Replacing Your Space Heater This Winter

Right around this time of year is when people fire up their heating systems for the first time. If that means using space heaters to keep your home comfortable, we want to tell you about some better options that may be available.

Space heaters are simple and can get the job done to some degree, but are they the most effective solution? You are using space heaters all around your home, or as a supplemental solution for a room or space that isn’t staying warm. In this article we will go over the reasons why your space heater may not be the best option to heat your home, and our favorite solution to replace your space heater.

Do You Use Space Heaters All Over the Home?

If you’re relying on space heaters in multiple rooms throughout your home, you have probably already considered replacing them. Space heaters are portable, which can be convenient, but they lack the efficiency of a centralized heating system or a mini-split system. 

If you are using a space heater in multiple rooms of your home, you are probably experiencing uneven heating as you walk around your home, and you are probably paying a very large electric bill. Even though these small space heaters can bring warmth, they come with limitations that impact both your home comfort and your energy bills.

In this case, we would recommend you install a central heating system, like a heat pump, or a furnace, or a multi-zone mini-split system. These solutions will treat the entire home, and allow you to get rid of the space heaters. These are also going to help you increase your energy efficiency. A high-efficiency heating system is going to keep your home comfortable, and keep energy costs down. 

Do You Use Space Heaters to Supplement a Current Heating System?

Lots of people use space heaters as a supplemental heating option to support an existing heating system that doesn’t cover all areas of the home effectively. This is especially common in older homes or homes with specific rooms that are difficult to heat due to design or insulation issues.

Even though this may seem to work in lots of cases, you may not realize this space heater comes with some drawbacks. These are going to run up your energy bills, provide sometimes uncomfortable amounts of heat, and can be a safety hazard. 

Luckily, there is a more efficient way keep your home comfortable without having to use space heaters to keep you warm. 

What Are the Drawbacks of Space Heaters?

Space heaters do have a few appealing features. They provide immediate warmth, they are portable, and for the most part aren’t too expensive to purchase. Despite these benefits, there are a few significant drawbacks as well. 

Energy Use

Space heaters consume a significant amount of electricity, especially if they’re used for extended periods or in multiple rooms. This can send your electricity bill skyrocketing if you use these heaters throughout the whole winter. Even though you saved money by purchasing space heaters instead of a central heating system, the energy bills are going to add up if you use them for an extended period of time. 

Safety Hazard

Space heaters are also known for their safety risks. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, space heaters are responsible for 1700 house fires a year. Because of their size and the way they produce heat, they can cause a fire if they come into contact with flammable material. Children and pets may accidentally get burned if they come too close to the heating element as well.

Luckily, lots of space heaters produced today come with a safety feature where the system shuts off if it’s knocked over. Still, this isn’t the case for every space heater, and doesn’t account for someone accidentally leaving something on it like a paper or a plastic bottle. Even though space heaters aren’t as dangerous as they were in years passed, they still aren’t perfect. 

Uneven Heating

One of the biggest problems with a space heater is the actual comfort it provides. If you are using it for a whole room, it’s usually VERY warm near the space heater, but then cooler the further you get from it. Not only can it be uncomfortable for the people close to it, but also for those too far away. If you are looking for even heating throughout an entire space, this is not your best option. 

Using a Ductless Mini Split Instead of a Space Heater

Now that we’ve gone over some of the problems with space heaters, let’s consider a more efficient alternative: a ductless mini-split system. A ductless  mini split provides an all-in-one solution that can provide your home with both heating and cooling, and do so in a much more comfortable and efficient way. 

Here are some of the reasons we prefer ductless mini splits instead of space heaters: 

Mini Splits Heat and Cool

Unlike space heaters, which are limited to heating, ductless mini-split systems can provide heating in the winter, and cooling in the summer. This is perfect for rooms that have comfort issues, likely where you are using your space heater. If you also have to use a window AC in the summer for this space, a ductless mini split is PERFECT to provide both heating and cooling, in a more efficient and comfortable way!

Mini Splits Are Energy Efficient

Mini splits are designed with energy efficiency in mind, providing comfort while using as little energy as possible. Mini splits are heat pumps, and work in the same way, drawing heat from the air outside pumping it into your home. These systems also use an inverter-driven compressor that adjusts its output based on the temperature, rather than turning on and off like traditional HVAC units. 

This results in reduced energy usage, and lower energy bills. This is also good for the environment, as less energy used produces a lower carbon footprint. 

Mini Splits Provide Better Comfort

A mini-split system provides consistent, even heating throughout the space it’s being used. Even though a mini split has an air handler that distributes heat or cooling from a particular unit, it’s not as centralized as the heat from a space heater. This heat is dispersed throughout the room, typically from an air handler that hangs on the wall, higher up in the room. 

This inverter technology that we mentioned before will keep the temperature from going up and down too much, and the even distribution of air will help from there being hot or cool spots around the room. This is much better comfort that the space heater provides! 

Mini Splits Are Safer

Mini splits offer a safer heating option compared to space heaters, and even fuel burning furnaces for that matter. Mini splits provide warm air, as opposed to a space heater that has a hot surface or coils that emit heat. There are no exposed heating elements or hot surfaces, meaning mini splits won’t be a fire hazard, and you also won’t be able to burn your hand on them.

Installing a Ductless Mini Split in Villanova, PA

If you’re considering replacing your space heaters with a ductless mini split this winter in Villanova, PA, or the surrounding neighborhoods, give John Cipollone Inc. a call. We’ve installed hundreds of ductless mini splits, furnaces, and heat pumps. We’ll take a look at your home, and recommend a few options that will fit your needs best. 

Give us a call at (610) 446-7877, or contact us online to schedule a free heating estimate!