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Portable Space Heaters
- Versatile, Compact, and Convenient Heating |
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Outlay Costs:
Low
Running Costs:
Low if used intermittently as supplemental heating sources
Safety: Look for
tip over and thermal cutoff switches
Many households
often purchase space heaters to supplement their
existing heating systems in order to conserve energy.
The term "space heater" usually refers to a small heater that is
either portable or wall-mounted, and these are used in small areas
up to 150 square feet. Space heaters usually provide
warmth to an enclosed space, and they keep the air and surroundings
at a comfortable temperature.
In situations where only one room is to be warmed or
when supplemental heating is needed, space heaters are very
cost-effective.
Space heaters are also great for
boosting the temperature of rooms without overheating an entire room
or area.
Although some space heaters use natural gas or
propane, electric space heaters are usually the most common and are
safer because they are less expensive and there is no danger of
carbon monoxide poisoning.
In order to heat an area, most modern electric space
heaters use ceramic heating elements and are fan-forced. This allows even distribution of heat with the near elimination of
the chance of fires or burns. Modern portable electric space heaters
now include safety features such as tip over safety switches or
thermal cutoff switches in order to decrease the risk of fire. In
terms of how they work, a large number of space heaters rely on
convection, or the circulation of air in a room to provide heat, but
some rely on radiant heating, which refers to the emitting of
infrared radiation that directly heats objects or people within
their line of sight.
In terms of convection heaters,
some of the best types incorporate the use of heated oil, which provides
some heat storage, allows the heater to cycle less, and provides a
more constant heat source. These types of space heaters are
also popular because they are relatively quiet when compared to heaters
which utilize fans.
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