Evaluating Central Heating Versus Space Heaters
On cold winter Martinsville nights, you have a choice of turning up the thermostat or putting a space heater in the room that you’re using. The question is, which one of these two options is the best in terms of safety and cost?
What Size Space Are You Looking to Heat?
As is implied by their name, space heaters are designed to only heat a small area of your house. If you’re going to spend a lot of time in one room, for example, working in your home office or taking a nap in a bedroom, then a space heater could be an excellent option to keep you warm.
Space heaters typically use electricity. This could allow you to reduce heating costs by reducing the amount of gas you use. However, if you use multiple space heaters in your home, you could be wasting a lot of money. In this circumstance, central heating is probably your best bet.
The Cost of Running a Space Heater
A 600-watt space heater may cost $60 a month to run. These costs are on top of what you spend using central heat to keep other parts of your house warm. A 1,500-watt unit could set you back $150 or more a month. This assumes that you run them 24 hours a day. Most people don’t do this, and it’s not recommended.
Based on numbers provided by the US Energy Information Administration, it costs around $960 to heat your home with a furnace each winter. It’s around $107 a month if you use gas or $160 a month if you use electricity.
Space heaters aren’t a permanent solution. If you only use one 600-watt space heater as your sole heating source, you could save money every month. However, if you’re using multiple space heaters in addition to central heating, you could be wasting a lot of money.
An HVAC Company You Can Trust
There’s a reason why so many homes in Martinsville use central heating. It’s safe and cost-effective. At McKinney Heating & Air Conditioning, we’re proud to offer the best heating, cooling, and fireplace services. Contact us today to get assistance with your air conditioning and heating needs!
