Space Heaters

Types of Space Heaters

Space heater types or heating technologies vary, but there are five main types of heaters that heat and work differently.

• Ceramic: Ceramic heating, one of the safest heating types, uses an internal fan that blows across a ceramic heating plate.
• Convection: Convection heating describes the process of cool air falling and warm air rising. These types of heaters draw in cooler air, releasing warmer air that rises. This steady process uses natural circulation to warm the air throughout living spaces.
• Radiant/Infrared: Radiant heating uses infrared elements or bulbs, heating coils, or a quartz tube to emit heat, directly warming objects in front of it. This type of heating is perfect for spot-heating larger rooms that aren't adequately heated by a central heating system or furnace. They're also ideal for heating underneath office desks.
• Fan-Forced: These heaters have a heating element, usually an electric coil or plate, and a blower fan to force the heated air into a room or space. These come in wall-mounted, tabletop, and floor options, including features like automatic oscillation and thermostats.

Well-known brands carry the heating technology you need. Dr. Infrared Heaters not only look like furniture but offer excellent warmth using infrared technology and copper heating elements. Radiant heaters, like the DeLonghi oil-filled radiator heaters, offer silent, radiant heating for apartments, homes, and offices. King Electric Heaters are also excellent for radiant and convection heat in residential spaces. 

Stiebel Eltron offers slim convection and fan-forced heaters that can be wall-mounted and are safe for use in bathrooms and other damp environments.

Space Heater Safety 

Improvements to safety features have made space heaters more reliable and safer. These include tip-over safety and overheat protection, making them ideal for homes with kids and pets, and internal thermostats and automatic overheat protection ensure safe usage. Brands such as Vornado integrate cool-to-the-touch exteriors and tight grills to protect little fingers and hands. Check out our Space Heater Safety Tips article for more information on the safe use of these handy appliances.

Still need help choosing the best space heater for your needs? Call one of our reliable product experts at 1-800-934-9194.