Are you wondering how much to run a space heater? We know that you love space heaters but can’t round up the money you pay for running one to make your space warm.
However, you can quickly get the idea with the help of this guide. You can choose any heater from a long list of infrared, convection, oil-filled, or panel heaters.
Different types of heaters consume different amounts of energy based on the product’s manufacturer, model, and quality. But the main thing that factors in is the heater’s watt power and your electricity tariff rate. Keep scrolling as we shed light on the topic below.
How Much To Run Your Space Heater?
We know how worried you become when you see the ever-increasing rise in your electricity bills. But the problem is, you don’t know how much to run a space heater? Don’t worry more. Just keep reading, and will be able to get carefully estimated rates for using a space heater. To begin with, we will talk about space heaters.
A space heater is our second priority to obtain heat after the HVAC system. They come in different sizes and are capable of heating a large space in less time. The heater sizes range from 500 to 4000 watts if we talk about electric heaters. At the same time, the average heating capacity of a forced-air heater ranges from 1800 to 14,000 BTUs.
Kilowatt per hour
Your electricity provider company sends you a bill in the kilowatt hour, so you need to understand this concept first. A 500 watts appliance uses 1 KWh of electricity while running for 2 hours. Similarly, a 4000 watts heater will consume 1-kilowatt energy in just 15 minutes, and the KWh numbers will rise to four if you keep using the heater for one hour.
It’s just the measurement of 1000 watts according to an electric device’s number of running hours. Your electric energy supplier company measures the number of KWh hours and then sends your bill. In the United States of America, the average price of one KWh of electricity is 0.14$ or 14 cents. Keep reading to learn more about the estimated costs of running a space heater.
Running Costs Of Electric Space Heater
Here, we have decided to calculate the energy usage of an electric heater rated for 1500 watts of power. The 1500-watt heater is the most common size available in the market, and we hope that the estimates will help a large number of people who don’t have to open their calculators and do boring maths. You have to pay 20 cents for using a 1500 watts heater for 1 hour.
Twenty cents seem to be a small number. But we have yet to add daily and monthly costs. You need to have a clear idea of the maximum hours the heater runs in your home. For example, most of you will get the warmth for 8-10 hours. Then you can multiply the 20 cents by the number of hours, and you will get an estimate of the running costs of a space heater for a day, week, and month. You may also be interested to know about small space heater.
Running costs of forced-air space heater
You need to multiply the BTU power of the forced air heater by 0.293 watts, and the BTU rating will convert into watt power. Then, multiply the number of hours with the watt power and divide it by 1000. Lastly, multiply the derived value with your electricity tariff rates, and you will get your estimates.
Additional charges
Alongside all the weekly and daily charges to run an electric heater, the companies also charge extra charges. For example, everyone has to pay a fixed price of 10$ with each bill. Regulatory fees are also a part of electric bills. You can easily derive the cost of running a space heater using a calculator if you don’t want to get into calculations and measurements. Just go on Google and search for the cost to run your electric heater.
Advantages Of Using A Space Heater
Space heaters are energy-efficient, and you do not need to worry much about their energy consumption. Some of the benefits of a space heater include:
#1. Affordability and accessibility
You cannot get HVAC installed in one day, but you can buy a heater in a few minutes and use it within an hour without spending time assembling and setting up. In addition, the space heaters are priced super reasonably.
#2. Portability
Portability is the need for time, especially if we talk about a heater. You cannot carry an HVAC system to a camping site. But a space heater is easy-to-transport, and you can take it from one room to another without any hassle.
Electricity Usage By Other Electric Appliances
You are anxious due to the heater’s energy usage, but you may have ignored that other devices in your home are also eating up your bill. The TV in your living room has a watt power of between 80 and 400 watts, and we spend a lot of time staring at the screen watching shows. The fridge was running 24 hours a day and rated as 100 to 150 watts of power usage. Also, think of your routine that includes using a dishwasher couple of times a day. The dishwasher consumes 1800 watts of power for a single wash cycle.
It’s A Wrap!
How much to run a space heater completely depends on your approach to using one. Suppose you have installed the insulation and don’t leave the heater unattended. Then, no worries can hit you and your budget. Also, have a look at this space heater guide to expand your information circle. You may also want to read about how to fix a space heater and where to place a space heater.