Christmas may be done and dusted, but that doesn’t mean Spring’s next. No, instead we’ve got a couple of frosty months to get through before the sun shines again. And with heating bills going up, it’s a good idea to invest a little in a heater that’ll help keep the brrr at bay.
What different types of heaters are there?
There are lots of different heaters out there – but the main types are convector heaters, fan heaters and oil-filled radiators. So which one should you pick?
We’ll give you the full lowdown with lots of handy pointers along the way.
Convection heaters
What is a convection heater?
Convection heaters (also known as convector heaters) circulate air through the appliance. As the warm air rises to heat the room, it's replaced by cool air which itself is then heated – and the process continues on like this.
There are some great reasons to pick a convector heater:
They’re almost silent
They provide heat fast
They’re good for heating bigger rooms and spaces
They’re generally cheap to buy, and running an electric heater generally costs less than gas
What is a panel heater?
A panel heater is actually just another name for a convector heater, so this one’s a bit of a trick question. Still, that’s one less type of heater you have to remember! If you’re all about your smart home, check out smart panel heaters. The big plus is that you can control them directly from your phone - so there’s no getting out of bed to warm up the room.
Oil-filled radiators
What is an oil-filled radiator?
An oil-filled radiator has an electrical element inside it, which is fully submerged in oil. When the electrical element heats up, this also heats all the oil.
It’s similar to a traditional radiator where as it’s the heated liquid that’s warming up, and heating the room. However, there are no pipes here – just a portable standalone item.
But why buy one?
Oil-filled radiators are sealed units, so you never have to replace any oil
They turn all the electricity they use into heat, so they’re efficient
Easy to transport
How long do oil-filled heaters last?
Depending on the quality of the heater and how much you use it, you can expect portable oil heaters to last at least 10-15 years with the best oil filled radiator heaters keeping your room toasty for 20+ years.
Fan heaters
What is a fan heater?
A fan heater works simply by blowing air over a heating element. If you’re feeling chilly and in need of instant warmth, a powerful fan heater will provide a welcome blast of warm air – absolute bliss!
Because the fan is actively pumping out the heat rather than just waiting for the heat to emanate from it, it can heat a room faster than some other types of heater.
Other things to think about
The big plus of a portable heater is that they use much less energy than central heating and you only need to heat the rooms you’re using rather than waste money heating the whole house. So here are some questions that might make your decision easier.
What is the most energy-efficient electric heater?
On the face of it, the best fan heaters (whether portable or wall mounted fan heaters) and convector heaters use less power than an oil radiator to heat a room, so in that sense they’re more energy efficient. That said, an oil-filled radiator is great at retaining heat - since the heating element heats the oil rather than the air. So once a portable oil heater has warmed up, it’ll keep your room warmer for longer.
How much electricity does a oil filled heater use?
According to Which? a standard 2,000 watt oil filled radiator will use 2 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy for every hour it’s in use. That works out as 68p of electricity an hour to run. That’s a great saving on the £1.68 per hour it costs to run a standard 24kW boiler. But if you want to heat your whole house, central heating is still the way to go.
What heaters provide the most warmth?
Since all types of heaters have different heat settings and vary model to model, there’s no clear winner here. Fan heaters heat the room are quickly but tend to be a bit noisier, so may not be the best option for a bedroom. Convection heaters also heat the air, but don’t circulate it quickly like a fan heater. Oil heaters heat up the room more slowly but stay warm once they’re on.
Need more help?
Cut out the hot air with our Fans, heating and air treatment buying guide or get blown away by one of our experts on ShopLive.
