So how much will my Space Heater cost to run?
Most electric space heaters run at a maximum of 1500 watts, which means 1.5 kw per hour or 1.5 kWh. If you have your heater running on its highest setting, non-stop, for an entire month (which is approximately 730 hours), it will cost you an average of $82.13 per-month. While $82 may sound like a lot of money, take into account the fact that you are most likely not going to be using it at full-throttle 24/7, so chances are this dollar amount will probably be less.
You can also save money on your electric bill by buying a space heater that has different temperature control settings. These space heaters will generally go into “standby mode” once the desired room temperature has been reached (which it will then use less electricity), and will only turn back on to half or full power when it needs to keep the room’s temperature at your desired comfort level. As we mentioned earlier, make sure your dwelling is insulated as best as you can, otherwise the space heater may never stop running.
If you want to reduce your electric bill even further while using your space heater(s), unplug any electronic items that you have when they’re not in use (computers, microwave ovens, televisions, etc…), and use the cold water setting to wash your clothes if you have an electric water heater. The main theme here is to unplug any electrical item you aren’t using. It only takes a few seconds to do, and it can greatly reduce your monthly bill – even if you aren’t using a space heater.