Best Space Heaters – Our Top Picks And Buyer’s Guide
If you have troubles finding the right space heater for your bedroom, our buying guide and top picks can help you.
Written by:
Dusan
Last Updated: Thu, July 18, 2019
Winters can be pretty harsh, and a lot of people often have problems keeping their homes at the right temperature. Whether there is a specific room that is never warm enough or just a cold spot in your apartment or office, space heaters can help you with that.
People usually use space heaters in their bedroom, as many people find warmth relaxing and an important thing when going to sleep.
The most important thing to take into consideration when getting a space heater is safety. If not used correctly, they can pose a fire risk, so be sure that you read your manual carefully before plugging one in.
We have reviewed multiple products to help you get the best one for your use. We have some tips on what to look for when buying one, and how to properly use and maintain space heaters so that they don’t cause any fires.
Important Features To Look For When Buying A Bedroom Space Heater
Most of today’s space heaters operate on 1500W, but that is not the case for all of them, so be sure to get the one that does as it is much more efficient. Some other things you’ll want to look at are:
Type: You can choose between micathermic, convection, infrared and oil-filled heaters. Convection heaters have an electric coil or a ceramic plate that is heated by the electric current, that leads to the element heating up, and warming the air around it. Warm air spreads across the room and raises the temperature. Infrared ones use waves that are absorbed by the solid elements in your place, that then radiate warmth. Heaters filled with oil are also called radiators, and the way that they work is that electric current raises the temperature of the oil, then it heats the place. Micathermic heaters use the combination of radiant and convection heating.
Size: To get the most efficient space heater for your room, you’ll need to pick the right size. Think about what you want from it. If you need to warm up the whole bedroom, get a bigger one. If you need it because your partner is cold while you are perfectly fine, get the smaller one that will warm up his or her side while you stay unaffected. Be aware that the larger heaters use far more energy.
Thermostat: Usually, heaters have a low and high temperature setting and a thermostat that you can use to adjust the temperature anywhere between those points.
Timer: Some heaters have a timer function. You can put in the time you wish for your heater to work, and it will turn off after that time expires. That can be useful when you are preparing to get all cozy in bed, and you know that you won’t want to get up to turn it off.
Remote control: This is another useful thing that will allow you to stay in your bed while changing the settings.
Automatic shut off: This is one of the essential features concerning safety. Some heaters have an automatic shut off function when they overheat while others tend to shut down when they trip over. Some have both of these kill switches.
Fan-only: This feature makes your heating device useful all year.
Noise: You’ll need to check the ratings and see what the manufacturer has to say about the sound that a space heater is going to make. It is so much easier to fall asleep in a quiet environment, and that’s why you should make sure it is not too loud. Fan-based heaters are more likely to be a bit noisy.
Power cord: Using the extension cord with a space heater is not recommended and is highly dangerous. That’s why you should look for the most extended power cord available. That way you’ll be able to safely place it away from all the furniture and all the flammable stuff.
Label: To make sure your heater has gone through rigorous testings and is found to meet the safety standards, look for the right verification. If you are in the United States, look for a ETL or UL label, and in case you are in Canada, check for ULC or CSA label.
Instruction manual: Always make sure you study it thoroughly before using a space heater, as it will give you helpful safety tips.
Lasko 751320 Ceramic Tower Heater
Features:
Type: 1500W Ceramic
Remote control: Yes
Temperature: Low and high, with adjustable thermostat
Fan only option: No
Timer: Yes
Oscillating: Yes
Color: Black
Size: 8.5 x 7.25 x 23 inches
Warranty of three years
Lasko 751320 Ceramic Tower Heater is highly effective in heating even larger spaces. It has all the safety features, and besides cool exterior, you won’t need to worry about it being tipped off or overheating thanks to the automatic shut off option. It has an adjustable thermostat, and the remote control makes it even easier to use from your bed.
source: lasko.com
Nice, slim design makes it easy to install in the low-traffic corner of your bedroom.
Vornado VH10 Vortex Heater
Features:
Type: 1500W Fan
Remote control: No
Temperature: Low and high, with adjustable thermostat
Fan only option: No
Timer: No
Oscillating: No
Color: Black
Size: 11.7 x 9.3 x 12 inches
Warranty of five years
Vornado VH10 Vortex Heater is one of the best products on the market. It is affordable, super effective and is one of the safest heaters out there. When measuring how long it took to heat the same space, it blasted competition, so if you want your bedroom warmed quickly, this is a perfect fit for you. It has an adjustable thermostat and all the safety features, including automatic shut off option when overheating or tripped over, as well as a plastic exterior that will stay cool to the touch.
source: vornado.com
It is very quiet, small and portable, so might use it for something other than your bedroom if needed.
Dyson AM09 Fan Heater
Features:
Type: 1500W Fan
Remote control: Yes
Temperature: Between 33 and 99 degrees, with adjustable thermostat
Dyson AM09 Fan Heater comes with all the cool and safety features. An adjustable thermostat, remote control, fan only option, timer and it can oscillate. It also has a nice futuristic design and is completely safe to use. This heater also has automatic shut off feature when tripped over or overheating.
source: dyson.com
The only downside is it’s price, as it is our priciest pick on this list.
Honeywell HCE200W UberHeat Ceramic Heater
Features:
Type: 1500W Ceramic
Remote control: No
Temperature: Low and high, with adjustable thermostat
Fan only option: No
Timer: No
Oscillating: No
Color: Black, White
Size: 9 x 6.5 x 10.25 inches
Warranty of three years
Honeywell HCE200W UberHeat Ceramic Heater is one of the best looking heaters on the market, so if you care about the design, you should consider getting this one. It has an adjustable thermostat, and it’s pretty fast when it comes to heating small spaces. If your bedroom is on the larger side, it will take a bit longer. It has the automatic shut off when overheating or tipped over, so it is fairly safe.
source: honeywellstore.com
One of the critical concerns customers had with this heater is that it is louder than the others. So if you don’t like sounds in your bedroom, this might not be the best choice for you.
It is small, portable, with a great design, so you can use it wherever you want.
Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heather With Adjustable Thermostat
Features:
Type: 1500W Ceramic
Remote control: No
Temperature: Low and high, with adjustable thermostat
Fan only option: Yes
Timer: No
Oscillating: No
Color: Silver, Black
Size: 5.75 x 7 x 9.2 inches
Warranty of three years
Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater will get the job done at an affordable price. It is small, compact and you can use it pretty much anywhere, and storing it won’t be a problem either. You can manually set the preferred temperature with the adjustable thermostat. It has a fan only feature, automatic shut off when overheating, but is missing some other security functions. If you have a larger bedroom, it will need some more time to heat up. The design is not its stronger side, but it will get the job done.
source: lasko.com
It has a handle, so it’s easily portable to any other place you need it. While you can use it in most of the rooms, Lasko warns that it is not safe to use in bathrooms and other high humidity places.
It has an adjustable thermostat, and an automatic shut off when overheating safety feature. It is also portable, with wheels on the bottom, and it has a neat design.
Safety Tips
Even though space heaters are designed to be safe, according to the National Fire Protection Association’s 2017 report, from 2012 to 2016, 44% of house fires were caused by the space heaters. 86% of associated fire deaths included stationary or portable space heaters. These numbers are a bit worrying, but most of those cases are due to improper use and not heater’s malfunctioning.
Here are some tips on how to minimize a fire risk:
Do not put a space heater on the carpet.
Put it at least 2-3 feet away from anything flammable, such as furniture, clothing, bedding or mattress. Always put it on the flat floor, and if you listened to our suggestion and got the one with a long cord, that won’t be a problem.
Always check the cord before using it, and never plug it into the extension cord! The damaged wires cause most of the fires.
Never leave your heater unattended. This is especially the case if you have a young child or a pet. They tend to be curious and can burn themselves, or tip the heater over and cause the fire by accident. Always turn it off if you are leaving the room.
Don’t put anything on it, and don’t put it anywhere where something might fall on top of it. Even the curtains moved by the light breeze may come near it and catch fire, so think about everything.
Make sure you regularly wipe the dust away from the space heater.
Don’t put it anywhere near water.
Don’t leave your heater on while you are sleeping. Although most heaters do have the option to shut down if they overheat automatically, it is still not recommended to leave them on during the night. And don’t forget that the room temperature is essential for the quality of your sleep, and you want it somewhere in the lower range. The best way would be to turn on your heater before you go to bed, warm up the room to the comfortable temperature, and then turn it off and hop into bed. As the times passes, the temperature in the room will slowly drop, making it colder and more natural for your body to stay asleep.
You have all the information you need to know when buying a space heater. If you haven’t decided to get one of our top picks, remember to read the reviews online before deciding on getting one.
Make sure you know what will you use it for, pick the right size and remember all the safety tips. Always inspect the instruction manual!
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Dusan is a biologist, a science enthusiast and a huge nature lover. He loves to keep up to date with all the new research and write accurate science-based articles. When he’s not writing or reading, you can find him in the kitchen, trying out new delicious recipes; out in the wild, enjoying the nature or sleeping in his bed.
