Best Electric Heater?

[Alexstarfire]

All right, I'm a guy on a budget. Basically I thought everything in my apartment was electric, as that was what was stated in the ad I saw. Didn't find out till a couple weeks ago that the heating was gas. Anyways, seeing as how winter isn't going to be but 3 months and I'll be gone for about 3 weeks of it gas was out of the question since I don't have any credit so it'll be a lot more to activate it. I don't have that kind of money.

Bought a cheap electric heater but it doesn't work very well. Could leave it on for hours and not notice any difference. Looking at all the different electric heaters is starting to give me a headache since I don't know what the real differences are other than price. I know my friends tower heater is good, but they seems quite expensive. I figured that the only way to really know how well a heater works is by testing them. I can't test hat many for obvious reasons.

Basically I'm looking for a heater that's electric, costs less than $50, can heat up a room that's 100 to 150 square feet fairly quickly, and uses the least amount of watts possible. I'd like for it to be local, so like at a Wal-Mart, Sears, Lowes, etc but online is fine as well.

I'd like as much help as I can since I'm only one man. Thanks for anything you can give me.

 

[skyking]

watts are watts. there is no magic there. The room will heat up with brand a, b or c in the same amount of time, given the same temps and heat loss.
safety is the only concern when it comes to using portable electric heat. make sure you know the circuit you are using and the loads on it now. Don't push a circuit up near the rated capacity, it is not worth it.
Get a heater that has load settings and a thermostat. for example, some units have a 3 position switch for 800, 1200 and 1500 watts.
In addition to that, it will have a rotary temperature dial.

 

[Alexstarfire]

Yea, see that's what I thought too, but I don't see how my friend's heater heats better than mine. His could use more watts, but IDK.

I'd figure there are better ways to transfer heat though. I mean, copper cools better than aluminum in PCs. Why can't there be something similar in heaters?

 

[funboy6942]

Very nice ones in your range can be had at walmart we use are the electric oil filled radiator ones. Picked one up there for $35, has a digital temp unit and does a kick ass job keeping the room warm I have it in. Set it for the temp and all done.

 

[Mark R]

There is only one thing that's important when choosing an electric heater: watts.

Nothing else matters - they're all the pretty much the same. Most electric heaters are fanned - but you can get fanless radiators - but they're bigger, heavier and more expensive.

However, for more gentle heating, where you don't want the noise of a fan - then an electrically heated oil-filled radiator is a good choice.

Essentially for a 100-150 sqft room, a 1000-1500 W heater will do. Better models have multiple power levels, and this can be useful if you want to keep the temperature up as well as just warm the room up. Alternatively, some heaters have thermostats - if you're going to rely on the heater as primary heating (then this is a good idea) - if it's only going to be used infrequently for emergencies then you may as well get the cheapest.

You may want to consider tip-over protection (reduces the risk of fire if the heater gets knocked over).

If you're going to be heating larger rooms - then a more powerful heater might be more useful (especially if it has multiple power levels). I have a 3000 W fan heater - and it'll heat up a 400 sq ft room in short order.

Watch out for snake-oil gimmicks like 'ceramic' technology (a heating element is a heating element - better to have one made of springy flexible metal than a fragile brittle ceramic), and 'low-running costs' (all electric heaters are the same - they only have lower running costs if they are less powerful)

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: Alexstarfire
Yea, see that's what I thought too, but I don't see how my friend's heater heats better than mine. His could use more watts, but IDK.

I'd figure there are better ways to transfer heat though. I mean, copper cools better than aluminum in PCs. Why can't there be something similar in heaters?

think about the laws of energy and conservation. the heater is in the middle of a system, and a finite amount of energy goes into it and is turned into simple heat. no magic possible. The percieved comfort can be different, depending on where you sit, how it may circulate heat down from the ceiling, etc.

 

[sager66]

Another vote for the oil-filled designs . . Lakewood model has been working very well for 3 winter seasons to heat a smaller bedroom/home office . . next to worthless for heating a larger area like a "grand" room however.

 

[funboy6942]

This is the one we bought near the end of the season last year. Was only going for $35, now up to $49

 

[doze]

I used to have an electric heater/fan combo and it seemed to work better that the regular heaters b/c it blew the warm air in your direction. You can find these at most retail stores.

 

[Alexstarfire]

Seems like my $13 heater is going to be just as good as a $30 heater then. I may go look at some metal models as I believe mine is ceramique, according to the box at least. It just doesn't feel like it's heating crap. My freaking apartment is like 50F, maybe 60F during the day. If I can't feel a difference from 2 feet away from the heater then I don't think it heats very well.

Guess my previous assumptions were correct. Ohh well.

 

[50cent1228]

Originally posted by: sager66
Another vote for the oil-filled designs . . Lakewood model has been working very well for 3 winter seasons to heat a smaller bedroom/home office . . next to worthless for heating a larger area like a "grand" room however.

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: Alexstarfire
Seems like my $13 heater is going to be just as good as a $30 heater then. I may go look at some metal models as I believe mine is ceramique, according to the box at least. It just doesn't feel like it's heating crap. My freaking apartment is like 50F, maybe 60F during the day. If I can't feel a difference from 2 feet away from the heater then I don't think it heats very well.

Guess my previous assumptions were correct. Ohh well.

Wait, I give you a recommendation to one that works in a room that is 12'x15' for 180 Sq FT and keeps it at a 70 degree temp even when its 11 degrees outside with no trouble at all and your saying it wont be better then your $13 one that cant keep it at 50? Did I mess up telling you how good the radiant heat oil radiator electrics are or did you not read what I wrote to you?

Those little skimpy ceramic jobs cant touch what a oil filled one will do as far as heating a room. I have had them, bought my house and it had a oil filled one upstairs in my oldest room for the only means of heat. I was amazed on how well it did I bough the one I am telling you about for it has the digital meter and keeps the room at a constant temp. You get it and you will be cozy warm for sure then freezing your ass off. But as the saying goes, you can lead a horse to water but cant force it to drink.