Oil-Filled Space Heater Advice?

[Vypyrz]

I would really appreciate it if some of the members who use the oil filled space heaters could answer some questions and offer some advice based on your experience. I am fixing to move my snakes into another room so yesterday I picked up a couple of heaters to heat it this winter. First of all, the room that they will be in measures about 13' X 15'. On the heater box it says "For Large Rooms", but nowhere on the box or accompanying paperwork do they specify what a "large room" is. So my first question is, will 2 of these heaters be enough for a room that size, or, is it complete overkill?

The next question is about positioning them. My set-up is going to be 2 sets of shelves with a small storage cabinet in the middle. The total width of everything will be 9'-10'. Would I need to position 1 heater near each end to keep the heat concentrated around the tubs, or, can I centrally locate 1 near the tubs and have the other further away in order to keep the heat more evenly distributed throughout the room?

I have an extra Ranco that I plan on controlling them with. The Ranco is rated at 1500 watts. The heaters have 3 settings, Low, Medium, and High and the wattage for the settings are 300W, 600W, and 1500W. I can run both heaters on one thermostat as long as I keep them on Low or Medium, or I can run 1 heater on High and be right at the limit of the Ranco. It makes more sense to me to run both heaters at the lower settings and still be below the Ranco's limit, or, I can pick up another Ranco if it is better to just run one heater per thermostat. I've never used this type of heater before so I don't really know how much heat they put out at each setting, which is why I need some opinions. Thanks for any input you can offer...

[Royal Morphz]

I use a Kenwood oil filled heater with its own Tstat built in and have been for a few years now it keep my room at 80-82 perfectly. I think one would heat that sized room just fine.

[Skiploder]

I would really appreciate it if some of the members who use the oil filled space heaters could answer some questions and offer some advice based on your experience. I am fixing to move my snakes into another room so yesterday I picked up a couple of heaters to heat it this winter. First of all, the room that they will be in measures about 13' X 15'. On the heater box it says "For Large Rooms", but nowhere on the box or accompanying paperwork do they specify what a "large room" is. So my first question is, will 2 of these heaters be enough for a room that size, or, is it complete overkill?

Depends on how cold your area gets.

I use on 1500 watt delonghi in a 250 square foot room. Our winter nighttime temps get into the high 20s and low 30s. Running the heater on a Ranco T-stat, the room easily stays in the mid 70s.

The next question is about positioning them. My set-up is going to be 2 sets of shelves with a small storage cabinet in the middle. The total width of everything will be 9'-10'. Would I need to position 1 heater near each end to keep the heat concentrated around the tubs, or, can I centrally locate 1 near the tubs and have the other further away in order to keep the heat more evenly distributed throughout the room?

I centrally locate the heater in the room, but augment it with a rotating fan to make sure that the heat is distributed and does not "sit".

I have an extra Ranco that I plan on controlling them with. The Ranco is rated at 1500 watts. The heaters have 3 settings, Low, Medium, and High and the wattage for the settings are 300W, 600W, and 1500W. I can run both heaters on one thermostat as long as I keep them on Low or Medium, or I can run 1 heater on High and be right at the limit of the Ranco. It makes more sense to me to run both heaters at the lower settings and still be below the Ranco's limit, or, I can pick up another Ranco if it is better to just run one heater per thermostat. I've never used this type of heater before so I don't really know how much heat they put out at each setting, which is why I need some opinions. Thanks for any input you can offer...

I set mine on the medium setting. The low-medium-high setting mainly affects how quickly the heater gets to it's set temperature.

A bigger concern is the capacity of your circuit breaker. On the 1500 watt setting, that's about most of the capacity of a standard 20 amp breaker. If you got anything else on that circuit you'll most likely trip it when the T-stat first fires the heater up. I had my snake room rewired so that the heater was on a dedicated breaker.

[West Coast Jungle]

I use one 1500 watt heater on a Ranco. Works perfectly

[Vypyrz]

I appreciate the feedback. I think one should be enough. The room is a spare bedroom so it's got the central air, I just hate having to keep the whole house at 80. I like keeping the house around 70 or so in the winter, so really it only has to keep the one room 7-8 degrees warmer than the rest of the house. Thank you...

[Stewart_Reptiles]

My previous room (previous house) was 400 square feet (for rats and snakes) and in the basement and 2 oil filled heaters were necessary to keep it in the 78 degrees range.

Now the snake room (and snake only) is 210 square feet and above the garage and I am pretty convince that 1 oil filled heater will be enough (this will be our first winter here so we will see)

Bottom line it depends on the room size and room location if the room is in the basement it will will require a little more help to maintain than a room closer to the roof.

In my opinion given the size of your room 1 will probably be enough.

[Darkice]

I use 2 of them in my basement but one would do just fine. Its nice to have a backup though.
My basement is 26x14 i think.

[wolfy-hound]

My best advice would be like most of the responses. One heater with a room fan(a small fan is enough on low to circulate the air).

I did much the same as you mentioned. The house was on central heat and air, the snake room had the heater on a thermostat. Worked a charm. I actually had the room over-heat more than once, so keep a close eye when it's setting up. Those heaters are REALLY efficient and you'll be amazed at how warm it will keep the room.

[2kdime]

I think the quality of the oil filled makes a big difference too.

Ive gone through a handful of different types/ones and these are the best Ive found

http://www.amazon.com/Delonghi-TRD07.../dp/B000A33B1C