Electric space heaters

 Summary 
PRO's    CON's    BUY
  • cheap
  • portable
  • simple
  • features
  • style
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  • heat output
  • blackouts
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  • Buy here
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    Cost of electric space heaters.
    Electric space heaters are the most practical and predominant space heater on the market today primarily because they are so cheap to buy. An entry level model starts at under $20.

    The portability of electric space heaters.
    You can use them anywhere that has power (work, home, garage, shop).
    You don't have to refill their fuel tanks.
    Electric space heaters have a distinct advantage over their gas counterparts, in that you can use them in more than one room without too much trouble. With a gas model, you'd need to buy multiple heaters, but with an electric space heater, you simply unplug it when you're finished with it in the living room and re-plug it in when you get to your home office or bedroom.

    The simplicity of electric space heaters.
    You don't need any special installation skills/tools.
    You don't have to refill their fuel tanks.
    No pilot lights to go out.
    No gas lines to get blocked.

    Electric space heater features.
    The entry level models have enough features to get you warm without breaking the bank, but as the price of the heater goes up so typically do the features offered by the heater. For example, a lot of heaters have a "anti-frost" or "anti-freeze" mode where the thermostat is set for you at around 40 degrees.
    Some heaters can oscillate so they spread the warmth more quickly.
    Some heaters have timers so you can have them come on in the morning before you wake.

    Appearances.
    Because the electric space heater market is so large, there is a lot of competition from the manufacturers and they all want to offer the best heaters at the best price. And best heater also includes looks these days. The designers are doing a great job merging fashion sense with practicality.

    Heat output of electric space heaters.
    There's only so much you can do with 1500W. Typically you can expect an electric space heater to add around 7 degrees to a 200 square foot room. While this amount of heat is typically sufficient for most bedrooms, if you have a large room you need multiple heaters if you want to heat the entire space (although switching to a radiant design will enable you to heat just the area in that room you are using).

    Blackouts.
    Electric space heaters are all ground great heaters to have on hand, but if you live in an area with ice storms, having electric as your only option can leave you "out in the cold". Having a generator handy for these unpleasant times is definitely an option to consider, as well as heat you can use it to add other home comforts, such as hot coffee and light.

    If electric is not for you, click on the buttons on the left for the pros and cons of other fuels, or to go back to our home page for an overview of space heaters in general.