Before you buy a new space heater, there are many things to consider first. Getting the right type that fits your unique needs is important to ensure you are comfortable when the cold weather comes. As you look around for options, ask yourself these questions before making a purchase.
- What is my budget?
Of course one the most important considerations is the budget. How much are you willing to spend on a space heater? Luckily, there are a lot of options available with price points as low as $38, or upwards up to $119. This gives you a good range of products that can fit small spaces like bathrooms or closets and bigger rooms like the dining or living room. This price range also ensures quality for both plastic, wood, metal, or ceramic bodies so your space heater can fit any interior motif. Check out this buyer’s guide article for options on space heaters.
- What is my lifestyle?
Are you a frequent traveller? Do you hold many events or parties at home? Got any pets? These details should inform the type of space heater you buy. If you’re a frequent traveller, you may need a portable heater you can bring with you especially if you like to camp outdoors or travel via a trailer. If you love to have people over, you need a smaller unit that doesn’t eat up too much space in a room. For homes with pets, a space heater with tighter grids or with wall mount accessories is a safer option for your furry pals. It’s important to remember that this home appliance must be functional not just to you but also to other aspects of your life.
- What does my space look like?
Space heaters are designed to manage the temperature in a particular setting so you have to make sure your heater can warm up your entire room, not just a small corner of it. There are a lot of products on the market, some with compact builds like the Electric Space Heater B07VJGH8B2.with Wall Mount and Standing Base. This space heater is outfitted to serve rooms up to 500 feet. It comes with a base and wall-mount accessories, making it easy for you to find a place where this won’t be a nuisance. It also works well if you want to move your space heater around the house or use it at specific times in the day. Other space heaters can accommodate spaces up to 1,000 feet but those units are usually bulkier and may take up a lot of space. Make sure you measure your space and find areas where your space heater won’t block pathways, get hit by doors, get wet, or injure people.
- How many people will be in the room at a time?
Space heaters are great for heating up specific places. It lets you save money and energy compared to turning up your entire home’s heating system. But this handy device uses various technologies that are better suited for different situations. A combustion space heater for example works by burning a flammable fuel like kerosene or wood to produce heat. Since it has a tendency to emit smoke, it’s better for outdoors or the garage where there is less foot traffic. Electric space heaters are more common for indoor use as it uses the likes of oil that’s heated by an electric element. Consider these technology options for your specific home setting to ensure safety for everyone in the space.
- How energy efficient do I want my unit to be?
Nowadays, everyone is looking for the most energy efficient and sustainable home appliances—and for good reason. Luckily brands have kept up with the times and are offering solutions. If you’re someone who finds this important, look for heaters that use smart technologies for energy consumption. Other factors that can help with performance are a timer on the device, wattage, and the material used on the body of the unit. You may also want to consider options that use radiant heating technology for more targeted heating. Radiant heaters use infrared radiation to heat up certain objects or people in the room, compared to units that use convection technology that circulates hot air. Radiant heaters offer better energy consumption especially if you will only be in the room for a few hours.
- What kind of noise am I okay with?
While some space heaters may offer quieter operations, some units don’t. And depending on the specs and other features you’re looking for, you just might find yourself falling in love with a unit that doesn’t have everything you want. Space heaters in general make minimal noise but if you’re sensitive to it, especially at night, make sure you look into this. Also consider where you’re going to place the space heater. Bedrooms of course need a more quiet unit; maybe one with white-noise sounds will work. It would also be best to place your space heater farther away from the bed so you won’t hear the noise it makes. Living rooms and workspaces can afford louder units. Be mindful of the kind of noise the space heater makes and in which corner it can be placed where it won’t bother you too much.
- What is my home or room aesthetic?
Home appliances don’t need to clash with your interiors and that includes space heaters. From slim bodies to box type units, from wood to metal surfaces, you have lots of options for an aesthetically pleasing home device. Space heaters now come in different colors to fit boho room styles or modern interiors. Make sure you check out all the available options to find the style that best fits your home.
- Do I need my space heater on all night while I sleep?
Space heaters are said to cause one third of all winter house fires. Before purchasing, make sure you pick the right technology especially if you need to leave it on at night. Oil, ceramic, and infrared heaters are usually the best options. Oil and ceramic heaters and less likely to overheat when left overnight, thus less likely to cause house fires. Infrared heaters meanwhile use rays to warm up objects or persons in a room, making it a safe option to use all night. Some space heaters also have timers which are great to help you manage when it turns on and off throughout the night. As much as possible, find a unit that uses the best technology for heating with added features such as a timer to maximize its use.
