Best Electric Space Heater?

[Bufford]

The cost of purchasing these heaters are one thing, very cheap. However, in most regions electricity is extremely expensive. One heater running at a full kilowatt or at 1500 watts=1.5 kwh adds up to a big bill in no time. It is not difficult to add 30- 50 dollars to the monthly bill if the unit runs most of the day.

Space heaters draw alot of current, you will notice that the cord gets warm, even hot at the plug. That same wall outlet and the wiring to your electrical pannel is subjected to the same load, and will be warm in the walls. If there are any connections that are not tight, or have had corrossion, this can lead to fires. Electric space heaters are really mean't for short term use and not as a permanent heat source.

A better, safer alternative, would be to add an inline fan for your duct to help force the warm air from your furnace into that hard to heat room. Its a bit of added work, but the unit is permanent, much cheaper to run and safer.

 

[Guyon]

The cost of purchasing these heaters are one thing, very cheap. However, in most regions electricity is extremely expensive. One heater running at a full kilowatt or at 1500 watts=1.5 kwh adds up to a big bill in no time. It is not difficult to add 30- 50 dollars to the monthly bill if the unit runs most of the day.

Space heaters draw alot of current, you will notice that the cord gets warm, even hot at the plug. That same wall outlet and the wiring to your electrical pannel is subjected to the same load, and will be warm in the walls. If there are any connections that are not tight, or have had corrossion, this can lead to fires. Electric space heaters are really mean't for short term use and not as a permanent heat source.

A better, safer alternative, would be to add an inline fan for your duct to help force the warm air from your furnace into that hard to heat room. Its a bit of added work, but the unit is permanent, much cheaper to run and safer.

Points well taken. Even the instructions that came with the unit indicate that you should not leave it on all the time. For now, it's just a simple fix to get us past the coldest months of January and February, and we'll just turn it on when we want to work in that room. Before I know it, March will be here, and it'll be 85 degrees. You think I'm joking, but it got up to 60 here today.

 

[medusaoblongata]

I've used those oil filled radiator type heaters before. They get very hot, but aren't as good at spreading that heat around to the rest of the room. I've been able to drastically increase the noticeable heating efficiency of one by placing a small fan next to it, blowing into the fins of the heater at a 45 degree angle. This will warm the entire room in, literally, 1/5 the time it takes otherwise. You can also angle it so that the warm air is blowing directly towards you, if you like.