Which type of space heater is cheapest to run?

Confuzzled · 2 December 2010 at 2:38PM

i posted this earlier on the 'preparing for winter' thread and they suggested i might get more help here so if this thread seems out of place please forgive me!

i'm wanting to get a small inexpensive space heater for a bit of instant heat as we have storage heaters so when it's really cold once the sun goes down the time between that and bedtime can get really chilly!

i'd like something that puts out a good heat in a small area but is relatively cheap to run.

but i'm confused as to which is cheapest...halogen, oil filled, convector etc if anyone could help i'd really appreciate it. thanks in advance

KimYeovil · 2 December 2010 at 2:58PM

They all cost the same to run. They provide 1kWh of heat for 1kWh of electricity.

Differences in capital price are down to how pretty you want it (mostly) but: make sure you choose one that is adjustable (more than one heat level); probably worth paying for a built-in timer; oil-filled provides a more gradual heat output at start (and end) but is less instant; I think halogen heaters have a directable heat wave - (just like a cheap blower) - so either of them may be cheaper to run than an oil filled heater since you can sit in front of them and your body has the comfort of direct warmth (oil-filled also have this effect but a shorter range and lots more in other directions.)

But essentially it is a design decision rather than a running costs consideration.

Confuzzled · 2 December 2010 at 3:11PM

thank you kim

having never actually had one before i really have no idea of the differences in the way they heat but you've explained it quite well.

i think the halogen would be good, i do remember some mentions of them before in the prep for winter thread and the instant heat is what i really want. there is a halogen heater on sale at argos for about 18quid so i think i may pick that one up then

thanks so much :T

j2011 · 2 December 2010 at 3:33PM

i think the halogen would be good

The problem with halogen heaters is the light output. How much electricity is wasted as light?

Confuzzled · 2 December 2010 at 4:08PM

j2011 wrote: »

The problem with halogen heaters is the light output. How much electricity is wasted as light?

it's not a problem if i turn the lamp off in the room i'm using it in though. which is what i had planned on doing after reading they put out a lot of light. i like a softly lit room and recently we've just been using the soft glow of the christmas tree lights (led) instead of the lamp so that's not a problem for me specifically. i would not likely be using it during the day, just after dark anyway but a fair point for others

Which type of space heater is cheapest to run?

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