Winter officially arrives in the northern hemisphere this year on December 21stwhen the sun reaches its southernmost point in the sky. For meteorologists, it starts on December 1st since December, January, and February are the coldest months of the year.

But Coloradans know the heating season can start in September and run as late as early June, meaning that furnaces can work as much as ten months a year. And with constantly increasing utility rates, they’re seeking ways to manage their comfort without busting the budget.

One way is by turning down the central heat and using space heating to warm smaller areas.

Space Heater Uses

Work-from-home surged during the COVID pandemic and has remained an option for a significant chunk of the workforce. But if you find yourself home alone for whatever reason during the day, why pay to heat an entire house when you’re spending most of your time in a room by yourself? That’s whenspace heating can come in handy.

Space heating adds comfort to drafty and hard-to-heat areas and can save money when used to heat individual rooms while keeping the central thermostat lower. And those savings can add up quickly with today’s high energy costs.

A space heater can warm a small space such as a home office or workroom quickly and efficiently. Some models can even be used safely in a bathroom but be sure yours can before using it. A small radiant heater or one with a fan will usually work fine for rooms of 100 sq. ft. or so. Other models are designed to heat larger spaces. Most specify the usable square footage on the packaging.

Portable Space Heater Types

Most space heaters have metal coils or ceramic-encased wires, and both types generally have two or more heat settings. On low, they use around 1,000 watts of power and on high, it’s about 1,500 watts. Some have two fan speeds and may also oscillate to spread the heat over a larger area.

Portable radiators can be upright designs that look like traditional steam or hot water styles. Horizontal models function like baseboard heaters. They use convectional currents to heat the air rather than a fan, so they’re quieter than other types of space heaters.Other convection heaters can be free-standing or wall-mounted, and some are even available as flat panels that can be painted to match the room’s walls.

A Permanent Year-Round Solution

If you have spaces such as home offices, basements, sheds, garages, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs), a mini-split heat pump could be the solution.

Mini-split units are a type of high efficiency heat pump that can both heat and cool a space individually. They expand and compress the outside air to heat and cool much like the coils of a refrigerator. Their energy use is much lower than furnaces or air conditioners so they’re not only thrifty, but also environmentally friendly. Larger units are also made for whole-house heating and cooling.

For more information about mini-splits, see this article on the Allstar Electrical Services website. To learn more about how heat pumps work, watch this video by This Old House on YouTube.

How to Use a Portable Space Heater Safely

Used properly, space heaters can keep you comfortable and save you money. Used improperly, they can lead to disaster.

The Consumer Products Safety Commission estimates that around 25,000 house fires and 300 deaths are caused by space heaters each year. Another 6,000 people go to emergency rooms with burns from touching a heater’s hot surface.

But used properly, space heaters can add comfort while lowering heating costs. Here are some rules for using space heaters safely:

• Only use space heaters that are top-rated by consumer safety organizations like Underwriters Laboratory (UL) and Consumer Reports.
• Place the heater on a hard, level surface. Don’t put heaters on tables, desks, counters, or shelves where they can be easily tipped over.
• Keep children, pets, fabrics, and other combustible materials away from heaters.
•  Never leave the heater unattended. Think of it the same as you would a stovetop burner or candle and use similar precautions. Unplug heaters when not in use for extended periods.
• Don’t leave a space heater in a child’s room at night. Besides the risk of burns from contact in the dark, a sleeping child will not react to smoke or bad smells as quickly as an adult.
• Don’t use a heater in a workshop or garage near paint, gas cans, or other flammable material.
• If using a space heater in a damp area such as a basement, garage, or bathroom, be sure it’s plugged into a GFCI-protected outlet. GFCI outlets have been required in those spaces since 1975 and are inexpensive to upgrade, but installation should left to an experienced electrician. Incorrect installation can defeat the protective circuitry in the outlet.
  Better yet, also use a heater that has an appliance leakage current interrupter (ALCI) plug. ALCI plugs also monitor differences in current, adding extra protection.
• Don’t run the power cord where it can be a tripping or tipping hazard.
• Don’t extension cords. They can overheat from a heater’s heavy load. If you must, use a heavy-duty cord and never run any heater cords under rugs or carpet.
• Check all cords for wear, damage, or being hot to the touch. Discontinue use if any of these warning signs are present.
• Put smoke alarms on every level of your home, including basements and garages, and in each bedroom and test them monthly.

Space heaters can add a considerable load to already taxed home electrical circuits. If using one causes a breaker to trip, try running it on a lower heat or fan setting. If the problem persists, a licensed electrician can help work out a solution with you. Never try replacing a breaker with one of higher amperage yourself. A pro will know if it’s possible and how to do it safely if it is.

Need Help? Call a Pro

If you think your home may have service or safety issues, or want to discuss adding a mini-split or whole-house heat pump, don’t hesitate to contact Allstar Electrical Services. We deliver the quality solutions you expect and deserve for all your electrical needs. Just give us a call at 303.399.7420 or visit our website. Then use our handy online forms to request a free estimate or set up an appointment. We’ve served Colorado’s Front Range for over 20 years, are top-rated by the Better Business Bureau and are proud to be listed as a preferred contractor by Angie’s® Home Advisor.