Extra Heat

If you find yourself using plugin space heaters when it gets cold, consider adding some permanent space heat. A plugin heater is fine when used correctly, but there are risks and downsides to relying on them. Consider the pros and cons:

Pros:

Cheap to buy
Can be positioned exactly where needed
Can be put away when it gets warmer

Cons:

Inefficient power usage - electric bill
Less heat
Risk of tripping breakers by overloading
Risk of damaging outlets and wire by overloading
Gets in your way and occupies your outlets

Adding Permanent Space Heaters

A permanent space heater has a lot of benefits. Put on a dedicated circuit, it can use 240 volt power to heat more efficiently. If installed according to manufacturer's instructions, it will be safer to use and will not put extra stress on your wiring. It can also be positioned to circulate warm air through the space effectively without getting in your way. You have more options for thermostat type and placement, and can control multiple heaters with one thermostat if you like. This is especially a concern if you need the space heated when you are not home. 

The three main options you have for space heaters are forced air wall heat, baseboard, and convection wall heat.

Forced air heats the space most quickly, and is most commonly used in spaces you will be in for a shorter period of time, like a bathroom. It can be used in bedrooms and larger rooms, especially if you install several on a single thermostat. The heater works quickly because it has a blower on it. The downsides are that it produces noise and vibration, and because it moves air through it rapidly it tends to collect more dust. It also needs  fair amound of horizontal clearance in front of it for the air to blow out. People often neglect to clean these heaters and this can eventually result in smoke coming out of the heater. 

Baseboard heat takes longer to heat up, but it's much quieter. Some models will make occasional quiet sounds as the metal expands and contracts. The slow operation and low air movement mean that these require the least amount of cleaning of the three options. They don't need a lot of vertical clearance, since they live down near the ground and are not very tall. However, they do take up a fair amount of horizontal space and so are most often used in a hall or beneath a window. You don't want to put one behind a bed or sofa, though you could get away with a bench or a table near one of these heaters if you obey the recommended product clearances. 

Convection heat comes in a panel. It mounts on the wall and uses the rising action of hot air to pull cool air in from the floor and circulate it up the wall to the celing. Properly positioned, it does the best job of evenly heating a space and is completely silent. It requires more vertical clearance than a baseboard, but is usually much shorter in the horizontal direction. It does not require as much space in front as a forced air heater. It does need to be cleaned, but collects less than a forced air unit and is easier to clean. Typically, convection heaters are the most expensive option, but they tend to provide a better heating experience and fit into your space better. 

Installation procedure

If you do not currently have a heater in your location, a circuit will need to be added. Typically, this requires adding a two-pole breaker in your panel and running a wire through your attic or crawl space to the desired location. If you are installing the heater with a separate thermostat, the wire will be run to that location first, and then an additional wire will be run to the location of the heater. Multiple heaters can be chained together on the same circuit, with or without separate thermostats as needed. 

If you already have a heating circuit in place and want to change the kind of heater you are using, it can sometimes require a bit of drywall patching depending on if the wire needs to be moved a little to accomodate the new heater type. In some cases, a blank covered junction box can be installed at the old location instead, and used to feed a wire to the new location. 

If you have questions about your heating situation, feel free to contact me with questions. I can also help you with heat for garage spaces, pumphouses, etc. These typically require a different kind of heater.