Space heater in a cold room

[Aviator12]

So as summer turns to fall, I'm looking for a new spot in my condo for Rosy to live. Right now she is sort of in an entryway that's a little drafty which will be a definite problem once winter kicks in.

I don't have tons of room for her cage but I do have a basement room with ample room and light. Problem is it's typically low 60s and I'm guessing it will get even cooler in the winter.

So question is, anyone have experience with heating a really cool room? I'm thinking space heater but it would have to be a pretty powerful one at that. Maybe somebody could recommend me a brand or type of space heater that would do the job?

[laurentj23]

I got mine from ebay used for 10 bucks shipped! It works good with temp control

[nikki]

I recommend getting a new oil filled radiator type heater. They are very safe and give off alot of heat without getting overhot on the outside. They also hold heat for a bit if the power goes out. Try to get one with a dial instead of a digital one, most digital ones don't turn back on by themselves if the power goes out but the dial type ones do. I have used this type of heater for years now in my hedgie room and love them.

[Heavenly Hedgehogs]

I use a heater but just a box heater with my guys depending on the room temp. I have one that is set and will shut of at what temp I want the room at, so it doesn't overheat or doesn't not heat enough.

[Heavenly Hedgehogs]

that sounds good, but was wondering where you would buy one? Cdn tire? I don't think I have seen one before?
My friend In NFLD lost power for a while due to the 130 mile an hour winds today, and we were trying to come up with some ideas in case it happens again.
She has hedgehogs, a lizard and rabbits

Originally Posted by nikki

I recommend getting a new oil filled radiator type heater. They are very safe and give off alot of heat without getting overhot on the outside. They also hold heat for a bit if the power goes out. Try to get one with a dial instead of a digital one, most digital ones don't turn back on by themselves if the power goes out but the dial type ones do. I have used this type of heater for years now in my hedgie room and love them.

[nikki]

I bought my last one at Canadian Tire, and they turn off and on to keep the temp steady too.

[Nancy]

I would be concerned using a room that is 60 degrees. To raise the temperature to 75 the heater is going to be running practically constantly. Perhaps a better choice would be to find a place on the main floor for her and use a CHE setup.

[Aviator12]

Yeah I'm leaning towards not putting her in the basement. Apparently it gets down to seeing your breath in the winter time...

Im off to find a space heater today for sure. Last night it got down to low 30s and her cage was at 70 this morning :/

[hedgielover]

There may be a way you can increase the temperature in the basement with the house's normal heat as well. I don't know what kind of heat your house uses but if you have central air and you close all the vents except the ones in the basement then all the heat from the furnace will be directed to the basement and it will still heat the rest of the house because it will rise up from the basement. (In the summer if you have air conditioning you do the opposite and only open the vents on the top floor). It may help enough that with a space heater the room would be warm enough.

For a year we lived in a basement apartment with our hedgehog and used a space heater. It didn't get down to 60 but it was sometimes 65. The space heater did have to run a lot to heat the room but it wasn't on all the time. A lot depends on the insulation, the size of the room, how many exterior walls there are in the room, how big the windows are, if the windows are energy efficient and sealed, are the doors sealed well etc.

Something to think about with a space heater is where you will plug it in and what else is on that circuit. We consistently blew out the fuse until our landlord put in an outlet on its own circuit for us to use.

I personally lean towards having my pets close by. We have our budgie in our bedroom and when we had lots of small animals we had all the pet cages along a wall in the living room. It was a tiny little space but we made room for them all. If you don't use the basement space much you may find you're not spending as much time with your hedgehog because all the little check ins you probably do now on your way past the cage won't really happen. I've been living in apartments for 5 years. They've all been quite small with everything in one place so now when we stay at other peoples houses I'm always shocked how much more time it takes to get around. When your stuff is on different floors you spend more time traveling where as if you can find a way to keep your hedgehog close by you won't need to make specific trips to check on her or care for her.

[Heavenly Hedgehogs]

Thanks Nikki, I went and picked one up at Canadian Tire on sale.. I just got a baby redfoot tortoise so can use the other heater in my craft/computer room where she is in the winter if need be.

Originally Posted by nikki

I recommend getting a new oil filled radiator type heater. They are very safe and give off alot of heat without getting overhot on the outside. They also hold heat for a bit if the power goes out. Try to get one with a dial instead of a digital one, most digital ones don't turn back on by themselves if the power goes out but the dial type ones do. I have used this type of heater for years now in my hedgie room and love them.