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Cheap Space Heaters, Best Electric Space Heaters Review

Contents Buying Guide » What to Look For » What to Expect »

Best Cheap Space Heaters Good Budget Space Heaters DeLonghi DFH132 SafeHeat Fan Heater starting at $20 Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater with Adjustable Thermostat starting at $20 Optimus H-5210 Infrared Quartz Heater starting at $25 Honeywell HZ-2200 Mini Tower Surround Heater starting at $24 Don't Bother Cheap Space Heaters  »

Cheap Space Heaters Buying Guide

Smart bargain-hunters can save a lot of money on energy bills this winter with a little help from a few strategically-placed electric space heaters. An inexpensive electric heater is just the right size, and gives off enough heat, to make small rooms toasty. Space heaters can also be handy in the office, placed at your desk, to protect against cold hands and feet, which can be distracting and even painful. Although safety experts warn against using space heaters near water, many frugal consumers nonetheless do just that, saying space heaters take the chill out of frigid bathrooms.

The low-cost segment of the space heater market is full of portable, efficient models that can warm you throughout the winter without putting your budget on ice. DeLonghi, Honeywell, Lasko, Bionaire, and Holmes dominate the low-price space heater market with a bevy of choices costing less than $45. So how can you distinguish the good from the bad? Most electric heaters do a decent job of converting energy to heat and the buying decision comes down to the particular features that best fill your needs. What follows is a rundown of those critical items and a summary assessment of functionality and performance.

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What to Look for: Cheap Space Heaters Features

Cheap Space Heaters Portability.

Space heaters are useful primarily because they're a cheap and portable alternative to central heating. Unlike central heating, which heats your entire home and can take a long time to warm things up, space heaters deliver heat only where you need it -- and that makes portability a key factor when you shop for a low-cost electric space heater. Three models that fit the bill are the DeLonghi DFH132 SafeHeat Fan Heater (starting at $20, Amazon), Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater with Adjustable Thermostat (starting at $20, Amazon), and Optimus H-5210 Infrared Quartz Heater (starting at $25, Amazon), each equipped with a carrying handle. The Honeywell HZ-2200 Mini Tower Surround Heater (starting at $24, Amazon), on the other hand, according to space heater reviews by consumers on Epinions, doesn't have a handle and gets hot enough that it's hard to move around.

Budget Space Heaters Heat Delivery Method.

Low-cost space heaters typically deliver heat in one of two ways: convective or radiant. Among cheaper models, the more common method is convective heat, which relies on a fan to circulate the warm air. Convective heaters are meant to heat the air in an entire room, but note that the whirring fan in these models can be noisy. (Convective heaters designed without a fan are quieter, take longer to make a room feel cozy, and generally cost more.) The Lasko 754200, DeLonghi DFH132 , Honeywell HZ-2200, and Heat Runner 33551 (starting at $25, Amazon) are all convection-fan models.

Another option for value-conscious shoppers is a radiant heater, which relies on infrared energy to heat small areas or persons/objects directly in front of the heater. Radiant heaters like the Optimus H-5210 Infrared Quartz Heater (starting at $25, Amazon) tend to heat up more quickly than convection systems although they are far less efficient for warming up an entire room; rather, they are meant to provide heat for the person or object in front of the heater (although that may leave the back of the person or object relatively cool). For budget consumers trying to figure out which type of electric space heater best suits their needs, it may be helpful to think of radiant heat systems as a kind of portable fireplace or oven to sit by, while convection heat systems are simply portable and single-room alternatives to central heating.

Inexpensive Space Heaters Temperature Controls.

Inexpensive space heaters, including the DeLonghi DFH132m, Honeywell HZ-2200, Fujitronic FH206 (starting at $15, Amazon), and Holmes HCH4266-U (starting at $47, Amazon), often feature an adjustable thermostat. Thermostats let you choose a comfortable temperature and keep it at an even keel by controlling the on/off heating cycle. Consumers seem to favor this feature; one user, posting a heater review on the Honeywell store website about the Honeywell HZ-2200, praises the design decision to locate the thermostat away from the heat source, which ensures better temperature control. Other inexpensive space heaters, like the Optimus H-5210, only offer a high and low setting, while some, like the Lasko 754200, feature a no-heat setting which lets you use the device as a portable fan during warmer weather.

Cheap Space Heaters Heating Element.

Low-cost space heaters use a variety of heating elements. The electric coil, found in convective-heat models like the DeLonghi DFH132 and the Holmes HFH105 (starting at $17, Amazon), is the most common type of heating element. Experts at Buzzle.com note that electric coils are clean and easy to use, but warn they get hot and can become fire hazards if used incorrectly; so, don't put the heater near furniture or water -- and turn off or unplug the heater when you leave the room. Inexpensive ceramic space heaters, like the Lasko 754200 and the Honeywell HZ-315 Quick Heat Ceramic Heater (starting at $20, Amazon), stay cool to the touch and are safer and more energy efficient. In these units, electricity warms the ceramic, the heat is absorbed by aluminum baffles, and a fan pushes out the hot air. The heating element in radiant space heaters, like the Optimus H-5210 Infrared Quartz Heater and the Optimus H-4110 9-Inch Dish Heater (starting at $20, Amazon) is usually quartz tubing. These tubes tend to get very hot and may generate some light, so they aren't ideal for budget shoppers who plan to nap with a radiant heater by their side.

Budget Space Heaters Energy Efficiency.

Most cheap electric space heaters are maximally efficient at converting electricity to heat and can be a money-saving alternative to heating up the whole house or apartment. The trick is to use the space heater only where and when you need it and to close off the rooms you're not using. Radiant space heaters with quartz tubes are most efficient for heating you while you're sitting or standing, but not particularly efficient if you're trying to warm an entire room. Convective space heaters use up a lot of energy and can run up your electric bill, but if you use it for spot or supplemental heating you should realize some overall savings.

Cheap Space Heaters Safety Features.

Space heaters can be hazards, so be sure to choose one that includes critical safety features. The first thing to look for is a label certifying the product meets voluntary safety standards set by the U.S. government; the most common label is UL, from Underwriters Laboratories. Next, make sure the model has an automatic shut-off, which turns off the heating element if it gets too hot; most budget electric heaters have this feature, so there's no reason to buy one that doesn't. Another key safety feature found on many low-price models is the tilt switch, which shuts off the heating element if the unit falls over; the DeLonghi DFH132,Optimus H-5210, and Honeywell HZ-2200 include this safety feature, although some users of the round Honeywell HZ-2200, which sits on a round base, complain on Epinions that the tilt switch only works when the unit tips front or back, not sideways. Also make sure the model has a grate or some kind of guard to protect against direct contact with the heating element. Last but not least, follow general safety guidelines: Be sure to read the owner's manual, don't put the space heater near anything combustible, don't leave it near children or water, unplug it when not in use, and pay attention to the cord so you don't trip.

Bargain Space Heaters Frills and Thrills.

There are dozens of pricier models to choose from if you prefer fancy features. Many mid- to high-end space heaters, such as the Soleus HM2-15R-32 Micathermic Electric Space Heater (starting at $80, Amazon), offer digital display and remote control that allows users to manage the heater from a distance. Expensive space heaters, including the TVH600 Vornado TouchStone Vortex Electric Space Heater (starting at $200, Amazon), feature touch-screen controls. The Honeywell Safety Motion Sensor Tower Heater (starting at $78, Amazon) offers a motion sensor safety feature that turns the unit off if an object comes too close to the heating element. These frills will appeal to some consumers, but if you're on a budget and intend to warm a person sitting quietly or an average size room for a few hours, you'll find that no-frills budget models will do a fine job.

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What to Expect: Budget Space Heaters Performance

There are few comparative tests by experts of low-priced space heaters, but cheap space heaters reviews by users based on personal experience can be very helpful to frugal shoppers. In general, folks who use the inexpensive electric space heaters we mention seem pleased with their performance.

Cheap Space Heaters Performance.

Your success in matching your heating needs with the right budget space heater will have a big impact on your assessment of the unit's performance. As noted above, radiant space heaters are intended for targeted warmth while convection space heaters with fans provide more diffuse heat for enclosed areas. Consumers and experts generally note that the two types of space heaters are not interchangeable, and if used in the wrong setting you'll no doubt be disappointed and cold.

Users of the Lasko 754200, posting on Amazon, praise its ability to heat a medium-size room quietly and without the burning smell that cheap space heaters sometimes emit; its long cord, says a space heater review by a consumer on the J&R website, makes it easy to move the heater to different parts of a room. Despite some mixed reviews of cheap space heaters on the obvious subject of heat output from the Honeywell HZ-2200, with its 360-degree design, seem satisfied and note on sites like Target and Amazon that this model is most effective in smaller rooms and as a supplemental heating source (even in a barn!).

Thrifty consumers are also generally pleased with the DeLonghi DFH132, commenting on Amazon that this inexpensive little heater makes small-to-mid-size rooms toasty, it fits easily under a desk, and its low center of gravity makes it hard to tip over; some gripe, however, that you must unplug the unit to completely shut it down (if not, the heater automatically turns on if the temperature falls to 44 degrees). The Optimus H-5210, a radiant heater, works quietly, stays cool, and effectively heats whatever is right in front of it, and can also warm up a small room; according to one space heater review by a user on Northerntool.com, two of these units, placed strategically in a small house located in the northwest, are more cost efficient than central gas heat.

Then there are the models that don't fare so well with consumers. Although one satisfied bargain hunter writes in a heater review on the J&R site that he uses the Honeywell HZ-315 Quick Heat Ceramic Heater (starting at $20, Amazon) to prevent water pipes in the basement from freezing up, others report on Amazon about major problems, such as sparks flying out and blackening the front on the unit's maiden voyage, turning on and off for no obvious reason, and premature failure. Users dinged the Heat Runner 33551 Portable Heater with Four Settings (starting at $25, Amazon) on Amazon for similar reliability problems.

Budget Space Heaters Maintenance and Durability.

Inexpensive electric space heaters require little maintenance, save for a light dusting from time to time when they're in regular use. But do note they are not built to be repaired; there really aren't any disposable or replaceable parts so when something breaks, you'll just have to buy a new one. The Honeywell HZ2200, for example, kept a student warm in a dorm room through four years of college before a knob finally melted, making the heater relatively useless, says a posting on Target, and a user review on Amazon notes the Lasko 754200 likewise worked admirably for more than four years. Many models come with a three-year limited warranty.

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Products Mentioned in This Review

Honeywell HZ-315 Quick Heat Ceramic Heater
Heat Runner 33551 Portable Heater with Four Settings
Optimus H-5210 Infrared Quartz Heater
Honeywell HZ-2200 Mini Tower Surround Heater
DeLonghi DFH132 SafeHeat Fan Heater
Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater with Adjustable Thermostat

Thrifty Resources

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