For a variety of reasons, consumers are often let down with the general performance of their newly purchased small space heater.

It's very simple to avoid the frustration of purchasing the wrong space heater and achieve the comfort you're looking for if you answer a few easy questions before you start shopping.

How Many People Do You Need to Make More comfortable?Should you be the sole user looking for added warmth, a radiant heater will be more practical compared to a convection heater. Radiant heaters warm humans and objects first. As soon as you turn on a radiant heater you are going to experience immediate, focused heat.

However, a convection heater works the opposite of a radiant heater by warming the air in the room first and people second. Most convection heaters take 20 minutes or more in order to heat up an average sized room or living area. However, in a room populated by 3 or 4 people at the same time, like a living room, a convection heater offers even heat enjoyed by all.

How Much Space Are You Heating?Since the majority of space heaters have a maximum capacity of fifteen hundred watts (5120 BTUs), they will not heat up any more than 400 sq ft. The results you get from any space heater will change based on room ceiling height as well as the amount and quality of your home's insulation.

A drafty room with 8 foot ceilings will not achieve the equivalent degree of comfort as a room with 7 foot ceilings in a well insulated home using the same heater.

If you are interested in adding supplemental heat to an office cubicle, computer station, or small work space, a compact infrared heater will supply ample warmth. For under the desk heat, a low wattage radiant heat panel will keep your lower extremities pleasantly toasty.

Do Have Children or Pets?Space heater safety assumes increased significance when you have curious little ones and/or nosy pets about.

The safest space heater for use around kids or your pets will always be the one that is out of reach. Certain micathermic flat panel heaters may be wall mounted which makes them unreachable. An additional choice is the ever popular oil filled radiator model heater. These kinds of heating units tend to be warm, but not dangerously hot to touch.

Does Anyone in Your Family Have Allergies or Breathing Difficulties?If this is the case, you should be aware that heaters with fans have a tendency to stir up dust and allergens. You could avoid this kind of situation by getting a micathermic, oil filled, or infrared heater without a fan. Most of the new quartz infrared heaters with fans are now outfitted with air filters which will also do away with this particular issue.

Space Heater Safe PracticesTake time to read the manufacturer's safety guidelines. If you will have to make use of an extension cord make sure it's a power strip type surge protector.

Position your space heater on a level surface away from combustibles and don't use it to dry clothes. Don't leave your small space heater running when you're not at home. If you want a certain room to be comfortable when you return home from work, purchase a space heater with a programmable thermostat. Also, purchase only the models that are UL or ETL listed and are equipped with tip over (automatic off) switches and over heat protection.