Heater Buying Guide

Oil-filled radiators are free-standing or wall-mounted electric radiators, with an electrical heating element inside that is fully submerged in oil. When the element is connected to power, it heats up, which also heats the oil. They are similar to traditional panel or column radiators but have no pipes – meaning they’re fully portable, especially freestanding models.

As oil-filled radiators are sealed, you never need to replace any oil – making them low maintenance for busy households. They’re also very efficient, turning most of the electricity they use into heat. Oil-filled radiators are also easy to move around, especially if they’re freestanding, so they offer flexibility to work around your routines. 

If you’re looking for instant heat, you may prefer something similar to a space heater or convector heater – as these provide heat much faster than an oil-filled radiator.

Convector heaters rely on a process called convection to heat the room – which means the way hot air rises and is replaced by cooler air that ‘sinks’. Cold air enters the convector heater, is warmed up over a heating element, and rises out of the unit and towards the top of the room. As this hot air rises, it shifts cooler air down and out of the way – into the direction of the heater.   

There are a number of benefits to convection heaters, including their quiet operation as they don’t use a fan. You’ll find freestanding and wall-mounted convector heaters, and they provide heat really quickly – making them a perfect flexible heating solution. Convector heaters are also relatively low cost to buy.

As convection heaters rely on the movement of air, they can be temperamental and there is a possibility of cold spots in large rooms – or if the air is particularly still.

A fan heater works by blowing air over a heating element and into the room. They provide almost instant heat by pushing the hot air out, compared to convector heaters that rely on the natural movement of hot air.

Because fan heaters use a fan to blow air, they warm the room more evenly and efficiently because there is constant movement of air. Many fan heaters are also smaller than other heater types so they’re better suited for awkward corners, small rooms, or if you just want the heater tucked out of the way. This also means they’re perfect if you want to move them around, as they’re much easier to lift.

Fan heaters can produce more noise than other heater types, due to the fan rotating to expel hot air. If you’re looking for a heater to use while you sleep, then a quieter model may be better suited. Also, while fan heaters are great for heating up small rooms, they’re less efficient when heating up large spaces.

Panel heaters work like radiators – the panel itself is heated and this heat is transferred into the room. Electricity heats up metallic heating elements within the panel. They are generally wall mounted, although some models have feet so they can be freestanding for easier manoeuvrability. 

Panel heaters are pretty much silent, so they can be used without disruption. They’re slim which makes them perfect for modern and smaller homes that need something sleek. Depending on the model, you’ll find panel heaters have features such as timers and pre-set programmes for greater control over your heating.

Although panel heaters heat up quickly, they’re not as fast as space heaters or fan heaters as they rely on convection and heat naturally transferring into the room to warm it up.

Electric fires are designed to replicate a traditional fireplace without the need for chimneys or extensive installations. They use electricity to generate heat and often have a flame effect to mimic the appearance of real flames. 

Electric fires are a great way to eliminate the need for chimneys, flues or pipework and are much easier to install. They can be installed anywhere with a mains connection so there is lots of flexibility depending on your style. Electric fires are also ideal if you’re looking to reduce the negative impact of log-burning fires on the environment without compromising on the style.

The main consideration with electric fires is the upfront cost – which is higher than many other heating types. Also, unlike their log-burning alternatives, they require a constant supply of electricity to run – so they aren’t a perfect replacement.

Space heaters are portable heaters that usually use radiant heat to warm up any small-to-medium space. Radiant heaters have a heating element that usually transmits infrared radiation which is emitted directly away from the heater. Space heaters are often used in workshops, garages or small rooms. 

The main advantage of space heaters is their portability. Many models come with a carry handle so you can move them from room to room, or job to job. Space heaters are also fairly small considering the amount of heat they can emit, which means they don’t take up much space in the room.

The coils and heating elements of space heaters can get very hot and, whilst they’re not fully exposed, they can heat up the space heater itself which could become dangerous to touch. Space heaters are also less suited to heating larger rooms.