Your guide to buying a space heater

While central heating systems play a role in maintaining a cozy atmosphere, they might not always provide the right amount of warmth you need in certain areas of your home.

This is where space heaters step in – versatile devices that can offer targeted warmth and energy efficiency.

With many options available on the market, it can be difficult to choose the right heater for your space. Let’s walk through some of the most important factors to consider when selecting a space heater.

What kind of space heater do you need?

Before diving into the sea of space heater options, take a moment to think about your specific heating needs. Identify the rooms or areas in your home that require additional warmth.

Are you aiming to heat a compact bedroom, a spacious living room, or perhaps your home office? By pinpointing the exact spaces you want to warm, you’ll set yourself up for success when deciding on a space heater.

Some factors to consider:

Heating capacity:

Most space heaters provide their wattage information. As a general rule, you’ll need around 10 watts of heating power per square foot of space you intend to warm. For instance, if you’re looking to heat a 150-square-foot bedroom, a heater with approximately 1500 watts of power should suffice. Keep in mind that this primarily applies to supplemental heating. For larger rooms or spaces with poor insulation, you might need higher wattage to achieve your desired level of warmth.

Heater size and portability:

Do you intend to move the heater around your home? If you do, look for compact and lightweight models. Some space heaters even come with built-in handles to make transport easy. If you’re aiming to heat just one room, a more stationary heater with wheels might be the ideal choice for easy positioning.

Safety features:

Space heaters can pose risks if the heat source is left unattended or operated improperly. Modern space heaters come equipped with standard safety features that help minimize dangers. Look for ones that monitor conditions, proactively power down the heating element, and prevent contact with hot surfaces.

Energy efficiency:

More efficient heater models consume less electricity to produce the desired level of warmth. This saves money on energy bills and reduces the heater’s environmental footprint. Considering most space heaters are intended for temporary spot heating during colder months, they inherently use extra energy by the nature of their task. Maximizing efficiency ensures you aren’t wasting money and resources heating small zones.

Budget:

As with any purchase, you’ll want to set a budget range. While higher-priced models may offer advanced features, there are plenty of cost-effective options that are effective at providing heat.

Types of space heaters

There are various types of space heaters, and each kind offers distinct benefits. The main categories of space heaters include convection, radiant, and combination heaters. Here’s a breakdown:

Convection heaters:

These heaters function by warming the air within a room. They circulate the heated air, creating a consistent and even temperature throughout the space. Convection heaters are particularly well-suited for larger rooms that require a uniform temperature.

Radiant heaters:

Radiant heaters operate by directly heating objects and people in their vicinity rather than the air itself. This results in almost instant warmth, making them ideal for fast spot heating. Radiant heaters are particularly useful in smaller spaces.

Combination heaters:

These heaters combine the features of both convection and radiant heaters. They use a fan to disperse heated air. Combination heaters strike a balance between rapid warmth and even distribution, making them suitable for various room sizes.

Ceramic heaters:

These use a ceramic heating element and a fan to distribute warm air. They may have different designs and fan settings to optimize warmth. They’re best for spot-heating one room or area.

Infrared heaters:

Infrared heaters use electric heating elements to emit infrared radiation which directly warms objects, not the air. They’re ideal for focused warming in offices, workshops, or other stationary areas.

Mica panel heaters:

These heaters use mica panels as heating plates behind a protective grill. They’re best for heating small bathrooms or adding directed warmth to any room.

Oil-filled radiator heaters:

Oil-filled radiator heaters contain heating oil in an enclosed column. The oil heats up slowly and retains heat well after the unit is turned off. These are ideal for warming bedrooms and other living spaces.

READ MORE: Space heater safety and you

Don’t skip the safety features

Today’s space heaters offer a variety of convenience features and settings to enhance comfort, efficiency, and safety. Look for models with advanced features that allow the highest level of control and safety for your needs.

• Adjustable thermostats – Lets you set your desired temperature instead of high, or low, fan settings.
• Programmable timers – Set the heater to turn off automatically after several hours for added peace of mind.
• Remote controls – Adjust settings from across the room.
• Digital displays – Allow for easy monitoring of the current temperature.
• Tip-over switches – Automatically powers down the heater if it’s knocked over.
• Overheat protection – Shuts off the heater if internal overheating is detected.
• Cool-touch housings – Keeps the heater cool to the touch and prevents accidental burns.
• Carry handles – Allow for easy portability between rooms.
• Quiet settings – Low fan speeds for noise-free relaxation.
• Energy saving modes – Options like eco/energy saving modes use less electricity.

Most portable space heaters now need to be reviewed and approved by independent safety testing labs. When you’re looking for a new space heater, make sure you’re buying one that is safety-certified. In the United States, safety certifications will usually show as a UL (Underwriter Laboratories) or ETL (Intertek) label on the packaging.

READ MORE: 12 things you should know about portable space heaters

Consider energy efficiency

EnergyStar doesn’t have ratings for portable space heaters for a reason. They draw a lot of power when they run, which will be reflected in your electrical bill. Some electric space heaters do come with wattage control that can help alleviate this, but no matter what, you’ll still be using a fair bit of electricity to heat a room with a space heater.

While space heaters don’t have standardized Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) ratings like air conditioners, you can still check their efficiency by using these indicators:

• Wattage: Opt for heaters with lower wattage, as they generally consume less energy. Look for models that offer enough heating while using minimal power.
• Programmable thermostats: Space heaters equipped with programmable thermostats allow you to set specific temperatures and schedules. This prevents excessive heating and minimizes energy waste.
• Energy-saving modes: Some heaters feature energy-saving modes that automatically adjust heat output to maintain a consistent temperature without unnecessary power consumption.

Explore additional features

Beyond the basics, certain space heaters offer additional features that enhance convenience and performance. Think about what features are most important to you and if you’ll actually use them.

• Remote control – Allows you to adjust settings without leaving your comfort zone.
• Programmable timer – Schedule when the heater turns on or off.

• Oscillation – This feature helps distribute heat more evenly across the room, eliminating cold spots and maximizing overall comfort.
• Mobility – Wheels or a handle will make it easy to move your heater.

Tips for using space heaters

Treat a space heater as you would a candle. Keep these tips in mind:

• Remember the three-foot rule: Always keep the heater at least three feet from anything flammable. The leading cause of space heaters igniting fires is placing them too close to flammable objects.
• Keep the space heater on a flat, stable surface: This helps prevent tripping, accidental knocks and messes.
• Never leave it unattended: Before you leave the room or house, always turn off and unplug your space heater.
• Keep out of reach of children and pets: Just as you wouldn’t leave a candle within reach of children or curious pets, the same goes for space heaters.
• Plug it directly into the outlet: Never plug a space heater into a surge protector. If your heater is plugged directly into the wall, you know that it’s rated for the outlet. A surge protector may not be equipped to handle the power needed for the space heater and can cause a fire if it becomes overwhelmed.
• Have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms: Even if you’re as careful as possible, accidents happen. The first line of defense is maintaining working alarms.
• Watch out for signs of malfunction: Fortunately, more modern space heaters often have safety functions that cause them to shut down when they aren’t working properly, but older models don’t work that way.

Thanks for reading! We hope this guide along with our space heater safety tips helped you select a space heater to keep you cozy this season!

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