Do Space Heaters Use a Lot of Electricity?

Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.
Space heaters are great for heating up a single room.
Image Credit: krooogle/iStock/Getty Images

It would be wonderful to crank up the furnace during those cold winter nights. Unfortunately, that means you will be using (and paying for) a lot of natural gas. Another option is to heat up a single room with an electric space heater. Unfortunately, there is a downside to this method of keeping warm: space heaters use a lot of electricity. If you use the space heater in a logical manner, however, you can accomplish the goal of staying warm while keeping your energy consumption (and energy bills) down.

Advertisement

Power Consumption

Video of the Day

It takes a significant amount of energy to turn electricity into heat.
Image Credit: Oliver Sved/iStock/Getty Images

It takes quite a bit of energy to turn electricity into heat. The U.S. Department of Energy points out that operating one is even more expensive than a combustion space heater that runs on kerosene or another kind of fuel. A portable heater (according to the DoE) can consume between 750 and 1,000 watts. That's as much as a coffee maker or toaster oven, and those aren't appliances you keep on for long periods of time, as you would a space heater.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

Cost

There is an easy way to figure out how much your space heater is going to cost you.
Image Credit: VikZa/iStock/Getty Images

One way to decide whether or not to use a space heater is to calculate the cost of operation. The Department of Energy tells you how to do this. Simply find the wattage of your space heater on the box or in the user manual. Multiply this by the number of hours you will use it, and divide that number by 1,000. Then, multiply this figure by the kilowatt-hour rate charged by your utility company, and you will know how much that space heater is costing you.

Advertisement

Efficiency

Space heaters are efficient.
Image Credit: ronstik/iStock/Getty Images

Space heaters, as Gary Foreman points out at The Frugal Life, are considered 100 percent efficient because all of the energy they emit goes into the room they are heating. Standard furnaces lose a lot of heat through the ductwork running through your home. That increases the value of your space heater and makes operating one more likely to be worthwhile.

Advertisement

Advantage

Space heaters don't require you to vent any gas.
Image Credit: Sharon Meredith/iStock/Getty Images

One great advantage of electric space heaters, according to the Department of Energy, is that they don't require you to vent any gas. A kerosene space heater, on the other hand, emits carbon dioxide and other gases you really don't want in your living space.

Advertisement

Proper Use

Make sure you are using your heater properly.
Image Credit: sspopov/iStock/Getty Images

If you're going to use an electric heater, it's best to use it sparingly and in an enclosed room, as it will cost more to heat up a larger room. Further, you should keep the heater on only when you are in the room and can enjoy the heat. This is also a safety concern; electric heaters can cause fires if something goes wrong.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Report an Issue

screenshot of the current page

Screenshot loading...