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When cold weather is on the way, there’s no better time to think about buying a space heater. But how do you know which space heater to get? Let’s find out in this bathroom space heaters buying guide.
There are many factors to consider when shopping for a space heater, including wattage, design, fuel type, heating system, and more. We’ll guide you through all of the different types of space heaters in this article so you can choose the right ones for your home.
What Is a Space Heater and How Does it Work?
Whether you’re prone to staying cold or are exposed to a home or office that simply isn’t warm enough, a space heater can be the perfect solution to chase away the chill.
Space heaters go by a variety of names, but their primary function is to complement a home’s or building’s main heating system. This could be inevitable due to insufficient heat output, high central heating costs, or a lack of control over the ambient temperature.
These heaters are available in several different shapes, sizes, and capacities. If you understand how each form works and the conditions they are suitable for, choosing the right space heater for your needs can be achieved without stress or concern.
However, it’s important to understand as much as possible about the types of portable heaters available so that you can make the best choice for your situation.
There are several factors that determine which type of space heater will work best for you. In fact, your best option may be to utilize a combination of different models to achieve maximum comfort in cold weather.
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Benefits of Having a Bathroom Space Heater
There are other advantages of having a bathroom space heater in your home besides keeping warm when you get out of the bath or shower.
- A bathroom heater, when used in combination with a bathroom ceiling fan, is excellent for controlling steam accumulation on mirrors.
- Moisture Control: In addition to controlling steam, a bathroom heater reduces moisture buildup on walls, baseboards, faucets, light fixtures, rugs, and shower curtains, allowing a bathroom to dry out faster than one without one.
- Despite the obvious bathroom benefits, a bathroom heater helps to improve overall health by improving cardiovascular circulation.
- Heat is also extremely beneficial for aching, sore muscles and joints.
Reminder! Before You Buy a Space Heatere
In a chilly room, a space heater can be a welcome source of extra warmth, particularly if it also saves money on utility bills by allowing you to lower the HVAC thermostat a few degrees. Keep in mind that space heaters get extremely hot and can cause a house fire if used incorrectly.
Contact your homeowner’s insurance company before going out for a space heater. A fire caused by a space heater could not be covered by certain insurance policies.
The Most Common Space Heater Types
If you’re looking for a space heater for the first time, you might be surprised to learn that there are so many different models to choose from. Each type has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and not all space heaters are appropriate for all rooms and circumstances.
Space Heaters with Fans
The air is heated around an electric coil or wire elements and then dispersed with a fan. They are among the most affordable ones, but they do not have the same quality as other forms of space heaters. As a result, fan heaters are ideal for rooms with no drafts or for easily warming a small area.
Convection Type
Warm air is circulated over ceramic plates or disks by convection space heaters, which then radiate warmth throughout the room. Some models have fans for faster heat dispersal, and they operate best in rooms with no drafts, much like traditional fan heaters.
Compact and tower models of convection heaters are available, with exterior cases that are often cooler to the touch. The cost varies depending on the wattage and additional features.
Space Heaters with Infrared Technology
Infrared space heaters are one of the quietest home heating solutions. They easily produce heat by radiating heat to the objects in front of them, including humans. This form of heater heats you rather than the air in the room, making it a good option for use in drafty rooms. Simply point it at your chair and relax.
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Oil-Filled Space Heaters
Another form of radiant heater that is quiet are oil-filled space heaters. These heaters are well designed for larger rooms because they can produce a lot of heat while using less energy than fan-type versions.
These heaters are relatively heavy due to the weight of the oil and the steel casing, but many come with wheels to make relocating easier. Oil-filled space heaters take a while to heat up, but once they do, they emit a steady stream of warm heat.
Gas Type Space Heater
Gas space heaters are usually heavy, unattractive, and require a 13 kg gas bottle to operate.Sometimes it is possible to use a 6 kg gas tank, but your pressure regulator would need to be adjusted accordingly. Gas space heaters are normally installed on wheels and do not need an electrical connection.
What to Look for When Selecting a Space Heater
A small space heater might work under a desk or next to a lounge chair, but it won’t make much of a difference in a large cold room. The size of the space heater should be appropriate for the room it will be warming, and it should, of course, be as safe as possible.
Safety is Important.
Since space heaters are a primary cause of house fires, it’s a good idea to choose one with extra safety features. When a machine overheats or is knocked over, manufacturers have implemented automatic shutoffs.
Furthermore, many come with external cases that keep the units cold to the touch at all times. When a pet or child gets too near, some models have motion sensors that switch the heater off automatically.
Look for the letters NRTL on the space heater packaging for added peace of mind. These letters suggest that the model has been safety tested by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory.
Your Heating Requirements
Choose a space heater that produces 10 watts of power per square foot as a general rule of thumb. For example, a 1200-watt space heater would be required to heat a 10-foot by 12-foot room. To ensure a stable temperature in a large room, you can need more than one space heater.
Ceiling height, the insulating factor of the exterior walls, the number of windows, and the available outlets are all variables that influence the performance of a space heater.
Energy Efficiency
One of the most important reasons to use a space heater is to save money on electricity. However, unlike many other appliances, space heaters are not subject to EPA energy monitoring or ENERGY STAR certification, so those looking to save money can choose the most energy-efficient model.
Installing the Bathroom Heater
The type of heater you buy has a lot to do with how you install it in your bathroom. When installing a wall heater, choose a location on the wall that is less likely to be splashed.
There are no mounting options for portable heaters. When using them in the bathroom, however, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions. In this scenario, you would be aware of the heater’s dos and don’ts before using it.
Level of Noise
Space heaters are among the quietest small appliances on the market. Radiant space heaters, whether infrared or oil-filled, are almost silent.
Traditional space heaters with fans produce an average sound level of 35 to 45 decibels, which is comparable to soft indoor conversation.
Additional Things to Consider When Buying Space Heaters
- Timers: Bathroom heaters with built-in timers are programmed to turn on and off at specific times. Get a cup of coffee, wait for the bathroom to warm up, then return and switch on the heater just before you exit.
- Budget: Based on your budget you might want to consider a portable space heater, particularly if you are leasing or need to quickly warm up a small space. A wall-mountable or wall-recessed heater could be the best option for families and homeowners.
- Heater Technology: For portable, wall-mounted, or wall-recessed bathroom heaters, there are a variety of heater technologies or heating types available, ranging from convection to infrared heating.
- Electronic Thermostat: It prevents temperature shocks caused by abrupt on-off switching, unlike a mechanical thermostat. It takes less energy while delivering a superior heating effect under high-efficiency operating conditions.
- Heating Speeds: If you want to use your heater in all seasons and temperatures, this is a must-have feature. The following are the different heating speeds for different appliance types: Two on fan heaters; two or three on oil heaters, and so on.
Tips on How to Use a Space Heater
- Instead of heating the whole house, homeowners and tenants can save money by using a space heater in one or more spaces. Check out these helpful hints for the toastiest—and safest—results.
- Keep a 3-foot buffer zone around the space heater and keep blankets, chairs, draperies, children, and pets out of it.
- When using space heaters, make sure your home has both carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, and test them monthly to make sure the batteries and detectors are working.
- Switch off the space heater when you leave the room or go to bed for safety reasons.
Summary
When looking for bathroom space heaters, the most important factor to remember is safety. Second, consider where you want it to go—wall-mounted or portable, and then the heating capacity depending on the bathroom’s size.
Finally, there are several products to consider before buying whether you are searching for the right heating solution for your bathroom during the winter or if you want to keep your bathroom at a specific temperature.
Our feedback will undoubtedly be useful if you need to make a decision. If at all possible, avoid being frugal when purchasing a bathroom heater.
