Energy bills are among the greatest utility burdens homeowners have to shoulder. This is because almost every equipment in the home uses heat from showers to electrical appliances and heaters. The main focus of the newer HVAC equipments being introduced in the market is energy efficiency. While investing in these modern HVAC equipment is desirable, many homeowners do not have the much resources to purchase these high end equipments. For these homeowners, there are other effective ways they can pursue to lower their energy bills without compromising on their comfort.

One of the best ways to efficiently use energy in the home is by restricting heating only to the rooms that are occupied. This can be achieved by using a thermostat which can be turned down as well as a portable space heater to help keep you warm. The greatest question among homeowners is the kind of space heater that will be appropriate for them in terms of output and efficiency. Below is a discussion on space heater selection tips.

Radiant Heaters

Also known as infrared space heaters, radiant heaters warm up objects in the room without the need to heat the air. Heat is transmitted through electromagnetic radiation. The effective range of radiant heaters is from 10 to 15 feet thus making it ideal for heating large rooms that have high ceilings or open architectural designs. Radiant heat enables you to focus on the room that you are actually using. There are various types of radiant heaters including:

Quartz heaters – These are the most common type and the heat is generated by an electrically heated filament which is protected by a quartz tube that is heat resistant.

Parabolic heaters – These heaters use a ceramic core for heat generation. The energy they use and the amount of heat they generate is similar to quartz heaters.

Halogen heaters – Also known as reflective heaters, halogen heaters have a halogen bulb that provides the heat. It is costlier than parabolic and quartz heaters but requires less maintenance and uses less electricity.

Convectional Heaters

Unlike the radiant heaters, these types of heaters warm the air directly. Cool air gets in at the bottom of the heater and is warmed up before rising to the top. Some convectional heaters come fully equipped with fans to help in circulating the warm air in the house. The common convectional include:

Heater fans – These fans use a standard metal in heat generation. The heat is then distributed throughout the room with a fan. They are the least expensive.

Ceramic heaters – These heaters resemble heater fans but they utilize aluminum baffles and ceramic plates to generate heat. They are more expensive than heater fans and generate a lot of heat while maintaining their coolness. They are ideal for small and well-insulated rooms.

Oil-filled column heaters – These heaters use a heating element placed in a bath of oil to heat the indoor space. They are effective for small and medium-sized rooms but they take quite some time to warm up the room.