Utility bills have been slowly edging up over the last couple of years.
An astounding 42% of our utility bills goes to heating our homes.
If you take this into consideration, it’s pretty clear why owning a heating solution which offers some toasty goodness without costing you a fortune is a must-have.
And that’s where the magic of owning a portable heater comes in.
Typically, portable heaters are a good alternative when the existing heating system is inadequate or when the cost of installing and operating a central system is too high.
Having trouble deciding which heater to buy? The following tips will help you zero in on one which can meet all your house warming needs.
Different kinds of heating mechanisms
Finding the best portable heater for your home starts with knowing the different types of heating mechanisms and which one is best suited for your space.
Two of the most common heating principles used in portable heaters include:
Radiant heating
This is the most common heating mechanism used in portable heaters. Radiant heaters are ideal for heating up small and isolated spaces.
They don’t directly heat the air in a room. Instead, heat is directed to you or any other object in the path of the heater. Because of this, the immediate area gets heated up quickly.
The only drawback is you’ll have to wait a bit longer for the whole room to warm up.
Radiant heaters are ideal for slowly but evenly warming up a room.
Heating by convection
The convection principle relies on hot air being forcefully blown into a room.
Cold air is passed over a heating element inside the heater using a fan before eventually getting circulated in the room.
Armed with a convection heater, you’ll be able to warm up an enclosed space quickly without much effort.
There’s a trade-off associated with quickly warming up your room, however. You’ll have to get used to the whir which emanates from the fan.
You can use this kind of heater all-year round. When the heater is off, it can double as a fan during the warmer summer months.
What coverage area are you working with?
Before committing to buy a portable heater, size it up to make sure it has enough heating units to effectively warm up your space.
Generally, 10 watts is enough to raise the temperature of one square foot by 10 degrees.
First, you have to measure the room where your heater will be used in square feet. To find the size of the room in square feet, multiply its length and width.
When you multiply the square footage by 10 degrees, you’ll get the number of watts needed to warm up the whole room by 10 degrees.
Prioritize safety when using a portable heater
Did you know 32% of home-heating fires involve space heaters? These devices can leave your home in a pile of ashes if not well used.
To stay safe, only buy a portable heater with the following safety features:
- A heater that comes fitted with an automatic sensor. You don’t have to worry about fire hazards in case it overheats. The sensor will turn it off.
- Space heaters whose surface doesn’t heat up during use.
- An internal automatic off switch if a person accidentally tips it over.
Portable space heaters used to sport a hideous look and could easily make your electricity bill skyrocket.
Not anymore. The models available in the market today have energy-saving features and fancy designs meant to blend in with any decor.
You’ll never go wrong with a space heater. Get yours today, and if you need help choosing on, we’re only an email away.
