What is the Best Rated Space Heater?

When trying to find a space heater for your room, it can be quite the challenge. You have to ask: which type of heater do I need? Where would I put the space heater? How much space will it heat? What is the safest space heater? What is a space heater?

How does a space heater work?

Well, a space heater is usually run by an electric current to help deliver heat to an enclosed room to keep you warm and comfortable. Typically, a room heater helps provide additional heat while also reducing heating bills. A space heater mainly heats a single room or small area and a lot are electric space heaters, making them easier to operate!

There are many different types of space heaters that vary depending on the size of the room you are heating or the type of heating, including:

Different types of space heaters
  • Ceramic Heaters
  • Radiant and Infrared Heaters
  • Baseboard Heaters
  • Convection Heaters
  • Micathermic Heaters

So, now that you know the names of the major space heaters, let’s find the best space heater that fits your needs!

Ceramic Heaters

Ceramic space heater

Ceramic heaters are easily portable and are fan-forced to help distribute heat into a room. This electric heater heats a room quickly and often has advanced features including: a timer, digital controls, or a digital thermostat. Because they conserve energy and are an energy efficient space heater, you won’t need as much heat. These heaters are ideal to use in places such as large rooms, warehouses, rooms in a home, as well as be used as a garage heater.

PROS

CONS

  • Portable
  • Heats up a room quickly
  • Highly versatile
  • Has multiple fan settings and controls for energy conservation options
  • Ceramic increases the longevity of the heater
  • Can be expensive to run for long amounts of time
  • Room will cool down quickly after turned off

 

Radiant & Infrared Heaters

Infrared space heater

Radiant and infrared heaters are completely different from convection and fan-forced heaters. Because they radiate heat forwards onto objects, they are not made to heat the air in a room, but rather the objects in it. This way, energy is not wasted. This type of heater is only suitable for heating small areas, but it provides fast and instant heat when used properly. These heaters are also energy efficient and will help decrease your heating bill.

PROS

CONS

  • Portable
  • Radiates heat forwards objects
  • Energy efficient
  • Provides fast and instant heat
  • Have to be in close proximity to the heater to feel heat
  • Emits a light while emitting heat, which could be annoying in a bedroom
  • Can be less effective if there is furniture in the way of the heat flow

Baseboard Heaters

Baseboard space heater

Wall heaters are different than other space heaters because instead of being portable, they are wall mounted near the baseboards in a room. This electric heater is child and pet safe because it is cool to the touch. The heater operates quickly and can heat up a room in minutes! This room heater often comes with an optional thermostat to help regulate the temperatures in the room which makes the heater easy to control.

PROS

CONS

  • Emits heat quickly using a fan and an element
  • Heater is long and provides a wide stream of heat
  • Can control easily with an optional or integrated thermostat
  • Is suitable to use around children and pets because it is cool to the touch
  • Is not portable
  • Room will cool down quickly after turned off
  • Has to be mounted to a wall for safety

Convection Heaters

Convection space heater

A convection heater is a great portable heater to have because it requires low maintenance and doesn’t need to be refilled! It is perfect to use in all rooms, though as it heats your room, the heater itself becomes hot and not safe for children or pets to be near. Although it takes a long time to warm up, they are easy to use and provide an even heat once warmed up!

PROS

CONS

  • Can be portable
  • Required low maintenance
  • Does not require a fan
  • Operates quietly without any unpleasant noises
  • Great to use in all rooms
  • Warms up the outside of the heater with the inside
  • Unsafe for children and pets
  • Takes a long time to warm up
  • May have to install a safety guard

Micathermic Heaters

Micathermic space heater

This micathermic heater thin portable heater is a great hybrid heater using, on average, 80% convection heat and 20% direct radiant heat. Some may say this is the best space heater because it is lightweight, silent, and is beneficial to those with allergies! The heater uses the airflow in a room to circulate heat without having to recirculate dust or any other allergen in a room.

Though it is hot to touch and is not children or pet safe, a protective guard can be used to keep them out of harm’s way. These heaters are ideal to use in places such as offices, bedrooms, bathrooms, or other small rooms.

PROS

CONS

  • Portable but can also be mounted
  • Hybrid-heating combines convection heat and radiant heat
  • Silent and doesn't emit a light
  • Uses the airflow in a room to circulate the heat
  • Good for people with allergies
  • Is hot to the touch
  • Not safe for children and pets
  • Should be used in small rooms for best results

Special Q & A

Q: Is it safe to leave a space heater on overnight?

A: No! If you were to leave your space heater on overnight, it may be a potential safety hazard. Not only this, but it can also dry out your nasal passages which can cause discomfort or a cold.

Q: Can you leave a space heater unattended?

A: No! Especially if your space heater is warm/hot to the touch, you should not leave the heater unattended or around children or pets. They are easy to use because they plug directly in an outlet, but make sure you un-plug your space heater or portable heater when you leave a room.

REMINDER: Make sure to plug the heater into a socket and not an extension cord or power strip. In doing this, you may start a fire!

Tell Us Watts Up

Do you use a space heater in your home? If so, which type? Do you think portable heaters are beneficial?

Make sure to answer in the comments and connect with us on our Facebook and Twitter page!

Recommended Reading

During the winter, keep your heating costs low by setting your thermostat between 68 and 72 degrees during the day and lowering it at night. Optimizing your heating system saves both money and energy.

Heaters come in a variety of options and sizes, so how do you find the right one for your space? Read our guide to learn the differences between each type of eater and the proper applications for each.

Before you buy a heater, weigh the pros and cons of natural gas and electric heaters in order to find out which one works best for you. Read our guide to learn about all the differences between electric and natural gas heaters and find the one that works best for you.

Danielle Abram
Danielle Abram

Danielle is a classic wordsmith and unapologetic user of the Oxford comma. Her experience includes blog posts, technical copy, social media copy, email marketing, product descriptions, scripts, and so much more. In other words, there's no limit to what she can write about!

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