How to Choose a Portable Heater

If you don't have central heating, or worse yet, if your power just went out and you're left without any heat at all, a portable heater is often the best solution for chilly nights. But not just any heater will do! There are several factors to consider when choosing a portable heater that will work for your space.

We'll walk you through some of the features that are vital to making a decision about which heater suits your needs best.

Size

Size is the first thing to consider. Portable heaters are generally rated by how many square feet of room they can warm. For example, a 1500-watt heater will heat up an area with a footprint of about 15 square feet, whereas a 7000-watt heater covers about 70 square feet. So if you have an extra-large room (i.e., more than 150 sq ft), you may want to consider buying two smaller units since these larger units can quickly get expensive (and consume more electricity) to run. For most rooms, though, one large unit should do the trick nicely.

Heat Output

The next thing to consider is the heat output of your heater. For example, a 1500-watt heater will put out about 1,500 BTUs of heat, so it won't be enough for an area with a large number of square feet (like an entire basement) but it should be enough for most rooms. However, heating smaller areas is often accomplished by using several smaller heaters; the more wattage these heaters have (in this case up to 15,000 BTUs), the more comfortable you can expect your room to be.

Heat Distribution Pattern

The last thing to take into consideration is how well the heater distributes its heat. A good heater will distribute heat evenly across the entire surface area of the room, rather than concentrating the heat in one spot. Because space heaters use convection in order to warm your room, they often have a pattern on the walls that they heat up. For example, in front of a heater, you'll find short-wave radiators and long-wave radiators. The short-wave radiators are typically located near an air vent or under a window. These radiators are used to warm up cold air that naturally flows toward the windows or an open door.

Types of Heaters

Dry Heat: Dry heaters use a fan to pull warm air through the heater and distribute it throughout your room. They are easy to install and do tend to be less expensive than other types of heaters, but they also have a shorter lifespan. If a heater breaks, then you'll definitely have to get rid of your heater and purchase an entirely new one. Because the heater uses convection, it is important that you place your heater far away from walls, doors and windows otherwise the airflow may not reach the area that needs heating.

Dry heaters use a fan to pull warm air through the heater and distribute it throughout your room. They are easy to install and do tend to be less expensive than other types of heaters, but they also have a shorter lifespan. If a heater breaks, then you'll definitely have to get rid of your heater and purchase an entirely new one. Because the heater uses convection, it is important that you place your heater far away from walls, doors and windows otherwise the airflow may not reach the area that needs heating. Radiant Heat: Radiant heaters work by using infrared light or electric resistance wires to radiate heat throughout your room. Generally, radiant heaters are incredibly safe and efficient since they distribute the heat evenly throughout your room. They also don't tend to malfunction as quickly as a convection heater might. However, they can be more expensive than similar dry heaters.

Radiant heaters work by using infrared light or electric resistance wires to radiate heat throughout your room. Generally, radiant heaters are incredibly safe and efficient since they distribute the heat evenly throughout your room. They also don't tend to malfunction as quickly as a convection heater might. However, they can be more expensive than similar dry heaters. Convection Heat: These heaters use an intense fan to move warm air throughout a room; they tend to be fairly efficient since they move the air around. They are also extremely safe since they don't produce the same amount of dangerous combustion gasses as dry heaters do. However, convection heaters are often more expensive than their radiant counterparts.

These heaters use an intense fan to move warm air throughout a room; they tend to be fairly efficient since they move the air around. They are also extremely safe since they don't produce the same amount of dangerous combustion gasses as dry heaters do. However, convection heaters are often more expensive than their radiant counterparts. Infrared Heat: This type of heater uses infrared light to make your room feel warm. They are extremely safe and can be used to heat entire rooms or to warm specific areas within a room. However, they can be more expensive than other options.

This type of heater uses infrared light to make your room feel warm. They are extremely safe and can be used to heat entire rooms or to warm specific areas within a room. However, they can be more expensive than other options. Hydro-Tec Heaters: The Hydro-Tec heater is an interesting unit that can be used to heat your space without actually needing any electricity; it is powered by water. However, this type of heater is several times more expensive than a regular space heater and has slower heating capabilities.

The Hydro-Tec Heater is an interesting unit that can be used to heat your space without actually needing any electricity; it is powered by water. However, this type of heater is several times more expensive than a regular space heater and has slower heating capabilities.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you now have a better idea of what sort of heater would be best for your room. As you might expect, a 1500-watt heater is not likely to heat up an entire basement; instead, it might work better for a single room or one floor of your home. If you live in an older home and have drafts that chill your room even in the summer months, then adding a space heater can make a huge difference in how warm you feel in your house. It's also important to remember that even though we do have our heat turned on during the winter (and then turned off during summer), we still experience periodic temperature drops and there are times when it is not ideal to use the central heating system.