Are you stuck behind a desk, chilled to the bone? We know the feeling! What can you do to provide more heat for your cold hands and feet? How can you warm up a single room in your house without heating up the whole house? A portable space heater might be the answer, but are these heaters safe?
Is a portable space heater safe to use?
An electric space heater produces heat. There is also the risk of fire, shock or burns if it is used carelessly. Accidents involving heaters do happen every year, causing fire damage and even fatalities. The most common reasons for such fires are twofold. First, combustible materials that are too close to the heater might become extremely hot and catch fire. Second, space heaters can cause electrical fires if they are used with extension cords or the wrong outlet. Therefore, treat space heaters with caution and with care.
The most common safety tip is that space heaters should always have at least three feet of empty space all around it. Keep it at least three feet away from anything that might catch fire such as paper, curtains or clothes. Place the portable heater flat on the floor, but not on a carpet. Put it where no one can accidentally trip over it or tip it over. Never place whole room space heaters on top of desks, tables or other furniture. Supervision is required when pets or children are in the same room as the space heater.
Check the power cord and plug for any visible damage before plugging it into the wall outlet. Do not use an extension cord or a power strip. Space heaters can draw between 1000 and 2000 watts. You should only use a wall plug for the space heater. Unplug the heater from the wall outlet when you are finished using it.
Is it dangerous to use a heater while sleeping?
We have used a small portable convection space heater on its lowest setting in a bedroom during a few icy winter nights, but it seems that this might be unsafe. You will be asleep and might not notice any potential problems if they should occur. Therefore, rather wear warmer clothes or add an extra blanket to keep you warm during sleep. Turn off the electric heater before you go to sleep at night. It is much safer to use a space heater when you are awake than when you are asleep.
An electric space heater does not diminish the air quality when compared to combustion heaters because it does not have a burning flame which produces potentially dangerous carbon monoxide. However, the heat from the electrical element still dries out the air in the room, which might contribute towards dry skin problems or dry nasal passages. Therefore, it is better to avoid using a space heater all night while you sleep.
What type of heater is the most energy efficient?
It seems like all types of space heaters are energy efficient when it comes to turning electricity into heat. However, some space heaters have higher power ratings and therefore use more watts during operation. Bar fire space heaters and convection fan space heaters (we have a few of those) have the highest watt ratings and uses the most electricity per hour. Oil-filled radiator heaters and halogen space heaters use less power and might be more economical to run.
Space heaters might have thermostats and timers, which help to make them more energy efficient. It can be energy efficient if you only use it to heat a single room at a time. It is better to use your central heating system if you want to heat the whole house.
How much power does a 2000W space heater use?
It uses 2000 watts or 2 kilowatts per hour. You can determine how much it will cost you to run the space heater if you know your local electricity rates.
A 2000-watt heater will probably heat a room size of between 150 and 200 square feet. The basic rule of thumb is that a 1000-watt heater can warm up to 100 square feet.
Which features are important for space heaters?
- Adjustable thermostat
- auto shut-off overheat protection
- carry handle
- housing that stays cool to the touch
- timer function
- tip-over protection
- safety standard certification by UL or other testing laboratory
Which small space heater is safe for office use?
The Lasko My Heat 200-watt personal space heater seems to be very popular, but we do not recommend it because it does not have tip-over protection. Small heaters are easy to tip over because they have so little weight to keep them upright.
The Honeywell HCE100B Heat Bud ceramic space heater is a possible choice for heating yourself when at work behind a desk in a cold office building. It only uses 250 watts and puts very little strain on the office power grid. However, it will only heat either your hands or your feet and not a whole room because it is so small. It is a quiet little space heater because of its small size, but it only heats a desk area.
The Honeywell Heat Bud does not have an adjustable thermostat, but it does have important safety features such as overheat protection, tip-over protection and a cool-touch housing. This portable space heater turns off automatically when tipped over by accident (check price on Amazon).
Which space heater is safe for heating a room?
The Vornado MVH vortex space heater circulates the air in a small room with its fan. It has both a thermostat temperature control and a heat setting selector switch. Choose between three heat settings: 750W, 1125W and 1500W (setting I, II or III). It also has a power ON/OFF switch.
The Vornado MVH has a few essential safety features. The housing stays cool to the touch during operation. The space heater also turns off if tipped over. It has an automatic shut-off system to prevent overheating problems. The internal thermostat turns the heater on and off depending on the thermostat setting and the current temperature of the air in the room (buy it on Amazon).
Popular Space Heater That Turns Off When Tipped Over
The GiveBest PTC-905 is a popular electric space heater for small rooms. It has two heat settings: 750W and 1500W. You can also turn off the heat and use it as an air fan. This way, you can use it as a heater in the winter and a fan in the summer. The heater’s thermostat will turn it off when it reaches a preset temperature and turn it back on when the temperature falls below the thermostat setting.
To avoid any fire hazards, the GiveBest PTC-905 is made of flame retardant material. When the heater overheats, its automatic safety shutoff system turns it off. If the heater is accidentally knocked over, the tip-over protection system will also turn it off. When it is in the upright position again, it will automatically turn back on (purchase this portable heater on Amazon).
Indoor Electric Space Heater With Remote Control
Another good example of a small 1500-Watt portable space heater with a programmable digital thermostat, timer function, LED display, tip-over Switch, overheat protection, and a handheld remote control is the Dreo Atom One.
The Dreo Atom One is designed to be soft and quiet due to its brushless DC motor and 9 aerodynamic blades that smooth out airflow and eliminate air turbulence. As a result, you can stay warm and comfortable at work without being bothered by annoying fan noises from the space heater. This portable heater is designed to be placed near your feet on the floor or close to your hands on a desk or tabletop.
You can control the amount of heat by selecting one of the following modes: High, Medium, Low, ECO, or Fan Only. The ECO Mode automatically adjusts the heat level to your desired temperature, which may make a minor difference in your overall energy bills. With the digital thermostat, you can set the temperature to anywhere between 41 and 95 degrees F.
The Dreo Atom One comes with the standard safety features you’d expect from a space heater. It has both overheating and tip-over protection, as well as an improved safety plug. Flame-retardant materials are used in its construction to ensure total safety. Click here for current pricing on Amazon.
Conclusion
Portable electric space heaters are a small solution for warming up cold spots in the office or at home. Of course, there are bigger heaters available for heating large rooms, such as tower heaters and oil-filled heaters. Still, these small heaters might be enough to keep you warm while working at your desk or in your home office.
Photo by Achudh Krishna on Unsplash.