Portable heaters are useful for adding a little extra warmth in individual rooms or spaces, without the cost of heating the whole house. Choosing the right kind of heater will help you to heat your space most effectively, and at the lowest cost.
Oil-filled radiators
These use electricity to heat oil that is sealed inside the radiator. The oil retains heat, even after the unit is turned off, keeping it warm for longer
Efficiency: Highly energy-efficient for regular, prolonged use; they are slow to heat up but remain warm for longer after switching off.
Best for: Small to medium-sized rooms where you need consistent heat for a few hours.
Extra features: Built-in thermostats and timers allow precise temperature control.
Convector heaters
Convector heaters warm the air in a room through convection, circulating warm air upwards.
Efficiency: Quick to heat rooms and provide even heating but lose efficiency in draughty spaces. Stop heating the room as soon as they are switched off.
Best for: Medium to large rooms that need to be heated up quickly.
Extra features: Some models have built-in thermostats and timers prevent overheating.
Ceramic heaters
These use electricity to heat ceramic plates, which radiate warmth. Some include a fan to distribute the heat.
Efficiency: Heat up quickly and use energy efficiently for short-term heating. They are compact and lightweight, making them portable and easy to position
Best for: Small rooms where quick heat is needed.
Extra features: The models with oscillation ensure even heat distribution.
Infrared heaters
These emit infrared radiation to directly heat objects and people, not the surrounding air.
Efficiency: Extremely efficient as no energy is wasted on heating unused air. They provide instant heat with no warm-up time.
Best for: Small spaces, draughty areas, or personal use where targeted heating is ideal.
Fan Heaters
Fan heaters blow air over a heating element, distributing warm air quickly. They are compact and inexpensive to buy.
Efficiency: Effective for quick bursts of heat but not suitable for prolonged use due to higher energy consumption.
Best for: Immediate warmth in small spaces.
Extra features: Some have thermostats to prevent excessive energy use.
Halogen heaters
Halogen heaters emit radiant heat using halogen-filled bulbs, similar to infrared heaters but often at a lower cost. They provide low energy consumption compared to fan heaters or convectors and the bulbs are replaceable, which means that the heater will last.
Efficiency: Focused heating with minimal energy loss to surrounding air.
Best for: Small spaces or individual use.
Which portable heater is best?
The right portable heater depends on your specific needs. For sustained use in a room, choose an oil-filled radiator or ceramic heater with a thermostat. For rapidly heating a small space, fan heaters or halogen heaters may be better, and for energy efficiency and eco-friendliness, infrared heaters provide targeted warmth with minimal energy waste.
If you have central heating that is not working as well as you would expect, don’t forget to book your boiler service! For more advice and information, follow Trust a Trader on Facebook or X.