Which Heater is Best: From Space Heaters to Electric Wall Heaters

Convection Heaters warm the space by creating convection currents. The heater heats the surrounding air, which then rises. The cool air falls and is then heated. This cycle continues until the heater is turned off.

Radiant Heaters transfer heat directly to people and objects. These are great for areas where people will remain still and in the heater's line of sight. These heaters operate by creating an electric current that flows through a specially designed resistive element. This resistance causes electrical energy to be turned into heat. Radiant heaters provide immediate heat and are good for people with dust allergies since it doesn't rely on a fan to disperse the heat.

Fan Heaters are convection heaters that operate by using a fan to pass air over a heat source. This heats up the air which then leaves the heater and warms up the surrounding room.

Gas Heaters operate by burning natural gas, liquefied petroleum, propane or butane. There are two main types of gas heaters: Flued and non-flued. Flued heaters have a flue that carries exhaust gases away outside of the home.

Heat Pump Systems operate using an electrical compressor to operate a cycle that extracts heat energy from the air or the ground. A large network of pipes is run through the ground and a refrigerant is then pumped around these pipes. The refrigerant absorbs the heat and transfers it to the compressor to be warmed.

Storage Heaters operate by storing thermal energy during the evening, or at night when electricity is available at lower cost, and then releases the heat during the day as required.

Underfloor Heating operates by using heating cables embedded in the floor. A current flows through and heats the cables underneath the floor. The heated cables warm the flooring until it reaches the right temperature set by the floor thermostat. The floor then heats the air which circulates and heats the other objects in the room.

Wall Panel Heating operates by converting electrical energy into heat energy when it passes through an electrical resistor inside the appliance. These heaters are directly attached to the wall. Wall panel heaters are also perfect for small areas since they don't take up any floor space.