Heaters

How to choose a heater

• Power. Rule of thumb ~100 W per square metre: a 15 m² room needs about 1500 W. Add 30% for poorly insulated spaces.
• Thermostat. Holds the set temperature and cycles off — that is where the electricity savings come from.
• Safety. Tip-over and overheat protection are essential with children or pets at home.
• Noise. A fan heater warms fast but is audible; an oil radiator is quiet but heats more slowly.
• Damp rooms. For a bathroom choose a model with a suitable protection rating (IP21 or better).

Where a heater fits

A heater is supplementary warmth: the bathroom in the morning, a summer house for the weekend, a garage or workshop in winter, an office room at the start of the heating season. As primary heating it is expensive because it runs on electricity.

Related

Dry air calls for a humidifier, dust and allergens for an air purifier. Full department: climate.

FAQ

How much electricity does it use? 1500–2000 W per hour at full output, but a thermostat model switches off at the target temperature, so real use is lower.

Can it be left on overnight? Only a model with overheat and tip-over protection, and never near flammable items.