Warm Up Cold Rooms Safely and Affordably
A cold room is a solvable problem, and the cheapest fix is often not a heater at all. This site helps you work out what heat actually costs, choose a space heater safely if you need one, and stop the drafts that make rooms feel cold in the first place.
Safety first: the CPSC estimates portable heaters are involved in an average of 1,600 fires a year (2020-2022). Keep heaters at least three feet from anything that can burn, plug them directly into a wall outlet, and turn them off when you sleep.
All guides
Heated Throws as Gifts: How to Choose a Good One
What to look for when giving a heated throw or blanket (auto shut-off, controls, size, washability, and wattage) and who it suits.
How to Fix Drafty Windows Cheaply
Low-cost ways to stop drafts around windows and doors (weatherstripping, caulk, window film, door sweeps, and curtains) plus how to find leaks.
Heated Blanket vs. Space Heater: Which Costs Less?
How to compare the running cost of a heated blanket or throw against a space heater using the device labels and EIA electricity prices, plus when each makes sense.
Oil-Filled vs. Ceramic vs. Infrared Space Heaters
How the three main types of electric space heaters differ in how they heat, warm-up speed, noise, and best use, and why their running cost per watt is the same.
Space Heater Buying Guide: Safety Features, Sizing, and Cost
How to choose a portable electric space heater: CPSC safety rules, features worth paying for, sizing for the room, and how much it costs to run.
Space Heater Cost Per Hour Calculator
Estimate what a space heater, heated blanket, or any electric heater costs to run per hour, day, and month, using your state's average residential electricity price from the EIA.