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Finding a heating solution for your home can be a pretty difficult task, since there are so many different types of heaters to choose from. Some offer amazing efficiency, some are great at keeping your home warm over long periods of time, and some are good at instantly providing you with a warm and cozy environment. To help you find a solution that is perfect for you, here is a comparison between two popular types of space heaters: convection and combination space heaters.

What is a convection space heater?

A convection space heater is quite simple in function and is a lot like a furnace. Both heat up air and then distribute that air to heat up your home. The main difference is coverage, since space heaters generally only heat up the room that they are currently in, whereas furnaces can heat up multiple rooms at once with the help of air ducts.

What is a combination space heater?

A combination space heater is a convection space heater with the additional ability of being able to heat up a room with the power of radiation. Combining both of these heat transfer methods allows a combination heater to cover up their individual weaknesses. While convection heaters are bad at generating heat immediately and radiation heaters are bad at keeping rooms warm after they are turned off, combination heaters have neither of those weaknesses.

When is a convection space heater the better option?

If you are specifically looking for long-term efficiency, then convection is a pretty good choice. Since convection heaters heat up the very air, that air stays heated for a long period of time. If the circulation in your home is good enough, you can even heat multiple rooms with a strong enough heat pump.

The main advantage that convection heaters have over combination heaters is that convection units are often cheaper to operate. They use less energy because they don't have the same versatility as combination units.

When is a combination space heater the better option?

In cases where you want to be able to heat up rooms quickly and keep those rooms warm for long periods of time, a combination space heater is an excellent choice. It's a lot cheaper to get and operate a single combination heater than it would be to separately buy convection and radiant space heaters. They are also particularly useful if you don't mind spending a few extra dollars per month on heating. Contact an HVAC professional to learn more.