What is the Most Efficient Type of Heating Appliance?
Q.
I do not put my oil central heating on in the house during the day whilst my husband and children are out at school. It is a large house and it seems very wasteful and expensive to heat the whole house just for me. What is the most efficient electric appliance for me to use to heat just the room I mainly occupy? It is a study room 15 feet square with 7'6" ceiling.
A.
Thanks for your question, and well done for your green approach in your home - it can be all too tempting to switch on the heating for an extra few hours during the day in those cold winter months!
If you're only looking to heat one room during the day, using a single electrical heating appliance can be a favourable option in terms of your energy bills and the environment, whatever central heating system your home has. Oil central heating systems are marginally less efficient than gas central heating systems - though with modern oil central heating systems, the difference can be negligible.
I'd recommend looking at a halogen heating appliance for your study - choose an oscillating model for better heat efficiency. An oscillating halogen heater works in the same way as an oscillating fan, heating the air as it moves through the heater rather than blowing warm air out into a cold room to heat it. This is a quicker and more efficient method of heating a room. Choose a heater that's child and pet safe: remaining cool to the touch, and with safety switches that automatically turn off the appliance if it's knocked over. Also look for an appliance that offers several different levels of heat too - this means you can alter the level of heat you're emitting in line with how cold or warm the day is. Different sized models offer coverage for small and larger sized rooms.
It's also important to adopt measures that keep the heat where you want it - in your study. Keep doors and windows closed, and eliminate cool air getting into the room with draught excluders. This will help to ensure your heater uses less energy to heat your room.
Alternatively, you could manually manage your central heating system each day by turning off the radiators you don't use around the house in the day. Get into the habit of turning on the ones you need in the evening. It's a more laborious and time consuming approach to heating your home efficiently, but will certainly also achieve the desired effect.
Good luck and let us know how you get on!
