Portable Heater Tips
There are two basic types of portable heater available. Convection heaters work by drawing or blowing air over a heated surface. This kind of portable heater is designed to heat more spacious areas and can be moved from room to room or taken on trips. One of the features of convection-type portable heaters is that they operate silently.
Radiant heaters are intended to focus heat on a smaller target area. These are considered personal portable heaters rather than whole room heaters. If a room has poor insulation, you will need to focus the heat on you rather than trying to warm up the whole room. If you need to heat an entire room, a radiant heater will probably not be sufficient.
An oil-filled radiator type heater can warm an entire room, and they are usually on wheels and can be moved from room to room. They look like old-fashioned radiators, however the oil inside them is permanently encased and doesn’t need to be refilled. Most people find these to be an efficient portable heater for a whole room.
Some gas, kerosene and propane portable heaters are rated safe to use indoors, but it is very important to check the instructions to make sure you are using the device properly and that you aren’t using a portable heater indoors that was intended for outdoor use only.
Outdoor portable heaters are typically used on porches, patios or camping trips, and they can use natural gas, propane, kerosene, oil or electricity for power. When there is no access to electricity, the best outdoor portable heater draws fuel from tanks, usually propane or kerosene.
Some safety tips to keep in mind when using a portable space heater:
- Make sure there is at least 3 feet of space all around the heater
- Do not allow the heater to touch clothing, furniture or any type of fabric
- Never drape anything over the heater to dry
- Never leave a portable heater unattended
- Do not use an extension cord with a portable heater
- Make sure the portable heater has an Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) tag, indicating it has undergone independent safety testing