You don’t have to endure cruel winter freeze or suffer shock after reading your energy bill with the right electric heater. Raising your home’s temperature without pulling your energy cost up is possible if you know what to look for in an efficient heating device. Room heaters come in a wide variety of styles and sizes, and they can effectively help offset your utility costs if you know how to choose wisely. Some even feature special features like digital controls for convenient operation and automatic oscillation for better heat distribution. When buying an electric space heater, here are fundamental factors you should consider:
- The heater type – Know the type of heater that is most appropriate for your space. There are numerous types of heaters in the market today, but they only ever use three kinds of heating technologies, namely, radiant, micathermic, and convective. Convection heaters offer even heating for entire rooms while radiant heaters offer quick spot-heating for small spaces. Micathermic heaters, on the other hand, offer fast and widespread heat.
- The heating capacity – Choose a heater that has sufficient capacity for the target space. The size of the heater often has a lot to do with the amount of space that its heat can cover. Other factors that determine a heater’s capacity include heater wattage, heating technology, and your indoor environment.
- Its energy efficiency – Look for a 220 volt electric heater that is energy efficient and allows low heating costs. Most models offer special features like energy saving mods, programmable timers, and adjustable thermostats, all of which help minimize your power usage, thus contributing to a more economical operation.
- Its safety features – Choose a heater that offers good safety features. Some electric heaters, especially portable types, can be fire hazards when not monitored closely. Choose a heater model that offers safety features to ensure secure operation.