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Space Heaters

It's important to be ready for cold winter weather. Space heaters can take the chill out of rooms that don't get enough heat otherwise. They can also help reduce heating costs and keep you comfortable year round. It is important to be familiar with safe operating instructions for space heaters, because they can cause fire or burns if used incorrectly. For more information, please see the External Links section at the bottom of the page.

Recommended Products

Here are a few recommendations from ConsumerSearch. All of the recommendations are for electric heaters.

Buying a Heater

The one spec that all heaters have in common is their heat output, which is measured in British Thermal Units (BTUs) or in Watts (W). * Your average electric space heater will have a few settings. The lowest is usually around 500 to 750 W, and the highest is about 1500 W or 5000 BTUs. The low setting will warm an average room, while the high setting is for large rooms of 1000 sq. feet or more. * Non a large patio heater can kick out as much as '''45,000''' BTUs!

Electric Heaters

Electric heaters are really the only choice for indoor use. Other fuel types can release dangerous gases, such as carbon monoxide. There is a greater chance of a fuel fire or explosion with other types of heaters.

Convection Heaters

Convection heaters are your best bet if you want to raise the temperature of an entire room. Convection heaters, much like convection ovens, heat and circulate warm air to heat the entire space. There are two kinds of convection heaters.

Radiant Heaters

Non-Electric Heaters

Heaters that use fuels other than electricity are usually only used outdoors or in areas that are not inhabited, such as a garage. Heaters that use kerosene, liquid propane or natural gas are not recommended for enclosed areas. They burn through the oxygen in the room, creating poor air quality, and can release dangerous gases like carbon monoxide. Patio heaters are basically more attractive versions of the same. They are meant to be used outdoors on cool evenings. Wood-burning heaters are almost exclusively used as patio heaters because they are attractive and inexpensive.

Safety

When using space heaters, it's important to be aware of the risks involved and how to prevent accidents. Here are some guidelines to follow to maximize your safety: * Select a space heater with a guard around the heating area to keep children, pets and clothing away from the heat source. * Keep all flammable liquids away from the heater. * Place the heater at least three feet away from bedding, furniture, curtains, or anything else that could fall on the heater and cause a fire. * Never leave the heater unattended. * Look for a heater that has been tested and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as Underwriter's Laboratory. This way you can be sure that specific safety standards have been met. * If you use a heater that burns kerosene, LP, natural gas or wood, make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector installed on every floor of your house. * When purchasing natural gas or LP heaters, look for a model with an oxygen depletion sensor feature. These sensors will automatically shut the heater down when it detects the air is low on oxygen.

Other Features

In addition to the safety features mentioned above, here are a few other things that are nice to have. * '''Thermostat ''' so you don't have to wait until it's cold in the room to turn on the heater. * '''24 have your heater warm up before you get out of bed in the morning and getting up won't be such a chore. * '''Independent Fan''' models with fans can sometimes run the fan without the heater. This makes the appliance useful year round. * '''Mobility''' filled model.Casters will help. ** Lighter models may have carrying handles. * '''Freezestarts the heater if air temperature drops below freezing.

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