By David MacDonald
david@peicanada.com

Unusually warm temperatures this winter have had some home owners setting their shovels aside for a lack of snow and instead picking up infrared heaters in an effort to deal with rising furnace oil costs. But several oil companies in this area aren’t concerned about any impact this might have on their business.
The infrared heaters are in stock at many Island stores and, depending on the model, can warm up spaces anywhere from 800 to 1,000 square feet. The portable units, which resemble wooden cabinets can compliment other furniture in a room and claim to use up to 50 per cent less energy than other heating systems.
They have become so popular this season that both Souris Home Hardware and Kent Building Supplies in Montague have sold out of one of the cheaper models, which costs about $300.
“It’s due to the media attention they’re getting, and customers are looking for different options for heating their homes and to save money on oil,” Daryl MacKenzie, manager of Souris Home Hardware, said. “We had trouble getting some (heaters) in at times this winter.”
“I doubt we’ll get more this winter,” Jennifer Quinn, assistant manager of Kent Building Supplies in Montague, said.
While infrared heaters have been around for a number of years, sales have really taken off. Ms Quinn said the Kent store sold more than 30 this year compared to just three last winter, with the store sometimes selling as many as four in one week.
The heaters are also hot items at Stewart & Beck Ltd in Montague. Owner Mark Beck said the store has sold more than 100 of the heating units, with a few customers buying more than one for their home, and demand is continuing to grow.
“They’ve been one of the most popular items in the store all fall,” he said. “Up to this year, we sold maybe one a year.”
Mr Beck said about 25 per cent of the staff at his store also own the product.
He said the cost of using the infrared heater to heat your home (the smaller model heats up to 800 square feet) would cost roughly $3 per day, or approximately $90 per month.
“At 14 cents an hour you can heat your home very reasonably compared to oil.”
Ms Quinn at Kent Building Supplies said the popularity of the item means they will stock more units next fall so she’s hoping their popularity continues.
As far as this electric heat source affecting the sale of furnace oil, Dan MacIsaac of Kenmac Energy said he hasn’t noticed any difference.
Walt MacDonald of the PEI Petroleum Marketers Association couldn’t speak about whether any specific oil company is feeling the impact from sales of the heaters, adding the subject has “never come up” as a topic at any association meetings.
“The warmer weather (this winter) will probably have more of an impact than the heaters would, but I’m not sure,” he said.
Mr MacDonald said there is always something out on the market every year that claims to be a replacement for oil as a heating source.
“(Infrared heaters) are not really new. They’ve been on the market for years,” Mr MacDonald said. “I’ve heard people say they’re great. I’ve heard people say they’re not worth crap.”