Do winter's cold days leave you wishing for warm comfort? Many homeowners wonder if using portable space heaters with central heating is a safe way to stay comfortable in frigid weather. The thought of maximizing your primary heating capabilities with supplemental heat is understandable if you have a cold house. However, we recommend you consider the potential long-term implications before pulling your heater out of storage.
Can Furnace Systems and Space Heaters Work Together?
Your heating system is a whole-home comfort solution that distributes heat evenly through ventilation systems. In contrast, electric heaters deliver additional warmth by targeting individual spaces. While this combination can make sense for temporary situations, relying too heavily on your space heater all winter may prevent you from noticing root problems that indicate the need for furnace repair or a new, high-efficiency furnace installation.
How Much Electricity Do Space Heaters Use?
Space heater electricity use and wattage vary widely. If you've wisely kept up with regular furnace maintenance, relying on a space heater all winter will likely raise your bills instead of reducing them. Proactively addressing energy waste by replacing old insulation and draft stoppers typically delivers better results than combining a patchwork of solutions.
Precautions to Take When Using a Portable Space Heater With Your Furnace
Safety should always be a priority in your household. Space heaters can create safety dangers if you put them too close to flammable objects, so always maintain safe clearances. Look for models with tip-over and overheat protection to reduce risks. Be mindful of breaker load and power requirements, since exceeding capacity can cause electrical issues. And remember to check your furnace ventilation to ensure you don't expose your family to increased toxic gas hazards when running your heat for months.
Potential Benefits of Supplemental Heaters
Space heaters provide customized warmth by quickly warming rooms that feel colder than others. However, modern smart thermostats and thermostat setbacks or zoning often achieve the same effect even more safely and efficiently. With smart thermostat optimization, you can fine-tune temperature programs, reduce power consumption and even improve humidification and comfort at lower temps without relying on additional appliances.
Avoid these mistakes when using space heaters alongside your furnace:
- Relying solely on space heaters to replace your central heating
- Using old units that lack modern safety technology
- Unit location that blocks airflow from air ducts
- Using a space heater that is too small to adequately warm the desired space
Alternatives to Room Heaters for Additional Warmth
You don't have to use various heaters or keep lugging a heater around different rooms in your home. These solutions often outperform space heaters in efficiency and safety:
- Multi-zone heating for specific area heating
- Installing a modern, energy-efficient heating system for better performance ratings
- Improving weatherization to reduce energy waste
Balancing Efficiency and Safety
Pairing a supplemental heater with your furnace can provide short-term relief, but it's no substitute for investing in professional furnace maintenance and permanent improvements like improved insulation. For lasting coziness, economy and protection, focus on keeping your furnace in optimal working order and exploring modern upgrades that deliver whole-house comfort with fewer risks.
