Choosing An Electric Heater: 5 Things You Can’t Afford To Overlook
Using an electric space heater, in essence, is the most convenient way to warm up your room. But, when you’re purchasing such a budget-heavy appliance, you have to ask a question or two to yourself. So, what are the questions?
In this article. I’ve offered some information regarding how you can choose a suitable space heater properly. Hence, don’t forget to read till the end to know more about it.
Oh, and, I’d also request you to tell me if I’ve missed something in the comments below. I’ll rectify the article accordingly and offer my verdict to you as well.
So, What Should You Look For?
In this section, I’ve only talked about the factors that I’ve used in my case. Hence, it’s safe to say that each of them are “tried and tested.” So, don’t worry too much about it.
Consideration – 1: Heater Type
When it comes to buying an electric heater, you must always focus on the type of heaters at the beginning. This way, it’ll be easier for you to understand if the model is suitable for you or not. For example –
A convection heater is all about offering an even heating throughout the whole room. It’s best for a smaller-sized room, though, if I’m being honest.
On the other hand, a radiant heater can deliver heat at a quicker speed. But, it won’t be an ideal option for a large room, like the previous option.
A fan-forced heater tends to use an internal fan to blow the interior heating element. So, it becomes easier for the appliance to heat up a large room prominently.
Finally, a micathermic heater would be an ideal option for a large space due to their excellent space heating. They’re also smaller-sized and, thus, can be stored easily.
In addition to these, you may also consider a wall heater if you want to save more space in the room. However, they won’t be as efficient as the aforesaid appliances here.
Consideration – 2: Energy Efficiency
Although a heater can keep you warm for a prolonged period, it can also consume quite a lot of energy. Hence, if you want to tone down your electric bill, it’ll be better for you to opt for something more energy-efficient. Here’s what you should do in this regard.
Check out the EER rating of the product. It should be written on the package.
Also, opt for a smaller-sized heater if you don’t have a large house.
Look for an energy-saving feature like adjustable thermostats while buying.
Apart from these, I’ll also ask you to look for a programmable timer setting in the product. With it, you can easily minimize the power usage by keeping it on for a certain time.
Consideration – 3: Heating Capacity
Unlike the previous option, choosing the right heating capacity can be a little trickier. If you are not sure about what you should do, I’ll ask you to check out the wattage of the product.
Generally, a room heater will use around 10-watt of power to heat up one square-foot of your house. Hence, if you own an average-sized dormitory, opting for a 1500-watt product can be quite helpful. However, a 300 square-feet room will require even more wattage.
Now, here’s the catch.
Unlike a stay-in-space heater, a portable heater can offer a little more space thanks to their… um, portability. Therefore, if you’re buying something as such, it’d be better for you to go for a rather smaller product with a lower wattage rating.
Consideration – 4: Noise Level
Oh, yes. Whether you believe it or not, an electric heater can definitely make a lot of noise. And, this is essentially true for the portable models available out there.
So, what’s the solution?
Well, if you don’t want to go into any kind of specifics, I’ll ask you to activate your heater at least two hours before you sleep. This way, you can turn it off before lying down. However, if you don’t want any form of sound coming out of your heater, you can opt for a –
Baseboard heater, as they don’t come with an internal fan, but may take a little more time to warm up your room.
An oil-filled radiator won’t make too much sound as well. However, it can definitely cause a little bit of smoke while working.
However, if you want to go for an expensive option, getting a cadet-baseboard option would be ideal for you. It can make a little bit of noise, though.
Consideration – 5: Safety Features
If you don’t monitor the product properly, a portable heater can easily become a fire hazard all of a sudden. And, it might affect your house, furniture, and your family as well. Therefore, it’s always crucial to consider safety when you’re buying an electric heater.
But, what should you focus on, really?
Well, to reduce the risk of catching fire, many manufacturers implement a cool-to-the-touch surface on the product. This, in turn, can reduce the risk of getting your hands burnt. Also, it won’t catch fire, no matter where you are keeping it.
Aside from this, you’ll also want to look for some other related features, including –
Overheat protection (it’ll switch off the product whenever it reaches a specific heat or temperature).
Besides, there’s also an internal switch that’ll switch off whenever the product has reached a certain temperature. This can protect the internal tools as well.
In Summary!
When it comes to buying an electric heater, you should always opt for the size of the product. In addition, I’ll also ask you to check if it has a fan or not. This will just make it even easier for you to increase your room’s temperature. And, they are great for smaller rooms too.
So, that’ll be all for this article. Now, it’s your time to tell me about what you’re going to opt for or the budget range you’re looking for. I’ll tell you about the best possible option you can get within that price. Anyways, till then, take care of yourself!
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