It's layer season but you certainly don't want to have to layer up when you're indoors! You may have a gas heater already installed in your space, but we all know how expensive it can be when you crank it up during the chillier days.
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In that case, it might be better to opt for spot heating and use a space heater instead. Electric heaters are built to improve the climate in any room, and more often than not, all you need is to push a button to feel warm and toasty.
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What type of heater is cheapest to run?
If you compare gas and electric heaters, electric heaters trump out their gas counterparts in terms of cost. Of course, it’s still contingent on how you use it and where you’re from. Electric heaters require almost zero maintenance so you don’t have to worry about any additional costs, and they provide quick heating, unlike gas heaters that usually take some time to kick in. Additionally, electric heaters also help conserve energy as they’re designed to work efficiently.
What are the benefits of an electric heater?
One of the most notable advantages of using electric heaters is that there are lower upfront costs. More often than not, they don’t require any complex installation, and as mentioned above, they’re easier to maintain. They’re also highly efficient and easier to control, allowing users to customize their comfort. Plus, they tend to last longer than gas units. An electric heater can run up to 30 years, while gas units have a life span of only 10 to 20 years with regular maintenance.
How long can electric heaters be left on for?
While electric heaters often have state-of-the-art safety features, it’s still important to take precautions. Modern heaters are usually safe to run up to 24 hours a day, as long as you are in the same room. It’s not advisable to leave them unattended, so it’s still better to turn them off you’re leaving the room or house. Otherwise, they become a fire hazard or induce carbon monoxide poisoning.
To help you on your hunt, here are some of the best electric heaters you can buy. Whether you live in an apartment or a large home, you’ll find a heater that can accommodate your space and unique needs.
Best electric heaters for large rooms
LifeSmart LifePro 6 Element 1500W Portable Infrared Quartz Space Heaters, $258.99, Amazon
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Double up on the heating power with this set of two space heaters designed to be energy efficient and controllable with an included remote. With 1500W of power, they can easily heat up a room up to 150 square feet.
Top review: "I bought the heater for supplemental heating for a bedroom and a living room. The heater works excellently and even includes an air filter. Highly recommended."
TURBRO Arcade HR1500 Electric Mica Space Heater, was $99.99 now $79.99, Amazon
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This heater is capable of turbo-heating your room and making you comfortable in 30 seconds or less. It provides concentrated heat for a room up to 160 square feet without producing extra noise. You can also adjust the heat production with the power level selector and thermostat, and it will cycle the setting on and off to maintain it for as long as you need.
Top review: “The minute I unboxed it and turned it on I knew it was a superior product. It produces heat in just as quiet a fashion as they oil based convection heater, but it also radiates heat to a person sitting in a cold room to keep them warm - the best of all worlds. And did I mention it is completely quiet? It is.”
EdenPURE CopperSMART 1000 Infrared Portable Heater, was $499 now $447, Amazon
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Reliable, efficient, durable, and most importantly, safe, this portable zone heater delivers even heat in a way that won’t alter the oxygen levels in the room. You can easily play around with the 24 heat settings with the accompanying remote control, and the built-in wheels let you move it from room to room.
Top review: “These quartz heaters are safe, very effective and draw a fraction of electricity than even small store-bought models. They heat a larger area than claimed. Very impressed and completely satisfied. I have three.”
Pure Hot+Cool™ HP01 Purifying Heater + Fan, $499.99, Dyson
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This heater does not only keep you warm and toasty, but it can also cool and purify the air, too. It offers whole room coverage making it great for large spaces, and its built-in filtration system uses a HEPA filter to capture 99.97% of pollutants circulating around. It’s also certified asthma and allergy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and awarded the Parent Tested Parent Approved seal of approval.
Top review: “I’m a clean freak. I dust, vacuum, mop our bedroom and entire home weekly. The HP01 is used in our bedroom that has hardwood flooring. Below is pictures of filter replacement. If these pictures don’t sell the product, nothing will. This mighty machine is amazing! Guess what, I’m buying one for our daughter’s bedroom and one for the family/TV room off our kitchen. I own Dyson vacuum that’s is phenomenal. Don’t waste your money buying something cheaper...you get what you pay for!”
Best electric garage heaters
Dr. Infrared DR-975 7500-Watt 240-Volt Hardwired Shop Garage Electric Heater, $252.53, Home Depot
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Specifically built for garages, factories, stores, warehouses, and other public establishments, this 7500-watt heater can be the primary heat source for large spaces. It can be mounted to the wall or ceiling and uses spiral steel metal sheath electric heating elements to deliver uniform heat.
Top review: “This is a very nice heater with great features! Powerful heat, especially for a large garage! I love the remote control, also. Now I enjoy going in my garage while it is freezing outdoors!”
Heat Storm HS-6000-GC Heater, was $329.99 now $245.99, Amazon
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With WiFi capability, you can control the settings of this heater using just your smartphone. It packs up to 6000 watts of power, warms up quickly, and is incredibly energy efficient thanks to its patented HMS dual-wall technology.
Top review: “100% recommend. Replaced my old garage heater with this one. I’ve been looking for a heater with a scheduling feature, and this heater has that and more. Setup was easy, from wiring to Wi-Fi, no issues. It is much quieter than my old unit, but probably too loud to be used anywhere other than a garage, shed, or workshop. Heats up my 24’x24’ (576 sq ft) garage pretty quick.”
Comfort Zone CZ230ER Digital Fan-Forced Ceiling Mount Heater, was $199.95 now $183.57, Amazon
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Featuring a space-saving design, this heater is made for ceiling mounting and hard-wired installation, so it would never be a nuisance in your space. Its durable steel construction means it has a body of a commercial heater, allowing it to withstand temperature fluctuations. It also delivers targeted heating and a fan-forced design that distributes airflow throughout the area.
Top review: “For the money, you can't go wrong with this heater. Had this installed by an electrician. They said it was pretty easy to wire and install. The remote is very convenient to have. I'm not sure why you'd buy one without a remote. It gets my garage warm enough to workout in within 20 mins on high mode. I would definitely recommend this heater!”
Fahrenheat 5000-Watt 240-Volt Garage Ceiling Heater FUH54, $350.20, Walmart
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This heavy-duty heater is engineered to accommodate nearly virtually any open space with its single pole thermostat that adjusts from 45 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Aside from garages, it can also be used in stores, service stations, basements, patios, and workspaces. It has a mounting bracket for vertical or horizontal mounting and a high-level cutout that shuts it off automatically to avoid overheating.
Top review: “This heater is by far one of the best heaters you can buy for a garage. I just installed it in my garage today. Grainger has the same product but the brand is Dayton and there’s a 200$ price difference. I’d rather pay 300 instead of 500. I’m an electrician and over my career I’ve installed quite a few of these heaters and knock on wood, I haven’t gotten any call."
Best electric heaters for the house
Vornado AVH10 Vortex Heater, $99.99, Amazon
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Engineered to accommodate small to medium-sized rooms, this top-rated heater employs the power of vortex air circulation to distribute warmth evenly, efficiently, and safely without using intense heat. Its auto climate control senses how much heat and circulation the room needs and makes adjustments accordingly. It also offers two quiet heat settings: low (750W) and high (1500W), as well as a fan-only option.
Top review: “The heater does a spectacular job of keeping the room warm without having to switch to the higher fan speed except for the coldest nights. I like it so much I got a second one to use in my basement. I have a computer desk and an old sofa down there, and I usually run the heater in the space between them. There's maybe about 100 square feet of space that I occupy down there, and in the winter this heater does a great job of keeping that area of the basement comfortably warm.”
De'Longhi Mica Thermic Panel Heater, $99.95, Amazon
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If you don’t have that much space at home, this heater is compact enough to be situated or mounted in any wall or corner. It packs 1500 watts of power for spot heating, with an adjustable thermostat and heat settings to customize your comfort. It provides a bevy of safety features as well, including thermal cutoff, tip over switch, and anti-freeze settings.
Top review: “This truly is a new kind of heater in how it pours out consistent warmth, and gives an overall even feeling of heat better than any heater I've used (and I've used a lot over the years). I think what I like most is that it doesn't dry the air as much or ever make things stiflingly hot, like can happen with forced air space heaters.”
BabyExo Small Space Heater, $34.99, Amazon
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Want a heater that fits your home’s aesthetic? This modern space heater blends beautifully in any space. It delivers instant, powerful warmth during chilly nights, but it also has a built-in fan to circulate air during the summer. With safety features like thermal shutoff, you won’t have to worry about damaging the device.
Top review: “This is a fabulous little heater! I was skeptical when it arrived because it was much smaller than I expected, but I was not disappointed once I turned it on. This thing puts out tons of heat and I get compliments from coworkers about how cute it is. Definitely a great buy.”
Best electric tankless water heaters
EcoSmart ECO 18 Tankless Electric Water Heater, was $499 now $425, Amazon
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Great for small homes and apartments, it delivers endless on-demand water and heats water as it passes through instead of storing it. It can provide between 1.8 and 4.3 gallons per minute and only consumes the energy necessary for each use to help you save.
What the fans say: “Compact, hot water on demand continuously, does not disappoint. Efficient and shuts down when you turn the hot water faucet off. Saves money”
Rheem 7.03 GPM Tankless Electric Water Heater, $619, Home Depot
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Equipped with self-modulating technology, this tankless electric water heater adjusts energy based on your unique needs. It delivers endless hot water supply and consistent temperature, and its compact design makes it perfect for installation under cabinets and sinks.
Top review: “18kw I live in Orlando Fl - two bath house family of 5. Kids 12-6-1 we can all take a bath and or shower in the evening without having to wait for the water heater to hear back up. My 12 year old likes to take hr long showers - I just go turn the temp down and or turn off the water if she won't get out. It's become a game of sort East install-I did it myself including new wire to sub panel. Saves space and works! Get one you won't regret it.”
Stiebel Eltron Tempra 36 Plus Tankless Electric Water Heater, $849, Lowes
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Boasting a compact design and energy-saving features, this heater delivers a continuous and unlimited supply of hot water whenever you need it. It has an advanced flow control that automatically reduces the output flow to provide even temperature and operates with nearly no sound. It also claims to be 99% efficient, resulting in savings of 15-20% compared to tank water heaters.
What the fans say: “I LOVE my tankless water heater!! It only takes a few seconds to heat, no longer than our previous hit water tank, and the writer gets nice and hot. Works for both bath and shower. Water pressure is great too. I am a very happy camper.”
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