Sometimes, a house’s central heating system may not be enough to provide the necessary warmth, particularly in the case of extra large rooms.
If this is also your problem, on this page, you will find a guide that will lead you to step by step to discover the features and peculiarities of an electric stove, to provide you with all the information you need to choose for the best.
Here we had listed out the best electric heaters that are presented below.
Electric Heaters Buyer Guide
The electric heaters are the right solution to heat faster than small and medium-size rooms, where there is no central heating or when the latter is not enough.
On the market there are different types, some operate by convention, others by radiation. The stoves Convention is more potent, has a resistance, which heats up quickly. The stoves irradiation, instead emit heat through infrared rays.
Some stoves are small and compact, ideal for heating only a room that is not too large or to is kept close on colder days, others are very large and powerful and can also heat rooms to 60 square meters without problems.
Where Do You Want to Place It?
The substantial difference between the models of stoves made by the best brands is related to their power supply which can be combustion (gas or oil) or electric.
The latter category is the one we will focus on this page, given that these are simpler-functioning appliances and that can be placed anywhere without the limitations associated with gas or other fuel models that require greater maintenance and an environment.
With at least one window, essential for air from time to time. By focusing on electric heaters, keep in mind that you can find them that work by convection or radiation.
The former emits heat thanks to electrical resistance and, on average, have a higher power, up to a maximum of 2,000 watts. Radiation appliances, on the other hand, heat the room thanks to the action of infrared rays and, in general, have lower power.
In the first category, we can place the fan heaters, in the second the halogen stoves. By consulting technical data sheets and reviews, you will easily find out if a model belongs to one or the other categories and comparing the prices you will also know which one is closest to the spending budget you have allocated.
The Space Available
At the top of the list of aspects to consider when choosing which stove to buy, in addition to the price, there is an evaluation of where to place it. The size of a room, in fact, considerably affects the size of the appliance to be installed as well as its power.
If the environment is large, therefore, it would be preferable to opt for a fixed model, with a power greater than 1,500 watts and able to obtain the desired temperature in a short time and perhaps, thanks to a sensor, keep it constant, to avoid unnecessary waste of energy.
If the room is small, as, in the case of the bathroom, you could instead consider buying a portable model, to be switched on for a limited period, such as the time needed to take a shower and find a nice warmth when you have to dry yourself.
Energy Saving
Regardless of the model chosen, keep in mind that stoves tend to be quite demanding in terms of energy demand, therefore directed towards an “intelligent” appliance that allows you to avoid waste. Among the products on sale on the market, we recommend you focus on one with a thermostat.
This function allows you to decide the temperature you wish to have in the room and the stove, in particular, if the thermostat is integrated into the ignition switch, it will manage itself when the set heat has been reached.
Appliances that do not have them, however, continue to emit hot air until you worry about turning them off—one last consideration, which applies in particular to portable models.
If you decide to place them in the bathroom or in an environment where they could come into contact with water, it is better to opt for a product made following the dictates of the IP standard, that is, the one that indicates the level of protection against splashes or contact with liquids.
How to Choose an Electric Heater?
In our ranking, we have included some of the best stoves on sale at the moment. There are many other models on the market, some of which are certainly valid.
To choose the right stove, you need to evaluate some very important factors, including power, functions, dimensions, design, and materials. Let’s see in detail what must be taken into account before buying an electric stove.
Also right here we had also shared a buying guide video of electric heaters.
Operation
Electric heaters are divided into two types of operation: convention and radiation. The convection electric heaters have a resistance which heats up and, according to the power (measured in watts), it generates more or less heat.
Fan heaters belong to this type. The stoves irradiation, better known as halogen heaters emit heat through infrared rays. Conventional stoves are more powerful than radiant ones and can reach 2000 Watts.
They are perfect for entire heating rooms. For an environment of 20-30 square meters, a space heater with a power of 800-1000 Watt is more than enough, while for larger rooms it is necessary to choose stoves from 2000-2500 Watt.
An excellent alternative is the electric oil radiators, which heat the room uniformly like the classic radiators. They are equipped with several heating elements, in which oil flows which, once the radiator is connected to the power outlet, starts to heat up, until the desired temperature is reached.
Performance
Before purchasing an electric heater, performance must also be carefully evaluated. Some models give the possibility to regulate both the power and the temperature; others instead only have a knob for power. The ideal is to choose a stove with thermostat, to select the temperature you prefer.
The most modern stoves also have a sensor that detects the temperature of the room and keeps it constant, turning off when it reaches and turning on only when it starts to drop.
Other useful functions are the cold air mode, to use the stove even in summer instead of the classic fan, and the automatic safety shutdown, which switches off the stove if it overheats or if it falls.
Consumption
Unfortunately, electric heaters have a significant impact on the electricity bill, which is why they should only be used for a few hours if necessary, not with the same frequency as central heating.
Remember that the more powerful the stove is, the higher the number of watts, the higher the consumption. To save money, choose a stove with eco function, able to regulate the power to reduce consumption. The presence of a thermostat is also very useful, to automatically switch off the stove once the set temperature has been reached.
Dimensions
Once the stoves were all very bulky, difficult to move from one environment to another. Today, however, even the most powerful models have small dimensions and adapt to even the tightest environments, such as bathrooms and offices.
For those who have very little space and want a stove to keep next to them on colder days, for example under the desk or on the bedside table next to the bed, the ideal is a mini fan heater, like the last ones we have included in our ranking.
Materials
The materials used to produce electric stoves are more or less, always the same: plastic, metal, and ceramic. This does not mean, however, that the stoves are all the same, some are not very robust, they keep on their feet with difficulty, and at the first fall, they split.
Remember, therefore, to always check the strength and solidity of the stove, especially if you have children or pets in the house that could cause it to fall.
Design
Let’s not deny it: even the eye wants its part! Fortunately, the large and ugly stoves of the past are hardly seen around, most of the new stoves have a compact and modern design, which is well suited to any environment, even to the living room.
How to Use an Electric Heater?
To heat areas where there is no gas, or there are no radiators, the ideal solution is to have an electric heater. This device, depending on the power, allows you to keep warm from small rooms to large rooms, as long as there is an electrical outlet nearby.
Convection or Radiation
There are two models of electric stoves on the market: convection or radiation. The first is based on heating an electric resistance, which depending on its power, can generate more or less heat. The most powerful ones reach a maximum of 2,000 Watts.
Electric radiant stoves heat the room in which they have placed thanks to infrared rays. These models are also known as halogen stoves.
Thermostats and Sensors
The newer models are equipped with thermostats that allow you to set the desired temperature. This is obtained in the shortest time if the electric stove is powerful, but also based on the size of the environment to be heated.
Other models, the more expensive ones to be clear, in addition to the thermostat are also equipped with a heat sensor, which maintains the constant temperature in the room where the electric stove is positioned, putting it into operation, when the desired temperature has been reached, only when this cove.
Energy Saving
Another feature to take into consideration is the energy class to which the electric stove belongs, which could be right for you. If this is A +++, you can be sure that it will not have much impact on the electricity bill.
On the contrary, if it were of energy class D or B, be prepared to see a bill a little more expensive than usual. The models with thermostat are important because those without them continue to supply heat continuously, regardless of the temperature, and therefore to consume continuously current.
Beware of Splashing Water
If you decide to buy an electric stove to be placed in the bathroom, turn to models that correspond to the IP specifications, which are those that determine whether a product is resistant to splashes of water.
This is important because if the chosen electric stove was not waterproof, even a single sketch could cause a short circuit and thus make it unsuitable for use in the bathroom. However, it is always advisable to position the electric heater as far as possible from washbasins and showers.
