When the cold winter season hits, you need to rely on a source of heat to keep your home warm. Not only will this help to ensure that your water lines don't freeze, but it will also help to keep your family comfortable and safe throughout those long winter nights. However, if you're like most homeowners, you're likely weighing the pros and cons of each heating source to determine which one is best for your home.

Home Furnace vs. Space Heaters

One of the most common types of heating systems that you will hear about is the home furnace. This device utilizes a specific fuel source to create heat that is forced through a series of ductwork to each room in your home. Furnaces that run on natural gas, propane, or heating oil use the process of combustion to create heat. Electric furnaces use electricity to heat an element inside the furnace to produce heat.

Space heaters are similar to electric furnaces in how they work. They have an internal heating element that is powered by electricity. They also have a built-in fan that forces warm air into the room. Space heaters rated for indoor use do not rely on any combustion fuel. Rather, they rely on electricity.

Which is More Practical to Invest In?

Most homeowners who are assessing heating systems are looking for one to heat their entire home. This is where a furnace becomes the practical choice over space heaters. Space heaters are designed to heat a small space, like a bedroom or living room. Furnaces are designed with ducting to heat all the various rooms of your home.

Regarding fuel efficiency, furnaces blow space heaters out of the water. It's much cheaper to run a furnace that burns gas, oil, or propane than a space heater that utilizes electricity. Additionally, an electric furnace can heat an entire home using less energy than multiple space heaters would to achieve the same job.

Cons of Using Space Heaters

The biggest disadvantage of using space heaters in your home is their fire risk. Due to how space heaters operate, they are prone to overheating and getting knocked over. While some newer space heaters have built-in technology to help prevent this issue, not all space heaters do. Since the heat is not received through vents, you must be very careful where you place your space heater.

Additionally, space heaters are not recommended to run when no one is home, as they can be very dangerous when left unattended. This would mean you have to walk into a cold home and turn on your space heaters to warm the place daily. That's simply not practical for anyone who doesn't stay home all day.

Call Us Today

If you're interested in investing in a home furnace, contact us at Master Mechanical. Let our knowledgeable HVAC professionals assist you with your home heating needs this winter.

Resources:
https://ventwerx.com/blog/space-heater-central-heat