I guess it depends on the exact problem and how the building is designed. Also what kind of system issue currently in place. But no, this will not necessarily be a huge disruptive thing. If it’s just a faulty part of some kind, it could just be a couple of hours.
THIS is what you want. I have three of them to supplement the central heat in my drafty 1930-era rental house. They do a fantastic job, in fact, sometimes they make the place too warm.
I second or third this. I used one over several winters in an ice cold tiled bathroom and it filled the room with so much heat that I could walk barefoot on the warmed tiles. It was delightful. And this kind of heater felt much safer to me.
They’re especially good for the bathroom, because most electric space heaters have a fan of some kind. And when you get out of the shower, even if the fan is blowing warm air, it’s still cold on your wet body. These just radiate heat. I have one in the bedroom and in the winter when I take off my cold, sweaty socks (sorry if TMI), I drape them over the heater. There is NO open flame and absolutely NO danger of anything catching fire. I’ve also been known to drape a nightgown over it for a while before putting it on to go to bed. I don’t know what they cost now, but I used to get them at Wal-Mart for about $30.
I question maybe someone can answer. We have a large 3 season porch (about 15x25 Ft), that’s all windows, not insulated, and has no heat. One of the worst things about winter for us is that we lose the use of that porch. We have a tiny space heater out there right now that keeps it comfortable, but the outside temperature has been about 50 degrees during the day.
Is there any portable heater that will sufficiently heat that porch during an Adirondack Winter? If we leave the door open between the porch and the kitchen it will receive some of the house’s heat.
I know our utility bill will go up, but Winter is such an awful time for us that just having that little bit of happiness in being able to use the porch, it may be worth it.
Fourth or fifth this. The great thing about these is that they continue to radiate heat for a good long while when they’re cycled off. So you use a lot less electricity than with other space heaters, which only do you any good while they’re actively using 1500 watts of electricity. Plus, no glowing red-hot element looking like it’s going to set your room on fire if something gets too close to it.
could you insulate the windows with the shrink plastic window kits? That might help
I read somewhere that a good thing to do is get big rolls of bubble wrap and adhere pieces to the window with just water and static electricity.
Google:
bubble wrap window insulation
Can you see clearly out the windows with the plastic on? One of the reasons for sitting out there is looking at the pretty view.
Does anyone have any experience with the Duraflame electric fireplaces? I was thinking it would be nice to be out there, surrounded by snow outside all of the windows, and have the pretty fireplace going.
Anything to get through another winter with my sanity mostly intact. 
Yes you can see out the windows fine when you follow the directions, adhere it correctly on all four sides, and use a blow dryer to make it shrink tight. Not so much with that bubble wrap idea :dubious:.
I think an oil filled space radiator would work great on your porch. I think your choice may come down to whether you want something with a whirring fan blowing warm air around, or a silent radiated heat.
For a (insulated) porch you would want a (glowing red) radiant heater, certainly not oil filled. This way you can heat yourself without heating the air.
And all to that… Electric space heaters are all the same in efficiency, they are all 100% efficient. it all comes down to how you use it. I use a radiant heater, instant on, in the bathroom in the winter to provide comfort heat when I need to use it. The oil filled heater for longer term use, not that there would be anything less efficient with using the glowing radiant heater for long term use but the oil filled type gives me peace of mind over a red glowing piece of metal, also easier to sleep without the red glow.
I also would not want a glowing red thing out on the porch in the dark evening. I kind of hate those glowing red heaters and would not want one glaring at me on a nice evening after dark.
So it’s a personal choice. The OP and Honey can know what to expect from the choices and decide from there.