Energy Efficient Electric Space Heaters

Since electricity is 100% efficient you could say that all electric space heaters are created equal. The problem is every manufacturer offers multiple models, each with its own technology for converting electricity to heat.

That being said, the most efficient space heaters are those which raise the room temperature to a comfortable level as quickly as possible and maintain the desired temperature with a thermostat. The combination of these features means the heater will spend less time on “high” and therefore consume less electricity.

The speed at which a space heater reaches the desired temperature depends on the heating element. For this task a ceramic element works best. Not only does it heat quickly, but a charcteristic of  the ceramic used in space heaters enables it to regulate power consumption much like an external thermostat.

This solves the problem of getting the heater up to temperature quickly, but does little to speed up the process of  heating the room. The only solution to this problem is a fan.

The fan on a space heater, much like the blower on your furnace, distributes the heat quickly and evenly through out the room(s) of your home. A space heater without a fan is like a furnace without a blower. Eventually it will heat the room(s) to a comfortable temperature, but at the cost of running for longer periods of time at maximum output which in turn consumes more fuel.

Surprisingly, the incorporation of a fan for effective heat distribution is also the basis for most space heater complaints. The complaint I refer to is noise. If you’ve already read some space heater reviews you’ve probably noticed how often a “noisy fan” is mentioned.

However, some fans are quieter than others. Unfortunately, decibel level information isn’t available for electric space heaters like it is for refrigerators. If noise is a concern, many ads for electric space heaters now emphasize the fact that a particular model is “Ultra Quiet.”

Looking for the perfect space heater? You’ll find it at Sam’s Guide to Small Space Heaters – updated for 2010.