5 Best Room Heaters

Buying Guide to select the best room heater for your home

Room Heater in a nutshell

A room heater can keep the room warm and warm even during freezing months. They work on different principles and technologies and come in many different types. If you are confused about which room heater is perfect for your home, then you are in the right place. This guide will help you select the best room heater ideal for your home.

Winters, especially in the northern parts of India, become too chilly to bear. The temperature ranges between 10 or 5 degrees. In such a low temperature, your woollen clothes or winter clothing do not seem enough. That is where room heaters prove to be handy.

Room Heater Types

As we mentioned above, room heaters vary on their technologies and heating methods.

Room heaters come in three main variants based on their heating technology– ceramic, oil-filled and infrared. Follow this article and you can decide for yourself which room heater model is suitable for you.

Ceramic heaters

The electric current passes through ceramic heating elements in ceramic heaters. This allows the aluminium bubble and heating elements to heat up quickly.

Meanwhile, cool air is sucked from the surrounding base at the same time. The air is then passed through the baffles and heating elements. This heats the air which gets circulated into the room by a fan.

These heaters can operate at lower temperatures. Compared to other room heater models, they release the same amount of heat throughout the room at a much lower temperature.

Ceramic heaters are ideal small spaces, like a small office or a single room.

Heaters filled with oil

Oil-filled heaters contain many connected columns attached with a control panel at the base. Because of this structure, they look like small versions of traditional radiators. However, in contrast to traditional radiators, oil-filled heaters are portable.

Interestingly, oil is not used as the fuel to produce heat. Instead, the oil in the columns is used as a diathermic heat reservoir. Since the oil is not used as a fuel, you don’t have to refill it.

How does an oil-filled heater work?

The electricity flows directly into the heat reservoir when you plug it in. This converts electricity into heat that the diathermic oil then absorbs.

Once the oil is hot, the heat is transferred into the metal columns through the movement of oil. This heat is again radiated around the room with the natural convection of air.

Although these heaters take some time to heat the oil, they provide sufficient heat to keep the whole room warm.

Infrared heaters

They are also known as radiant heaters. They use the same principle that heats the earth – thermal energy is transferred to any object or person along its path as heat. Infrared heaters typically use two types of heating elements.

Quartz Tubes – Usually Nichrome Heating Wire, these encapsulated tubes consist of 80 per cent Nickel and 20 per cent Chromium.

Tubular Heating Element – This variant works on the internal heating principle of the floor. When the metal box is first heated, it enables heat to be directly transferred to the surrounding.

What features should you look for while buying the best room heater?

Price – A high-quality room heater comes at a higher price. Extra smart features like remote control, energy-saving mode and timer will be provided for high-end models.

Some budget room heater models may not provide great intelligent features, but they will certainly provide you with enough comfortable warmth.

Wattage – Wattage is essential to check the power of the room heater. Check the wattage before buying. More wattage will produce more heat, but it will consume more energy, which means a higher electricity bill.

Warranty – When it comes to warranty, check the warranty details on the product specification details. It is always best to choose models with a warranty period of 1-2 years.

Thermostat Control – An ideal room heater should have 2-3 different heat setting mode. Having multiple modes allows you to change the heat level as per your requirements. Therefore, don’t choose a room heater with a single thermostat setting.

Noise Level – Similar to other appliances, the room heater may produce some operational noise. Room heaters with fans generally make noise, while oil and radiant heaters are quiet. So, if you want heaters for bedrooms and offices, select a non-fan room heater model.

The number of heating plates or elements – This is another key feature to look for while purchasing the best room heater. Now, many people ignore this feature. Ideally, more heating elements mean that the heater warms the room faster. So, if you want instant room heating, choose a room heater with more number of heating elements.

Portability – It is best to buy a room heater with rivet wheels when it comes to portability. Because they make it easy for you to move the device without any hassle. It is also suggested that you look for sidearms or handles, so that you can carry the room heater without burning your hands.

Also, the room heaters should be light-weight to move them from here to there. Also, check the compatibility which allows you to place the room heater safely in less space. Fan and radiant room heaters, which are lightweight, compact and easy-to-move are better as compared to oil-filled heaters in terms of portability.

Energy Efficiency – Room heaters are designed to heat small areas. Hence, you will have higher electricity bills if you try heating large areas beyond the capacity of room heaters.

Unlike other home appliances, energy efficiency ratings are not provided for room heaters. Adding to that, it is difficult to calculate energy efficiency as several factors can affect their productivity. Some of these factors include indoor temperature, space size, temperature setting, among other factors.

Tips to Save Electricity While Using Room Heater

• We recommend keeping the windows and doors closed while using room heaters to maximize heat retention.
• Vents of room heaters often get stuck with dirt and debris. Clear the accumulated dirt particles for efficient functioning.
• Instead of the highest, keep the temperature at a lower level. This will give you comfortable warmth.
• Placing the heater in the right direction allows the heat to perfectly reach the target area. This also prevents you from running the device at its highest level, thereby saving energy.

Safety Tips to Consider While Using a Room Heater

Misuse of room heaters can cause major fire accidents. Hence, it is extremely important to use the heater carefully.

Mostly, fire accidents are caused when flammable materials get in contact with a room heater. So, while using a room heater, follow the safety guidelines as instructed in the service manual of the appliance.

FAQs regarding the best room heater in India

Q. Is it safe to use a room heater?

A. Yes, it is quite safe to use a room heater to keep your room warm chilled weather. They are an inexpensive and convenient way of heating the room. Additionally, they do not pollute as burning firewood may do.

Q. Which room heater is best?

A. If you explore the market, there are so many options available. Every model in this list has its own advantages. You can select any model to keep your room warm in the dropping temperature. However, if you’re asking the overall best room heater, then go for Staunch SH-101.

Q. Can I use the room heater all night?

A. Yes, you can certainly use a heater the whole night. Although, there is no harm in it, your electricity bill may be a little more. But you can select a heater that automatically gets switched off after overheating.

For a safe purpose, choose Orpat OEH-1220 Room Heater.

Q. Which room heater has the best halogen or fan?

A. Fan heaters usually consume more energy and are noisy also. They are rated at 2,000 watts, whereas halogen heaters require only 400watts to 800 watts.