Despite what you might think, portable heaters are a very efficient way to heat your home. I’m Lou Manfredini, Ace’s “Helpful Hardware Man” and as we all know, every house has one room that is always colder than the rest. So instead of cranking up the heat in the entire house, consider plugging in a portable heater only where you need it.
Your most efficient electric heaters are those with metal coils. These models can be small and portable, but they certainly get the job done. You can also choose electric oil filled radiators, which are another great option. The electricity heats the oil in machine and once it reaches a certain temperature, the electricity turns off, but the oil stays hot.
The biggest concern with portable heaters, however, is that you must turn them off when you are done using them or leaving the room they are in. Make sure you keep them at least 3 feet from any combustibles and never plug them into an extension cord. I also recommend installing a smoke and CO2 detector in any room that has a portable heater. Another thing to look for when choosing a portable heater is anti-tip technology, which will cut off the heat, should the unit start to tip over.
A big no-no for portable heaters are kerosene heaters. Any heater with an open flame should never be used indoors.
