These are great for warming up just a small area of the house or for placing under the desk to thaw frozen feet. The rest of the house can be kept at a temperature that will keep the pipes from freezing up. A portable heater can be taken from room to room, providing warmth directly where it is needed. These are wonderful units that provide instant heat that can be focused on a certain area or a particular person.

They are excellent for setting next to the couch while curling up with a good book. It’s also nice to turn one on in the bathroom before a shower, to take the chill out of the air. There are two different types of heat production in space heaters; convection and radiant heating. A model that uses radiant heat is best for short periods of time, since they slowly heat what is directly next to it.

Convection heaters use an element of some sort, either ceramic or copper, and a fan to blow across the heated element. This movement spreads the warmth over an entire room, instead of keeping it directly next to the heater. Some space heaters use natural gas or kerosene and aren’t meant for indoor use. The vapors that come off of non-electric space heaters is hazardous. Tall patio heaters work great to radiate some heat while have a cookout in the autumn. For indoor use, electric space heaters are the way to go.

These are the only unvented space heaters that are safe for indoor use, since they don’t produce any noxious fumes. Precautions still need to be taken, even if using an electrical space heater, as opposed to a gas powered unit. Burns and fires can occur, especially if the unit isn’t monitored.

Never leave the portable space heater running in an area where it can’t be seen and if the house is going to be completely empty. They may be highly beneficial, but they can also be dangerous if not used properly.