Heating safety and cost‑saving tips for Chilean and Argentine homes amid cold wave

In Chile, the most common household heating sources are gas, paraffin, wood, electric and pellet stoves. Authorities warn that these devices consume oxygen and can emit carbon monoxide, especially in poorly ventilated spaces, posing serious health risks. Paraffin stoves release higher levels of toxic gases when ignited, and wood burning contributes fine particulate pollution linked to respiratory diseases. Pellet stoves are presented as a cleaner, more efficient alternative, though they require higher upfront investment and regular maintenance.

In Argentina, experts advise improving thermal insulation—such as sealing door frames and replacing window weather‑stripping—to retain heat and lower energy use. They also compare the electricity consumption of various heating appliances, highlighting low‑consumption options like 600 W panel heaters, modern electric radiators (0.75–1.5 kWh), efficient split‑type air‑conditioners (≈0.6–1 kWh), and quartz infrared heaters (≈1.2 kWh), while noting that devices such as caloventors and vitreoconvectors consume up to 2 kWh per hour. Selecting equipment with high energy‑efficiency ratings can reduce heating costs by up to 70 %.