Do winter's chilly days leave you wishing for warm comfort? Many homeowners wonder if using portable heaters with central heating is a safe way to stay comfortable in frigid weather. The appeal of enhancing your primary heating capabilities with space heating is understandable if you have a cold house. However, we recommend you consider the potential long-term implications before pulling your heater out of storage.

Can Furnace Systems and Space Heaters Work Together?

Your furnace system is a whole-home comfort solution that distributes heat evenly through ventilation systems. In contrast, portable heaters deliver supplemental heat by targeting particular areas. While this combination can make sense for brief periods, relying too heavily on your space heater all winter may prevent you from noticing underlying issues that indicate the need for furnace repair or a new, economical furnace installation.

How Much Electricity Do Portable Heaters Use?

Space heater power consumption and wattage vary widely. If you've wisely kept up with annual furnace maintenance, relying on a space heater all winter will likely raise your bills instead of reducing them. Proactively addressing energy waste by replacing old insulation and draft stoppers typically delivers better results than combining a patchwork of solutions.

Precautions to Take When Using a Space Heater With Your Furnace

Safety should always be a priority in your household. Portable heaters can create safety dangers if you put them too close to flammable objects, so always maintain safe clearances. Look for models with tip-over and overheat protection to reduce risks. Be mindful of breaker load and electrical limitations, since exceeding capacity can cause electrical issues. And remember to check your air circulation to ensure you don't expose your family to increased toxic gas hazards when running your heat for months.

Potential Benefits of Portable Heaters

Room heaters provide customized warmth by quickly warming rooms that feel colder than others. However, modern smart thermostats and programmable settings or zoning often achieve the same effect even more safely and efficiently. With intelligent temperature control, you can fine-tune comfort settings, reduce energy waste and even improve humidification and comfort at lower temps without relying on additional appliances.

Avoid these mistakes when using space heaters alongside your furnace:

  • Relying solely on space heaters to replace your heating system
  • Using old units that lack modern protective mechanisms
  • Heater positioning that blocks airflow from air ducts
  • Using a space heater that is too small to adequately warm the target area

Alternatives to Space Heaters for Extra Heating

You don't have to use various heaters or keep lugging a heater around different rooms in your home. These solutions often outperform space heaters in efficiency and safety:

  • Furnace zoning systems for specific area heating
  • Installing a modern, advanced HVAC unit for better performance ratings
  • Improving weatherization to reduce heat loss

Balancing Efficiency and Safety

Pairing a supplemental heater with your furnace can provide temporary comfort, but it's no substitute for investing in professional HVAC upkeep and lasting upgrades like improved insulation. For lasting warmth, savings and security, focus on keeping your furnace in optimal working order and exploring modern upgrades that deliver whole-house comfort with fewer risks.