Everyone’s looking for cost-effective ways to heat their homes during cold winter nights. Instead of hiking up their central heat and wasting money, many customers rely on single-room space heaters for extra warmth in the most used rooms.
So turn down your central heater a few degrees and add an energy-efficient space heater to your living room or bedroom for efficient zone heating.
- Important Energy Features
- Energy-Efficient Heater Types
- Determining Your Heating Needs and Size Requirements
- Calculating Your Costs
- Energy-Efficient, Money-Saving Tips
- Still Have Questions?
Important Energy Features
Consider the energy-efficient features to enhance the comfort of your room, ensure safety, and conserve energy. Look for heaters with these features:
Programmable Thermostat
Find a heater with a thermostat that maintains your desired room temperature. Once it reaches the temperature, the unit will cycle on and off to maintain the comfort of your room.
Auto/Eco-Mode
Auto or Eco-Mode selects the most appropriate heating level, fluctuating between low or high fan speeds to maintain your set temperature. Sometimes, the space heater will kick off once the designated temperature is reached, so it won't waste energy running when your room is properly heated.
The Heat Storm Wall Mounted Infrared Wi-Fi Heater features an Eco-Mode, kicking on the high fan speed when the temperature is below 64 degrees F. When the temperature is above 64 degrees F, it will power to the low fan speed and power off after the temperature climbs over 68 degrees F.
Multiple Heat Settings
If your model doesn't have a programmable thermostat, look for one with multiple heat settings. You can keep the heater low and use the least wattage.
Programmable Timer
An automatic shut-off timer allows you to specify how long your heater operates. It's not only cost-effective; it also provides a layer of safety. This is a popular feature people use before going to bed or leaving for work since it automatically shuts off after the time is up.
The DeLonghi Oil-Filled Space Heater with Digital Controls features a programmable timer. Set the timer between 30 minutes up to 24 hours in advance on the programmable timer.
Energy-Efficient Heater Types
Energy-efficient space heaters come in varied types, ranging from ceramic heating to oil-filled radiator space heaters. Each heater type heats differently for efficiency.
Ceramic Heaters
- Quick Heating Element: Ceramic heating plates warm up the metal coils attached to the ceramic plates, dispersing heat into the room.
- Compact: Ceramic heaters are compact and smaller, making them easier to move from room to room or from home to office.
Radiant/Infrared Heaters
- Heating Elements: Infrared bulbs are designed to last between 5,000 to 7,000 hours of use. Soft metals like copper or quartz are used as they are conducive to moving heat for dispersal.
- Sun-Like Heating: Just like the sun, infrared heaters warm objects and people in their direct path.
Oil-Filled Radiant Heaters
- Wider Fins: The wide oil fins allow for an even heat distribution through the heated oil.
- Residual Heating: Even when it switches off, the metal surface of the oil heater continues to radiate heat via convection heating without energy usage.
Determine Your Heating Needs and Size Requirements
Before purchasing a portable heater, assess your heating needs. This will help you decide which heater is best for you and your family.
Find a space heater rated for the approximate square footage or size of the room you will use. Using a heater that's too small for your room causes it to work overtime to warm your space, which wastes energy and dramatically increases your energy bill.
As a rule of thumb, you'll need 10 watts of heating power for every square inch of floor area. Our Space Heater Buying Guide has a chart for requirements for sizing wattage and square footage.
Calculating Your Costs
Determining how much a space heater will cost you is easier than you think.
First, determine how much you pay for electricity per kilowatt-hour (this should be indicated on your electricity bill). Electricity prices vary from state to state—some places as high as 20 cents/kWh and as low as 10 cents/kWh. Check and find the average electricity rates per state at the US Energy Information Administration.
Second, determine when the heater will operate (usually in hours) and convert the kilowatts used per hour. Take the maximum wattage of the heater and divide it by 1,000.
Example: 10 cents/kWh x 6 hours x 1.5 kilowatts per hour = 90 cents/per day
Multiply 90 cents/per day by 30 to get the overall monthly cost addition to your electricity bill, which is $27.
Energy-Efficient, Money-Saving Tips
- Pre-Program Your Home Thermostat: Lower your thermostat to the recommended 68 degrees F and have it adjusted slightly lower at night. The DOE has other helpful tips.
- Insulate Leaky Windows and Doors: Small airways and cracks in windows deplete any energy savings with drafts in windows and doors. Use caulk and weather-stripping to seal up drafts and cracks for windows.
- Layer Up: The most sensible response to cold is to layer up. Wear a sweater, put on thick socks, and get under blankets.
- Close Doors: For improved supplemental or zoned heating, close doors to your room, if possible.
Still Have Questions?
Review our extensive product listings and other Knowledge Center articles for more information on specific heaters and other indoor air treatment solutions. Not sure what's best for you? We can help you make the right decision.
Contact our product experts at 1 (800) 934-9194 or [email protected]. We can help you make your indoor environment healthy and comfortable.
