Portable Room Heaters - which are good?

pinkbubble

I'm probably going to need 2 or 3 in the winter, but which are the good ones? Don't want to have a huge elec bill as I'm on a meter, but I don't really want gas ones as the kids are running around plus the baby toddling.
Any advice / reccomendations?

Cardew

All portable electric heaters cost the same to run, so there are no cost advantages in running i.e. you get exactly the same amount of heat for your money.

Probably the safest are the oil filled radiator type, with a thermostatic control; you can buy them for around £30 upwards.

pinkbubble

Thanks Cardew

amtrakuk

Depends How you're going to use it.

If you want instant heat I'd go for convector heaters as they give "instant" heat. I had a load of Glen/Dimplex OFX oil filled radiators and found you had to keep them on 24/7 (regulating them between 50% when your out and 100% when your in).

I found convector heaters alot better as they produce heat straight away. However I have read some articles saying convector heaters dry out/burns the air? Not sure how you can burn a gas

Cardew

amtrakuk wrote: »

Depends How you're going to use it.

If you want instant heat I'd go for convector heaters as they give "instant" heat. I had a load of Glen/Dimplex OFX oil filled radiators and found you had to keep them on 24/7 (regulating them between 50% when your out and 100% when your in).

I found convector heaters alot better as they produce heat straight away. However I have read some articles saying convector heaters dry out/burns the air? Not sure how you can burn a gas

I agree.

Personally I prefer convector heaters for the instant heat they provide. For instance I have one in my study and can put it on for a few minutes(say late at night) rather than putting the CH back on.

However given the OP has toddlers who might drape clothes over convector etc I suggested they might be a little safer.

However it is marginal; the main point is the cost of running is the same.

mute_posting

amtrakuk wrote: »

Not sure how you can burn a gas

:rotfl: It's magic - cookers, boilers, gas fires - they all manage it

amtrakuk

where on earth did I say that? lol

nesssie1702

Halogen heaters are supposed to be economical to run and they give off a light glow, so you don't need a lamp on! They also have a safety feature and cut off if they fall over.

Cardew

nesssie1702 wrote: »

Halogen heaters are supposed to be economical to run and they give off a light glow, so you don't need a lamp on! They also have a safety feature and cut off if they fall over.

Depends how you define 'economical'!

They are no more, or less, economical than any other electrical heater.

They are low powered, so do not put out much heat. However they 'direct' that heat towards a person, so are ideal for, say, someone sitting in a garage or shed. They will feel the benefit of the heat, but it won't warm the rest of the room.

Horses for courses!

nesssie1702

"They will feel the benefit of the heat, but it won't warm the rest of the room"

So, where does the "heat" go then? There will surely be some element of heating or even maintaining the heat level in a room?

Cardew

nesssie1702 wrote: »

"They will feel the benefit of the heat, but it won't warm the rest of the room"

So, where does the "heat" go then? There will surely be some element of heating or even maintaining the heat level in a room?

Yes, there will be some heat go to the rest of the room.

However the point is that they are no more 'economical' than any other form of heater. i.e. a 500w halogen heater puts out exactly the same amount of heat as any other 500w heater and thus you pay the same money for the heat produced.