If you're looking for a efficient, safe, and versatile way to heat a room or outdoor space, portable heaters are a fantastic choice. But with hundreds of options available, it can be tricky to figure out the right heater for your needs.
By taking a quick look at the benefits of the various heater styles on the market, we can help to narrow the field a bit.
Whether it's gas heaters, electric heaters, or propane heaters, simply asking yourself a handful of questions can help you to pick the right heater for your needs:
Gas or Electric? Which is best for your area?
How many square feet are you trying to heat?
Do you prefer radiant or convection heat?
What special features would provide the most benefit for you?
Choosing the Right Fuel
The first big decision to make is whether you'll purchase an electric heater or one fueled by a gas such as propane, kerosene, or natural gas. When you want to heat a relatively small indoor area, your best choice is usually an electric heater. Electric heaters will obviously require an electric outlet, which limits some of their outdoor applications. However, you won't need to worry about dangerous carbon monoxide exhausts with electric heaters.
Gas-fueled heaters may be the best option when heating an outdoor area or a larger indoor area, such as a patio or garage. They typically give off more heat than electric heaters, and are usually much more efficient.
Pick the Right Heater for the Square Footage
When heating bedrooms, bathrooms, and other smaller indoor spaces, electric heaters are typically the best choice. However, larger rooms will often require the power of gas-fueled heaters. A basic rule of thumb to determine the necessary heat output of your heater (as measured in BTU's) is to multiply the square footage of your space by 5. The answer you get is the BTU rating you should look for when purchasing a heater.
Convection versus Radiant - What's the Difference?
Generally, space heaters can be divided into two styles of heat transfer -- radiant and convection. Radiant heat is similar to how the sun heats. Objects within its line-of-sight get warmed, rather than the surrounding air in the room. Conversely, convection heaters use heating coils and powered fans to warm and circulate the air in the room.
Radiant heaters provide heat more quickly because you aren't waiting for the entire room to warm, but they can be blocked by objects in the room. If you're in a room with many divisions or lots of furniture that may block the heat from a radiant heater, you may want to purchase a convection heater instead. Since convection warms air, you'll want to use radiant heaters for outdoor spaces.
Safety Features and Other Concerns
As you may expect, safety is a top concern when purchasing portable heaters. Be certain to purchase a heater that features an auto shut-off mechanism when tipped over. If you're purchasing a gas heater, some models have the ability to detect levels of carbon monoxide in the air, and will automatically shut off if levels get to high.
Regardless of the model you purchase, be sure to read and follow all safety instructions provided. It may also be a good idea to double-check your home insurance policy. Occasionally a policy will exclude space heaters, so it would be wise to do your homework first!
