Are Space Heaters Energy Efficient?

I am from Wisconsin and every year it seems that my gas bill goes up just to keep my house warm. Every time the bill comes I cringe when I open it wondering how bad it's going to be this time. I have been looking into energy efficient space heaters so I can stay warm and keep up with my normal habits during the winter as opposed to just curling up underneath a blanket hoping to fall asleep because I'm so cold.

Since I have been doing some research into this, I thought I'd share it with you.

The key to using a space heater is to use it wisely for the room you are spending the most time in. When you are running the heater, turn down the thermostat to the lowest level you can stand and then plug the heater in. You will be saving money on heating the rest of your house and keep yourself comfortable in the room you are currently in.

Trying to heat your whole house with a space heater can become very expensive and your pocketbook will thank you when you don't attempt it. It's just not realistic. What you need to do to figure out if you're saving money is figure out how many watts your space heater uses and multiply it by the rate you are charged on your electric bill. Then figure out what it costs you to heat your entire house and keep the room you are spending time in at the same temperature.

When you are shopping for a space heater, there are some things you need to consider in order to get the most bang for your buck.

1. First of all decide which type of space heater you are going to purchase: radiant or convection.
2. Take a look at your budget, nothing is more depressing than finding something you really want and then finding out that it's out of your price range.
3. Take an inventory of which room you are going to be heating. Is it a large space where you will need an installed fan to spread the heat or is it a smaller space?
4. Make sure the heater you are considering has an automatic shut off. This is a safety feature that could save your home if the heater tips over.
5. If you can afford it, look for a thermostat. This will control the amount of energy you are using. If you only want your room at 68 degrees you don't want to expend any more energy than needed.
6. Take inventory of where you can place your space heater. It should be on a flat surface out of the way of pets and foot traffic. Try to plug it directly into the wall outlet and make sure there won't be any blankets or curtains touching your heater.
7. Look for the UL logo which indicates that the model has been tested to be safe by an outside source.