Are space heaters ok to use for 2 months instead of central heat?

[kittywitty]

.

Edited by kittywitty - 7/27/11 at 6:23pm

[luv-my-boys]

Is it "ok" sure its just a matter of being safe while using them. Make sure that you take precautions while using them and explain them to your children. Make sure they dont overheat or have anything touching them like fabric or papers. as far as the pipes freezing when we lived up north in the cold we were told to open cabinet doors and closets to let the warm air circulate around them especially if pipes ran on the exterior walls.

[RiverSky]

Hmmm, I think it's a decent short term emergency solution, but the potential fire hazard would wig me out, in addition to the pipes bursting thing. Where do you live again and what is the climate like? Have you spoken to your realtor, to see if there is anything that can be done, via the home inspection company or the previous owners not disclosing or something? You don't have a home warranty, eh?

Personally, I think you should fix the heating system. It is warmer with the space heaters most likely because the last system sucked. Fixing the heating system will keep the value of your home up, whereas keeping it broken will lower it...might be something to think about.

[littlecityfarmer]

Would your homeowner's insurance cover a new furnace? I can't believe the house passed inspection with a furnace on the way out... We live in an old house, too (nearly 100 years), and before we bought it, the home inspector tested the funace and found out it had a bad plenum, so the prior owners reduced the selling price by the cost of a new furnace and installation.

I'd be comfortable using space heaters temporarily, but not long-term. How cold are the winters where you live? I'd be worried about burst pipes, too, actually...

Good luck!

[SleeplessMommy]

Are you using modern electric space heaters? (oil, kerosene or natural gas space heaters are very hazardous yet are in use by some people. )

Have you checked your income level to see if you are eligible for your state's weatherization program? They do replace furnaces and boilers.
http://www.in.gov/ihcda/2523.htm

You will also want to look here for programs in your area:
http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/i...srp=1&state=IA

There is also a federal tax credit (30% up to $1500) for non-electric boilers with AFUE (efficiency) greater that 90% - most boilers will qualify!

[zebra15]

4 kids and pets with space heaters... thats just too much of a risk for me. As much as we all hate debt, can you put the new furnance on a payment plan? The risk of injury to someone, possible fire, then frozen pipes is just too much for me to take on. I would do everything to get a new furnace.

[Usually Curious]

Depending on the type of space heater, I imagine you would be fine.

[hillymum]

Were you not given that one year insurance thingy (can't for the life of me think what it is called) that you get when buying a new to you older home? That should cover a new one. Or home owners insurance?

[DisplacedYooper]

For me, it would depend on the kind of space heaters you have... blowing air/fan space heaters = yes. Radiator style electric heaters = yes. Old fashioned electrical resistance heaters with the big exposed glowing red bars = no. If you have safe space heaters, I'd say go for it! We just moved from using central heat to a single space heater (that is, a pellet stove). But, before you get any nasty surprises, I'd figure out how much it's going to cost you in electricity...

Your pipes may freeze if they are exposed in your basement, which is no longer being subtley heating by the boiler. You can get pipe insulation for pretty cheap, which I would probably do. How cold does it get where you are?

You home inspector may not have tested your boiler. Ours didn't, he only noted that the sticker on our furnace was up-to-date for its annual inspection by the oil company.

[weliveintheforest]

Originally Posted by DisplacedYooper

But, before you get any nasty surprises, I'd figure out how much it's going to cost you in electricity...

Yes, definitely. If it's going to be a lot, it might be a good idea to try to get a new, efficient furnace instead.

[kittywitty]

.

Edited by kittywitty - 7/27/11 at 6:23pm

[karne]

Understanding that you will do what you can afford to do.....

I would strongly caution against using space heaters as an overnight heat source. I would never go to bed with a space heater running-ever. Every winter around me there are reports of fires in homes where space heaters are used as the primary source of heat. It's a really big risk. If you have to do it, I would call the fire department and have them look at your situation to assess possible fire hazards (the pets would be a huge issue for me).

Can you look for some sort of a loan through a church or charity to cover either a new furnace or whatever you might need to stay warm? If you are planning to use a tax refund in Feb., you may be able to repay a loan. I would turn over every stone before resorting to the space heaters.

[~RememberToForget~]

We only use space heaters now,we have 3.We have a fireplace that we don't use and a floor furnace that is turned off.We have an old house that is not very well insullated.The space heaters are working just fine.

[carfreemama]

We have an oil-filled electric space heater that we cart around from room to room. We do use it at night. I never thought of it as a fire hazard! Mind you, we are careful about keeping cords out of the way and removing paper and stuff around it. We live in Nova Scotia. I work from home all day and I usually only have that little heater running well into the winter. And that's just one heater. We also have pets. Maybe I don't really understand the full dangers. FWIW, we have pretty high electricity costs here and really, it hasn't cost much to run...not nearly as much as oil does in our (new) furnace. I would take every precaution against pipes freezing, though--BTDT; not because of the space heater. Horrible to try to fix that in the winter!

[PenelopeJune]

Beware, it could cost you a fortune to run that many space heaters full-time. I totally understand not being able to afford fixing the furnace, but be very frugal about how often you run the space heaters, at least until you see what your electric bill will be.

To maybe prevent your pipes from freezing, open the cabinet doors under your kitchen and bathroom sinks, and if you can, leave them running just a small trickle when you know it's going to be super cold. It still may not stop busted pipes, but it may help.

And of course, be cautious and careful about where you use them. I don't know that I'd run one in my kids' room at all.

Be sure you have plenty of working smoke detectors! (Obviously.)

[californiajenn]

Some new space heaters shut off when tipped over and don't even feel super hot. We used space heaters for 2 winters in our last rental that was so cold unless we ran the OIL heat constantly. It was much less expensive and more comfortable to use the space heaters.

[mamadonna]

I second the caution about your electric bill. Space heaters can use a TON of energy.

[kittywitty]

.

Edited by kittywitty - 7/27/11 at 6:24pm

[SleeplessMommy]

Read your meter, and look at your most recent electric bill. This will tell you exactly how much you are using.

Two additional ways to calculate cost:
You can find out the exact amount of electricity used by each heater with a Kill-a-watt meter. ($25 at Amazon.com)
http://www.amazon.com/P3-Internation...9681973&sr=8-2

IF the wattage of the heater is listed on the unit, you can calculate electric usage assuming the unit is on 100% of the time. For example:
600W * 24 hours /1000 (kilo) = 14.4 KWH per day. At 10-cent per KWH, that heater costs $1.44 per day.

Ask your HVAC person about the age and efficiency of your existing furnace. (They measure combustion efficiency when they service the unit, they should have this on file). If efficiency is less than about 80% you will want to replace.

I think it may be well worth your time to call local community agencies and see about possible financial help or loan programs for furnace replacement. LIHEAP and some charity programs are listed here:
http://liheap.ncat.org/profiles/Indiana.htm

With the weatherization program, it does not matter how the house was purchased or financed.

[mommaof3boz]

We have space heaters we turn on in two rooms at night. Some of the nicer ones have a thermostat on them. Thats really nice.