Space heater instead

[hood886]

So I have been using a UTH and have been maintaining temperatures perfectly but since it's starting to get cold it's been dipping down to 75 with just the UTH. I'm using a rack type system that's plastic. Everything is in a very small closet roughly 3x5. Would it be fine to just heat the small room with space heater and drop the UTH? So basically just set the heater up on the thermostat and remove the UTH. I'm thinking I'd set it to 83. I can't hook both up to the thermostat since it has a watt limit. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[PitOnTheProwl]

You can use just ambient heat BUT I still prefer belly heat too.
I know a couple people that don't heat their rooms or any other heat with no problems.

[CloudtheBoa]

No, I'd heat the room to the temperature where you can maintain the rack temperatures, but keep the UTH for a hot spot. If you just heat the room to a certain temp and drop the UTH, they will only have one temperature to choose from, making them unable to choose the temperature they need.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

No, I'd heat the room to the temperature where you can maintain the rack temperatures, but keep the UTH for a hot spot. If you just heat the room to a certain temp and drop the UTH, they will only have one temperature to choose from, making them unable to choose the temperature they need.

And to clarify many people do that without any issue, I am one of them providing only ambient temps during a time of the year and not providing a hot spot.

To the OP yes it is doable but it might be more costly too, you will have to see on your next electric bill.

[hood886]

Yeah I'm hoping since the room is so small it shouldn't cost to much to heat, that and I might try to insulate it a little more. Thanks for the advice!

[Viol8r]

I use a space heater only and drop the temp a few degrees at night to try to keep it more like they would have it in the wild. during the winter months I add insulating foam to the window and the only wall that touches the outside. You can also use it as a type of pin board for notes or paint it to give the room a new look while keeping your warm air in... http://www.homedepot.com/p/CelloFoam...4803/202090244 I believe is what we have. I picked mine up from a friend so not sure if it is exactly the same.

[hood886]

Nice idea! Going to look into that insulating foam for sure!

[More-is-Lessors]

im sure it works perfectly fine to only have ambient heating but i would say a temperature gradient with the belly heat is best. most space heaters already have a thermostat, and for such a small space u would only need a very small one. so my advice is keep the uth and get a small space heater set to 80°, stuff a towel under the door and as long as the rest of ur house isnt under 65° it shouldnt make much of a dent in ur electric bill. personally i keep my entire house at about 74° and have heat lamps with 75 watt night bulbs aimed at my tubs with uth. good luck.

[knowzbleed]

i agree with more-is-lessors, just my 2 cents

[speedycat222]

Somewhat related question, is a thermostat necessary for a space heater, or do they have one built in ?