Keeping Your Home and Work Place Warm With Space Heaters

Homes and work places often have areas that are “dead zones” when it comes to heat. If you want to use that space during cold weather, you need a space heater. When used according to the instructions, they are a safe, inexpensive way to focus heat into a localized area. Most space heaters lightweight (some as little as 2 pounds), and compact enough to move from place to place as needed.

There are several varieties of heat sources used in space heaters. Convection (electric) heaters provide background warmth in small spaces. They warm the air near the body of the heater using air convection currents to generate heat. These currents are then circulated throughout the appliance.

Infrared heaters transfer thermal energy through electromagnetic waves. These space heaters have the same characteristic: the object heated emits heat and only the objects are warmed rather than an entire area. These are energy-efficient and serve multiple uses. They are especially effective for use in industrial warehouses, and greenhouses where fast temperature increases are sometimes required.

A fan heater is another form of convection heater using a fan to pass air over the heating element to speed the airflow. The surrounding area is quickly warmed, rapidly heating the room. Where other heaters would be impractical, these heaters work well. They can, however, be somewhat noisy. These are most often used in “blue collar” work areas such as garages.

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Space heaters cause a number of home heating fires annually. Safety always needs to be considered when using an area heater. Never leave any space heater unattended nor place it on furniture or unstable flooring. You need to make sure cords are above carpeting and rugs since anything over the cord could cause overheating. Always make certain the heater is plugged in properly, because loose plugs can also overheat. Replace the plug if it becomes worn out. Keep debris, paint, solvents, and other flammable liquids away from the area around the heater. Replace missing parts at once or cease using the heater until the part can be replaced. Never operate a defective heater. Propane heaters must be used in well-ventilated areas such as warehouses, patios or decks because the fuel emits carbon monoxide, which can be deadly indoors.

The room heaters currently being made offer a number of safety features to prevent fires. Precautions still need to be taken when using any of these heating units. As a rule, oil-filled heaters are viewed as safer than electric convection or radiant heaters because they have lower surface temperatures. An oil-filled heater warms the oil inside the reservoir, making the heater easy to use and safer.

Portable space heaters can be tipped over and cause fires. Those now being produced boast safety switches, functions that protect against overheating, and indicator lights to alert you when you need to check the unit. The new electric heaters are shaped with a wider base and are weighted to minimize tipping. The heaters must also pass rigorous laboratory testing and meet national safety standards.

For more information on heaters, visit http://heaters.org

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