How much does it cost to run a space heater? We all know how the winter months can be very cold in certain parts of North America. If you live in the northern states of America, then you should know just how serious the winters can get. Those who live in the southern parts of the country enjoy milder winters, but it can still get somewhat cold. There are people who avoid installing large hot water heaters or central heating units in the south due to not needing to use them throughout most of the year.
When those cold winter months do come around, it makes it difficult to remain comfortable inside of your home. Without a proper heating solution, people wind up feeling very inconvenienced, even if the temperatures aren’t quite so cold as in the north. To get through these cold months, some people wind up making the decision to buy space heaters. These little heaters are capable of warming up your home effectively and all you need to do for most of them is plug them right into your electrical outlet.
The problem with this is that you will be running a device that uses quite a bit of electricity. As you know, electricity isn’t always going to be cheap. You pay a monthly energy bill and that energy bill is likely going to rise if you are making use of a space heater. Just how much more you will be paying is largely dependent on the wattage of your space heater and how often you need to use it.
Wattage Makes a Difference
How much money you are going to be spending on a monthly basis to run your space heaters will depend on several factors. The first thing that you need to take into account is the overall wattage of the space heater that you plan on using. These space heaters will range in power and ability based on how high the wattage is. If you want to heat up a large portion of your home, then you will likely want to buy a unit with a higher wattage.
A 1,500 watt space heater is a common choice to heat a living room area and other portions of the house. If you use a space heater such as this constantly for an entire month, then you will add just about one-hundred dollars to your monthly energy bill. This is a pretty significant cost and some people will be surprised by just how much a space heater will hike your bill up. The costs can potentially go higher than this due to other factors as well.
Cost Information
Thinking about the cost of running your space heater is a smart idea. You don’t want to get that first monthly energy bill in the winter and feel shocked at the number that you are presented with. Knowing what to expect can help you to mitigate the damage and make smarter choices that will work for you. Space heaters are still a practical way to heat a home when you don’t have a traditional home heating setup, but it can be best to plan things accordingly.
One way that the cost of running a space heater can start to get out of hand is when you need multiple space heaters. In general, a space heater is not going to be able to heat your entire home. Placing one in your living room will heat up the living room and maybe some of the areas that are close to the living room if your house is laid out properly. If you live with multiple people, then everyone may need their own space heater to use in his or her bedrooms.
Running several space heaters can be quite costly. Knowing that a 1,500 watt space heater can add one-hundred dollars to your energy bill when used continuously for a month should tell you that this could get really expensive if you aren’t careful. Keep in mind that the one-hundred dollar figure is for when you run the space heater continuously. It is possible to be more careful about how you are using the space heaters.
Use Your Space Heaters Wisely
Using your space heaters wisely can help you to alleviate some of the financial burdens of increased energy bills. Turn your space heaters off when it isn’t that cold outside. Don’t use a space heater in a room that no one is using. If no one is in the living room, then turn the space heater off until someone starts using it again.
It may not feel convenient to have to heat up your room every time you want to use it, but it can help you keep your overall costs down. If you are able to use your space heaters wisely, then you can stay warm during the winter while avoiding really high energy bills. Sometimes, being a little more conservative with your use of space heaters will pay off. Definitely use them when you need to though, as you don’t want anyone in your household to get sick.
Take the Proper Safety Precautions
Always remember to take the proper safety precautions when you are using space heaters, too. These space heaters are great tools for heating up your home, but they can also be very dangerous. You need to take great care when using your space heaters so that you can avoid any potential mishaps. This means that you need to pay attention to the position of your space heaters to avoid fires.
Placing a space heater too close to blankets or curtains can be very hazardous. It is possible that the heat being produced by your space heater could cause the fabric to catch on fire. Position the heater away from these things and give it an area that is clear of obstacles so that it can be effective at its job. As long as you do this, you should be able to avoid much of the danger associated with these heaters.
Also, never leave your space heaters running while you are away from home. This may seem like a very common sense tip, but some people do make the decision to leave them running while they go to work. Coming home to a warm environment may seem like a nice idea, but you could come home to the fire department dousing your belongings with water if you get unlucky. It isn’t worth the risk and you should shut the heaters off when no one is going to be home to keep things safe.
