Blog: How to Reduce Your Space Heater Running Costs
Space Heaters can be used as portable and temporary heating options at home, in a workplace, commercial space, industrial building, or on site, to keep areas warm and comfortable.
A wide range of different types is available, from electric fan heaters and radiators, to LPG heaters, natural gas heaters, oil-fired space heaters and waste oil heaters.
Whilst convenient and reliable, space heaters can incur substantial running costs. Though, using our handy tips, you can ensure that your space heater running costs are kept as low as possible.
Tips To Reduce Space Heater Running Costs
Use a more cost-effective fuel - Do your research into what is the best fuel source for you. Direct & indirect oil fired space heaters can be fuelled using either diesel, kerosene or heating oil. Kerosene often provides a cheaper alternative to diesel. Check with your local fuel suppliers before purchasing a heater, to see which fuel option would give you the best bang for your buck.
Insulate the space - Installing insulation in the space you want to heat may sound costly upfront, but it will massively save on heating costs in the long run. Insulation keeps the heat where you want it – indoors – so your space heater will not need to work as hard to keep the space warm.
Use a thermostat – Most space heaters have either an inbuilt thermostat or a port which allows a remote thermostat to be connected. A thermostat allows you to set a required temperature in the space and the heater will switch itself on and off automatically to maintain the set temperature, so it only runs when it needs to.
Set a timer - Some heaters have a timer function and will switch off after set amount of time. For example, the timer could be set for when people are actually in the building, rather than just heating an empty space. Then the heater will only run when it is needed.
Use a 'recirculation kit' - Available for most indirect oil-fired heaters. Rather than drawing cold air in from outside, heating it and blowing it inside, the recirculation kit features a hose and adaptor. It fixes on to the air inlet of the heater and allows it to draw air in from inside the space, rather than the outside. This means the input air is warmer than it would be with outside air, so the heater doesn’t have to work as hard to heat the air up.
Correct size - Ensure that you purchase the correct heater for your space. Buying a small heater for a larger area may seem like a cheap option upfront, but this means that the heater will have to be on for much longer to heat the space, incurring greater ongoing running costs.
Cheaper alternatives – Depending on the type of space and the area that you want to heat, there may be a better alternative to a space heater. Infrared heaters provide a more cost-effective way of heating specific areas within larger spaces – eg. a work area within a large warehouse. Using infrared to heat a specific area rather than the air within a whole space ensures that energy and money is not being wasted heating areas that do not need to be heated. Infrared heaters also offer a great option for outdoor heating, where heating the air is option inefficient and wasteful.
More Information
We offer a wide selection of space heaters for home, commercial & industrial use – and spaces of all types and sizes.
We have years of experience in the industry, so we can advise you on the ideal heater for your space, and the most efficient, cost-effective solution.
Take a look at our full range of space heaters on our website. For expert help & advice, contact our team via telephone or online live chat!
