Professional Space Heater Services in Tiki Island, TX

Space heaters are a fact of life in Galveston — especially in older island homes where the central heating system wasn't designed for the rare nights when temperatures drop into the 30s and the Gulf wind makes it feel worse. Portable electric space heaters show up in bedrooms, living rooms, and bathrooms across the island every December. And every December, fire departments across Texas respond to house fires caused by space heaters placed too close to curtains, bedding, or furniture. The Texas State Fire Marshal's office consistently lists portable space heaters as a leading cause of residential fire deaths during winter months. Coastal Eco Heating & Air provides safer, permanent supplemental heating alternatives for Galveston homes — plus service and safety evaluations for homeowners currently relying on portable units.

Why Galveston Homes Rely on Space Heaters

The island's housing stock tells the story. Many older Galveston homes — Victorian-era houses in the East End Historic District, mid-century bungalows, and pier-and-beam construction throughout — were built with minimal insulation, single-pane windows, and heating systems designed for a climate that rarely gets cold. Some homes had heating added as an afterthought: a wall unit in the living room, a window heat pump in the master bedroom, or a central system that's undersized for the home's square footage.

When a cold front pushes through and these systems can't keep up, space heaters fill the gap. A $30 portable heater from the hardware store is the path of least resistance. It works. But it comes with real risks — especially in older homes with aging electrical wiring that may not safely support the 1,500-watt draw that a typical space heater pulls.

Post-storm housing adds another layer. Homes damaged by hurricanes and repaired quickly sometimes have heating systems that were patched rather than properly restored. Galveston has seen this cycle repeatedly — Ike in 2008, Harvey in 2017 — where homes got livable again but the HVAC system never came fully back.

The Fire and Safety Risks

A portable space heater operating properly in the center of a room with nothing within three feet of it is relatively safe. That's not how most people use them. Space heaters get pushed against walls, placed on carpet near bedding, left running overnight, plugged into extension cords or power strips, and used in bathrooms near water. Each of these scenarios introduces fire, burn, or electrocution risk.

The electrical risk is real in Galveston's older homes. A 1,500-watt space heater pulls 12.5 amps on a standard 15-amp circuit. If that circuit also serves lights, a TV, or other devices, it's at or above capacity. Older wiring with corroded connections — and salt air accelerates that corrosion — can overheat under sustained high loads. This is how electrical fires start.

Carbon monoxide is another risk, though primarily with fuel-burning heaters. Propane and kerosene space heaters should never be used indoors, but every cold snap brings emergency calls from Galveston homes where someone used a fuel-burning heater or even a gas oven for heat.

Safer Permanent Alternatives

The solution isn't to go cold — it's to replace the space heater with a permanent, safely installed heating source. The best options for Galveston homes:

Wall-mounted electric heaters install directly on the wall with a dedicated circuit and built-in thermostat. They provide the same heat output as a portable unit — 750 to 2,000 watts — but with permanent wiring, no trip hazards from cords, and no risk of tipping over. Installation runs $300 to $800 per unit including the dedicated circuit, and they're ideal for bedrooms, bathrooms, and additions that the central system doesn't reach well.

Ductless mini-split systems are the premium solution. A single-zone ductless unit provides both heating and cooling to one room, operates silently, and runs on a dedicated circuit with a professionally installed outdoor compressor. Installation runs $3,000 to $5,000 per zone, and the system pays for itself in energy savings compared to running space heaters — plus it gives you efficient cooling in summer. For Galveston, every outdoor unit gets corrosion-resistant components for salt air protection.

Electric baseboard heaters are a lower-cost permanent option at $200 to $500 installed per unit. They're quiet and reliable, though less efficient than mini-splits. For a room that only needs supplemental heat during the two to three months of Galveston winter, they're a practical, safe upgrade from a portable heater.

Space Heater Safety Evaluation

If you're currently using portable space heaters and aren't ready for a full replacement, Coastal Eco offers a safety evaluation. We'll check the circuits your heaters are plugged into, verify your home's electrical panel can handle the load, and identify any wiring concerns that make high-draw portable heaters dangerous. It's a small step that can prevent a catastrophic outcome.

Service Area

We serve Galveston Island, Texas City, League City, Dickinson, La Marque, and Santa Fe. Call (409) 599-1948 for a free estimate on permanent supplemental heating or to schedule a space heater safety evaluation. Your home deserves better than a $30 fire risk from the hardware store.