Types of Space Heaters
There are a number of different space heater types to consider when shopping:
Fuel-Burning Space Heaters – These consume fuel (propane, natural gas, etc.) in order to produce the heat. They tend to be very effective for larger spaces, as they can generate a lot of heat at once. However, it’s important to understand that they tend to emit carbon monoxide when they consume oxygen to burn the fuel. If you run these in an enclosed space, you could end up suffering carbon monoxide poisoning. Fuel-burning heats require flues or vents for the harmful gases to escape.
Filler Space Heaters – These heaters are filled with a material that grows hot when electricity is passed through it. For example, many filler heaters contain oil, as it heats up nicely as a result of the electrical current. When the filler grows hot, it radiates enough heat to warm up larger spaces, such as apartment buildings. They work more slowly than other heater types, as the filler material typically requires more time to heat up. However, once the filler material is hot, it will provide steady, uninterrupted heating—making it very effective as a heating option!
Convective Space Heaters – These heaters use a fan to distribute warm air throughout an enclosed room or space, warming up all of the air in the room rather than just the air in front of the heater directly (like fuel heaters). This means that they will take longer to warm up a space, but it will make the entire space gradually grow warmer consistently. They provide a constant heating effect that will keep the room warm even after you shut off the heat.
Radiative Space Heaters –These heaters give off radiation, which is responsible for heating your area. The radiative heat will affect your clothes and skin directly, heating your body rather than the ambient air. They tend to work fastest, and they eliminate the need for insulation. They tend to be smaller and portable, so you can carry them from place to place and use them wherever. However, they won’t heat large spaces, but focus on heating you personally.
Space Heater Heating Elements
When shopping for a space heater, you’ll be asked to choose what type of heating element you want to work with. There are typically nine different types of heating elements to work with:
- Oil – Oil is a filler material that heats up slowly but provides a steady stream of heat once it’s hot. It’s typically used in large-size apartment heating systems (very common in NYC), or in small space heaters.
- Natural gas – Natural gas heaters consume fuel, which means they will emit carbon monoxide and thus are better used outdoors than indoors. Natural gas is cheaper than electricity, however, so it’s a budget-friendly option when looking for a space heater.
- IR – Infrared heaters emit heat via electromagnetic radiation, making them highly effective in any atmosphere, regardless of insulation. They are radiative heaters, meaning the heat sticks to your clothes and body.
- Fan heater – Fan heaters use electric coils to generate heat, then uses a fan to blow the hot air around your room. It’s an electricity-based heater that will heat up very quickly, and it can be most effective for heaters pointed directly at you. In terms of large-space heating power, however, they may not be as effective.
- Electric heaters – An electrical current is passed through resistors, which grow hot and generate heat. The heat is either ambient or blown through a fan. Many space heaters run on electricity, but they can be somewhat pricey due to the high cost of kWh.
- Ceramic – Ceramic heaters contain wires that run electricity through the ceramic plates, which causes the plates to heat up. They tend to be quicker to heat but will cool off quickly, making them effective for those times when you need heat to warm up fast on a very cold day.
- Reflective – Reflective heaters use glass or foil to trap the heat in an enclosed space, causing the space to grow warmer without any of the heat escaping. These are far less common heating elements, but they can be effective for smaller spaces.
- Micathermic – Mica-covered heating elements tend to be lighter and thinner than others on this list, which means they’re highly portable, easily moved from one room to another. They heat up when electricity is passed through the heating element and radiate steady heat.
- Convection – Electricity is passed through resistors, and convection fan is used to blow the heat generated around the room. Rather than focusing on a specific area to heat, the fans circulate the warm air to heat up the entire space. It’s a slower heating process, but more thorough.
Space Heater Buying Factors
Shopping for the right space heater is easier said than done. With so many heaters on the market, it can be tough to find the one that suits your needs best. You may have no idea what features you need, what heating element works best, or how large of a heater you actually need.
Don’t worry, we’ve got your back!
Here are the main factors to consider when buying a space heater:
Size – The size of your heater will be determined according to the size of the space you want to heat. If you’re just looking for something to keep you warm while snuggled on a couch or at your desk, a smaller, focused-heat heater will do the job.
If you want to keep larger spaces and rooms warm (without turning on central heating), a larger space heater will be necessary. As a good rule of thumb, you’ll need about 10 watts for every square foot of room space—so a 750-watt heater for 75 square feet, 1500 watts for 150 square feet, and 3000 watts for 300 square feet.
Type – The list in the previous section will help you find the right heating element for the room and space you want to heat. For outdoors, it’s always best to go with natural gas or propane, as they produce a lot of direct heat. For larger indoor spaces, infrared heaters will focus on heating you up, while convective heaters will slowly warm up the entire room. For heating you up directly, consider an oil heater to keep your area warm for hours, or a fan heater to blow warm air right at you.
Placement – There are a number of locations for the heater to be placed:
- Freestanding heaters sit in the middle of your room or on your desk, where they provide direct, focused heat.
- Wall heaters are designed to be mounted to the wall, and they can either be isolated heaters or connect to a home heating system.
- Floor heaters are placed on the floor against the wall, and they tend to be compact electric heaters that stand alone or connect to your home heating system.
- Baseboard heaters are typically used in basements, and they can be particularly effective when placed beneath your windows to help counteract drafts.
Most people will automatically gravitate toward buying a freestanding space heater, but it may be a good idea to consider these other options.
Noise Level – The amount of noise your heater makes can be a major factor if you’re looking for a heater to use in your bedroom or living room. A noisy heating unit can be very distracting, making it hard for you to sleep, read, or watch TV. Most modern indoor models are fairly quiet, particularly electric heaters, though some fan-based heaters tend to be noisy. Outdoor heaters (propane and natural gas) will be noisier than average.
Features – There are many important features to consider when shopping for a space heater:
- Programmable timers allow you to cut back on energy use, as they switch the heaters on/off at the right times. While these are typically used for whole-home heating units, they’re also a great feature for individual space heaters.
- Oscillation is very useful! If you want to heat up larger spaces for more people, oscillation ensures that air is distributed in a wider arc around the room.
- Wheels and handles make it easy for you to move the heater around from room to room, even while it’s still hot or running.
- Bathroom-friendly heaters are those with special moisture-resistant components and wiring that won’t short or get damaged when used in damp environments.
- Multiple heat settings allow you to choose the temperature for warming your house—very handy if you’re looking for one to use with multiple people, each with their own temperature preferences.
- Energy-saving mode is a feature that allows you to reduce your energy usage (and electricity costs) while still heating your home or room.
- Protection switches will shut the heater off when it either tips over or overheats. These are critical safety features to consider for your heater! (See the next section for more…)
- Remote controls allow you to adjust your heat settings without having to get up from your comfortable seat.
- Cool-to-the-touch heaters contain two parts: the heating element, and a cabinet that encloses the heater but remains cool to the touch. This is ideal for safe use, especially if you have small children at home.
- Thermostats allow you maintain the temperature you set rather than just running the heater at full blast. They’re vital for cutting back on energy use!
- Long power cords make it easy for you to set up the heater at a safe distance from the wall, reducing the fire hazard of your space heater.
Shopping for Space Heater Safety
It’s a given that your space heater is going to be hot—that’s what you bought it for in the first place! But it shouldn’t be a fire hazard, which is why it’s critical that you shop for heaters that are as safe as possible.
Always look for heaters that have labels from recognized testing laboratories— ETL (Intertek), CSA (Canadian Standards Association), or UL (Underwriters Laboratory)—which means they have been tested to ensure they are safe. These are included on all electric space heaters, and they’re proof that the appliances meet these associations’ safety standards.
Make sure that the heater comes with two built-in shut-off switches: tip-over protection and overheat protection. Heaters, particularly electric heaters, can become very hot, to the point that they are extremely dangerous if they overheat. An overheat shut-off switch will stop the heater from reaching a dangerous heat. Tip-over protection will shut the heater off in case it falls over. This is an important safety feature, especially if you have pets or children.
Always check the power cord before buying any electric heater. Damaged power cords are a major safety hazard, and are one of the main causes of heater-related injuries, deaths, and fires.
If you’re going to buy a gas or propane heater, be aware that the gas line is the primary safety hazard. At the first sign of leak or damage, be ready to get the line checked out or switched out.
Where to Put Your Space Heater for Maximum Heating
The placement of your space heater should be determined by two things: 1) safety and 2) maximum efficiency.
In this section, we’re going to focus on placement for efficiency, the location of your heater will deliver maximum heating power for your room and home.
Convection heaters are designed to heat your entire room efficiently, so you can place them anywhere in the room and they’ll do an effective job. However, other heaters aren’t as efficient, so you have to be smart with their placement.
Oil heaters are best placed in the center of the room. They radiate an even amount of heat, so they will warm up the air around it quickly. In a central location, the oil heater will heat up the entire room evenly and efficiently.
Fan heaters need to be placed away from walls, furniture, or anything that could block the air intake built into the back. Place it on one side of the room, with the vent pointing into the middle of the room to blow the cool air evenly across the entire space.
Electric heaters can get very hot, so you need to make sure they’re well away from anything flammable. Never cover or place anything on top of them—it will be a safety hazard and will diminish the heating ability of the heater.
How to Use a Space Heater Safely
Space heaters can be dangerous if you’re not careful, or if they’re used incorrectly! Follow these safety tips to reduce any fire, injury, or burn hazards in your home:
Live by the 3-foot rule – Keep your heater at least three feet away from anything: beds, sofas, furniture, curtains, clothes, people, and pets. This is the safe distance to not only reduce fire hazards, but also risks to you and your family.
Keep it level – Make sure to always place the heater on a solid, even surface. Even with built-in tip protection, it’s better to be safe and reduce the risk of the heater getting knocked over.
Avoid extension cords – Always plug the heater directly into the wall. Only use an extension cord or power strip if you have no other option. The risk of overheating and burning the plugs is very high!
Turn it off when out or sleeping – If you’re not in the room where the heater is running, turn it off. If you’re going to sleep, turn it off. If you’re leaving the house, turn it off. It’s always better to be safe!
Ensure proper ventilation – Make sure your house has proper ventilation when using any kind of heater, both fuel-burning and electric-based heaters. Avoid using fuel-burning heaters inside your home as much as possible.
Train your kids and pets – Take time to teach them to be cautious around the heater, even when it’s off. Heaters can be a safety risk, amplified significantly if you have wild pets or active children.
Watch for water – Unless you know for certain the heater is 100% bathroom-safe, keep it out of the bathroom! Make sure to keep the heater as far away from moisture, damp, or water as possible. Even a small amount of moisture could get into the electric circuits and cause a dangerous short.
Unplug it – Even after the heater is turned off, it may be a good idea to unplug it. It’s a small safety precaution that can make a world of difference!
Read the manual – Even if it goes against your nature, take a few minutes to sit and read the heater’s manual. You’ll learn a thing or two about heater safety and operation that you might not have known.
Beware of high-traffic areas – Keep heaters out of any areas in your home that get a lot of traffic, such as hallways, kitchens, or dining rooms. Make sure that it’s placed to the side and out of the way of anyone walking around your house.