Room heating question.

I live in MA, and practically on the beach, so winter temps can get pretty bitter. We're already feeling the cooler air of fall, and the electric heat for my snake room kinda bit the dust last winter. I try to keep the ambient temps of that room and where from 78-87 degrees all year long, just to keep my animals comfy.

I'm going shopping for a space heater next week, and would like to know what anyone here would recommend (I figure someone one here has to have one :P).

space heaters will work if you have a rack system. Since heat travels up I would suggest putting it on the floor about 1 foot from the rack. if you have more than one rack space it in the middle to a max of 3 racks. Get one that oscilates; turns back and forth, and has a auto temperature adjustment.

Of course my advice is based on a small space heater covering racks that are about 2 yards across and 2 yards high. And the area is basically closed off and no heat is wasted, meaning that the heat will get to a certain temp and then cut off until the floor area reaches a cold level to turn it back on.

The safest is to used a oiled filled heater and plug it in a ranco or johnson t-stat.

Oil filled radiators are best since they have settings for power. Most are now digital with built in thermostat.

I use this one in winter months set at 75 and keeps room at 79. Ceiling fan circulates hot air back down to lower level of racks.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053


Keep in mind space heaters that blow hot air can and will act up if theirs not a steady flow of cooler air. I had one stop working when room would get in the 80s and start working once back in 70s.


Oil Radiators for the win

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

The safest is to used a oiled filled heater and plug it in a ranco or johnson t-stat.

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Agreed, this is my set up too.

I'd recommend the external Thermostat, Ranco or Johnson, because they're more reliable. You can even get a "double" thermostat for extra protection.