How to Select the Best Electric Heater for Your Home
Winter is just ahead, and electric heaters, unfortunately, are among the very efficient ways for keeping a home warm and cozy. Most homeowners now seek alternative methods for heating up just one room or as supplemental warming for their home. With so many types and models available on the market, it is rather difficult to choose the best for your needs. Such detailed recommendations encompass the vital parameters that must be considered in making a decision for an electric heater, and you will realize that you are taking the first step towards a homely safety.
Types of Electric Heaters
Having a better understanding of the types of electric heaters helps make the proper choice for your room. Here are the most common:
Convection heaters: Operating on the principle where it heats the air around it, the heater distributes all-round the room. Silent and effective for small and medium rooms to maintain uniformity of temperatures.
Radiant heaters: They operate by both directly warming up objects and people that are within their line of sight and not heating the air. Such heaters are good when it comes to fast warming up of a specific area in a small room or a personal space. They are also good for spot heating.
Fan Heaters: These incorporate fan and convection heating to obtain effective and faster circulation of warm air. Suitable for people in need of fast heat supply to the room but are noisier because they have a propeller.
Oil-Filled Radiators: These heaters consist of oil as a reservoir. These are long-wind-up, but hold warmth longer. They are the best for larger rooms or spaces because they ensure retention of a constant temperature for a longer time period.
Panel heaters: These heaters are wall-mounted and can either be convection or radiant heaters. They do a lot of unused space and are very good for when you want a contemporary piece that is going to fit perfectly in your decor.
What to consider when choosing an electric heater
Room Size: It is usually based on the size of the room that you want to heat. If the room is small, like less than 150 square feet, a compact radiant or fan heater will do just fine. Oil-filled radiators or convection heaters are great for larger spaces as, even though they would have high wattage, they distribute more evenly heated air.
Heating Capacity: The heating capacity for electric heaters is measured in watts. You are expected to use about 10 watts of heating power for every square foot of your space. For instance, if you want to heat a 200-square-foot space, you should have a heater that has at least 2,000 watts of power for the space to be heated.
Energy Efficiency: This is the most important aspect to make sure to keep electricity bills in control. Energy saving features of heaters is thermostats, timers, and adjustable settings. Thermostat maintains the set temperature and overheats if it crosses the range. Timers stop the heater from running anymore if it is not required.
Portability: The portable version is most suitable if you intend to move the heater from room to room. You will prefer compact, lightweight designs that make it easy to move the heater to a room you want warmed. Some models come with wheels.
Safety Features: The selection process for an electric heater relies mainly on safety. The heater should carry all the key safety features like automatic overheat cut off, toppling protection, and child lock if children are also at home.
Noise Level: Some heaters are silent while others, such as fan heaters, emit noise when the fan is in operation. Therefore, if you are sensitive to noise, go for a convection or oil-filled heater that makes very minimal noise and will keep you warm in peace and tranquility without breaking your tranquility.
Design and Aesthetics: A heater should complement the home decor. For you, it means sleek, modern designs or ones that complement your room’s style. Many wall-mounted or panel heaters are fantastic for a more subtle look.
The selection of the right electric heater for your home depends on finding the perfect balance between efficiency, size, safety, and design. Some of the main factors that one should be thinking about before choosing a heater for oneself are room size, heating capacity, energy-saving features, safety, and noise factor. These factors may ensure that you are not annoyed or discomforted to stay in your room. With the perfect electric heater, you can enjoy warmth during winter months without shelling out large sums of energy bills.
