by Araj Raza

Created on: July 17, 2011   Last Updated: July 18, 2011

Space heating through compact heaters has been around for a long time in various incarnations and the latest form of space heating meant to cozy up those breezy summer nights are halogen heaters. Space heaters provide instant heating as opposed to the gradual effect of central heating and act optimally when used to complement central heating in rooms or outdoor areas in special need of greater heating.

Much like other heaters on the market, halogen heaters are light weight and portable heating devices, but unlike other options which rely on fuels or electric coils, these heaters rely on energy efficient and relatively greener halogen lamps. Apart being better for the environment, their major distinguishing feature is the radiation based mode of heating as opposed to the convection based heating of other heaters.

Though they are advertised as being the solution to all heating problems of the common household, halogen heaters do have certain drawbacks which are not much publicized. First comes the question as to the viability of space heating itself. Most space heating systems provide too little heat and even slightly larger rooms can cause the heating to be spread too widely without providing the necessary warmth for the individuals. Secondly, space heating as a compliment to central heating is quite expensive while relying only on space heating might not be a viable option in most regions or for larger households.

Even if a customer has decided to buy a space heating device, halogen heaters still retain a few drawbacks. While they are often marketed as being family-friendly and safe to the touch, this is only half the truth. The covers of halogen heaters are insulated but their fronts do heat up and any object too close to it can get burned.  This means that leaving kids in a room with a halogen heater still remains a risk and can lead to unforeseen accidents.

Halogen heaters are also more expensive than other space heating devices. Even their marketers say so when advertising them as cost efficient in the long term through energy saving. However, if they are used to supplement a central heating system, then that defeats the purpose of cost saving completely. Furthermore, oil heaters are available on the market that provide the same benefits of radiation based heating with greater energy savings plus a much longer life even lasting for decades. As an added plus oil heaters also provide users with greater control over the temperature than halogen heaters.

Ultimately the decision to choose a halogen heater rests on the feasibility of space heating itself. If the user's demand is for larger rooms to be heated all the time and the customer has a large family, then central heating is the way to go. However if a smaller family requires more focused heating in a relatively smaller house then space heating and halogen heaters might be their best option.

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