This is the time of year when winter and the holidays come into focus. The snow’s starting to fly around and everybody is in a panic to find the perfect gift for their special someone.

While a nice box of new cigars would be the best option in our opinion, there are always other alternatives to look into. For instance, when you’re out on the porch or in the garage enjoying your favorite cheroot it may start to get a bit frosty this time of year. What could be a better option to keep you comfortable than a space heater?

But before deciding on just picking up the cheapest model you can find in Wal-Mart, take a few moments to read ahead and determine what works best for your situation.

The most important factor in deciding what kind of space heater to buy is the space in which you’re trying to heat up. If you buy an industrial-sized heater to heat up a bathroom, it’s not only impractical but unsafe as well with the risk of starting a fire. The fact of the matter is that space heaters cause an estimated 21,650 home fires and 1,512 fire-related injuries and deaths each year and a lot of those fires are caused by poor judgment and having the wrong kind of space heater. So be smart!

Another important factor to consider is deciding whether you will need either a gas heater or an electrical plug-in heater. For most indoor spaces and non-emergency situations, an electric heater will do the job just fine. It’s worth noting that not having a heating device with combustible fluid and that emits carbon monoxide in its exhaust inside your house is considerably safer for everybody as well. But as far as performance goes outdoors or in an open garage, nothing beats a strong gas heater.

Something that is often overlooked when buying a heater are the little special features each individual heater provides. The main goal is to find any features that will make the heater easier and safer to use. Something as simple as a handle at the top to move it around, a suitable power cord to keep the heater away from walls, a thermostat to regulate the temperature exactly, or a kill switch if the heater were to tip over are all useful (and sometimes life-saving) features of various heaters.

One other thing to look out for is a brand name that is well-known. Many brands of space heaters (more often than not this would apply online, not so much in retail stores) do not follow many US voluntary safety standards that deal with the product’s construction and performance. Looking for a label from a recognized lab such as UL (Underwriters Laboratory), ETL (Intertek), or the CSA (Canadian Standards Association) is a wise decision.

Also, many of the larger names will have more extensive warranties and bigger customer service departments so any problems you may encounter would be solved quicker and painlessly. Many reputable brands include DeLonghi, Holmes, (and their parent company Jarden, which owns Patton, Coleman, and Bionaire) Lasko, and Pelonis. Most of these brands can be found at places like Wal-Mart, Target, Sears, Lowe’s, Bed Bath & Beyond, and True Value to name a few.

Happy holidays and happy heating!