Do winter's frigid days leave you longing for toasty warmth? Many homeowners wonder if using space heaters with central heating is a safe way to stay comfortable in cold temperatures. The appeal of enhancing your main heating capabilities with supplemental heat is understandable if you have a poorly insulated home. However, we recommend you consider the potential long-term implications before pulling your heater out of storage.

Can Furnaces and Portable Heaters Work Together?

Your heating system is a complete home heating solution that distributes heat evenly through ventilation systems. In contrast, space heaters deliver supplemental heat by targeting specific rooms. While this combination can make sense for brief periods, relying too heavily on your space heater all winter may prevent you from noticing root problems that indicate the need for furnace repair or a new, energy-efficient furnace installation.

How Much Electricity Do Portable Heaters Use?

Space heater electricity use and wattage vary widely. If you've wisely kept up with routine furnace maintenance, relying on a space heater all winter will likely boost your expenses instead of reducing them. Proactively addressing energy waste by replacing old insulation and weatherproofing typically delivers better results than combining a patchwork of solutions.

Precautions to Take When Using a Portable Space Heater With Your Furnace

Safety should always be a primary consideration in your household. Electric heaters can create safety dangers if you put them too close to combustible materials, so always maintain safe clearances. Look for models with automatic shutoff mechanisms to reduce risks. Be mindful of electrical load and power requirements, since exceeding capacity can cause electrical issues. And remember to check your heating system vents to ensure you don't expose your family to increased toxic gas hazards when running your heat for months.

Potential Benefits of Supplemental Heaters

Portable heaters provide customized warmth by quickly warming rooms that feel colder than others. However, modern smart thermostats and thermostat setbacks or zoning often achieve the same effect even more safely and efficiently. With smart thermostat optimization, you can fine-tune comfort settings, reduce power consumption and even improve overall 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 HVAC system
  • Using old units that lack modern safety technology
  • Unit location that blocks airflow from air ducts
  • Using a space heater that is too small to adequately warm the intended room

Alternatives to Space Heaters for Supplemental Heat

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

  • Furnace zoning systems for specific area heating
  • Installing a modern, energy-efficient heating system for better energy efficiency
  • Improving weatherization to reduce thermal leakage

Balancing Efficiency and Safety

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