Do Electric Space Heaters Use a Lot of Electricity? – Let’s Find Out!

Space heaters are quick and flexible solutions to heat cold areas in homes and offices because they are portable, affordable, and efficient, making them gain worldwide popularity and adoption in recent years.

The concern and challenge most people face is that since electric space heaters use a lot of electricity just like any other electrical appliance, how do they achieve energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness?

Now, it is very important to know how to make your space heater energy efficient and what to do to lower electricity bills. Also, it is worthy to know your space heater cost and how to calculate its power consumption.

In this article, you’re going to learn how to achieve energy efficiency of your space heater, how to calculate the cost, and how to choose the most efficient type of space heater for your home and offices.

Without further ado, let’s head right into it;

Types of Electric Space Heater

Electric space heaters can be classified into three major types, depending on the mode in which it generates heat. Basically, space heaters can generate heat through convection, radiation, or combination.

That being said, let’s inspect what this means of generating heat by space heaters, and some examples to help you choose a cost-effective and energy-efficient space heater.

Convection Space Heaters

Convective space heaters transfer heat with the help of the circulation of current, either through fluids or other conventional sources. They are the most effective space heaters as they warm or heat the air in a room, warming everything in the room.

Examples of conventional space heaters are oil-filled or water-filled heaters.

Radiant Space Heaters

Unlike conventional space heaters, Radiant space heaters warm or heat objects and people in a room instead of the air.

Radiant space heaters warm objects and people close to it quicker than any other space heater.

An example of a Radiant space heater is the Infrared space heater which uses radiation and electromagnetic waves to create thermal or heat energy.

This space heater can only cover a small area but not a large area or room.

 Hybrid Space Heaters

Just as the name suggests, Hybrid Space heaters combine the functionality of Convectional and Radiant space heaters to give you the best functionality.

Though they give you the best in terms of functionality, they are not as effective as the other space heaters. An example is the ceramic space heaters, which can either have a fan or not.

Space Heater Electricity Cost

To find out the amount of energy or electricity your electric space heater consumes and calculate the cost your electric company is charging you, follow the steps below;

Step 1: Check the body of the space heater to find the number of watts. Most space heaters are usually 1500 watts.

Step 2: Convert from Watts to Kilowatts. This is very important because it will enable you to know the cost at which you’re running the device and secondly. After all, the utility company charges you in Kilowatts per hour.

 

Note: 1000 watts = 1 kilowatt. Therefore, a space heater of 1500 watts will be 1.5kilowatts when you divide 1500 by 1000. Meaning a space heater of 1500 watts uses 1.5 kilowatts of electricity per hour.

A 1500 watts space heater uses 1.5 kilowatts of electricity per hour or 1.5 kWh.

Step 3: To determine the cost of electricity your energy company is charging you, check your electricity bill and the price will be listed in kilowatts per hour.

Step 4: Multiply the price you got by the amount of electricity your space heater consumes per hour.

 

So, let’s say you’re being charged $1 per kilowatts, and you decide to run your space heater for 24hrs in a day. Your bill will be $24 per day.

If you run the space heater for 24hrs a day every day for a month, you will pay your energy company $720 when you multiply $24 by 30 days.

This means that running your space heater all day will make your electricity bill skyrocket. To avoid this, cut down on hours of usage to reduce costs or use a space heater that comes with a thermostat.

How To Minimize The Power Consumption of Space Heaters

To make your Space Heater cost-effective and energy efficient, do this;

• Turn off space heaters when not in use to save you some extra cost as leaving them on when not in use results in high electricity bills
• A central heating system is still a better option if you want to reduce cost and still be able to heat all the rooms in a house or a larger area as space heaters can only warm a small area.
• Economy mode: ensure to get space heaters that have and use Eco mode. This automatically turns the heater to low-power mode when the room is warm and returns to high power mode when it is getting cold.

Space Heater Safety

The major safety issue with space heaters is fire outbreaks and burns, despite their efficiency. When in use, place it out of the reach of children and pets.

Also, ensure to remove the plug from the power source when not in use and switch it off properly after use. Check your user manual for specific instructions on how to safely use your space heater to avoid accidents.

Space Heater Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to use a space heater than electric heat?

Yes, space heaters use less energy than electric heat when compared to using a central heating system for your home and offices. However, electric heat or central heating systems are not efficient as space heaters.

Can I sleep with a space heater on?

It is not advisable to sleep with your space heater as they may be an accident, though modern space heaters come with features that allow it.

Ensure that your space heater has these three features before you leave it on while sleeping.

• Adjustable Thermostat
• Automatic Shut down and timer function
•  Tip over function: This shuts down the heater when it tips over to avoid a fire outbreak.

Does running a space heater save money?

Space heaters can consume your money when you use it all day, but when it comes with a good thermostat and you heat only the room you are in, then it can save you money.

Final Words

Unfortunately, Space Heaters are not energy efficient, but with the tips given above, you can make your space heater cost-effective.

Space heaters are an excellent improvement to the heating system you already use and, just like any other electrical appliances, it has its pros and cons.

Ensure to follow safety standards and rules during usage to avoid accidents.