Think Twice About Space Heaters  

Get tips to stay comfortable while saving energy at home this winter. 

 

woman on a couch with blanket and coffee looking at laptopSome people believe that turning down your thermostat and using an electric space heater will save money. A space heater can be one of the most expensive ways to heat your home. Running a typical 1,500-watt electric space heater on high would cost $0.25 per hour. That might not sound like a lot, but it can add up. If you were to run that same space heater on high for 16 hours, the cost would be $4.00 per day—or $120 for a whole month. 

Instead, consider some low- or no-cost ways to warm: 

  • Use a heated blanket, a heating pad, or a warming vest or slippers
  • Put on a sweater. 
  • Get up and move around. 
  • Let the sun in during the day to warm a room and close your window treatments at night to keep out the colder night air. 

If you do use a space heater, make sure to follow these safety guidelines from energy.gov

  • Electric heaters should be plugged directly into the wall outlet. If an extension cord is necessary, use the shortest possible heavy-duty cord of 14-gauge wire or larger. Always check and follow any manufacturer's instructions for the use of extension cords. 
  • Buy a unit with a tip-over safety switch, which automatically shuts off the heater if the unit is tipped over. 

Visit mge.com for more details about space heaters. 

published: Feb-02-2023