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Help & advice: Buying guide to heaters

Buying guide to heaters

Need heat fast? Portable heaters are the smart way to warm up quickly. They can also save cash as you simply heat specific rooms not the whole house.

Get rid of the shivers with the Homebase range of heaters.

Find your ideal heater

Types of heater

There are plenty of heaters to choose from - which one you buy just depends on what you need your heater for and the space you want to heat. Here's the line-up...


Fan heaters

Homebase fan heater

Ideal for warming up cold spots in a room, light and compact electric fan heaters give you a short burst of heat right where you need it. For maximum efficiency and an even distribution of heat, look for oscillating models. Most fan heaters have a cold blow feature to carry cool air around the room when the heater is turned off.

Convector heaters

Homebase convector heater

For medium sized rooms where you want an even temperature, a convector heater is ideal. Many convector heaters are fitted with a turbo fan that offers you a burst of instant heat while the main body of the heater reaches the right temperature.

Panel heaters

Homebase panel heater

With panel heaters rooms benefit from a constant low-level background heat. And these slim heaters take up very little room - they can be wall-mounted or free-standing. Panel heaters are cheap too. Running costs can be as low as 1p a minute. They're either oil-filled, or heat the room by convection.

Designer radiators

Homebase wallheater unit

For a fixed feature with the wow factor, opt for a designer radiator. They're just right for the bathroom, where it's unsafe to have an electric heater. To choose the right radiator size, follow these tips:

Heater guide

1. Measure the size of the room by multiplying its length, width and height.(Typical example: 10ft wide x 12ft long x 8ft high = 960 cubic feet).

2. Multiply this figure by 5 to get the required BTUs (British Thermal Units) - the amount of heat you need for the room.(Typical example: 960 cubic feet x 5 = 4800 BTUs required).

3. Add 10% for upstairs rooms, entrance halls and kitchens.(Typical example: Living room = no reduction = Total BTUs required 5280 BTUs).

4. Reduce by 10% for upstairs rooms, entrance halls and kitchens.(Typical example: Living room = no reduction = Total BTUs required 4320 BTUs).

Oil-filled radiators

Oil-filled radiators have a large surface area, so they do the trick when heating larger rooms. Some models feature a built-in fan for improved air circulation and a more even room temperature. For smaller rooms, choose a compact model to save energy. These radiators are reliable heat sources, they're quiet, and they last.


Oil-free radiators

Using oil-free environmentally friendly technology, these radiators heat the room more quickly and efficiently than traditional oil-filled radiators. They're lighter than oil-filled models, so they're easier to move around the house. Oil-free heaters are also simpler to recycle.


Special features to look for

Wattage

Heat output is measured in watts, and more watts means more power. As wattage increases so will energy consumption and running costs.

Timer

Lets you set the time when the heater switches on and off. It also helps you control your energy use.

Heat settings

Gives you added flexibility over heat levels.

Variable thermostat

You can control the temperature to prevent overheating of a room and reduce energy wastage.

Electronic Climate Control (ECC)

This ensures the selected temperature is maintained so a heater is less likely to under-heat or overheat the room. This makes it more energy-efficient.

Frost guard protection

Automatically turns the heater on when the room temperature drops to 7°C.

Safety cut out mechanism

Switches a heater off if it's accidentally knocked over or if there's a danger of overheating.

Buzzer alarm

Will sound if the heater is knocked over.


Homebase buyer's tips

Look for heaters with handy carry handles or grips to make it easier to move the unit around.


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