Do winter's chilly days leave you wishing for cozy comfort? Many homeowners wonder if using portable heaters with central heating is a safe way to stay comfortable in cold temperatures. The appeal of enhancing your primary heating capabilities with supplemental heat is understandable if you have a cold house. However, you should consider the potential long-term implications before pulling your heater out of storage.
Can Furnaces and Space Heaters Work Together?
Your furnace is a whole-home comfort solution that distributes heat evenly through ventilation systems. In contrast, electric heaters deliver additional warmth by targeting specific rooms. While this combination can make sense for brief periods, relying too heavily on your space heater all winter may prevent you from noticing underlying issues that indicate the need for furnace repair or a new, economical furnace installation.
How Much Electricity Do Space Heaters Use?
Space heater energy usage and wattage vary widely. If you've wisely kept up with seasonal furnace maintenance, relying on a space heater all winter will likely raise your bills instead of reducing them. Proactively addressing energy waste by replacing old insulation and weatherproofing typically delivers better results than combining a patchwork of solutions.
Precautions to Take When Using a Space Heater With Your Furnace
Safety should always be a top concern in your household. Electric heaters can create safety dangers if you put them too close to combustible materials, so always maintain safe clearances. Look for models with safety features to reduce risks. Be mindful of circuit capacity and circuit capacity, since exceeding capacity can cause electrical issues. And remember to check your furnace ventilation to ensure you don't expose your family to increased carbon monoxide risks when running your heat for months.
Potential Benefits of Portable Heaters
Portable heaters provide individual heating by quickly warming rooms that feel colder than others. However, modern smart thermostats and programmable settings or zoning often achieve the same effect even more safely and efficiently. With smart thermostat optimization, you can fine-tune temperature programs, reduce energy waste and even improve overall comfort 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 HVAC system
- Using obsolete heaters that lack modern protective mechanisms
- Heater positioning that blocks airflow from ventilation
- Using a space heater that is too small to adequately warm the intended room
Alternatives to Portable 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 a modern, high-efficiency furnace for better fuel economy
- Improving weatherization to reduce heat loss
Balancing Cost-Effectiveness and Protection
Pairing a portable heater with your furnace can provide temporary comfort, but it's no substitute for investing in professional heating system service and permanent improvements like improved insulation. For lasting coziness, economy and protection, focus on keeping your furnace in excellent condition and exploring modern upgrades that deliver whole-house comfort with fewer risks.
