It’s easy to warm up a small room with your central heating system, but warming up a large room is much more difficult. This is because central heating systems deliver the same amount of warm air to every room in your home. If you are tired of coping with the cold, turn your central heating system off and rely on energy efficient heaters for large rooms instead.

What type of energy efficient heater is best? What factors should you consider when shopping for an energy efficient space heater for a large room? Here’s what you should know:

Types of Energy Efficient Heaters for Large Rooms

There are two main categories of space heaters: electric and gas. Before you start shopping, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of each type of space heater.

Gas-powered heaters burn propane, natural gas, or kerosene to produce heat. In general, gas-powered heaters are more expensive than electric heaters, but they cost less to operate. Because these heaters are powered by gas, they will provide warmth even if your electricity goes out in a winter storm. 

There are some downsides to gas-powered space heaters, though. These heaters release harmful gases in the air, so they are not safe to use in indoor, poorly ventilated areas. Some gas-powered heaters can only be used outdoors, so they cannot be used to heat up large indoor rooms.

Electric heaters, on the other hand, are cheaper than gas-powered heaters. Electric heaters are also far more energy efficient than gas-powered heaters. Unlike gas heaters, electric heaters do not release dangerous gases, so they can safely be used in indoor spaces. Electric heaters are also typically easier to move from room-to-room.

However, electric heaters rely on electricity, so they will not work in the event of a power outage. They also take slightly longer to warm up than gas-powered heaters. In short, electric heaters are better for warming up large indoor spaces. Not only are these heaters safer and more portable, but they are also more energy efficient.

Factors to Consider When Shopping For the Most Energy Efficient Electric Heater

There are several factors you should keep in mind when looking for the right electric space heater for your home, including:

• Heating Capacity
• Temperature Control
• Noise

Heating Capacity

The most important factor to consider when shopping for an energy efficient heater is its heating capacity. This is especially important when you are looking for a heater that is capable of producing enough heat to warm up a large room. Here’s what to do:

1. Calculate the square footage of the space by measuring the length and width of the room. Then, multiple the length times the width. For instance, if the room is 20 feet long and 10 feet wide, it is 200 square feet in size.
2. Check the product description or packaging for the heater’s wattage. You will need approximately 10 watts of power per square foot of the room. For example, if the room is 200 square feet, you will need a heater with 2,000 watts.
3. Convert watts to BTUs, if necessary. Some heaters measure heating capacity in BTUs rather than watts. To convert your wattage to BTUs, multiple the total wattage by 3.41.

Follow these steps to ensure you choose a space heater that is designed to provide enough heat for your room.

Temperature Control

Some space heaters allow you to heat your room to a specific temperature, whereas others allow you to choose between low, medium, or high heat. Being able to select a specific temperature gives you more control over the amount of energy your heater is consuming. For this reason, it’s best to choose a heater with this feature.

More advanced heaters are designed to measure the temperature in the room at all times. These heaters will automatically turn off once the air in the room reaches your desired temperature. This feature ensures your heater does not waste energy by continuing to produce heat once the room is already at the desired temperature. If you want to save as much energy as possible, look for an electric heater with this feature.

Noise

It’s hard to rest or get peace and quiet in a room with a noisy space heater. To avoid this problem, look for an electric heater that does not make a lot of noise when it operates. 

Some key terms to look for on the packaging or product description include “silent,” “noise reduction,” “quiet heating,” or “low profile.” All of these terms indicate that the space heater will not produce a great deal of noise when turned on.

Now you know what to look for when shopping for an energy efficient space heater for a large room. Remember to turn off your central heating system when you turn on your space heater so you don’t waste energy and money on staying warm this winter.