Now that cold, winter weather is here, Islanders are looking at different ways of heating their homes to save money on the soaring price of home heating oil.
And infrared heaters may be the way to go.
They’re a different kind of heater, said Des MacDonald, Canadian Tire manager in Charlottetown.
“They’re different from electric heaters which use a hot air and blow it around, an infrared heater uses a “special infrared bulb that produces heat,” said MacDonald.
He tells customers it’s like having a toaster and a fan. The device produces a constant heat which “attaches itself” to things in the room, keeping it warm.
Infrared heaters run on electricity and do burn a little more energy. Once it gets to the set temperature it lowers it down so it’s more energy efficient, said MacDonald.
They have a breaker system so it will shut down before it can overheat, although “it would take a lot for it to heat up,” he said.
Charlottetown Fire Chief Randy MacDonald said they’re not aware of infrared heaters causing any fires in the Charlottetown jurisdiction. He does have advice for those who choose to use them though.
“The recommendation that I make is to make sure that people read the manufacturer’s instructions. That’s key,” he said.
The heater doesn’t heat up enough to burn, making it safe for those with children, said Des MacDonald. They’re also shaped like a cabinet so they’re less likely to tip over, he added.
Another good thing about the heaters is a filter system that takes out dust mites so it won’t blow them back into the air like an electric heater, he said.