How to Select Electric Heaters
Electric heaters provide a variety of benefits, including a lower initial cost, low maintenance for the homeowner and a more efficient method to warm your home. They are also easier to utilize than heating systems that require venting.
You can save money on heating expenses If you have an electricity provider that offers Economy 7.
Temperature Settings
The ideal situation is that your electric heater permits you to set and maintain the temperature you prefer without having to turn it on or off. This will conserve energy and keep you from entering or leaving the room that is too cold. Look for a thermostat, and if possible one with timer functions.
When you are choosing an electric heater, be sure that it's suitable for your space. A heater that is too small will need to run longer to achieve the desired temperature. This is a waste of energy and could cause your room to overheat. Use our calculator to determine the best heater's watts per square foot for your area.
Also, ensure that the knobs that regulate temperature are easy to adjust and reach. If the knobs are recessed you might have to remove screws and peel back insulation to access them, which could be a challenge. It's also important to determine the recommended temperature range to ensure safety and efficiency. Temperatures lower than 120 degrees could cause bacteria to grow and increase the risk of scalding. While temperatures above 140 degrees could pose dangerous for fire.
The Everhot is a beautiful compact heater that can be used in conservatories or as the company says: "annexes... narrow boats... shepherds' shelters... glamping pods." It can reach up to 200C and is therefore an ideal heater to heat as well as cooking. It has a timer, and an ECO setting that optimizes the heating and power settings to be more efficient.
It's also quiet, with no fan noise and no whirring noise when you alter settings. This makes it a great option for bedrooms or living rooms. It also has other features too, such as a built-in nightlight that lights up in a blue color when the heater is on, and a built-in humidifier that can be adjusted to create intermittent mist to give a more subtle effect. It's also sturdy and safe with a tip-over shutoff switch as well as an overheating protection feature that shuts down the unit in the event of overheating. It's also certified by UL for safety.
Safety
Electric heaters should be used with care. Risks of fire from heaters as well as carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning are especially dangerous to children, elderly people and those suffering from chronic health issues or immune system disorders. Additionally, children and pets could knock over a heater, leading to injury or even death.
ESFI recommends checking the heater's cord, plug and outlet regularly. Check for signs of damage like cracks in the plug, a loose cord, or if the plug is damaged or loose. If the cord or outlet is hot, call an experienced electrician to replace it. Also, do not plug multiple electrical devices into the same outlet using a space heater; it could overload the outlet and cause overheating.
It's a good idea also to use heaters that have been approved or labeled by a nationally recognized test laboratory, like UL. These products are more likely to be in compliance with voluntary safety standards. Avoid placing a heater near material that is flammable, such as carpets or textiles. Make sure there is a minimum three-foot distance between the heater and any material that is combustible. Also, never put heaters in the bathroom or in the kitchen. Never touch electric wood burner fire Fireplaces & Stoves when you're wet.
Also, make sure to connect the heater directly into a wall outlet and not a power strip or extension cord. If you have to use an extension cord, make sure you choose the most compact heavy-duty cord you can comprised of 14-gauge wire. Look for outlets that are sagging, since this could indicate an overloaded circuit.
If you're using an electric space heater in an open area ensure that you keep it at least six inches from anything that could burn. It's also a good idea to place the space heater on an even surface instead of placing it on cabinets, tables or furniture, which could cause fire if it overheats. Lastly, be sure to switch off and unplug the heater when you leave the room or go to sleep and leave it on to increase the risk of fire.
Electric heaters are a fantastic way to reduce energy consumption and avoid injuries. As temperatures drop, facility managers frequently use electric heaters to provide extra warmth in office areas and common areas. Preferred Climate Solutions installs and maintains outdoor or indoor electric heating systems to make your space as cozy during these cold winter months as possible. Contact us today to learn more about heating solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When selecting a portable electric heater take into consideration its energy efficiency. This refers to the amount of energy required to achieve the desired output. Heaters that use less energy are more efficient and reduce the cost of heating your home or business.
Most electrical heaters convert electricity into heat using an element for heating. It is usually composed of a coil, ribbon or flexible heater element or tubular element which emits heat when an electric charge passes through it. The amount of heat generated depends on the type of heating element employed and the method by which it transmits heat (convection or radiation).
If you are concerned about environmental impact, look for models that use an environmentally friendly type of energy. It could be a renewable source of power or an alternative to fossil fuels like solar or wind.
The efficiency of energy used by an electric heater is also dependent on where the electricity comes from and the method of generation. Electricity generated from a wind or solar power plant will be more efficient than electricity that is derived from burning fossil fuels in a power station.
Apart from selecting the heater that makes use of an environmentally friendly type of energy, you must also select one that has various built-in energy-saving features. This could include automatic shut-off mechanisms in case of overheating or if the unit is accidentally tipping over.
These safety measures can help to protect your employees or family members, and they could also help reduce your energy costs by helping you avoid excessive use. Many portable electric heaters are designed to run quietly making them suitable for bedrooms, offices and other spaces that require a quiet environment.
Another way that electric heaters can save you money is by reducing the number of maintenance calls you'll have to make. Gas units can be more expensive to repair than an electric model, and the expense of maintenance may increase over time. Electric models are typically less expensive to maintain and usually have more advanced features to assist you in saving energy.
Installation
Electric heaters work on the Joule principle that converts electrical power into radiant warmth that warms a room. They're also very efficient and economical in comparison to other forms of heating, especially gas. However, they're not suitable for every household and could put stress on an existing electricity system. This is why it's best to have a professional electrician check whether the current system is able to handle the additional burden of an electric wall heater prior to installing one.
There are a variety of aspects to take into consideration when selecting an electric heater, which includes the type of heater you choose and the room where you want to place it. The type of heater that you choose will determine the price to operate it. An electric baseboard heater may cost more than the space heater or portable heater however, it will provide more even warmth and won't require any vents or chimneys.
An electric fan heater is a blower that creates hot air and circulates it in the room. This type of electric heater is the cheapest, but can be noisy and take longer to warm up a room.
Find a heater which comes with a thermostat. This feature lets you set a target temperature and will automatically shut off when the desired temperature has been reached. This will significantly cut down on consumption of energy and keep you from having to turn the heater on and off.
Make sure to shut off the power at the breaker box and make use of a circuit tester to verify that it is turned off before attempting to install an electric heating unit. Next, mark the area in which you plan to install the electric heater on the wall. Then, cut an opening for it in the drywall. Utilize a drywall saw to cut the required section, being careful not to cut any electrical pipes or wires.
Run a cable 14/2 of the same gauge and length as the wires already in use, from the breaker box up to the wall opening. Connect each wire to the screw in the outlet box, removing about 1 inch of insulation. Label this wire as the "line" by labeling it or marking it with a piece of red tape. Then, connect it to the wire leads with the label "load" in the thermostat box.