This article “Is it better to use a space heater or turn
up your thermostat?” saw first print on saveonenergy.com
by Laura Williams-Tracy |
As winter recedes to spring, there are still days when the
cold returns. You might wonder, does it make more sense to bump up the
thermostat or find a space heater for comfort?
Choosing a space heater over central heat depends on a number of factors, including how many people you are trying to keep warm. While space heaters can be valuable tools for comfort – and can even be energy-efficient – there is a point of diminishing return.
Important factors to consider
If the desire is to heat an entire house, the central heat
is more efficient, says Mikelann Scerbo, research manager for the Alliance to Save Energy, a bipartisan nonprofit coalition of business, government, environmental, and
consumer leaders advancing federal energy efficiency policy.
A basic tenet is that electric space heaters are less
efficient than HVAC systems. In most places, electricity is more expensive than natural
gas, so a gas furnace is better for overall efficiency.
“Buying a space heater for every room would increase the electricity
bill more than if you had just bumped up the thermostat,” Scerbo says.
For those looking to heat just one room, especially if the
central heating system is very old and inadequate, a space heater could be a
good fit.
“Ideally, you would be able to turn down the thermostat,
letting the other rooms get a little cooler, while you are comfortable in the
space-heated room,” Scerbo explains.
There is little research on just how low the thermostat can
go when a space heater is taking up the slack, but the answer likely depends on
how big the space is to be heated and how powerful the space heater is.
First, let’s look at the job the space heater must do.
If an entire family is home and in multiple rooms in the
house, central heat will be the most efficient way to keep everyone
comfortable. However, a single person at home all day can turn down the central
heat and use a space heater for one room at a time, such as a home office.
The size of the room being heated by a space heater also
matters. If the room you are choosing to heat with a space heater accounts for
more than half of the size of your total house, you are better off with the
central heat.
What’s the difference between types of space heaters?
If you have made the decision to consider a space heater, do
your research. Not all space heaters are the same. Most importantly, electric
space heaters are the only type that are safe to use indoors. Even electric
space heaters can be a fire hazard. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission, nearly 25,000 house fires a year are linked to space
heaters.
There are two primary types of space heaters – radiant
heaters and convection heaters. Radiant heaters emit infrared radiation that
heats up whatever is closest to the unit. Convection heaters circulate warm
air.
“Ideally, choose one with a thermostatically controlled
heater to avoid overheating and wasting energy,” Scerbo advises. “Convection
space heaters are better if you want to feel comfortable within an entire room,
whereas radiant space heaters can work well if you only want to heat up a
specific spot in a room.”
How much electricity will a space heater use?
When purchasing a new space heater, consider the amount
of electricity it
will consume. Some space heaters use as little as 400 watts while others use up
to 1500 watts. A 750-watt electric heater uses 750 watts of power per hour
regardless of whether it is a radiant, ceramic, oil-filled, bare metal coil, or
another type. A 1500-watt heater will use twice the energy of a 750-watt heater
and cost twice as much to operate.
A well-insulated home will be warmer using central heat or a
space heater. If your home is not well insulated, some of the money you spend
to stay warm is escaping through the cracks.
“The most efficient way to improve the comfort, health, and
safety of the home is to properly insulate it and seal air leaks,” says Gwen
Brown, communications director of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, which promotes the
adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency.
Brown says some energy customers may benefit from the
federal Weatherization Assistance Program, or WAP, which helps
low-income families lower heating costs.
Maximize the warmth you feel from a space heater by closing
the door of any rooms with space heaters, allowing warm air to build up.
“Closing the door of the room would definitely help with a
space heater, so long as the door doesn’t somehow obstruct the venting system,”
Scerbo says.
Other tips to help keep warm
On sunny days, open curtains on south-facing windows to
allow radiant heat from the sun.
Turn ceiling fans to spin clockwise in the winter to help
push down the warm air, whether from a space heater or the central heat.
Finally, heat yourself. Wool socks, a sweater or a throw
blanket will make it easier to lower the thermostat without sacrificing
comfort.
Laura Williams-Tracy is a freelance writer who contributes
regularly to American City Business Journals on a wide range of topics and
covers business and finance issues for sectors of the commercial real estate
industry.
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