Infrared Space Heaters - do they work?

My new stove keeps the furnace off and the result is my basement is getting colder than it has ever been since we owned the house. Wife asked about a space heater. I have no experience with these, but have been looking at some. I'm a bit skeptical about their ability to warm up the finished portion of my basement.

Basement details:

• drywall with metal studs against poured concrete walls - fiberglass insulation standard 2x4 size wall
• foam sealed rim joists
• concrete floor with carpeting
• approximately 800 sq ft of space

Here is one example I have looked at. Would appreciate experiences from anyone who has used one of these kinds of heaters. Also any other short term heating solution that you might suggest. Thanks.

 

They work, but like any other space heater they are expensive to run. We have three-- one I bought, the rest were salvaged during city clean up. Menards has them a lot cheaper than Eden Pure and the like! Much less of a fire hazard than most space heaters.

 

Should have mentioned this would be something we use on the occasion we want to watch a movie or play pool in the basement. Today the temp was 54 but did warm up to 60 with the nice solar gain we had. Many of these units say they will heat up to 1000 sf which is more than I have ... just wondering how long it would take to raise the room temp about 10 degrees.

 

About 20 mins, I would estimate.

 

You said stove keeps the furnace off, what is your other heat source (furnace). Any chance you could shut off the ducts except the basement and just use the furnace.

 

I have forced air propane furnace. That would be tough as we have a drop ceiling and all the rooms are balanced so that when the furnace is running the pressure differences are minimized. Thinking about trying one of these as it has a 3 year warranty and I like radiant style heating. They have these in stock at a Target close by - worse case if it doesn't heat up the room I could return it. Reading some of the IR reviews make me think they won't last.

 

Run the fan on the furnac?

 

I know I have tried circulating heat with just the furnace fans before and it did not work. I know others have tried to do this to move warm air to rooms not reached by the stove and the consensus is that it is better to set up a convection loop using fans to push the cold air towards the stove. I don't recall if anyone was trying to warm up a basement from a warmer upstairs air - may need to run a half hour test to see what this might yield.

 

I agree it's a last ditch but didn't know if you tried...

 

Thanks. I'll take a look.

 

SS through a chase. There is room for an additional chimney, but not a financially viable option for me.

 

I don't know about the Honeywell but I have had three different brands of these type of heaters, and they don't last, except for this one I have now this is a great heater,
De'Longhi 5,120-BTU Oil-Filled Radiant Tower Electric Space Heater with Thermostat and Energy Saving Setting

Checked with an IR gun this heater actually gets 75 degrees hotter than an off brand I have.

Don't expect these heaters to heat the area fast because they want, it will take some time but they work good and they don't make any noise, maybe a little clicking when you first start it up .
Probably take two of them to heat 800 square feet though

 

Not sure if it's exactly the same but that one looks the same as one I bought at Menards for about 80 bucks for my daughter to use, at her house in her upstairs bedroom where gets pretty chilly and she loves it.

 

Pretty much all plug-in heaters are 1500 watts. With the potential heat dependent on watts of power, they all much heat about the same. Some are more radiant, some heat the air more.

If you want to warm people, you will probably prefer radiant pointing at you. If you want to warm the air, the basic $15 heater from Walmart is the same as any other, as far as it's ability to heat. The features may differ.

Greg

 

Look at and compair the wattage when shopping for an electric heater. We have one similar to the one you have posted that we use in the rugrats room when it gets cold. And a milkhouse style in the bathroom. Same watts and the milkhouse cost a 1/3rd of the other. As said above it'll take 2 to bring the temp up quickly in 800sqft. And then just shut one off for the rest of the time your down there.