Do you have that one room or area of your home that is knee-knocking cold while the rest of the house is perfectly comfortable? Or, perhaps you prefer your home at a pleasant 68 degrees F, while another member of your household enjoys a cozier 72.

No doubt about it:  you can please some of the people some of the time, but not necessarily…well, you know the rest. That’s why, when it comes to home heating, a portable space heater can serve as the great equalizer, providing individualized warmth to certain rooms without the need to spike the temperature everywhere else.

However, buying just the right space heater is more challenging than even a few years ago. That’s because there is an ever-growing availability of types, sizes, and options to choose from. Here are a few things to keep in mind before making your purchase:

  • Select a space heater that can safely, effectively, and efficiently heat the desired space. The right-sized space heater will help maintain a more consistent temperature and it won’t waste the kind of energy that a larger unit would.
  • Look for specific safety features, such as the UL label that means the unit has met required safety standards. Also, be sure it has an auto tip-switch plus an over-heat sensor.
  • Consider a dual-wattage model if your space heater must share an outlet with another electronic device.
  • Prevent burns by selecting a model that is cool to the touch when turned on. This is especially important if you have small children.
  • Like most electrical appliances, many portable heaters emit some noise during operation. Some models, however, produce more than others. Consider non-fan-forced units such as a baseboard heater or an oil-filled radiator for silent operation in quiet environments like your bedroom or office.

If you’re planning to purchase a portable space heater because your central heating system isn’t doing its job in all or part of your home, that might be a good short-term solution. But in the long term, the extra money you spend for electricity can easily be offset by our heating system cleaning or repair service. To learn more or request service, contact Burton today.