With the weather getting chillier day by day, you may be thinking of ways to keep your home or office warm. A space heater can help you do so. When thinking about buying a space heater, several questions may come to your mind like which is the right size to go for, is a space heater safe, which heaters are affordable etc. This article offers some tips to buy a space heater. In these tips, you are likely to find the answers to a few of the questions coming to your mind. You will also find some safety tips here, that you must follow when buying or using space heaters.

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1. Decide the right size

If you wish to heat your office in the cold weather, consider going for a small sized space heater, which doesn’t occupy much room or consume much energy to work. Space heaters that are portable, are quite useful for offices, as you can keep them under your desk, when you are not using them. However, to heat a big room in home, go for a large unit, like a heater of 1500 watts. When you use a heater, which has sufficient power for heating the rooms in your office or home, you will stay warmer as well as save energy.

2. Keep safety in your mind

Safety is the most important factor to consider when buying or using space heaters. Safeguard your family from injuries or burns arising from home space heaters by following some simple steps. Firstly, go for electric space heaters that are thermostatically controlled, as they let you control the heat in a better way and also save energy. The best types of heaters also comprise automatic turn-off features. This prevents such heaters from becoming extremely hot or leading to a fire. Some further precautions for safety are – always keep the unit distant from paper stacks, bedding, curtains and other flammable things.

3. Select between convection and radiant heaters

After knowing about the safe space heaters fitting your space, you need to decide which type is best – convection heaters or radiant heaters. Convection heaters are ideal for large areas or rooms as they heat the air within your home. In contrast, a radiant heater is suitable for small spaces as people sitting only within the heater’s line of sight can get warmth from it. Consider how often you will use the heater too, when buying one. Radiant heaters are suitable when you wish to heat a room only for a few hours.

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4. Consider energy use

To have less power bills, go for buying an energy-efficient heater that you can use for several rooms. One of the most energy-efficient types are electric space heaters, especially which have thermostats that can control the heat amount you use. You can also save money by choosing portable ones, which you can move easily from one room to another, and heat only the room being used currently.

SAFETY TIPS FOR BUYING AND USING SPACE HEATERS:

• When buying an electric space heater, check out whether or not it has a label from recognized testing laboratory like CSA (Canadian Standards Association), ETL (Intertek) or UL (Underwriters Laboratory). Each label among these verifies that the construction and performance of the heater meet the voluntary safety standards of U.S. The heater you buy must have one of these labels.

• Space heaters of fuel burning type are more dangerous compared to electrics. So, consider fuel-burning ones only for emergencies, like during the time of a power outage in winter.

Safety tips offered by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):

• Never leave an electric space heater unattended when it is plugged in. Keep the heater on a flat, level surface and ensure that pets and children cannot reach it. Never keep it in a kid’s room. Use it over a tabletop, only when the manufacturer has specified it. If placed on a furniture, the heater may fall and get damaged.

• Never use the space heater in wet or damp areas unless the heater is meant to be used in bathrooms or outdoors. Moisture can damage it.

• Combustible things like curtains, bedding and furniture should be kept at a distance of at least 3 feet from the heater’s front, and away from the rear and sides of the heater. Don’t use the space heater near matches, gas cans or paint. The air outlet and intake should be kept clear.

• Run electric cord over carpeting or area rugs, so that one can step on it and it is not abraded underfoot. Don’t plug in any other electrical equipment in the same outlet where your heater is plugged in. This can lead to overheating of the space heater.

These tips will help you buy the right space heater to keep your home or office warmer in the chilly season. However, always keep safety in mind when purchasing or using a space heater.