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Manufactured Home Space Heaters Guide: 5 Shopping Factors To A Warmer Winter

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manufactured home space heaters

Manufactured home space heaters are designed to heat single rooms or small areas. They use burnable fuel (such as wood pellets, natural gas, fuel oil, propane, or wood) or electricity.

There are many types of space heaters out there from well-known brands like

  • Dyna-Glo
  • Duraflame
  • Lask
  • DeLonghi.

Some of the types you will bump into in the store are

  • propane heaters
  • infrared heaters
  • electric heaters
  • torpedo heaters
  • quartz heaters
  • salamander heaters
  • convector heaters
  • and many more.

Are you looking for a more personal heater that you can place in one of the corners of your room?

You should probably go for a compact heater, energy-efficient space heater, ceramic heater, or radiant heater.

The tower heater would be perfect for your garage if you need to keep working there during the winter.

If you want to move around with the heater, you can choose the

  • battery-operated option
  • oil-filled option
  • natural gas option
  • or forced air option.

As you can tell, there is the right space heater for everyone.

But, how do you buy the right space heater for your heating needs? First, you need to ask yourself a few questions:

What heating output would be perfect for your space?

Basically, what’s the size of the space heater you want for your space?

What kind of space heater would be perfect for use in a whole year?

In this scenario, you should factor in the room you intend to equip with a space heater and the range of temperatures it often faces during the Autumn and the Winter.

There exist strong units that can easily heat a larger room in an energy-efficient way. Alternatively, you can choose to buy a pair or even three smaller heaters for the task.

However, if you must use multiple small space heaters, be sure to place them strategically in your room to get the most out of them without being wasteful.

Five Factors To An Excellent Manufactured Home Space Heaters Purchase

Now let’s glance at the factors to consider;

1. Electric v/s Gas Space Heaters – Which One Would Work for You?

There are two types of space heaters when it comes to fuel – electric and gas heaters.

You need to consider your needs and determine the cheapest or readily available type of fuel in your area.

Electric

Pros
  • Electric heaters guarantee high energy efficiency and can be easily used in closed areas without the danger of poisoning.
  • Also, they don’t require venting because they don’t emit fumes. As such, they are the safest option for home portable heating.
Cons
  • On the downside, they cost more to run than gas heaters because electricity is normally expensive compared to gas.
  • They also need an electrical outlet to work.
  • Some users don’t like the fact that they take longer to cool down and warm up.
  • The fact that they use electricity means you won’t stay warm during power outages.

Gas

Pros
  • Gas space heaters cost about 50 percent less in operational costs compared to their electric rivals.
  • They also offer greater portability than the former as they are not hindered by cords.
  • Better, yet, they can keep functioning even during power outages.
  • The most impressive thing is that they heat up and cool down almost instantly.
Cons
  • On the downside, they require a higher initial investment compared to electric options.
  • Also, they require adequate ventilation lest they poison your space.
  • For that reason, they are mainly recommended for use in open spaces where air circulation would be at a maximum.
  • They are also known to produce noise as the fuel ignites or flows inside.

2. The BTU Rating/Space Heater Coverage & Size

What size of the room can be sufficiently warmed by the heater of your interest?

The power of the space heater can be determined by revisiting its BTU rating.

One BTU (British Thermal Unit) refers to the total amount of energy that is required to raise the temperature of 1 lb. of water by 1° F.

  • Very high BTUs aren’t always recommendable – in fact, they can be wasteful if you intend the heater for a small room.
  • Very little BTUs aren’t recommendable either unless your room is small enough to be perfectly served by such a heater.

While BTUs can be as high as 80,000 or even 100,000 in some home HVACs and heating systems, those of space heaters rarely surpass 50,000 because this type of heater is meant for small spaces.

BTUs need to be chosen carefully – buy a space heater with more BTUs for a tiny space and much of the energy will go to waste; buy one with little BTUs and you’ll barely receive the warmth you deserve.

How To Determine The BTU Needed

  • To figure out the right BTU rating for your space, measure the length and width of the space, and multiply them to find the square footage.
  • Unless the ceiling is exceptionally high, you can ignore it for now as most heaters are designed to work perfectly under the standard 8 ft. ceiling height found in most homes.
  • Also, 20 BTUs are enough to service 1 ft2 of space, so take the square footage of your floor space and multiply by 20 BTU.
  • If your room has a floor of 800 sq. ft., then you will need a space heater with 16,000 BTUs.

3. Space Heater Safety

Ensure that you are buying a space heater that has been certified to meet all safety standards spelled by any Nationally Recognized Testing Lab.

Most home insurance companies require this.

User Tip: Always plug the device directly into a 120-V wall outlet. Never use a power strip, extension cord, surge protector, cord reel, outlet-type air fresheners, or multiple outlet adapter.

Look closely for these important safety features:

Overheat Protection

This feature allows the device to shut off when a heat sensor detects a specific predetermined temperature.

Tip-over Switches

They automatically shut off the heater if it is accidentally knocked over.

Flame-resistant Cases + Thermally Protected Motors

These two offer an extra layer of fire protection by ensuring that the heater doesn’t burn itself and cause a fire in your home.

For extra safety, remember:

  • Heaters partly filled with liquids are generally safer compared to those with naked/exposed heating elements
  • Remember to turn your space heater off when you are not in the room or at home
  • Refrain from using space heaters in moist spaces such as the bathroom or laundry room unless they are duly approved for those environments
  • Keep your device at least 3 ft. away from any combustible surface, fabrics, papers, or any other combustible material
  • Use gas, kerosene, or propane units only in well-vented spaces
  • Choose a heater with an outer grill opening small that’s small enough to keep the hands of your kids and the paws of your pets away.
  • Make sure your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are operational before using a space heater

4. Style of The Space Heater

If you are going for gas or electric space heaters then you have a wide range of styles to choose from, each of which is designed to suit specific indoor or outdoor spaces.

Indoor environments

Baseboard electric heaters

They are also referred to as low-profile heaters and are placed at the base of the wall in the room. They are good at providing steady heat, quiet operation, and low installation costs.

If you are looking for a space heater you can place in corners or baseboards in your rec rooms or basement, this is just the right style for the purpose.

Please Note that Baseboard electric heaters (or baseboard electric space heaters, if we were to write in full) are different from baseboard heaters (or traditional baseboard heaters) – the former is portable and serves as a temporary heating solution while the latter is permanently installed on the baseboards and mainly comes in two voltage models: 120-V and 240-V.

Lasko supplies some excellent portable baseboard heaters, including this:

Tower Heaters

Tower heaters are simple electric space heaters often enclosed in a tall case.

If you are looking for the best type of electric space heater for directional heating or one that’s ideal for sunrooms, living spaces, and virtually any other space that can be easily closed off, this is just the right option for the job.

A good example is Lasko’s bladeless 1500-W oscillating model:

Brands to check are

Radiator electric heaters

This is the right type of space heater for even and prolonged heating spanning several hours.

They also provide less drying and steady heat compared to fan-forced or radiant heaters.

If you are looking for the best space heater to add to your bedroom and receive nightlong heating, this is just the right type of heater for the job. Perhaps the most unique part about them is that they come in retro looks. Some models feature wheels for easy mobility.

Please Note that radiator electric heaters are unique from the rest because they radiate (hence, radiator) heat stored inside a special heat-retaining medium, often a ceramic or thermal fluid. They work very much like the sun; you must stay in the radiation shade to get the warmth, step out and you will get none.

The radiation technique of distributing heat waves is the direct opposite of the convection method found in common convection space heaters. In convection heaters, heat is used to warm circulating air enclosed by the room.

Anyway, back to radiator electric heaters, Costway 7-Fin Radiator heater is a good example:

Brands to check are

Panel Heaters

Panel heaters are quiet and lightweight enough to mount on walls.

Unlike most other types, panel heaters don’t glow orange. Their modern design syncs with most room décor.

They are perfect for large spaces like living rooms and study rooms.

Here is an example:

Check out Wexstar’s collection of panel heaters.

Outdoor

Patio Heaters

Patio heaters are often gas or electricity-powered but you can bump into oil options in some outlets.

  • Electric models are normally wall-mounted heat and can be used to generate directional warmth over dining areas or outdoor baths.
  • Gas models typically offer heat for an area about 20-foot in diameter using propane, natural gas. They come in umbrella-like designs often standing on poles 7 feet tall or higher.

Here’s an example:

Tabletop Heaters

Tabletop heaters resemble table lamps but can be used both indoors and outdoors settings.

The vast majority of them are available as electric or gas units.

If you are looking for the best type of space heater to warm your deck and patio, this is it.

Here’s one:

5. Type of Space Heater

There are many types of space heaters out there, but most of the products will find in the store fall in these four types:

  • Ceramic
  • Oil Filled
  • Infrared
  • Micathermic

Ceramic heaters

This type of heater utilizes a ceramic element to heat to the room.

It is popular because it can regulate its own temperatures without the need for coils and wiring.

Thus, they are safe to use even in absence of safety measures and features.

Ideal Locations: home office, bedroom, living room

Radiator/Oil-Filled Heaters

They are a unique kind of space heaters because they radiate (hence, radiator) heat stored inside a special heat-retaining medium, often a ceramic or thermal fluid, a method that’s opposite to the convection method of heating.

  • The oil is first dispersed throughout the fins in the heater when serves to spread the oil evenly over the heat.
  • The heat is dissipated from the oil through the air to the user through the convection method.
  • Oil-filled heaters can be said to use both radiant and convection heating methods.
  • They are mostly silent, cost-effective, eco-friendly, and instant.

Infrared Heaters

Infrared space heaters heat rooms by emitting rays that are easily absorbed by human bodies and other items, which in turn increases the temperatures of the surroundings gently with time.

They work differently compared with most other types of space heaters you may consider for your home. However, they can get extremely hot while their zone warming may be untimely or unclear.

Ideal Locations: living room, home office, small rooms, bedroom

Micathermic Panel Heaters

This unique hybrid-heaters work by releasing about 80 percent convection heat and 20 percent direct radiant heat. Most of them are generally lightweight and wall mountable.

And, like convection heaters, their operation is largely silent and emits no light.

They take advantage of the airflow in the room to circulate warmth, which is a great way of heating a room with allergy sufferers because dust is not blown around and recirculated all over the place.

However, they can be hot to a bare skin, so they are not recommended for use around pets and children.

Ideal Locations: home office, bedroom, bathroom (with caution), other small room.

Final Thoughts

How you choose a space heater can make or break your autumn and winter heating plans.

When shopping for one, make your mind between electric and gas space heaters and also determine the BTU requirements of your space.

The style of the space heater and your safety are two other important factors.