Be smart about your space heater and save
Keeping warm this winter does not have to mean a huge increase in your electricity bill. Being smart about your space heater can keep both you and your bank balance comfortable.
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH: First of all, make sure the space heater you use is thermostat-controlled, a built-in device or a device you can set to switch the heater on and off at a pre-selected temperature. Equally importantly, carefully decide the level of warmth you wish to experience at any given time. The human body functions well in a space where the temperature is controlled at ± 22°C.
If you want to quickly improve your level of warmth over a period of one hour in an average room of 3 x 3 x 2.5 meter, a fan heater controlled via a thermostat is the smartest choice. It spreads heat evenly and the thermostat switches it off when the room is cosy. Gas heaters are also quick, but special care should be taken around the exposed flames and ventilation requirements should be adhered to.
For heating a room of 3 x 3 x 2.5 meter over a period of three hours, an oil heater with a thermostat and an output no bigger than 2 000W (watt) is your best option; it heats slowly and steadily and doesn’t cause a spike in your monthly energy costs.
If you want to heat a room for eight hours or more, a heater with a thermostat and an output no higher than 1 000W (watt) will be the most energy efficient and cost effective option; it gradually raises the temperature and reaches the optimal level of thermal comfort over time, without causing a huge increase in your electricity bill.
In general, remember to only heat the room you are occupying. Heating unoccupied rooms, together with inappropriate heating choices, using unnecessary energy can cost you money without providing you with the warmth you need.
For more tips on how to save on your electricity bill visit: www.eskom.co.za/idm.
