Electric Heater: It's Not As Difficult As You Think
How to Select Electric Heaters Electric heaters offer a range of benefits, including a low cost of installation, minimal maintenance for homeowners and a cost-effective method to heat your home. They are also more efficient than heating systems that require venting. They are particularly useful If your electricity provider provides Economy 7, as the cheaper off-peak tariff can help you save money on the cost of heating. Temperature Settings The ideal situation is that your electric heater permits you to adjust and maintain the temperature you desire without needing to turn it on or off. This will help save energy and stop you from entering or leaving the room that is too cold. Find a thermostat that has a timer, if possible. When selecting an electric heater, be sure that it's designed for the space you're using it in. A heater that's too small will need to run longer to achieve the temperature you want. This is a waste of energy and could cause your room to overheat. Use our calculator to determine the best heater's watts per square foot for your room. Also, make sure that the temperature adjustment knobs are accessible and adjust. It is possible remove screws or peel back insulation in order to reach the knobs, if they are recessed. electric logs for fireplace can be a challenge. Be sure to check the recommended temperature range for safety and effectiveness. Temperatures below 120 degrees could trigger bacteria growth and increase the risk of scalding, and temperatures higher than 140 degrees could pose an hazard to fire. The Everhot is a sleek, compact heater designed for use in conservatories, or as the company puts it: “annexes, holiday cottages, narrow boats and shepherds' huts, as well as glamping pods.” It can reach temperatures of up to 200C, making it an ideal choice for heating and cooking. It has a timer, and an ECO setting that optimizes temperature and power settings to make it more efficient. It's also quiet, with no fan noise and no whirring noise when you change the settings. This makes it an excellent choice for bedrooms or living rooms. It also comes with a few other useful features, such as an inbuilt nightlight that turns blue when the heater is turned on and a built-in humidifier which can be switched to an intermittent mist setting for a more subtle effect. It's also safe and sturdy with a tip-over shutoff switch as well as an overheating protection feature that shuts down the unit if it gets too hot. It is also UL-listed to ensure safety. Safety Electric heaters should be used with caution. Fire hazards from heaters and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can be particularly hazardous to children, elderly people and those with chronic health issues or immune system issues. In addition, children and pets could knock over a heater, leading to injury or even death. ESFI recommends checking the heater's plug and cord on a regular basis. Check for signs of damage like cracks in the plug, a loose cord, or if the plug is damaged or loose. If the cord or outlet feels hot, contact an electrician who is certified to replace it. Also, do not connect multiple electrical devices to the same outlet using a space heater; it could cause overload and cause overheating. It is also a good idea to use only heaters that are registered or labelled by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as UL. These products are more likely than other models to comply with voluntary safety standards. Never place a heater near flammable materials, such as carpets or fabrics. Make sure to keep a minimum distance of three feet between the heater and combustible material. Also, do not place heaters in bathrooms or kitchen and do not use it if you're in a wet state. Also, make sure to connect a heater directly to an outlet on the wall. Never use the power strip. If you need to use an extension cord, make sure you choose the shortest one that is heavy-duty and made with 14-gauge wire. Also, look for loose outlets that could be a sign of an overloaded circuit. If you're using an electric space heater in an open space ensure that you keep it at least six inches away from anything that may ignite. It's recommended to place a space heater on a flat surface instead of putting it on tables, cabinets or furniture, as they could overheat and cause fire. Lastly, be sure to switch off the heater and disconnect it when you leave the room or retire to bed and leave it on to increase the chance of fire. Utilizing the correct safety measures when using electric heaters can avoid injuries and decrease energy consumption. Electric heaters are frequently employed by facility managers to provide additional heat in offices and common areas when temperatures drop. Preferred Climate Solutions installs and maintains outdoor or indoor electric heating systems to make your space as comfortable in the cold winter months as is possible. Contact us to learn more about heating solutions. Energy Efficiency When you are choosing a portable electric heater, consider its energy efficiency. This refers to the amount of electricity required to create the desired amount of heat. Heating systems that require less electricity are considered more efficient, and this can help to reduce the overall cost of heating a house or business. The heating element is employed in a majority of electrical heaters to convert electrical energy into warmth. It is usually composed of a ribbon, coil or flexible heater element or tubular element which emits heat when an electric current passes through it. The amount of heat that is produced depends on the type of heating element and the method by which it transmits heat (convection or radiation). If you are concerned about your environmental impact, consider models that use an environmentally friendly method of energy. This could be a sustainable energy source or a substitute to fossil fuels like wind or solar. The efficiency of electric heaters is also influenced by where and how electricity is generated. Electricity generated from a solar or wind power plant will be more efficient than electricity produced by burning fossil fuels in a power station. In addition to choosing the heater that makes use of an eco-friendly form of energy, it is important to consider a heater that comes with various built-in energy-saving features. These may include automatic shutoff mechanisms that will be activated in the event of a heater overheating, or if a unit is accidentally dropped. These safety measures will protect your family or employees and can also help you save money on energy bills by preventing excessive usage. Many portable electric heaters are designed to run quietly, making them ideal for offices, bedrooms and other spaces that require a quiet environment. Electric heaters can also save money by reducing maintenance calls. Gas units are more costly to repair than electric models and maintenance costs can be costly over the course of time. Electric models are generally cheaper to maintain, and often come with more advanced features that help you to conserve energy. Installation Electric heaters work on the principle of Joule energy, converting electrical energy into radiant heat that warms the room. Electric heaters are also more efficient and economical than other heating methods, especially gas. However, they're not suitable for every household and can put a strain on an existing electricity system. For this reason, it's recommended to have a professional electrician check whether the current system is able to handle the additional load of an electric wall heater prior to installing one. When selecting an electric heater, you must consider a variety of aspects, such as the size and type of the heater, as well as the space in the space it will be placed. The type of heater you choose will determine the amount it will cost to run. Electric baseboard heaters are more expensive to operate than space heaters or portable heaters, however they provide more uniform heat and do not require chimneys or vents. Electric fan heaters include an air compressor that circulates hot air through the room. This kind of electric heater is the most affordable but it can also be noisy and takes a longer time to warm up the room. Look for a space heater with built-in thermostat. This feature lets you set a target temperature and will automatically shut off when the desired temperature is attained. This can significantly reduce your consumption of energy and keep you from turning the heater on and off. Before installing an electric heater, ensure that the power is off on the breaker panel. Also, ensure that the circuit is shut off with a tester. Mark the location on the wall where you intend to install the heater and cut a hole in the wall. Use a drywall saw to cut off the required section, making sure not to cut any electrical pipes or wires. Connect a 14/2 wire of the same gauge as the existing wires from the panel for the breaker to the wall opening. Connect each wire to the screw in the outlet box by removing approximately 1 inch of insulation. The wire you identify as the “line” by labeling it or marking it with a piece of red tape. Then, connect it to the wire leads marked “load” in the thermostat box.