Do you use a space heater in the winter?
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
United States
November 10, 2008 11:04am CST
Our furnace runs on gas. Last winter our power bill got up over $1000 from heating our home. Unfortunatly there's not much I can do to keep the bill down. We can't afford to insulate the home, or replace the old windows. I can't keep the furnace down because of the small children in the house. We put plastic over the windows, and that helps a bit.
We also use a couple space heaters to combat the cold and help keep the furnace down. Last year I only had 1 heater, so mostly I used it in my twin's bedroom, because they have no heating duct in their room. Over the summer I bought a second heater, and right now I'm using one in my dining room, which is the room I spend the most time in. The thermostat is also in the dining room, so if I keep the dining room warmer with a space heater, the thermostat won't come on as much.
I do need to get a few more space heaters, but I worry a bit about using them around the little kids.
Do you use space heaters in your home? What rooms do you use them in the most?
2 people like this
8 responses
@RhythmWalker1 (825)
• United States
11 Nov 08
Do you mean a kerosene space heater or an electric one?
I bought one of those "oil filled" radiator type heaters
and they seem to be a lot safer and do a good job.
We have a fireplace we use in part of the house.
I have a kerosene space heater that I use if and when it
gets really cold.
Stay warm!
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
11 Nov 08
Mosat space heaters now days have a tip over safety feature.
This makes them really safe around kids.
I have a convection heater.
The outside stays cool while it still generates heat.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@camomom (7535)
• United States
10 Nov 08
We used to use them before we moved into the house we're in now. We used to use heating fuel, now we have natural gas. We try to keep the heat between 60 and 68 and if that's not warm enough we put on extra clothes. I think a cooler home keeps away the germs. I also think if the little ones get sick, good that means they're building up their immune systems for when they are in school. We also try to run the washer and dryer when it's at the coldest point of the day to help warm the downstairs. We also use the dishwasher during those times. I try to make oven cooked meals when it's colder also. We have a 2 story house so the heat rises upstairs and our oven is right at the bottom of the steps. So far, we've been ok doing things this way but we'll see what happens when it gets colder. We might need the space heaters in the 2 older kids rooms. For some reason they don't get as much heat as the rest of the house.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
10 Nov 08
Electric is most expensive during the day, they call that peak hours. They say it's best to run your major appliances such as the washer, dryer, or dishwasher at night, after like 7pm, and it's cheaper at that time.
It doesn't take as much electricity to run a space heater as it does the oven or washer or dryer, so it's much cheaper.
@camomom (7535)
• United States
10 Nov 08
Those usually are the times that I use them. I also only use them if I have to anyway. I'm not wasting the electric just to heat the house. If I have no need to run these items and it got too cold I'd probably use the space heater.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
11 Nov 08
I have a convection space heater I use each winter.
Most times it is in the dining room as there are no heat vents in that room.
When it gets really cold it either goes into our bedroom or dads room.
It helps cut down a lot as well on natural gas bill.
We need all new windows as these are 60 years old mostly.
Brrrr! Drafts from a few of them actually.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
15 Nov 08
Sounds like my house, it's old, and so are the windows. Actually one of my boys broke a living room window, so that's extremely drafty. We usually buy plastic to put over the windows in winter, and that helps a lot.
@annjilena (5618)
• United States
11 Nov 08
no i have central heat and central air most people think those space heater are dangerous they feel the heater has to be ventilated the fumes can hurt you.i know sometimes you have to do what you have to do to keep warm but when i used one of those heaters i use to put water on top of it to keep the moisture in the room so air don,t smell so dry.putting plastic on the windows do help some times but when you have small children they hardly ever complain about anything so you have to protect them and keep them warm are they will have colds.and we don,t want that kids just seem to get sicker then adult when they get sick.so just do what you have to do to keep warm be blessed.
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
11 Nov 08
We don't use space heaters in our house. Our electric is much more expensive than the gas, so we have all gas appliances ect. We go on the budget billing so that it doesn't hit us so hard in the winter. I pay $165 a month for the whole year. When it comes time to balance, we usually are ahead. We have a fireplace and do use that alot when we are all in the family room watching tv ect.
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
10 Nov 08
I don't use space heaters in my home, although it would be a good idea to get one or two for the kids' rooms, because of the way their baseboard heaters are... they're too close to furniture, and I don't feel right about putting them on.
I'm in a townhouse, and we have electric heat. I find that so much more economical than gas heat, because I can have only one or two heaters on at a time, and not have to worry about the entire house. I usually only keep the living room one on, as well as the basement rec room/play room one on during the winter. Some nights I'll put my bedroom heater on, but I try to avoid it when I can.
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
10 Nov 08
I used to live in an apartment like that when I still lived with my mom. She would keep the living room heat on 62 but that was a bit too cold for me, so my room was left on about 70. I find that to be comfortable regardless of the weather. I'd like to have my house set up that way, because my bathroom always seems to get far too warm, especially if we're in there with the door closed.
@sweetpeasmom (1325)
• United States
11 Nov 08
Our furnace is gas. We are lucky that our house is small and has pretty great unsulation and windows. Our highest gas bill last year was bout 75.00, we do have a kerosene heater that we keep for if the power ever goes out. Our last house we had to use a space heater in the bathrooms and bedrooms and out electric bill was sky high. You have to keep a close eye on space heaters !! They always scare me and I would never sleep with one on. I bake a lot in the winter and that keeps my heat from kicking on so much.
@katrhina23 (1282)
• United States
11 Nov 08
I have a thermostat here in my apartment/ My apartment is small so I dont really need the space heater.
if I have a big house I would prefer to have one since I guess I will save more from that.
