Do you have a cold room in your house that drives you crazy? You're not alone. Energy Star says temperature differences between rooms is common, especially in attics, basements, additions and rooms over garages. This can leave one or more rooms uncomfortably cold in the winter time. Sometimes a few easy changes can fix the issue. If not, it's probably time to consider adding an additional heat source to your room.
What's your current heat source?
The first thing you need to do is figure out how your cold rooms is currently heated. The infographic above (from the Department of Energy) gives you an overview of the most common heating systems in the United States. Some systems are easier to fix than others. For instance, if you have electric baseboards throughout your home, you can just add more baseboards to a cold room without it affecting the rest of the system. If you have central forced air, your options to make modifications to the system are a little more limited.
Space heaters
A lot of people will immediately think of adding a plug-in, portable space heater to a room that need a little boost of heat in winter months. That's certainly what these products are designed for, but there are a few disadvantages, especially if you're going to be using it on a pretty regular basis. For one, the cords on these plug in heaters can be a tripping hazard. And more importantly, if you trip on the cord the heater can tip over and become a fire hazard. Space heaters also tend to be a little bit like a portable fan. They're pretty effective if you're sitting or standing right in front of one, but they're not particularly great at spreading the warmth around an entire room. A permanent solution can give you extra piece of mind.
Complement your current system with electric heat
Regardless of what type of heat your currently have in your home, electric heaters can easily be added to any room. They're affordable, don't require any modifications central systems and don't require ductwork. Installation is similar to adding a new light fixture to a room. So what will an electric baseboard or wall heater do for you once it's installed? These heaters are designed to heat individual rooms. So you can turn it up when you're in the room and turn it down when you leave, all while keeping your central system in place. To maximize extra energy savings, you can install electric heaters in the rooms you use most and lower the overall temperature on your central thermostat. The bottom line is that you don't have to settle with a cold room. Why not consider how to add heat to a cold room before the winter hits?
