Your Guide to Electric Heaters
Factors to consider in buying electric heaters: • Fuel.
Electric heaters offer high energy efficiency, can be used indoor, require no venting and are the safest option for portable heating.
• Design.
There are varieties of design for these appliances to choose from that are suited for almost any environment.
o Baseboard.
Electric heaters are placed on the exterior wall of a room.
These are great heaters that provide slow and steady heat.
They are also pretty cheap to install and are very quiet.
o Tower heaters.
These are heaters that are housed inside a tall casing.
They provide directional heat and are ideal for living spaces.
o Radiator electric heaters.
These are perfect for heating for a long period of time and are an ideal choice for use in bedrooms.
o Panel heaters.
These are very lightweight heaters that can be wall mounted.
These are very popular for large spaces like family rooms and living rooms.
o Patio heaters.
These are typically wall-mounted heat lamps that provide warmth for outdoor spaces like patios or decks.
o Table top heaters.
This is an appliance that looks like a table lamp and can be used for heating indoor or outdoor spaces.
• Power.
Electric heaters are available in either an 120 or 240-volt size.
Always refer to manufacturer's packaging to determine the rate of the unit and its capacity to provide sufficient heat to the area in which it will be placed.
• Cost and energy savings.
There are features in these heaters that can be effective in cutting energy costs.
Refer to the user's manual to learn about energy efficiency ratings.
• Controls.
An electric heater that comes with automatic or programmable controls and timers provide the most convenient and flexible way in avoiding wasted energy from overheating a room.
The presence of thermostat allows control over the amount of electricity or fuel the heater consumes, thus saving on energy costs over time.
• Safety features.
It is vital to observe certain precautions and to look for features that will enhance safety when buying one of these appliances.
Some of these safety features are: o Overheat protection shuts the heater off when a sensor detects a pre-determined temperature.
o Flame-resistant cases and thermally protected motors gives further fire protection o Tip-over switches automatically shut the unit off if it's knocked over accidentally.
After purchasing a heater, always consider safety when using it.
Electric heaters should never be left on and running when no one is home.
Cords should be secured where they cannot be stepped on.
When the heater is not being used, you should unplug it and wrap the cord around the unit itself.
These cords fray easily and can become fire hazards if you do not take care of them.
These units should never be placed near curtains, under the table or with any other combustible materials to avoid fire incidents.
Electric heaters offer high energy efficiency, can be used indoor, require no venting and are the safest option for portable heating.
• Design.
There are varieties of design for these appliances to choose from that are suited for almost any environment.
o Baseboard.
Electric heaters are placed on the exterior wall of a room.
These are great heaters that provide slow and steady heat.
They are also pretty cheap to install and are very quiet.
o Tower heaters.
These are heaters that are housed inside a tall casing.
They provide directional heat and are ideal for living spaces.
o Radiator electric heaters.
These are perfect for heating for a long period of time and are an ideal choice for use in bedrooms.
o Panel heaters.
These are very lightweight heaters that can be wall mounted.
These are very popular for large spaces like family rooms and living rooms.
o Patio heaters.
These are typically wall-mounted heat lamps that provide warmth for outdoor spaces like patios or decks.
o Table top heaters.
This is an appliance that looks like a table lamp and can be used for heating indoor or outdoor spaces.
• Power.
Electric heaters are available in either an 120 or 240-volt size.
Always refer to manufacturer's packaging to determine the rate of the unit and its capacity to provide sufficient heat to the area in which it will be placed.
• Cost and energy savings.
There are features in these heaters that can be effective in cutting energy costs.
Refer to the user's manual to learn about energy efficiency ratings.
• Controls.
An electric heater that comes with automatic or programmable controls and timers provide the most convenient and flexible way in avoiding wasted energy from overheating a room.
The presence of thermostat allows control over the amount of electricity or fuel the heater consumes, thus saving on energy costs over time.
• Safety features.
It is vital to observe certain precautions and to look for features that will enhance safety when buying one of these appliances.
Some of these safety features are: o Overheat protection shuts the heater off when a sensor detects a pre-determined temperature.
o Flame-resistant cases and thermally protected motors gives further fire protection o Tip-over switches automatically shut the unit off if it's knocked over accidentally.
After purchasing a heater, always consider safety when using it.
Electric heaters should never be left on and running when no one is home.
Cords should be secured where they cannot be stepped on.
When the heater is not being used, you should unplug it and wrap the cord around the unit itself.
These cords fray easily and can become fire hazards if you do not take care of them.
These units should never be placed near curtains, under the table or with any other combustible materials to avoid fire incidents.
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