Will Using a Space Heater Save You Money? - Consumer Reports (2024)

FAQs

Does a space heater really save money? ›

Using a space heater can be a good way to boost the temperature in a small, drafty room—and it could be less expensive than cranking up your central heating system. But a space heater is economical only if you use it judiciously.

Space heaters will save you money if you use only one and only in one room. Using three space heaters in three different rooms all day and all night is going to cost you more than just cranking up the heat.

If you use a space heater in your home, please be aware that using a space heater can cause a significant increase in your monthly bill. A 1,000-watt space heater operating 12 hours a day will add about $40 to your monthly bill. If the cost does not deter you, remember how important it is to use space heaters safely.

These prices might also dictate how long you'd like to run your space heater. On average, you can expect to pay about 20 cents per hour to run an average space heater that's 1,500 watts and can heat a standard room. If you run it for eight hours per day, you'll pay about $1.60 per day.

The Energy Saving Trust has shared that, “Gas is still a cheaper fuel than standard rate electricity, so if you have gas central heating it is generally advisable to use this over individual electric heaters.”

Generally, a space heater will use between 1,500 and 1,800 watts. That means that in one hour, it will consume 1.5 to 1.8 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity. In one day, that equates to approximately 12 to 14 kWh. In one month, a space heater can consume up to 360 to 420 kWh and over 4,200 kWh in one year.

You Want to Heat the Whole House: Thermostat

The energy your furnace uses to heat your house an extra few degrees won't hurt your power the way using a bunch of space heaters will.

Conclusion. So, after looking at the different types of electric heaters available, due to its lower power-output, halogen heaters are the cheapest electric heaters to run.

Infrared heaters are the most efficient type of heater available. They use very little electricity to generate heat, and they provide a lot of heat for their size. Infrared heaters are also very safe to use, as they do not emit any harmful radiation. Oil-filled heaters are another type of heater that is very efficient.

Radiant heaters emit infrared radiation that directly heats objects and people within their line of sight, and are a more efficient choice when you will be in a room for only a few hours and can stay within the line of sight of the heater.

How can I save electricity with my space heater? ›

Remember to use space heaters to heat only the space you're using. You're saving electricity and ensuring your safety when you keep unused heaters unplugged. Never leave a heater on when you're not there. It's simply a waste of electricity and heat, not to mention a fire hazard.

Compared with a traditional space heater, an electric heating pad uses just one-tenth of the energy but still heats effectively. Switching to electric heating pads not only reduces electricity bills and safety hazards but also helps improve environmental quality.

You Should Not Leave Space Heaters on Unattended

Electric heaters of any type are unsafe to leave running overnight because they carry a significant amount of risk.

As a rule of thumb, you will need 10 watts or 50 BTUs (British Thermal Units) of heating power for every square foot of floor area in a room. That means a 1,500-watt (7,500 BTU) heater can be the primary heat source for an area measuring up to 150 square feet.

The Short Answer Is: Using a space heater can save money on monthly utility bills compared to heating an entire home, particularly if you only heat the room you're using.

It might be cheaper to heat one room with an electric heater, but it depends on the size of the room and the length of time you need to heat it for.

Does it make sense to turn down the thermostat and to run a space heater in that room? It might, especially if it's not a huge room. Grist offered a helpful rule of thumb to consider: If the space you're looking to heat is less than half or a third of your house's total area, space heaters may save you money.

In fact, reverse cycle air conditioners are three times more efficient than electric heaters. Because electric heaters convert electricity into heat they have a one-to-one power-to-heat ratio. That is, for every two kW of heat you need 2 kW of electrical power.