Space heaters vs. raising the temp?

[SaucyCranberry]

Has anyone found a cost savings using an electric space heater in an especially cold room, when turning the whole house heat down? With my kids and pets running around, I'd not want an oil type heater, and I just don't know that there would be a savings with the electricity used to run the heater. Energy rated or not, the heaters do run those KWH up. Thanks for your input!

[SaucyCranberry]

No one uses space heaters? Bummer.

[shortcake]

I do have one. I haven't made a comparison but I do know that DH would of complained if the electric bill went up. It doesn't cost us more since we have been using it so I don't think it uses alot of electricity. We have been runing it for two winters now. I am thinking of getting a second one for my youngest's room. For some reason, we can't figure out why, her room is always colder than the rest of the house. The one I have now is in the house entrance/sunroom. I don't know what they are called but it look like the old water heaters in older homes and it is on wheels. Instead of water it is oil that circulates inside. It is a sealed unit and it is safe. There is a thermostate on it so you can regulate the heat. It produces radiant heat and even if you put your hand on it, it won't burn you so it is safe with pets and children. I wish I could be more help.

[PrairieRose]

We have a couple of ceramic heaters and I think it saves us to heat the room we're in a bit more with those as opposed to using our (natural gas) central air unit to keep the room as comfy as we prefer. We point the little heater in our direction and use it while we watch tv or something like that. Otherwise we layer on clothes and blankets on the bed. We also have a bed warmer that we love during the winter months as well.

[larabelle]

I use an electric space heater in my living room. I have found that it is more economical to use then heating the entire house. I try not to run it to much. But I live in the South. My parents live in the midwest and they also use an electric space heater. My mother has it in the bathroom and in the early mornings rather than turn up the heat she only heats the bathroom so it is nice and toasty. She is in her 70's and once she is in her regular clothes versus her pajamas then the house feels comfortable.

[Nantahala]

We have two tiny space heaters and we use them instead of our central heat - so far electric has come down about $20 a month.

[AmyBoz]

I have to use a space heater in Ds#1 bedroom because the heat doesn't reach his room. It's usually about 48 degrees in there and we have the space heater set to 61. There has been a slight increase in our electric bill, but it's necessary. It's just too cold for a 3 year old without it.

[Daisygirl]

I have been thinking about doing the same thing, Saucy Cranberry. My living room and our basement rec room are uncomfortably chilly. If I turn the heat up enough to make them warm, the rest of the house is boiling. Go figure, the rooms we use the most are the coldest

[banana]

I use 2 oil filled heaters, one in the living room and one in my bedroom which is always the coldest. The one in our bedroom we leave on 24/7 now since it just gets tooo cold in there. Our electric bill actually went down, I think because my nephew is now out of the house all day. We only went through 100 gallons of oil the past 2 months which is great, we also use the oil for our hotwater. Now if we can make it the next few months on 50 gallons a month it would be fantastic!

I only prepaid for 350 gallons of oil this year and am hoping that will be enough to see us through the winter!

My electric company has a website where if you register you can pull up your usage for each day which I think is a great feature.

[MirandaK]

We use a kerosene heater that has an auto shut off if it even gets bumped (4 cats!) so that we don't have to worrry about it getting knocked over. It has helped a ton. Don't have exact figures though...BF handles the bills. I just know since my dad gave it to us, BF has been very happy with the bills.

[HappyMama]

I had a post on here somewhere I use 2 energy efficient space heaters and keep the heat low. I have saved a lot doing this.

[FrugalMomof3]

Well I use the auto shutoff handy electric heaters in the downstairs family room, it shuts off when it hits the tempatture I set it at and back on when it goes below that temp.

In the upstairs we use econo heat heaters and it keeps it pretty warm up there, almost always the temp up here is 65-68 degrees, downstairs is a bit colder but that's why we use blankets and stuff, lol. Thing is in our house we usually spend alot of time upstairs unless it's dinner time

[lisettelovebug]

Our upstairs is always soooo cold. We have a oil-filled heater (the kind that you don't need to fill). They don't get super hot either. It's hot, but it won't burn you. I keep it near our daughter's room because she doesn't keep the blankets on her. They start at about $50.

[SaucyCranberry]

Thanks so much everyone! I didn't even know they made the sealed type of oil heaters, that sounds great. I will look into those next time I'm out. I have two of the small heaters, and can use those in the living room. (We sit right under a sky light when we watch TV or I'm on the laptop, can't really put the arrangement any other way, and it's SO cold at night.)

[krbshappy71]

We have a couple of ceramic heaters and I think it saves us to heat the room we're in a bit more with those as opposed to using our (natural gas) central air unit to keep the room as comfy as we prefer. We point the little heater in our direction and use it while we watch tv or something like that. Otherwise we layer on clothes and blankets on the bed. We also have a bed warmer that we love during the winter months as well.

How do you like those ceramic ones? My guy was considering buying one for the basement. I suggested we just crank up the furnace instead. He thinks they would be cheaper (in the long run) and more efficient. Have you noticed much of an electric bill increase with it?

--Staying Warm in CO