Info about House Fires
Individual Room Heating – Portable Equipment
A self-contained heater which warms all or part of a room and can be moved without great effort from one room to another. Portable heaters are relatively inexpensive to buy but are expensive to run, having to rely on full-rate electricity, paraffin or bottled gas. It is useful to have at least one to use when other sources of heat break down or when extra warmth is required for a short time.
• Electric radiant fire
Now out of favour because of risk — buy a fan heater instead. One, two or three bars are present, each with an output of 0.6 - 1 kW. The heating effect is both visible and rapid, but thermostatic control is not possible. Heat is reduced by turning off one or more of the bars. A wire guard must be present. Even so, take care
• Electric fan heater
Hot air is blown out horizontally. This is the best of the electric portables — safe, thermostatically controlled and capable of warming a large area very quickly. Ceramic heaters have become popular because of their smaller size and lower operating temperature than traditional heated-wire types
• Electric convector heater
Useful for providing background heat where central heating is absent or in a room where there isn't a radiator. It may take several hours for the air to warm to a satisfactory level, but there is thermostatic control, no noise and no obvious hazards. Make sure the model is not too heavy if you plan to move it from room to room
• Electric oil-filled radiator
Portable versions of the fixed electric radiator are available. These types are single-panelled and free-standing, and are light enough to be moved about the house. Useful for providing back¬ground heat in a normally unheated room during a cold snap. There are usually several settings plus thermo¬static control
• Paraffin stove
Modern versions of the old standby show several improvements, including improved efficiency and automatic cut¬out if it falls over. But all the major drawbacks remain — smell, need for regular refuelling, lack of thermostatic control and troublesome condensation in the absence of adequate ventilation. Still, a life-saver during a power cut
• LPG Heater
LPG (bottled gas) heaters produce both radiant and convected warmth — no chimney is needed and large areas can be quickly warmed. But there are drawbacks — lack of thermostatic con¬trol and troublesome condensation in the absence of adequate ventilation. Cylinders have to be replaced regularly but efficiency is equal to natural gas.