Normally speaking, an electric space heater is less energy efficient and much more costly to run than many other types of space heaters. Why then do so many people still continue to buy them and use them, and what is it that makes people choose an electric space heater over an oil filled heater, for example?
First of all, let’s describe the electric space heater. I have heard it referred to, by someone who was not particularly impressed with this humble heater, as an oversized toaster! Perhaps the older styled electric space heaters of the past, with their glowing red coils behind a metal grate, could conceivably be considered as such, but these days electric space heaters come in many different shapes and forms.
The electric space heater has really come a long way over the years. Now it is possible to find remotely controlled heaters that include a thermostat and a fan to push the hot air around the room. Typically, a modern high-tech electric space heater, with all of these heaters, could cost you around $200 to buy, they operate quietly and keep your room at an even temperature.
A cheaper unit, without all the associated gadgets, can normally be bought for under $100, with some other types of electric space heaters considerably cheaper than others. For example, oil filled electric heaters are usually much cheaper to buy than a small electric space heater with a fan. If you are looking for something even less expensive, there are some very good, moderately priced electric space heaters with ceramic bars inside that heat up. Some of these also have a fan that is used to move warm air around the room, though not all do.
One great use for an electric space heater is when you are trying to only heat up a few rooms of your house during winter, rather than having the central heating turned on for rooms that no one will be occupying. They’re also great to have on hand if you have someone living or staying with you who is more sensitive to the cold. Rather than having to turn up the entire heating for the whole home, you can simply install a small electric space heater in the room of the person who needs more heat, and still keep the rest of the house at a moderate temperature, thus saving considerably on your electricity or other fuel costs.
They are also extremely portable, which means it is very simple to move them around from room to room, should you need to do so. While they may not be the most energy efficient to run if you’re relying on them as your sole source of heating during winter, they are a great little addition to have on hand for those times when they’re needed.