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Question from Roger
updated: Nov 26, 2009, 4:33 PM

O.K. Here goes question. I live in a 15x15 foot cottage by the beach, I have 2 old cats it's getting cold. We're all cold but I can hang. I need advice on a space heater. One of those little electric thingamajigs but I'm looking for something safe too. Say as cheap as possible? Any advice out there? I'm already thinking of the Smuggie? I will get at least two of them, Thanks.

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 47228	2009-11-26 08:53 PM
Hey Roger, I have Honeywell HZ-2200 Mini Tower Surround Heater by Honeywell. It's available on amazon and you get free shipping too. I think it's about $24. I've had it for four years with no problems.
COMMENT 47232	2009-11-26 09:12 PM
Hi Rpger. I have had very good sucess with the oil-circulating radiator-type heaters that you can get at Sears. They are very safe and can be run for days at a time. How about an electric blanket for your kitties to curl upon at the foot of your bed (will keep you and them both warm on cold nights) My little dogs find this a cozy spot to sleep, and think you can find them at the old Robinson's store for not a lot of money. Stay warm and hope you had a good Thanksgiving Day!
COMMENT 47237	2009-11-26 09:22 PM
I have tried a lot of heaters but the best I have found are the oil circulating heaters. You can find them at most stores. They are safe and efficient. They are available at Home Depot and sometimes at Costco. I emphasize safe: There are no open electric coils or fans.
COMMENT 47241	2009-11-26 11:02 PM
A small wood stove would be cheaper to run if you can scavenge the wood. You would need to be able to vent the stove pipe. Scavenging the wood also warms you, but not the cats. Electric blanket puts the heat where you are.
COMMENT 47242	2009-11-26 11:32 PM
Oil filled heaters are indeed safe, but don't believe any claims of improved efficiency. Almost 100% of the electrical energy used in any heater of any design converts directly into heat, and the oil doesn't add any efficiency. It is simply a thermal mass that takes longer to heat up and longer to cool down. If you want instant heat, get a small ceramic heater with a fan, but make sure it has a tip sensor and fan failure switch so it is safe. That said, there is another advantage of oil filled electric heaters. There's something in the quality of the heat. Hot elements give off a harsh heat (ions, perhaps) that do not occur with an oil bath surrounding the element. They're good at drying out a boat, but not too good to sleep by. The biggest drawback to electric heat is the high cost of electricity. It not only increases your total kWH usage, but takes you to increasingly more expensive rates as you go from the cheaper tiers to tiers with higher rates. If you have a choice, natural gas is often your least costly heat. But that's difficult to add after a house is built, and can't easily be used just where it is needed, like a small space heater or an electric blanket can. Fortunately, in Santa Barbara we only need heat for a few months. And living near the beach, we need an occasional chill to remind us how good we have it!
COMMENT 47243	2009-11-26 11:44 PM
Another comment. Conserving heat is your best investment. Close up all the gaps around windows and doors. Add insulation if you can. You can even add an insulating film (like saran wrap) over older style single pane windows and make a difference. Plus, you can use a down comforter or sleeping bag and not spend any additional money on utilities. I'll never forget on a camping trip when I woke up on the ground, high atop a mountain in a down bag with a crusty layer of frost covering the bag. I was completely warm and toasty inside. In other words, most people will stay warm during sleep if they simply conserve their own body heat with appropriate layers. So rather than spending a hundred dollars per month on additional electricity, spend a hundred on some down blankets. And don't forget something for the cats too :)
COMMENT 47247	2009-11-27 06:48 AM
The DeLonghi Heater, which is an oil circulating system, uses much less energy and does not force hot blowing air into a room. It is gentle on the respiratory system and can be found at OSH for abour $90. I have had mine for 5 years and love it. You can vary the heat out put better than the high or low settings that an electrical heater offers too.
COMMENT 47248	2009-11-27 06:53 AM
I lived in a small garage, maybe about the same size as you, up on Camino Cielo. I used an oil heater shaped like a radiator. It is the best kind. It saves energy because it is still warm for a while after you turn it off. It seems like the air heaters only are warm in front, but the oil heater made the whole room feel uniformly warm.
COMMENT 47249	2009-11-27 06:56 AM
Try Consumer Reports
COMMENT 47268	2009-11-27 09:00 AM
People insist oil filled electric heaters 'use... less energy' or are 'more efficient' but, no, it's all kiloWatt Hours (electric energy) into heat. That's probably from some advertising claims which are misleading. Perhaps they do save 'energy' worrying about a fire (which is a good thing), but there's no way around the basic thermodynamics of energy conservation. Getting two heaters to work may be a problem. Each heater will require 12 or 13 Amps at full output (1500 watts), so you'll need two separate 15 or 20 Amp electrical circuits with separate breakers. That might be more capacity than you have, or require each to be run at a lower setting, or require you turn off other appliances (when the heater is on, you can't use your computer?). And if you're frequently blowing breakers, you'll really wish you had a UPS on your computer. I've found having a good thermostat is very nice on a electric heater. Saves you from getting up when it gets too warm, and that will save energy. It's important to use heavy gauge 12 AWG extension cords if you can't plug them in directly to an wall outlet. 14AWG might be adequate for a short cord, but stay away from the thin ones. They'll get hot and become a hazard. Stay warm, but be safe!
COMMENT 47272	2009-11-27 09:16 AM
If your main concern is the cats... or until you by a heater... you might try a cat bed which is made out of fleece and lays on it's side like a sack. There are also beds with high sides or ones that look like little tents. Some cats (but not all) will use beds like this to stay warm. ASAP often has used beds like these for sale in their lobby. On the other hand most cats love cardboard boxes. Tape one up that's not too much bigger than your cat then cut a hole in the side and line with a washable blanket or towel. Put the box away from outside walls. Thanks for being a thoughtful cat owner Roger...stay warm!
ROGER DODGER	2009-11-27 09:18 AM
Wow thank you all so much. I didn't know that I could get Amazon gift cards at the drug store.(That's how old school and stuck in my ways I am) I may check out that Honeywell, and the oil type depending on money. I have to get gifts, I think Amazon is going to get most of my business I even found an old, old book on there that I had a story in and used the books are a penny, my best seller. Thank You.
COMMENT 47293	2009-11-27 12:51 PM
We live on a similar south coast beach, same type weather, but in Baja Mexico,K99. We rebuilt an old derelict shack. Now solidly constructed, with no cracks for wind and water, etc, we have two fireplaces which we have not used for almost three years. We do have the radiator type oil heater that we might use for exceptionally cold nights, but not used yet this year. We use down filled comforters and the heat of our dogs also keep us warm. Almost too warm. One little dog sometimes goes between the two comforters . During the day, I just add a long sleeve sweatshirt. I think your cats want company and a protected place, but not necessarily too much heat. Oh, I got my heater at a garage sale for $5 in Noleta seven years go, works fine yet. Also check Craigslist,--free. lots of goodies. I go on every day to see what I am missing.
COMMENT 47296	2009-11-27 03:27 PM
Rodg: Just go buy one and don't worry about it. Maybe Sears or Home Depot
COMMENT 47297	2009-11-27 03:29 PM
Electric heater is best for a small place.
COMMENT 47299	2009-11-27 03:38 PM
Vornado heater/fan...quiet and effective
COMMENT 47316	2009-11-27 08:38 PM
Seal your house, use the sun, cover your ankles. In my small studio, I made sure to caulk the windows and put foam tape in the gaps at the top of the door. But a year later I decided to take another look. I carefuly checked for any holes and gaps, and found a number of them, at night with lights off inside and seeing light come in from outside lights through some tiny gaps and holes. I caulked the gaps. Then I rechecked the windows and realized some weren't closing tight. I just stuffed strips of cloth along the edges. I then used our abundant sunlight. I open the blinds facing the sun during the day, then close them at night. The difference all this made is huge. When people stop by the say how warm it is. They are very suprised when I tell them I have not turned on a heater in months. And when it does cool down, I have found that covering my legs, ankles and feet make a big difference in how warm I feel. I actually use some cheap fleece throw blankets to wrap around my lower legs to cover down to my feet, like those legging things girls wear, and wear warm house slippers. That makes a big difference in how warm I feel. All this means that I use my electric space heater less than 10 days each year. And I am a person who loves the heat and hates the cold.
COMMENT 47322	2009-11-28 03:40 AM
I notice the oil heater's better for consistent warmth in the room, more like having a real furnace. Downside is real cold weather is my experience with them, and they take a while to get the room warm. I would use it for general low heat, and have a small space heater to use if you come in from the cold and just need a blast of hot air while the room warms up. You could pick up a little space heater for $10 used somewhere. Put a wanted ad for the little one on craigslist and see what happens, but buy the oil heater new.

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