The advantages of an electric blanket over a space heater are worth considering, even if you have central heating or only need to use these items occasionally. Cost, utility, aesthetics, and safety are just a few of the factors to take into account.

The decision between these two depends on the type of space you want to heat, the amount of money you want to spend on electricity, and the number of people who would benefit from this heating option.

Overview – Electric Blankets vs. Space Heaters

Whether you should get a battery heated blanket or a space heater entirely relies on your needs. You should save money by not purchasing either if you believe you can do without them both. If, however, the weather does not allow for additional layers, use a blanket that can keep you warm instead.

In that it can quickly and reasonably heat an entire room, a space heater is equally magical. Depending on your objectives, you can choose to have both in your home and employ each one as necessary.

What are Electric Blankets?

Electric blankets are classified as household appliances even though they resemble and function like bedding because they plug into a wall and use your circuits for power. Through the fabric, there are tiny, thin wires that conduct heat, which warms the battery powered heated blanket and quickly warms you.

Timer devices are now possible thanks to recent advances, which is a crucial security measure. Another recent development is the introduction of wireless devices that can be operated by remote control and don’t require a power outlet.

The blanket shouldn’t feel any different from a typical piece of bedding aside from the heat it provides. After removing the plastic temperature dial, many blankets can even be thrown in the washing machine.

Electric Blanket with Wire

Wattage

Around 200 to 400 watts are required by a typical battery powered heated blanket. Electric blankets typically use a small amount of energy to distribute heat through internal cables. They typically cost four cents per hour, as opposed to some space heaters that can cost as much as fifteen cents.

Choice’s calculations indicate that running a single-bed electric blanket for three months, including preheating it, should cost about $20 per season.

Construction

These units’ interiors are comparatively typical for the sector. The heating element is made up of wires that are evenly distributed throughout the fabric layers and heat up when the blanket is turned on. The exterior material can be different; frequently, it is soft fleece, but you can also find them made of acrylic, wool, and other fabrics.

Unique Features

These can be found in an almost unlimited array of colors and designs, as well as a wide range of sizes to accommodate any bed. The automatic shut-off and timer features found on more recent models increase safety and reduce energy costs.

Wireless Electric Blanket

Pros

• Saves Energy
• Portable
• Inexpensive
• uniformly warms without requiring additional layers of bedding
• A lot simpler to clean than you might imagine.

Cons

• Older models run the risk of burning and catching fire.
• If the blanket is not used correctly, new models can also burn the user.
• Pets or poor maintenance can easily cause damage.

Safety

Electric blankets are secure when used and kept in accordance with the instructions. Compared to earlier models, modern battery powered heated blankets are much safer. This is due to the safety features they have, like an automatic shut-off.

Considering that an electric blanket has the potential to heat up significantly and present a risk to you when it does, it is crucial to discuss its safety. You should always check for frayed or exposed wires if you want to make sure your battery-operated heated blanket is functioning properly because fire hazards are no joke.

Cost

Using heated blankets is very inexpensive, and the small amount of money you spend on electricity is well worth it to feel cozy and warm. Compared to central heating, gas fireplaces, and space heaters, they are significantly less expensive to operate.

The materials used in an electric blanket’s construction, the blanket’s size, whether or not it has additional features, etc., all affect the final cost of the blanket and makes it different from other blankets. Between $30 and $200 can be spent on an electric blanket.

What Are Space Heaters?

Using a variety of technologies, space heaters efficiently generate heat to warm a space. In contrast to central heating systems, they can only heat enclosed spaces; they cannot heat connected rooms. Simply put, they are the answer to making a space comfortable and warding off the winter chill.

From red-coiled devices to sleek, contemporary-looking appliances, there are many different types and sizes to choose from. They do have the benefit of being usable by a whole household as opposed to just one person or a couple, despite being more expensive than an electric blanket.

Portable Space Heater

Wattage

Although more potent models are available, the majority of electric space heaters have an output of 750 to 1,500 watts. A 1,500-watt space heater would use about 1.5 kWh of electricity if run continuously for an hour. This is equivalent to roughly 16 cents per hour.

The wattage of a heated blanket is approximately two to four times higher.

Construction

Various building techniques are used. Both tiny carry-on gadgets the size of a toaster and enormous ones that can be several feet tall are available. Naturally, everything in between follows. Some more expensive models include temperature controls, making them more advanced thermostats than those with “high, medium, and low” settings.

Unique Features

You can choose safety features like an automatic shut-off in addition to temperature controls. This is especially crucial if there are worries about the heater being knocked over or falling on its side. If that happens, it needs to be turned off; otherwise, there is a high risk of fire.

Additionally, some models have a fan feature. A blower fan inside the heater can help distribute heat more evenly throughout the room, eliminating the igloo-like environment across the room.

Pros

• Portable
• Instant heat
• Efficient
• Great for zone heating
• Easy to use

Cons

• Not designed for long-term use
• Cannot be left unattended
• Increased risk of fires
• Only heats small spaces
• When used continuously, it can be expensive

Safety

Your safety is seriously put at risk if you use portable space heaters as your main heating source. Space heaters are not made or intended to be a home’s main source of heat; rather, they are meant to supplement a central heating system that is already installed.

A space heater’s safety depends on a number of things, including how old or defective it is and whether or not you leave it on while you sleep. Manufacturers have added a number of safety features to their space heaters to make them safer to use, such as timers for automatic shutdown or mechanisms that turn the heaters off if they are accidentally tipped over.

Safety Measures for a Space Heater

Cost

Depending on the model and heating capacity, a small personal heater can be purchased for as little as $20, while a full room heater can run as high as $300.

It goes without saying that a number of factors, including the product’s size, heating capacity, construction, built-in features, number of safety features, number of safety-measures the unit has, as well as how much electricity it uses, affect its price.

Which One is Better?

Your preference will determine the response to this query. A battery operated heated blanket is probably your best option if you like the idea of bundling up without heating up the entire room (or anyone else in it) unnecessarily.

However, if you want to heat an entire room and avoid needing a blanket to keep warm, you might want to use a space heater. They can be helpful if you’re a single person who doesn’t want to spend the entire day stumbling around the room wrapped in a blanket; they aren’t just an option for people who share a room.

Frequently Asked Questions

1- Does an electric blanket use too much electricity?

Other than jogging around your house or donning five layers of clothing, using a battery heated blanket as a heater is probably the most energy-efficient option. One of the most reasonably priced ways to stay warm, it only costs pennies an hour to use.

2- Which is easier to use?

Although both are fairly easy, a space heater prevails in this conflict. You only need to turn it on to experience the heat. When using an electric blanket, you must make physical contact with it, and if it has a cord, you are confined to a certain space.

3- Are electric blankets safe to leave on all night?

Many people who made it through the 1980s did so by sleeping with their electric blankets on. It’s not advised to leave them on while you sleep, though. Instead, turn it off before you go to sleep and then on again in the morning to rewarm up for a few minutes before you get out of bed.

The dangers of leaving it on all night include skin burns and the potential to cause a house fire.

4- What are other alternatives?

Your home can be heated in a variety of ways. Here are nine substitutes for a battery operated heated blanket or space heater:

1. A wall heater is a permanent fixture that is fastened to the wall. It is undoubtedly more powerful and significantly more expensive.
2. A ceiling heater. These wonderful inventions heat your space from the ceiling down. They resemble wall heaters but are suspended from the ceiling.
3. Fireplace: Pick from a reliable wood-burning stove, an electric fireplace, or a gas fireplace.
4. Heated flooring: Possibly the most opulent invention ever made, and it is totally worthwhile!

5- How do space heaters cause fires?

The proximity of flammable objects to the heater is the main factor in their tendency to start fires. Keep anything that could catch fire at least three feet away from the appliance. This covers things like clothes, furniture, curtains, bed linens, and mattresses.

If the heater is knocked over and has no safety feature to shut it off immediately, that presents another problem.

Conclusion

Almost nobody likes to be cold! On a comfortable temperature, though, not every person in a house can agree. If you enjoy being warm and cozy, but your partner or family members start to perspire profusely when the thermostat is raised, you may want to consider carrying a battery heated blanket with you.

On the other hand, if your family is also feeling the cold, the most effective way to heat the home is with one or more space heaters that are placed in key locations.