Four Temporary Heating Myths, Debunked

Whether you are heating a construction site, business, hospital, or other space, going about it the wrong way could be an expensive mistake. To make matters worse, there are several widespread myths about the proper way to heat a space.

We want our customers to keep their workers warm and safe, and save money in the process, so we’ve debunked some myths we hear all too often.

Four Heating Myths That Are Costing You Money

Myth 1: Fans are only used for cooling things off.

Fans are a great way to cool workers down in the hot months, but you should put them away when it gets cold, right? Wrong! If you know the right techniques, you can use your fan to help get the most out of your heaters.

Ceiling fans can be incredibly effective for heating a space. Remember, hot air rises. To use your fan to heat a space, set it to spin in the opposite direction (clockwise) at a slow pace. This will push hot air that’s hanging out around your ceiling and move it down toward the floor, keeping your workers comfortable and safe.

Myth 2: Keeping the temperature high while the space is empty is more efficient than heating it back up in the morning.

This may seem logical. When your space stays empty overnight and the temperature plummets, doesn’t it put a lot of stress on the heater to reheat the space?

While it does take a little extra energy to heat the area back up again, it is nowhere near the amount wasted by heating a space while no one is even in it.

Myth 3: One large unit is more efficient than several smaller units.

This one depends on the size and layout of your space. In one large area, it is more cost-effective to use one large unit, but if you have multiple rooms, it’s better to use multiple small units.

If you try to use one large unit to heat several rooms, the walls will block the hot air from flowing into each individual room. This will force the heater to work harder, using more energy than you would if you used several small units.

Myth 4: Electric heaters are not efficient compared to gas and other sources.

Efficiency is all about keeping heat inside your space, which is why electric heaters are actually very efficient. Think about it like this—when you have a 150,000 BTU indirect heater, you have to burn fuel and duct the unit into your space. As heat travels through the duct, you actually end up losing some of it, so by the time it gets to your space, it might only be 120,000 BTUs of heat. Electric heaters, on the other hand, are 100% efficient because every watt that goes into the heater stays in the building.

There are also cases where electric heaters may be more cost-effective. For example, in a high-rise building, electric heaters make the most sense because it can be difficult, sometimes impossible, and often costly to set up ducting from a heater to a high floor. Plus, with electric heaters, you don’t need to worry about fuel delivery costs and regulations.

Temporary Heating Experts

There are many heating myths that have been circulating for years, so don’t believe everything you hear! When in doubt, consult a professional. Our team is always available to offer guidance on what heating solution is best for your space. Just give us a call at 1-800-810-4184 or contact us online to speak to one of our reps.