- You can use a space heater as a supplemental heat source, but it will increase energy costs.
- Only use a space heater when you are awake, aware, and in the same room as the space heater.
- Over-reliance on a space heater could indicate that a furnace needs repair, maintenance, or replacement.
When the cold weather hits, some people like to use a space heater to give a chilly bedroom, living room, home office, or den a heat boost during the colder days of the year.
A space heater can supplement a home’s central heating quickly and effectively in a small space, but there are also drawbacks to using space heaters: They can make the air feel dry, there is increased fire risk, and there are increased energy costs. We spoke to an energy pro to find out whether it’s worth-it to use a space heater at home.
Bill Taylor is an HVAC Contractor Manager at South Jersey Gas & Elizabethtown Gas.
Should You Use a Space Heater in Winter?
Bill Taylor, HVAC Contractor Manager at South Jersey Gas & Elizabethtown Gas is here to remind us that space heaters “should only be used as supplemental heat, and should not be used as a replacement for your home’s primary system.”
Ultimately, there are comfort benefits to using a space heater, especially if you’re planning on sticking to mostly one room all day—think: bingeing your favorite show in the living room—but space heaters come with safety risks and added costs.
Whether you should use a space heater in the winter depends on when and where you want to use it and how proactive you’re going to be about turning it off.
Is Using a Space Heater Dangerous?
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Liudmila Chernetska / Getty Images
Taylor notes that “if homeowners do decide to use a space heater, they should place it on a flat, stable surface and keep it at least 3 feet away from anything flammable,” because space heaters are a fire risk.
It is never a good idea to leave a space heater unsupervised or use a space heater overnight while you are sleeping, and Taylor adds that it’s best to keep it away from blankets, clothes, and paper in your home.
One should also avoid plugging the space heater into a power strip or extension cord since the space heaters tend to have high-amperage, which could cause the power strip or extension cord to overload, increasing the risk of fire.
If you do choose to shop for a space heater, look for models that meet current safety standards are appropriately sized for the space, and seek out added safety features like automatic shutoff upon tipping or overheating.
Does It Waste Money to Use a Space Heater?
Plugging in any electronic appliance in your home means you’re using energy to run the device and therefore adding to the overall energy costs. Space heaters “use more energy than most people realize, especially if left on for long periods or in unoccupied rooms, but many models have timers or automatic shut-offs,” Taylor says.
Using a space heater when you aren’t in the same room is both dangerous and wasteful, given that you are not feeling the benefits of the heater.
Similarly, if you use a space heater in a drafty room, like a garage, then you can expect to spend a significant amount of energy with a limited increase in comfort because the heat will simply seep through the gaps, cracks, and openings. (In short, it’s energy waste, and it’s best to look into sealing up those drafts.)
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Is Space Heater Use a Sign You Aren’t Using a Furnace Effectively?
Taylor explains that “just because you are using a space heater, it doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t using your furnace effectively, but it can be a red flag.
In some cases, over-reliance on a space heater can indicate insufficient insulation, unsealed vents causing drafts, or that it’s time for a tune-up to improve the performance, Taylor says.
In these instances, it’s best to consult a heating professional who can accurately assess the system and recommended long-term solutions that might be expensive in the short-term but save you money in the long run.
How to Minimize Costs When Using a Space Heater
You can also increase and decrease the space heater’s settings directly on the unit.
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The Spruce
If you choose to use a space heater, there are ways you can keep energy bill costs down. Taylor points to methods outlined above and more: keeping heating to a single room, setting a timer even if your heater doesn’t have one, and unplugging the unit when you’re not using it to prevent “phantom” energy draw.
Additionally, you can try to pair your space heater with other simple home heating hacks, like opening the curtains during the day to let sunlight warm the home and closing the curtains at dusk to reduce heat loss.