Infrared panel heater - efficient alternative to hot water bottle?

SamDude

My wife works from home most days, and she has her work desk/office area setup in the living room which gets very chilly as it is an open plan space. She uses a hot water bottle which is heated by a kettle every hour or so (think it's a Breville 3kw model).

During working hours, the central heating is turned on when needed to take the edge off the cold, but we don't usually turn it on 'proper' until the kids come home from school.

I'm looking at whether a freestanding 180/300/500w infrared panel heater would be a cost efficient way to keep a person warm when we're not using the gas central heating during evenings/weekends, compared to a hot water bottle every hour or compared to putting the gas central heating on for the whole house for an hour at a time?

70sbudgie

I have a 300W IR panel heater next to my desk for when I work from home. It is enough to keep me nice and warm so I can keep the central heating on a low temperature (~17°). I think it is a very cost effective way to "heat the person", as the 300W is mostly covered by the solar panels, on all but the most dull days. Even if it isn't , I think it would cost me about 50p-60p for the day. Unlike a lot of heaters, it will run pretty much the whole time it is on and not cycle on and off if you use the thermostat function. 

SamDude

70sbudgie said:

I have a 300W IR panel heater next to my desk for when I work from home. It is enough to keep me nice and warm so I can keep the central heating on a low temperature (~17°). I think it is a very cost effective way to "heat the person", as the 300W is mostly covered by the solar panels, on all but the most dull days. Even if it isn't , I think it would cost me about 50p-60p for the day. Unlike a lot of heaters, it will run pretty much the whole time it is on and not cycle on and off if you use the thermostat function. 

Thank you - that is the scenario we want to address "heating the person" and the ballpark costs.

Can you share details of the model/price of your panel heater?
I've seen them on Amazon but want to make a considered purchase, and not necessarily just pick the cheapest...

Keep_pedalling

The alternative would be an electric throw.

Alnat1

Another vote for a heated throw. They use around 100-150w so 8 hours use will cost around whatever you pay for 1kWh of electric - 27p? Plenty of offers on now too.

mumf

The throws are rather good,and I agree with the running cost. About 3p per hour. I got one from Band M ( or Home Bargains ) £29.99. 

mumf

The throws are rather good,and I agree with the running cost. About 3p per hour. I got one from Band M ( or Home Bargains ) £29.99. 

Devongardener

As others say, a heated throw is a great low energy solution, and heats a bigger area than a hot water bottle.  I love mine, working at my laptop and in the evenings on the sofa, when I then turn the heating off earlier.

QrizB

SamDude said:

I'm looking at whether a freestanding 180/300/500w infrared panel heater would be a cost efficient way to keep a person warm when we're not using the gas central heating during evenings/weekends, compared to a hot water bottle every hour or compared to putting the gas central heating on for the whole house for an hour at a time?

The hot water bottle is the cheapest option to run.

A heated throw or seat cushion will be cheaper than the IR panel.

I did some calculations on this a year or two ago. I'll get them out and update them.

Olinda99

if you do want to use a panel heater then to be warm it would be best to enclose her working area while she is there eg foldable screens etc

elsien

With apologies for jumping on board, is anyone able to recommend a heated foot pad or similar?

I can keep my top half warm no problem, but I’m getting chilblains on my feet already even with a couple of layers of thick socks on. Primarily due to sitting at my home desk without moving around enough. I don’t wear slippers because they irritate me immensely.