Many times we want more heat than our central heating systems can give. That’s when the supplemental heat of a small space heater can come in handy. Small space heaters are typically used when the main heating system is inadequate or when central heating is too costly to install or operate. In some cases, small space heaters can be less expensive to use if you only want to heat one room or supplement inadequate heating in one room. They can also boost the temperature of rooms used by individuals who are sensitive to cold, especially elderly persons, without overheating your entire home.

Space heater capacities generally range between 10,000 BTU to 40,000 BTU per hour. Common fuels used for this purpose are: electricity, propane, natural gas, and kerosene.

Although most space heaters rely on convection (the circulation of air in a room) to heat a room, some rely on radiant heating; that is, they emit infrared radiation that directly heats up objects and people that are within their line of sight. Radiant heaters are a more efficient choice when you will be in a room for only a few hours. They can be more efficient when using a room for a short period because they avoid the energy needed to heat the entire room by instead directly heating the occupant of the room and the occupant's immediate surroundings.

Safety is a top consideration when using space heaters. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 25,000 residential fires every year are associated with the use of space heaters, causing more than 300 deaths. An estimated 6,000 persons receive hospital emergency room care for burn injuries associated with contacting hot surfaces of room heaters, mostly in non-fire situations.

When buying and installing a small space heater, follow these guidelines:

    * Only purchase newer model heaters that have all of the current safety features. Make sure the heater has the Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) label attached to it.

    * Choose thermostatically controlled heaters, since they avoid the energy waste of overheating a room.

    * Select a heater of the proper size for the room you wish to heat. Do not purchase oversized heaters.

    * Locate the heater on a level surface away from foot traffic. Be especially careful to keep children and pets away from the heater.

    * Electric heaters should be plugged directly into the wall outlet. If an extension cord is necessary, use a heavy-duty cord of 14-guage wire.

    * For portable electric heaters, buy a unit with a tip-over safety switch.

Resource: energysavers.gov

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