How to Choose the Best Space Heater for Your Needs

3 November 2008

A space heater can be a great (and efficient) way to warm up a room that always feels cold even when the central house heat is turned on. Also you can use a space heater to just warm up one room when there’s no point to heating up the whole house. This can save you money on your energy bills.

There are different kinds of space heaters, and which one is best for you depends on which room you’re planning to use it in.

Basements and Family Rooms

According to this month’s This Old House magazine, the best space heater for a basement or family room is a baseboard model, such as the Q-Mark Electric Hydronic Baseboard Heater. These heaters are quiet, low-profile, and do well at heating large spaces.

Living Rooms and Bedrooms

For living rooms and bedrooms, you may want to consider an oil or electric radiator. These are shaped like old-fashioned built-in radiator units, and give off cozy warmth suitable for these rooms. Oil-fueled space heaters also radiate warmth even when they’re turned off, so they can help keep the temperature pleasant at night, even after you’ve powered them down.

An example of a radiator-style space heater is the DeLonghi EW7707CM Oil-filled Radiator with ComforTemp Technology.

Workshops and Home Offices

If you’re looking to warm up a room where you tend to sit in one area (such as at a computer desk), then you can get a fan-forced space heater. With these heaters, the air current can be adjusted so it just warms up the area where you’re sitting.

An example of a fan-forced space heater is the Optimus H-2200 Portable Fan-Forced Radiant Heater with Thermostat.

Workshops and Garages

What if you’re out in the garage working on your projects? You may want to consider a quartz/carbon heater (these are often called radiant heaters). These units use halogen bulbs, and they run on a lower wattage than other space heaters. They are designed to use electromagnetic energy to heat objects (i.e. people) instead of the air.

An example of this type of space heater is the Mr. Heater Portable Buddy 9,000 BTU Propane Radiant Heater.

As you can see, the best space heater varies depending on where it’s going to be placed, so pick the one that makes most sense for your needs.