5 Best Space Heaters For The Home

Space heaters are an important investment for those who have rooms that lack heating via an HVAC system and can be used anywhere where installing such a system is either too expensive or not possible at all. Space heaters operate wherever an outlet can be found and can help any room in use, from garages to bonus rooms, stay warm during winter months while saving on energy costs. Space heaters can also be taken outdoors to heat up social events or can come in handy for camping trips.

One of the biggest selling points for space heaters are thermostats, which allow space heaters to turn on and off based on the temperature in the room and make it easy for you to remain in bed or on the couch without having to manually turn your unit on and off when it gets too hot or too cold. You can also match your thermostat to the temperature of outside rooms within a central HVAC system so that your entire home remains the same, whether or not you’re in a section heated by HVAC or space heater.

We were sure to note the units which models had thermostats above so you can keep this ability in mind. Some prefer space heaters which don’t turn on and off, particularly for issues of noise pollution, but should you want consistency in the temperature in your home or room, thermostats (and various heat settings) can be a big asset.

The wattage of your space heater is going to be your clearest indicator of how powerful your space heater is. Since all of our space heaters can utilize up to 1500W of power, though, the question of power is a little more complicated than maximum wattage. In truth, the number of heat settings will provide a more clear picture of just how versatile and effective your space heater can be.

Space heaters with only one heat setting, for instance, can either operate at full blast or not at all. While this can be used to maintain a temperature using a thermostat, most homeowners want consistent comfort, not waves of heat. The number of heat settings should be as high as possible to allow you greater control over how much heat is outputted, and how often.

Safety features will also be a primary concern for many homeowners, particularly those with children or pets. Tip over protection, which turns the heater off should the product fall over, is very important for preventing fire hazards. Likewise, many heaters turn off automatically if run for too long, in the hopes of preventing heating a room or furniture to a point of flame. Consider your safety a high priority to maintain and ensure you know how to safely operate your unit, particularly if you have younger ones at home.

Managing portability and operating controls are both crucial to rounding out great features in a space heater. Space heaters require certain safety considerations to operate and ensure no unhappy accidents occur. One of the best ways to ensure safety and increase ease of operation, however, is in the use of a remote. Remotes, such as the one offered by Lasko 755320, make it easy to turn your heater on, off, and adjust settings without moving the unit.

Portability is also a primary concern. We’ve made sure to note the size and weight of each space heater so you can make a more informed decision about the room you’ve set aside for your space heater, and if your prospective heater will be suitable. Remember that most space heaters require three or more feet of space on either side, so make sure not to set your heater too close to walls or furniture.

• Are space heaters safe?

• When operated correctly, there is no danger to using a space heater. Due to human error and unfortunate accidents, though, space heaters have garnered a reputation of becoming quite a fire hazard. Almost all home fires caused by space heaters can be easily prevented by operating a space heater according to the provided instructions. Every space heater is different, but the industry standard requires that the space heater be placed on a flat surface such as the ground and kept three or more feet away from other furniture or walls on any side of the unit. Space heaters should also never be left unsupervised, and space heaters should not be left on during the night while others sleep. Some space heaters, such as the Lasko 755320, come with remote controls to easily turn a heater on and off from a bed or another place in the room. Others come with timers so that you can monitor your heater until you doze off to sleep, and allowing your heater to turn off automatically. Ensure you read your instruction manual carefully to operate your space heater in a safe and effective manner.

• Can I use my space heater instead of my HVAC system?

• The answer will depend greatly upon what sort of usage you are hoping to achieve, but generally speaking, space heaters work best as a supplement to HVAC systems—not as a replacement. For a whole home, using one or most space heaters is simply not cost effective or safe. Space heaters are generally more demanding in terms of electricity than HVAC systems, so if you’re hoping to heat your home and save money, space heaters aren’t going to be the way to go. For detached portions of the home, such as bonus rooms or basements not connected to the HVAC system, or for outdoor gatherings that might get a little chilly, space heaters are going to be much easier to use and more affordable than installing other types of HVAC systems. Likewise, if the climate in your area is cool but not frigid, you could save money on your electrical bills by only heating the rooms occupied with a space heater instead of heating the whole home with the HVAC system.

• What kind of output can I expect from my space heater?

• Space heaters put out either a range of heat options based upon the wattage delivered or provide maximum heat at the wattage at which the unit is set. All of our space heaters cap out at 1500W, which is the industry standard, however some of our space heaters, such as the Vornado MVH or Brightown, offer a range of heat settings. Space heaters perform best when pointed towards the people or section of a room you wanted to be heated, but most space heaters on our list can handle a standard room of about 150 square feet or a room that is 10 feet by 15 feet.