Do winter's cold days leave you wishing for toasty warmth? Many homeowners wonder if using portable space heaters with central heating is a safe way to stay comfortable in cold temperatures. The appeal of enhancing your primary heating capabilities with portable warmth is understandable if you have a drafty home. However, you should consider the potential long-term implications before pulling your heater out of storage.
Can Furnace Systems and Space Heaters Work Together?
Your furnace is a whole-home comfort solution that distributes heat evenly through ventilation systems. In contrast, space heaters deliver extra heating by targeting individual spaces. While this combination can make sense for brief periods, relying too heavily on your space heater all winter may prevent you from noticing fundamental concerns that indicate the need for furnace repair or a new, high-efficiency furnace installation.
How Much Electricity Do Space Heaters Use?
Space heater power consumption and wattage vary widely. If you've wisely kept up with annual furnace maintenance, relying on a space heater all winter will likely increase your costs instead of reducing them. Proactively addressing heat loss by replacing old insulation and air sealing materials 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 top concern in your household. Portable heaters can create fire risks if you put them too close to furniture or window treatments, so always maintain proper distances. Look for models with safety features to reduce risks. Be mindful of circuit capacity and electrical limitations, since exceeding capacity can cause electrical issues. And remember to check your heating system vents to ensure you don't expose your family to increased carbon monoxide risks when running your heat for months.
Potential Benefits of Supplemental Heaters
Space heaters provide individual heating 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 advanced thermostat programming, you can fine-tune temperature programs, reduce utility costs and even improve indoor air quality 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 heating system
- Using outdated models that lack modern protective mechanisms
- Heater positioning that blocks airflow from air ducts
- Using a space heater that is too small to adequately warm the intended room
Alternatives to Space Heaters for Extra Heating
You don't have to use multiple devices or keep lugging a heater around different rooms in your home. These solutions often outperform space heaters in safety and affordability:
- Multi-zone heating for specific area heating
- Installing an updated, high-efficiency furnace for better performance ratings
- Improving thermal barriers to reduce heat loss
Balancing Performance and Security
Pairing a portable heater with your furnace can provide short-term relief, but it's no substitute for investing in professional furnace maintenance and lasting upgrades like improved insulation. For lasting warmth, savings and security, focus on keeping your furnace in excellent condition and exploring modern upgrades that deliver complete home heating with fewer risks.