Electric Heater: 11 Thing You're Leaving Out

How to Select Electric Heaters Electric heaters have a wide range of benefits, including a low initial cost, minimal maintenance for homeowners and an efficient way to warm your home. They are also more efficient than heating systems that require venting. You can save money on heating costs when you have an electricity provider that provides Economy 7. Temperature Settings The ideal situation is that your electric heater lets you to adjust and maintain the temperature you want without needing to turn it on or off. This will conserve energy and keep you from leaving or entering a room too cold. Find a thermostat that has an alarm clock, if it's possible. When choosing an electric heater, be sure that it's rated for the space you're using it in. If the heater isn't big enough for your space will have to run for longer than it needs to reach a desired temperature, which wastes energy and makes the room overheat. Utilize our calculator to determine the best heater size in watts per square foot for your area. Also, ensure that the temperature control knobs are accessible and adjust. If the knobs are recessed, you may have to take out screws and remove insulation to reach them, which could be a challenge. It is also essential to verify the recommended temperature range for safety and efficiency reasons. Temperatures below 120 degrees can lead to bacteria growth and increase the chance of scalding while temperatures that exceed 140 degrees could pose dangerous for fire. The Everhot is a sleek, compact heater designed for use in conservatories or, according to the company's description: “annexes, holiday cottages narrow boats and shepherds' huts as well as camping pods.” It can reach temperatures of up to 200C and is therefore a good choice for heating and cooking. It has a timer, and an ECO setting that optimizes temperature and power settings to be more efficient. It's also quiet and quiet, with no fan noise and no whirring when you change the settings. This makes it a great choice for bedrooms or living rooms. It also has a few other useful features, such as an inbuilt nightlight that turns blue when the heater is on and a built-in humidifier that can be set to an intermittent mist mode to create a subtle effect. It's also durable and safe with a tip-over shutoff switch as well as an overheating protection feature that automatically shuts off the unit in the event of overheating. It's also UL-listed, to ensure safety. Safety Electric heaters are to be used with caution. Children, the elderly and those suffering from chronic illnesses or immune system disorders are at a greater chance of being poisoned by carbon monoxide as well as fire hazards created by heaters. Children and pets can also knock the heater over and cause injury or even death. ESFI recommends that you check the heater's cord and plug regularly. Find indications of damage, like a cracked or loose plug or frayed cord. If the outlet or cord feels hot, stop using it and consult a certified electrician to repair it. Do not connect multiple electrical devices simultaneously as a space heater. This can overload the outlet and cause it to overheat. It's recommended to use only heaters that are identified or labelled by a national recognized testing laboratory, such as UL. These heaters are more likely than others to comply with voluntary safety standards. Avoid placing a heater near flammable materials, such as carpets or fabrics. Make sure to keep a minimum distance of three feet between the heater and combustible material. Also, don't put heaters near the bathroom or in the kitchen. Don't touch it when you are wet. Additionally, be fireplacesandstove.com to connect the heater directly into a wall outlet and not a extension cord or power strip. If you must use an extension cord, choose the shortest heavy-duty cord possible made of 14-gauge wire. Examine any outlets that are not sagging, since this could indicate a circuit that is overloaded. Keep an electric space heater at least six inches from anything that can burn. Place the heater on an unburnable, flat surface, not on furniture, cabinets or tables, which could overheat. Be sure to turn off and unplug the heater when you leave the room or go to bed as it increases the risk of fire. Making sure you are taking the appropriate safety precautions when using electric heaters can avoid injuries and decrease the energy use. Electric heaters are often employed by facility managers to provide extra heating in offices and other common areas when temperatures fall. Preferred Climate Solutions can install and service indoor or outdoor electric heaters to help make your workplace as comfortable as is possible during the cold winter months. Contact us for more information about heating solutions. Energy Efficiency Think about the energy efficiency of the portable heater before making your choice. This refers to the amount of energy required to produce the desired output. Heating systems that require less energy are more efficient and reduce the cost of heating your business or home. Most electrical heaters convert electrical energy into heat using a heating element. It is usually composed of a ribbon, coil or flexible heater element or tubular element which emits heat when an electric current flows through it. The amount of heat generated depends on the kind and method of heating element (convection, radiation). If you're concerned about the effect on the environment, you should select one that utilizes eco-friendly energy sources. It could be an energy source that is renewable or a substitute for fossil fuels, like solar or wind. The energy efficiency of an electric heater also varies on where the electricity comes from and the method of generation. Electricity generated by wind or solar power plants will be more efficient than electricity derived from fossil fuels in power stations. Aside from choosing a heater that runs on an eco-friendly form of energy, you must consider a heater that comes with various built-in energy saving features. These could include automatic shutoff mechanisms that will be activated in the event of an overheated unit or if a heater is accidentally tipped. These safety measures can help to safeguard your family or employees and they can also contribute to lower energy bills by assisting you in avoiding excessive use. Many portable electric heaters work quietly, making them ideal for bedrooms, offices and other areas where you need a peaceful environment. Electric heaters can also save you money by reducing maintenance calls. Gas heaters are more costly to repair than electric models and maintenance costs can be costly over the course of time. Electric models are usually cheaper to maintain and usually have more advanced features to help you save money. Installation Electric heaters rely on the Joule principle that converts electrical power into radiant warmth that warms a room. They're also extremely efficient and affordable compared to other types of heating systems, particularly gas. They aren't suitable for all households and may strain an existing electricity system. It is essential to have an electrician examine the system prior to installing an electric wall heater. There are several factors to consider when choosing an electric heater, which includes the type of heater you want and the space in which you wish to place it. The kind of heater you choose will determine the amount it will cost to run. Electric baseboard heaters can be more expensive to run than portable heaters or space heaters, but they provide more uniform heat and do not require chimneys or vents. A fan heater with an electric motor has an air blower that produces hot air and then circulates it throughout the room. This type of heater is the least expensive however it can be noisy and takes a longer time to warm up the room. Find a heater which has a thermostat built in. This feature lets you to set a temperature and the heater shuts off automatically when it gets to that temperature. This feature will reduce your energy consumption and help you avoid having to keep turning the heater on and of. Make sure to shut off the power at the breaker box and use a circuit tester to verify that it is turned off before you begin installing an electric heater. Mark the area on the wall where you plan to place the heater, and then cut a hole into the drywall. Utilize a drywall saw to cut off the required section, being careful not to cut any existing electrical pipes or wires. Run a cable 14/2 of the same gauge and length as the wires that are already in use from the breaker box up to the wall opening. Remove approximately 1 inch of insulation from the conductors' ends on each wire and connect them to an appropriate screw in the outlet box. Label or mark this wire by using red tape to identify it as the “line”. Connect it to the wire leads inside the thermostat box labeled “load”.