Do Space Heaters Save Money?

Interesting question posed at Consumer Report's Home & Garden blog: "Will using space heaters lower my heating bills?"

The answer is, "It depends."

If you heat your home with natural gas (cheaper than using electricity) and spend time mostly in one room (or two), using an electric heater in that room(s) can save money on your heating bill.

Naturally, the less you use electric central heating or the furnace, the lower your utility bill will be. Electric heaters, also called space or room heaters, warm up contained spaces quickly.

It is recommended that users turn off space heaters overnight and before leaving a room. For added safety, buy a space heater with a feature that automatically turns off the unit when tipped over.

Space heaters make great Christmas gifts, too!

Comments

[Jess]

Thanks for the great article. Sometimes it's hard to know whether you're actually saving money or not with electric and gas bills so high.

For an even better option to space heaters, which cause 25,000 firs a year, there are flat panel heaters that use less energy and are more environmentally friendly, without sacrificing heat.

One I like is Cozy Legs: http://www.indus-tool.com/store/category.cgi?item=CL

Thanks again for the article, and stay warm!

[Dave]

Hi,

Great article. We have a press release that went out recently (http://www.spaceheatersandfans.com/pr8302008.html) which relates to this article. We share similar opinions, but I think readers will find both articles interesting. Good luck to all with heating prices. I know times are tough this year. Space heaters are definitely a great way to compartmentalize your heating in your house and a way to save on heat bills. No need to heat the full house!

Cheers and good luck to everyone during the crunch.