Are space heaters an efficient heat source?
Do you break out the space heater when its cold outside to be a little extra warm? You might want to think twice about that.
“We think space heaters should only be used on an emergency basis”, says Cheryl Maki. Small space heaters are rarely ever as efficient as a central heating system. Turning on your furnace and adding more heat with a space heater will only increase your utility bill, and closing all your doors to use a space heater isn’t good for your furnace. If you just want to be warm while the rest of the house is freezing, you could lug a space heater around with you from room to room, but who wants to do that?
Lastly, remember that space heaters can be a fire hazard: According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, some 25,000 house fires a year are linked to them. The National Fire Protection Association states that Based on 2007-2011 annual averages: Space heaters, whether portable or stationary, accounted for one-third (33%) of home heating fires and four out of five (81%) of home heating fire deaths.
That’s scary! Who wants to leave the house and then worry the whole time if you turned off the space heater?
For peace of mind, comfort and cost savings, give us a call.
Think a new home heating system is out of reach? We can help you save money, energy and the environment by taking advantage of manufacture rebates, residential rebates from local utility companies, and a variety of flexible financing options. And if you do have an emergency and have to break out the space heater, don’t hesitate to call us right away!