AP T8 vs RACK SYSTEM

[treaux]

A rack system would likely be the better option to maintain temp/humidity. The AP T8 is very good however, but if you're living in a draftier home then I would see about getting a Radiant Heat Panel for the warm side, and you can run a small piece of heat tape on the cooler side, just make sure it's dialed in around 82ish. This way by the time it penetrates through the PVC & substrate it'll be in the higher 70's. It's a little bit more expensive of an option, but that's why I said a rack would likely fit your price better.

Another option is to heat the room with something like a space heater.

I disagree. Most rack units are designed for heated rooms that are maintained at the desired ambient temp. This is why they just come with a strip of heat tape for the hot spot. T8s and similar enclosures allow you to put a heat source (such as an RHP) inside to maintain ambient temp as well as using heat tape for a hotspot (or using the RHP for a hotspot and letting it heat the cool side to desired ambient - this only works sometimes...).

I have heard of some AP racks now coming with an RHP side mounted for ambient temp, but I'm not sure how well that works or how it's implemented.

Either way, cold house = use enclosures, not a rack. *edit* Unless, as Neal said, you can use a space heater to heat just the room your snake is in.