Is it smart to use an electric space heater so you can lower the thermostat of your home's central heat?

Answer 1

An electric heater is a good idea if only one room is heated and the rest of the house can be left cold. However, unattended space heaters cause many home fires. So, I suggest that if you use a space heater you stay with it at all times. Another suggestion is to close off the heat vents to all unused rooms in your house to save on heating costs. The cost per therm for electric heat is much higher than heat from gas or oil, but if you are turning up the heat in the whole house because one or two rooms are chilly, then space heaters can save you money. Similarly, if one or two people in your household are more sensitive to cold than the others, using space heaters in their bedrooms may be the solution you're looking for.

Answer 2

A space heater uses energy, so you would not save on the bill. But if you install one and then don't use it, you are saving. It's almost worth installing it and leaving it switched off for the saving you make (not quite).

Answer 3

Not usually. The low wattage units take more time to heat a room that do units that are sized to the rooms square foot area. In some cases the space heater will not keep up with the heat loss of the room and the unit will never shut off. This will keep the electric meter turning and costing you more money in the long run.