2013 Fall Home Improvement September 25, 2013
Special edition of LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com
Page 15
Now, awareness aside, space heat-
ers used with appropriate measures
of caution can be a wonderful ad-
dition to your home.
One of the nice things about space
heaters today is that they are more
compact, more attractive and can
actually add to the overall décor of
the home.
For example, many electric units
are available that look like fireplac-
es. These can be placed along walls
and made to look like they are a
permanent part of the home. In ad-
dition, they don’t necessarily have
to be stored away in the summer
months. They can remain in their
designated spot and continue to
add character to the room.
In Lincoln, National Rent to Own
carries a couple of different styles
of these all-electric fireplaces that
will fit into any décor.
For those who are limited in space
or who like a more modern look in
their décor, store manager Roger
Matson said he offers two designs
of fireplace heaters that are also
entertainment centers. The wood
cases for these items are lower to
the floor, with ample space on top
for a large flat-screen television,
and shelving on the sides for elec-
tronics associated with the televi-
sion or sound systems.
Another style available at the store
is a full-sized wood fireplace with
a nice mantel that would provide
plenty of space for family photos
or other decorative items. These
fireplace heaters would fit perfectly
into many of the traditional-style
homes in the area.
Matson said the wood cases of the
units do not get hot and are safe to
put up against a wall. In addition,
he noted that the primary safety
concern would be immediately in
front of the fireplace glass. These
fireplaces have fake logs and use
LED lights to create the dancing
flames.
A nice feature of these units is that
they can be used with or without
the heat, so the “fire” can be used
year-round if one chooses.
All of the models the store offers
run on 110-volt electricity, with a
plug that can be used in any wall
socket. Matson said that as far as
electric cost is concerned, the units
use about the same amount of
electricity as a standard household
light bulb. The fireplace heaters
come with hidden on-off switches
and thermostat, plus a remote con-
trol, so they can be turned on and
off from one’s favorite easy chair.
If something decorative isn’t what
you have in mind, there are dozens
of varieties of space heaters on the
market.
Radiant heaters are designed to
warm only what they are pointed
at. These are great for use in a
room with only a few occupants
at a time. The heaters are portable
and can be placed directly in line
with the area you wish to warm.
These heaters are by and large safer
because they don’t affect air quality,
so ventilation in the room is not an
issue.
Convection heaters use a heating
element and fan to warm an entire
space. They are very effective for
spaces with several occupants as
they tend to put warm air into the
entire area. The heaters also come
in a variety of sizes, from the small
ceramic heaters that can be used in
small spaces to the larger varieties
that use oil or water to disperse the
heat into larger spaces.
Regardless of the portable heater
you choose, be sure to purchase
one with an automatic shut-off
in case it tips over. Also, be sure
to keep children and pets a safe
distance from the heater, as burn
hazards are possible. Follow the
general rule of creating a 3-foot
clutter-free zone around the space
heater, and make sure everyone
in the household understands the
meaning of the rule.
