What type of heating appliance typically heats only a specific room rather than the entire house?

A space heater is designed to heat individual rooms or specific areas within a home rather than distributing warmth throughout the entire house. This type of appliance provides localized heating, making it ideal for use in smaller spaces or for situations where only certain areas need to be warm.

In contrast, central heating systems are connected to ductwork and provide heat to multiple rooms simultaneously, effectively warming large sections of a house. Direct vent heaters specifically use a venting system to draw combustion air from outside and exhaust gases outside as well, but they may also serve larger areas depending on the installation. Inserts refer to wood or gas-burning inserts that fit into existing fireplaces, which can provide heat for an entire room but are focused on fireplace use rather than being standalone units intended for room-specific heating.

The focused purpose of a space heater to provide localized heat is what distinguishes it from other types of heating appliances.