works best for your space and your use case.
     The heating power
     Another important point to know before buying your space heater is the heating power of that device. The size of the space the heater will cover should be a good measure for the type of space heater that you need. You can understand the heat capacity through the wattage rating. On a general note, a room heater has a 10 watts heating power that can heat a square foot space. Therefore a 1,500-watt heater should cover up to 150 square feet. However, this is not always applicable. It depends on the technology of the space heater and the design because some small designed heater might cover a bigger space.
     Energy efficient
     When buying a space heater, you might be concerned about the heater's energy consumption; therefore, an important aspect you should consider is energy efficiency. Most space heaters lack good energy efficiency, unlike the AC systems, therefore for you to manage your electricity well and avoid overconsumption, you should choose the space heater that will be energy efficient. You can also look for heaters with features like energy-saving mode, low wattage, adjustable thermostat, and programmable timers that will aid the management of energy consumption.
     Safety
     Safety is paramount when you are considering buying a space heater; it is important to monitor the heater with a good car; the device can cause a fire hazard because it is not well monitored. To ensure that these devices are safe enough for general use, manufacturers ensure they equip these devices with a cool to touch surface, including other safety features that will help you securely operate the space heater. Some manufacturers added features that will switch off the space heater if the device is knocked off by mistake. Some add overheating protection through the switch sensor, which automatically turns the heater off if the internal component reaches an unsafe temperature.
     The noise
     Just like any other electronic device, the heater may come with some level of noise. However, some manufacturers have models that do not come with noise. Non-fan units like the baseboard heater and the oil-filled radiator should be considered if you are looking for some silent heaters, mostly for the environment like your room and office space.
     FAQ
     How do I know the best space heater that suits my needs?
     You can consider many of the pro tips that have been provided above, and then you can also speak to the seller to ensure they understand what you are trying to achieve with the space heater.
     Can I place my space heater on furniture?
     It is not advised to place the heater on any furniture, despite the advanced technology features implanted in many of today's space heaters, yet you have to handle them with care to avoid any unwanted hazard. It is best practice to place your space heater in a place with good space and far away from all furniture.
     Can ceramic space heaters produce carbon monoxide?
     No, ceramic heaters do not pollute the air. The unique thing about ceramic heaters is that they can regulate their temperature when they reach the targeted temperature. This helps ensure safety during the heating process and prevents fire accidents from occurring.
     Can you leave a heater on all night?
     You can leave a modern space heater on all night unattended and while sleeping if you are certain that the three major testing organizations authorize your device, and its features include; automatic turn off, switch off timer, and regulated thermostat. However, for safety purposes, space heaters are recommended to be turned off unattended or put on a timer once it reaches your desired temperature and duration. That way, when you are asleep, your device gets to switch off on its own.