A space heater is a device used to heat a single, small to medium sized area.[1]
Electric space heaters fall into four main categories: fan heaters, ceramic, infrared, and oil-filled.[2]
In convective heaters without a fan, the heating element is surrounded by oil or water. These heaters warm a room more slowly, because the liquid must be heated before the heat can reach the surrounding air. They produce more heat after being turned off, however, because of the hot liquid inside the heater. The risk of fire (and burns) is sometimes less with oil-filled heaters than those with fans,[3][4] but some fan-assisted heaters have a lower risk of fire (and burns) than other oil-filled heaters.[5]
See also: Infrared heater, Ceramic heater, and Radiant heating and cooling system |
Halogen heaters have tungsten filaments in sealed quartz envelopes, mounted in front of a metal reflector in a plastic case. They operate at a higher temperature than nichrome-wire heaters but not as high as incandescent light bulbs, radiating primarily in the infrared spectrum. They convert up to 86 percent of their input power to radiant energy, losing the remainder to conductive and convective heat.[6]
Fire, burns, and carbon monoxide poisoning are the main risks of space heaters. About 25,000 fires are caused by space heaters in the United States each year, resulting in about 300 deaths. Roughly 6,000 hospital emergency department visits annually in the US are caused by space heaters, mainly from burns.[7]
Improper use can increase the risk of fire and burns. Safe operation includes:[8][7][9]
No one type of heater is safer than any other type. The risk of fire and burns can vary, depending on model and manufacturer.[5]
In the United States, Underwriters Laboratories' UL 1278[10] (for portable electric space heaters) and UL 1042[11] standards (for portable and fixed baseboard electric heaters) certify heater safety. Although the General Services Administration had Specification W-H-193[12] for electric space heaters, it was replaced in 1995 by the UL standards. Additional information on portable-heater safety may be found at the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency website.[13]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has evaluated a number of space heaters, but none have received its Energy Star label.[14]