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With utilities bills rising from year to year, it’s a smart idea to try to find alternative ways to warm your home. While fireplaces are a very popular choice, not all homes are equipped with one. This leads homeowners and renters to look for other ways to keep their homes warm without spending a fortune each month.
Maybe the rest of your home is warm, but there’s a certain room or section that is still just a bit too chilly. Cranking up the heat is not only expensive, but it results in the rest of your home getting too hot. If you want to explore ways to lower your heating bill or you want to add a little extra warmth to cooler rooms, an electric space heater is perfect for the job.
What is an Electric Space Heater?
Contents
An electric space heater is a small heater that is plugged into an electrical outlet. These small heaters are designed to heat a smaller space, such as a bedroom. They can even be used outdoors in garages and storage sheds (although they should never be left unattended) to provide heat wherever it is needed.
These heaters are not designed to heat large areas for long-term periods. They are designed to add warmth to smaller areas while the rooms are occupied.
What are the different types of Electric Space Heaters?
If you need some added warmth to your home or business, a space heater may be just what you’re looking for. However, before you begin shopping for a heater, it’s important to understand the different types available so you can make the smartest purchase.
- Convection heaters – These heaters are designed to heat larger areas, as the heat is spread all around the room. Some of these heaters are equipped with fans that spread the heat more evenly. However, these are also noisier than other types of convection heaters.
- Radiant heaters – These use electric ribbon elements or quarts tubes to heat a room. They are best for heating smaller spaces more quickly. However, these tend to pose more of a burn hazard for children and pets, and they also lose heat quickly as soon as they are turned off.
What are the advantages of owning an Electric Space Heater?
On very cold days when your heat just can’t keep up, an electric space heater helps keep a smaller area warm without running your power bill through the roof. An electric space heater is also a great temporary solution for unheated work spaces like garages, basements, or workshops.
It is very important to note, however, that a space heater should never be left on for extended periods of time, and they should never be used while unattended. Electric space heaters are also great for keeping you warm in a chilly office,
Who are the contenders for Best Electric Space Heater?
Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater with Adjustable Thermostat
Your utility bill is already a huge expense, so why spend even more on a space heater? This quality heater performs well, and it also comes with a great price tag. You’ll have your choice from three different options to keep smaller areas of your home or business perfectly warm. The cool-touch housing prevents accidental burns, and it operates quietly, so it doesn’t disturb you while talking, watching TV, or working. It comes with a convenient carry handle for portability, and it is small enough to fit almost anywhere.
Lasko 6462 Full Circle Ceramic Heater with Remote
The design of this mid-priced heater provides you with 360 degrees of warm heat. If you want the heat to be more concentrated in a smaller area, there are two additional options to choose from. It’s easy to adjust the temperature with the digital thermostat, and a remote is included so you can adjust settings from a distance. It provides a lot of heat, effectively heating several hundred square feet. It is quiet, easy to operate, and it’s designed to easily fit in small spaces.
Matte Black Comfort Furnace Heater UV
For maximum heating, you can count on this high-end space heater, which performs as great as it looks. You can heat up to 1,000 square feet of space with this heater, which has all of the features you could want in a heater, including a digital thermostat that’s easy to program. An added bonus is that this heater is equipped with a UV light that helps purify your air, so you’ll have warmer, healthier air anywhere in your home or business.
Considerations for Choosing the Right Electric Space Heater
Once you’ve made the decision to supplement your primary heating source with a space heater, it’s time to begin shopping for the perfect unit that meets all of your needs. If you just don’t know where to begin, take the following four key points into consideration to ensure you make the purchase that’s best for you.
Price
Space heaters are priced anywhere from less than $50 to several hundred dollars. Decide how much you want to spend before you begin shopping. It is important to note, however, that more expensive heaters are generally equipped with more features and functions, and they typically heat larger areas.
Heating coverage
Find out how big of an area each heater is designed to cover. If you have a large space, look for a larger heater that puts out more heat so you can heat the space effectively without wasting power.
Safety features
Safety heaters, if used improperly, can be very dangerous. Luckily, most modern space heaters are equipped with safety features. If you live in a home with children or pets, it is extremely important that you find a unit equipped with features that prevent burns and automatically shut off when tipped over.
Convenience features
For your convenience, there are many features found on modern space heaters that make them extremely easy to operate. These features include digital thermostats and remote controls that change settings with just the push of a button.
Price
Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater with Adjustable Thermostat
This quality heater is one of the best performing and least expensive on the market.
Lasko 6462 Full Circle Ceramic Heater with Remote
This tower heater retails for around the industry average when compared to similar heaters of this size.
Matte Black Comfort Furnace Heater UV
This is one of the more expensive space heaters on the market.
Heating coverage
Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater with Adjustable Thermostat
This small heater is designed to sit on a tabletop or under a desk for direct heat in very small areas.
Lasko 6462 Full Circle Ceramic Heater with Remote
This heater puts out a lot of warmth, and it can effectively heat smaller rooms approximately 200 square feet in size.
Matte Black Comfort Furnace Heater UV
You can heat up to 1,000 square feet using this high-end electric space heater.
Safety features
Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater with Adjustable Thermostat
This heater is designed to automatically shut off in the event of overheating. The cool-touch housing prevents accidental burns.
Lasko 6462 Full Circle Ceramic Heater with Remote
Your heater is protected from overheating with the built-in automatic shutoff for overheating. It is also ETL listed for safety.
Matte Black Comfort Furnace Heater UV
Cool-touch housing helps you avoid burns with this unit.
Convenience features
Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater with Adjustable Thermostat
This heater has a self-regulating element. Simply adjust the thermostat, and it will turn on and off as needed to maintain the set temperature.
Lasko 6462 Full Circle Ceramic Heater with Remote
A remote control makes this easy to operate from anywhere in the room. The digital thermostat also makes it very easy to know the exact temperature setting.
Matte Black Comfort Furnace Heater UV
This attractive unit comes with an auto-sync remote control with digital read out.
Conclusion: Our Electric Space Heater Reviews Are In
Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater with Adjustable Thermostat – Best Cheap
Whether you get a little chilly while watching your favorite shows at home or you’re tired of having cold feet at the office, this little heater is sure to warm you up. It blows warm heat directly on you from a tabletop or even sitting underneath a desk. It has manual controls and multiple thermostat options that allow you to set the perfect level of heat.
The built-in handle makes it easy to move this lightweight heater anywhere you need it, and the cool-touch housing prevents burns. This is ETL listed for safety, and it also automatically shuts off if it overheats. This is a great, affordable unit to use directly on you for those chillier days and nights.
Pros
It has an automatic overheat shutoff for safety. Small and lightweight. Very quiet while in operation. Extremely affordable. It is easy to adjust the temperature. Three settings, 1500-watt, 900-watt, and fan only.
Cons
It does not automatically shut off if accidentally knocked over. It doesn’t heat a significant amount of space and is best for personal use.
Lasko 6462 Full Circle Ceramic Heater with Remote – Best for the Money
You’ll get great coverage with this innovative heater. Get full coverage with the 360-degree design, or you can customize it to 90 or 170-degree sweep options. There are high and low settings, or you can use the digital thermostat to get a temperature that’s most comfortable for you.
The filter is easy to clean, so you can always get the best performance, and the 25-inch height ensures that heat circulates throughout the entire room. It is easy to assemble this heater, and it’s just as easy to use. It comes with a remote control, as well, so you can change the settings without having to manually do so directly on the unit.
Pros
The filter is easy to remove and clean. It comes with overheat protection for safety. It is fairly inexpensive. Provides full room coverage. It comes with a convenient remote. It has cool-touch housing to prevent accidental burns. Not very loud when in use. It effectively heats 200 square feet.
Cons
It does not automatically shut off when tipped over. Does not shut off at the set temperature.
Matte Black Comfort Furnace Heater UV – Best Overall
If you’re looking for a heater that has it all, you’ve found it in this unit from Comfort Furnace. Not only does this space heater look great, but it also performs off the charts when compared with other, less expensive units. This great heater produces 1,500 watts per hour to heat up to 1,000 square feet. It comes in an attractive, fire retardant plastic case.
A digital thermostat makes it easy to set the proper temperature, and you can do this directly on the unit or with the full-function remote control. As an added bonus, this unit also has UV bulbs designed to purify your air and remove mold, viruses, and bacteria while it’s heating your room. You’ll have warmer, healthier air with just one unit.
Pros
It heats and purifies the air. It’s easy to use. Heats larger spaces. It is accurate to within two degrees. Three-year limited warranty. It is cool to the touch to keep kids and pets safe. It is quiet. Very efficient. Looks great.
Cons
It is more expensive than other heaters.
In Summary
An electric space heater is a great way to keep your home or business comfortably warm without dramatically raising your power bill. If you are in the market for a space heater, the combination heater and UV unit from Comfort Furnace is designed for ultimate comfort. Not only will your air feel much warmer, but it will also be healthier by removing airborne pathogens. With many other great features, this is a hot purchase that you will not regret.