Did you know that the energy efficiency ratings of electric space heaters are about 3 times higher than the ones of fireplaces? If you are trying to look cool without caring about how warm your home is, then this article isn’t for you. But in case you want to get the most energy-efficient space heaters and would love to learn more about money-saving, safety, and types of heaters then please, read on.
We have prepared this exclusive piece especially for our readers who want to draw a line between the many space heaters on the market. We will take an in-depth look at the wide range of units and will differentiate them by nature. All of this aims at helping you determine which heater is good for your needs.
Start by going through our top handpicked most energy-efficient space heaters reviews and continue with the other sections afterward. This will be both fun and informative – enjoy!
See The Quick Comparison Chart
Selecting The Most Energy-Efficient Electric Space Heater
As seen above in our efficient space heater reviews, it is quite obvious that we get to select among a plethora of units powered in various ways. Some feature liquid fuel, others are all about electricity and then we also have those with oil in them and the ones with a flame tube. While all of them can be very efficient, they really shine in the right environment.
In the section below, we will focus on when and where to use each type of space heater. We will also outline some of the pros and cons of space heaters again, by type. We aren’t going to talk about huge fireplaces, wood stoves, or patio heaters. They are not part of the typical space heater family. Our goal is to help you select what exactly to put in your living room or bedroom. We will focus on:
- Ceramic Space Heaters
- Oil Filled Space Heaters
- Convection Heaters
- Infrared Heaters
Ceramic Models
There is a good chance ceramic heaters are among the most popular ones. They are definitely among the most commonly purchased heaters and that’s for a good reason. People see the best-infrared heater’s efficiency, cheap prices, decent functions, and just enough safety.
Ceramic heaters come in a variety of sizes and designs. You have a wide array of choices when it comes to colors or dimensions. The 2 materials used exclusively in those appliances are ceramic and aluminum. The former is used as a heating element and the latter is used for the baffles. Of course, the whole ceramic heating mechanism is more complex and interesting in the way it works.
The heat is emitted by the ceramic element. This procedure is among the safest when we talk about electrically powered heating. That’s because the ceramic element has very high resistance and it actually increases when more power runs through it.
The aluminum element absorbs the heat and thanks to the fan the heat is blown inside your room. So the ratio between the size of the device and the heat that it gives off is a very good one. These small bulky boxes can be pretty useful in almost any home.
You should be able to heat up an area of at least 200 square feet in case you manage to get your hands on some of the finest ceramic heaters available. Directing heat wherever it’s needed the most is what those little devices to best.
Oil-Filled Radiator Models
Oil-filled heaters are often overlooked because people associate them with the old electric radiators. While an oil-filled radiator does look like an old-fashioned device, it actually has a totally different and way more efficient heating mechanism.
This mechanism is powered by a special type of oil contained inside the device. It never leaks out and is never drained. The best part is that it also doesn’t have to be refilled. This very liquid gets heated and it is the main reason why your room becomes hot.
Once the oil is hot, the fins of the radiator also become warm. Slowly the heat starts ascending from the body of the heater and into the air of the room. This doesn’t happen in a noisy fashion as well. All of the best oil-filled radiator heaters work on the same general principle. There’s no fan, there’s no tube, no flame – nothing visible.
Their main advantage, however, is related to the efficiency rating. Since the liquid is the one getting hot and the metal body radiates natural convection, these heaters can keep giving off heat even with no electricity. Once you turn the device off, it will remain hot for longer than other heaters.
This alone will make the oil-filled radiators some of the most efficient electric heaters for home. You can use such a device as the main source of heat in a small room – preferably your bedroom.
Convection Space Heaters
These will give you relatively quick heat and will not go heavy on your electricity bill. You will enjoy plenty of comfort without the nagging sound of a fan. There are actually more benefits to the absence of a fan than you think.
They will not blow any air around and with this, no dust and no other harmful particles will be present in the airflow. This is quite beneficial to people with asthma, allergies, or other breathing problems. If you suffer from any of these, you may also want to check out our reviews on the best air purifiers for pets. Additionally, the convection mechanism will not allow the air to be extremely dried.
The moisture levels and the humidity of the air in the room will be just fine. These appliances work nicely against mold and that’s why people often have them in bathrooms as well. More benefits are related to eliminating the problem of dehydrated skin which often derives from fan assisted heating.
Many convection heaters also come with a wall bracket. They typically weigh at least 50% more than other space heaters such as garage heaters or oil-filled radiators. One drawback is that you can’t count in any residual heat here. Once the device is turned off, it will immediately cool off. It will take just as much time after you start it, to warm up the air again.
Infrared Heaters
There is no heat circulation here. Infrared heaters will not heat up the air in the room or if they do, that will happen last. These devices are also called spot heaters because they will be able to heat objects and people first.
This means that the heat travels in rays. It is radiated in a straight line and stops after it meets any sort of obstacle. This is also called zone heating because the warmth cannot access the next room through the air. Instant focused heat is the name of the game of infrared heaters. They are nice in garages, shops and other areas where you want a certain zone to be heated.
The combustion happens inside a coil or a tube. It is a continuous process as small flames keep occurring in there. Some people call the quartz heaters the best economical heaters and for a good reason. They waste about 20% less energy than typical convection heaters.
There are shortcomings, of course. The air almost never gets warm and the heat in the room dissipates the moment you shut off the heater. While objects will remain relatively warm for a certain period of time, the whole room will definitely cool off.
The reddish light of the unit might turn out to be troublesome in bedrooms when someone is trying to fall asleep. This shouldn’t be taken as a major drawback, but keeping it in mind may be useful.
Most Energy Efficient Space Heaters Comparison Chart
| PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Dyson AM09 Fan Heater |
| View On Amazon |
 | NewAir AH-400 Space Heater |
| View On Amazon |
 | De’Longhi Convection Panel Heater |
| View On Amazon |
 | Honeywell HCE200W UberHeat Ceramic Heater |
| View On Amazon |
 | DeLonghi HMP 1500 Mica Panel Heater |
| View On Amazon |
 | Cadet Portable Garage Heater |
| View On Amazon |
 | Homeleader Electric Oil-filled Radiator Heater |
| View On Amazon |
Most Efficient Space Heaters
1. Dyson AM09 Fan Heater
One of the most versatile products you will see on our list is the Dyson AM09 Fan Heater. This is an all-around excellent item that will give you cooling as well as heating. It is a space heater which is also a tower fan and it is packed with functions.
Dyson stays true to their name and they bring you an item of very high quality. The thermostat will keep an eye on the temperature in the room and will adjust accordingly. As far as safety goes, you get no exposed heating elements meaning that it is okay to touch the unit when operational.
What’s more, there are no fan blades to injure someone’s fingers. Users can take advantage of the Air Multiplier technology which is responsible for an uninterrupted airflow and therefore the big efficiency ratings of the device. Oscillation control, timer, and a magnetized remote control are all essential to this product.
2. NewAir AH-400 Space Heater
Cold feet during winter, fall, and even spring are extremely unpleasant physically and mentally. It is just annoying! So, this thin and compact heater is perfect for getting rid of that issue.
Besides the high and low adjustable settings, the NewAir Space heater also offers a third economy feature. This option regulates in-between, depending on the temperature settings, and saves energy while still maintaining warmth. You can also use the timer to set turning off at desired intervals, like in two, four, six, eight, or ten hours.
Even though it has many functionalities and features, it is user friendly, and the instructions are well done. You can safely place it on a carpet but using it in the bathroom is not advisable. There is a safety shut off switch if overheating or tipping over occurs.
With its twenty inches width and fifteen inches height, it is very suitable for small spaces. It comes with two legs and a six feet long cable. It is safe to use an extension if you need it, as long as it is of good quality.
Pros:
- The heater offers an economy feature
- There is a timer, which can be set to shut the unit off in intervals.
- It works silently
Cons:
- The feet of the heater are not very solid
3. De’Longhi Convection Panel Heater
Made of thin, lightweight metal, the 1500 watts De’Longhi Convection Panel Heater offers an ECO feature for energy saving. Elegantly styled and attractively slim with a white color that gives it a clean look. If you don’t like it sitting around on the floor, you can easily mount it on the wall using the included kit.
Use the timer to set it for shutting off at a given time and the adjustable thermostat to maintain a moderate temperature.
It is not hot to the touch and is child safe. All other safety features like tip-over shut down, overheat protection, and antifreeze settings are available. You can use it without the fan.
It comes with a two-prong plug and a two-fan heating system, which warms the area very quickly.
Pros:
- The heater works very quietly
- The convection panel offers an ECO feature
- Many safety features are included
Cons:
- It doesn’t offer a remote, which would go perfectly with the mounting on the wall option
4. Honeywell HCE200W UberHeat Ceramic Heater
The Honeywell Ceramic Heater is small in size but with a lot of character. It has a thermostat and two heat levels. It is silently supplying you with warmth using its powerful 1500 – watts. Its portable size allows you to place it on the carpet, the table, or under your desk to warm your feet. With this kind of power, in around ten minutes, your space will be comfortably warm.
The small size doesn’t come at the expense of safety. All safety features like overheat protection, tip-over, and cool-touch housing are available. Only the front of the heater is hot while it works.
It has a six-foot-long cord, which is quite sufficient, and you can easily avoid using extensions because it is not advisory. We know it is tempting but don’t use it in your van or camper because it will quickly deplete your battery. There are smarter solutions for such use, for sure.
Pros:
- Compact size suitable for many places
- This small heater offers 1500-watt
- A high level of safety is available
Cons:
- In a bigger space, the heat may feel uneven
5. DeLonghi HMP 1500 Mica Panel Heater
Trust a well-established name such as DeLonghi to bring you excellent heating as well as an aesthetic solution to your home. Typical for the brand is the slick design which the HMP 1500 Mica Panel Heater features. It will be a nice addition to any room but what goes along with it is plenty of functionality and portability.
The product is easy to carry as it is lightweight and very thin. The slim design means that it won’t be in the way making it perfect for tight spaces. The heater can be mounted on a wall although it is not recommended that you do it because the back tends to get really hot.
There are two settings of the thermostat – a 1500 watt one and a 750 watt one. There’s no fan to make any noises and the item has a tip-over “off” switch to prevent overheating.
6. Cadet Portable Garage Heater
Space heaters are also needed at workshops and garages. With the Cadet Portable Garage Heater, you solve a big problem without having to mount or assemble a huge unit. The dimensions of this thing are 8 x 16 x 17.5 inches which is definitely not a lot for its purposes.
However, you get the incredible 5000W of power output in a 240V circuit. The heater also comes with a 6-foot cord so that you won’t have any issues powering it wherever you decide to move it. Since the fan is a powerful one, bear in mind that it will be noisier than usual.
A garage forced-air garage heater simply cannot be silent. It is advised that you keep a minimum of 3 feet of clearance when using it. The fan-only mode is also available in addition to the two heat settings. The body of the unit is made of 20-gauge steel.
7. Homeleader Electric Oil-filled Radiator Heater
Now, we get to see an efficient space heater of a larger size. Don’t let the looks fool you, though. This regular looking radiator is actually a fully digitalized machine packed with plenty of settings and technology. The LED display is very user-friendly and it has a few simple buttons for you to use.
At 1500W, the oil inside the heater will warm up fairly quickly and will start heating your room evenly. You get efficient heating here because the unit remains hot even after being switched off. That’s because the oil inside needs some time before it cools off. There’ a thermal cut-off functions, tip over switch-off as well as the Cool Touch surface. All of these render the Homeleader Oil-filled Radiator Heater a very safe option for any home.
The sharp design is supported by the functionality of the casters. No need to lift the heater – just roll it to the next room when you require heating there.
8. Tenergy Ceramic Heater
Portability is what you get from the Tenergy Ceramic Heater although that doesn’t mean you should expect a low performance by the unit. The manufacturer claims that heat is generated within just the first 3 seconds.
Also, you get 2 settings – 900W and 1500W. The lower setting really sets this heater apart as it is higher than average. Be sure to note that this device isn’t meant to be the primary heating source of your home although areas of up to 200 square feet should be fine.
It will, however, provide excellent directional heat. The 15-degree fan tilt also aids this and you can have the appliance sitting on the floor with a hot wave aimed at you. Overheating is prevented by the built-in thermostat. 240V circuits are incompatible with this product. On the plus side, you get a truly quiet fan no matter which speed you decide to use it on.
9. Crane USA Fireplace Space Heater
Among all, you also get an impeccable and very sharp design with the Crane USA Fireplace Space Heater. This is going to be basically your fireplace in a box. The whole front side of the unit is made of glass and peeking inside reveals a realistic fireplace setting.
But the catch is that you can use that device in any room you wish. The fireplace looks is just for decoration – there’s no mist, fumes, or anything related to burning wood. No, this thing is an electric space heater and has a maximum output of about 1500W.
It will be able to cover a room of 300 square feet. There are 4 settings on the dial. The 1st one is on/off. Then you have Eco, low, and high. The exterior will never get hot so you can relocate the appliance without any worries. Comes in two colors – black and white.
Electric Space Heaters Safety
We are all fully aware of the most popular safety features of electric space heaters. Of course, we are talking about overheat protection and tilt switch-off. These functions, however, are covered by the manufacturer and do not depend on our actions.
Here we will give some space heater safety tips and how to avoid a disaster at home when using power strips. Not only that you want to use your heater in areas that are designated for it, but you also want to plug it in a certain way.
The more and more appliances we have at home, force us to purchase larger power strips, and overload them with plugs. People do that for both heating and cooling systems at home or at the office. This is why we advise you to always plug in your space heater directly on the wall.
If you use a power strip or anything like that, bear in mind that the amperage which the heater will draw is going to be too much for the power outlet. Even if you buy some of the finest power strips with numerous sockets, you will notice that the sockets will become charred. This is your sure signal that you should stop using the power strip before it is too late.
How do you avoid this? Put the power strip in a visible place. Make sure you check it regularly. This is especially important during the holiday season when it is cold and we have TVs, game consoles, sound systems, heaters, Christmas lights, etc. plugged in. Overloading the power strip is never a good idea and it should be avoided. It is also easier when you follow the manufacturers’ specifications.
Making Your Own Home More Heat Efficient
We have all heard people being unhappy about the efficiency ratings of their space heaters at home. Well, those folks haven’t thought about actually helping the heater warm up the room. This is done by taking some simple as well as not both heating and cooling systems at home or at the office towards making your home a little bit warmer. There are cheap ways to keep your house warm in the winter. You don’t want to rely solely on the heat provided by an appliance. You want to enhance it by doing some, if not all, of these things:
Clean your heaters
Proper maintenance is the key to longevity and efficient heating during the winter months. No matter which type of space heater you have at home, it will still require some basic maintenance. Dust off not only the body of the unit but also take the grill or the mesh off and wipe the dirt generated by the fan or the fins of your device. This is a simple task which will definitely make your space heater more efficient for longer.
Reflect heat
This is a good thing to do when you have a convection heater, an infrared heater, or an oil-filled radiator. Use foil either on the wall behind the unit or somewhere around it. Heatwaves work in the same way as light. They can be reflected and redirected. This way you will be able to heat a room more effectively. That’s an excellent tip to use when looking to have an energy-efficient space heater for the large room.
Use curtains
Yep, don’t block the sun during the day but definitely pull the curtains in when it gets cold in the evening. They are thick and will provide some extra insulation of the room. Curtains will definitely help trap more heat inside.
Utilize the timers of your devices
Typical timers of space heaters will tell the appliance when to shut off. This is pretty important especially during the night when you do not need to have your hearers running. Spending some extra cash on a digital thermostat will allow you to also have the heater on at a specified time. This means no more cold mornings and no more unnecessary energy waste.
Block some draughts
DIY proofing of doors and windows can go a long way. Spend a little time on that and you just might end up saving at least $50 every year on heating. Rubber seals are sold at every hardware store and will not cost a lot. They are also exceptionally easy to install. Fill the little openings and cracks and enjoy heating longer.
Get dressed
No, we do not mean putting on your formal clothing. Just your favorite pullover or hoodie. Trying to stay with a t-shirt at home during the winter is just plain cocky. Put some warm clothes on and don’t act tough. You will definitely feel warmer and will perhaps like to turn down the heating a little bit thus saving on electricity.
Watch that thermostat
Do you really need to crank up the thermostat all the way up? It is proven that 21 degrees Celsius is the right temperature for any living room. If you can achieve that, why would you try to go over it? By keeping the thermostat down you might be able to save about 20% of your monthly electric bill. That’s a lot!
Wrapping Up
That’s where we conclude our guide to getting the most energy-efficient space heaters. We realize that you have plenty of different types of appliances at your disposal but we also hope that we’ve eased your endeavor of selecting the most appropriate one. Our crew always tries to provide you with the full picture when it comes to domestic heating.
If you liked our work, please share and comment on the article. Let others know about our guides and make sure you also check out some of our other articles regarding the finest heating solutions out there such as electric radiant floor heating systems reviews. Tell us in case we’ve missed anything – we’ll be happy to hear from you. Thanks for reading and as always – stay put!
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