On this page:

• Our expert testers
• How we choose which electric heaters to test
• How does ÌÇÐÄVlog test heaters?
• Test criteria explained
• Our test lab

Our electric heater reviews score each model for heating performance, comparative energy efficiency and ease of use, to help you decide which models are hot and which are not. Here’s how we go about getting those test results.

Our expert testers

We’ve been reviewing heaters of various sorts for decades now. ÌÇÐÄVlog participates in Australian Standards committees and regulatory forums so we can keep an eye on trends in the industry and government regulations.

How we choose which electric heaters to test

With so many to choose from, what makes us choose one electric heater to test over another? Like with most of our product testing, our aim is to test popular models on the market and what you’re most likely to see in the retailers.

We mainly test convection and column heaters. Generally we don’t include a lot of radiant heaters or small fan heaters as there are a lot of different models in the market and model turnover can be quite rapid. Also, radiant and small fan heaters are often best suited to warming an individual person, while we focus on models more suited to heating a room.

We survey manufacturers to find out about their range, we check market sales information and we also check for any member requests to test specific models. From this information we put together a final list that goes to our buyers. They then head out to the retailers and buy each product, just as a normal consumer would. We do this so we can be sure they’re the same as any consumer would find them and not ‘tweaked’ in any way.

Buying the heaters in time for testing is always a challenge, as they often don’t appear in retail stores – or even in distributor warehouses – until the cold season actually starts in late May, while we need to be testing and reporting on the results in time for winter. So unfortunately, we can’t always test some major brands or models. There are also a lot of models that appear for one season only, often at cheap prices; we test some of these to see how they compare, but can’t cover the market in this category.

How does ÌÇÐÄVlog test heaters?

Heating performance

The testing is performed by an accredited laboratory and measures how long it takes to raise the room temperature by 5°°ä and 10°°ä from an ambient temperature of 8°°ä. If the heater has a fan, it’s turned on for this test. The adjustable test room is 4.9 deep x 3.5 long x 2.4 metres high and is fitted with an array of sensors to measure the temperature at each point in the room. The test room itself has a standard household wooden door with a small window fitted into it and is fully insulated.

Some heaters can manage the 5°°ä rise in as little as seven or eight minutes, which we rate as an excellent performance. A 10°°ä rise usually takes much longer, but again some manage an excellent performance, achieving this in 30 minutes or less. However, some heaters don’t manage a 10° temperature rise at all.

The testers measure how evenly the heat is distributed through the room. With the best models, there’s less than a two degree difference across the room, but usually it’s more like a three or four degree variation, even with the heater’s fan on.

The testers also measure each heater’s thermostat performance. A good thermostat should not let the room’s average temperature vary too much – a variation of one degree or less is a good performance. The larger the variation in the room’s temperature, the lower the score for this particular test.

Safety

The heaters are checked for electrical safety, including cord anchorage , earthing and electrical strength. The testers also measure surface temperatures at various points on the heater.

We lie the heater on its side, to simulate it being knocked over, and see how quickly the thermal cut-out feature shuts the heater off.

We notify regulators if any heaters fail the safety tests.

Energy efficiency

This is based on the power used versus the temperature rise achieved in the performance test. While several models rate well in this respect, this is only comparative between the tested models, and a good rating doesn’t necessarily mean that an electric heater is the best form of heating for your needs; a reverse-cycle air conditioner may well be more effective and more efficient, even if a little more expensive to buy and install.

Good heating performance and good energy efficiency don’t always go together. A model may be great at heating, but only OK for efficiency, meaning it will heat the room effectively but cost more to run. Some are efficient but only OK performers, so they don’t heat the room as effectively, but at least they use less power. Sadly, we’ve found a few that are not only weak at heating, but use a comparatively large amount of power too; unsurprisingly these tend to sit towards the bottom of our table.

Ease of use

Testers look at the controls, stability, moving the heater around and cleaning the heater.

Test criteria explained

The overall score is made up of:

• Heating score (70%), which factors in how quickly the heater warms up the test room, the temperature distribution and thermostat performance.
• Ease of use score (30%), with the criteria listed above weighted equally.

Our test lab

Testing electric heaters requires a very specific laboratory, as described above. While ÌÇÐÄVlog does have high quality thermal laboratories for testing fridges and other products, we don’t have a lab suited to electric heater testing – it would not be economical for us to construct and maintain. So when we review electric heaters, we send them to an accredited external lab, which tests them to a program we’ve specified.

The post How we test electric heaters appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

If you’re feeling the chill and need a quick heating solution, an electric heater is a convenient option with relatively low upfront costs.Ìý

It’s as easy as picking one up from the shops and bringing it home to plug it in, and (hopefully) immediately basking in its warmth.Ìý

But before you buy the first model you look at, it pays to do some research. A poor-performing electric heater is likely to leave you out in the cold, or worse, running up an eye-watering energy bill.

Each year, ÌÇÐÄVlog heater reviews give you a rundown on the latest models on the market, and how they perform in our rigorous tests.

We give each model a score based on factors such as how quickly it heats up a room, how evenly it distributes heat and how consistent it keeps the room’s average temperature.Ìý

We don’t want you to end up with a dud buy, so here are the products that scored lowest in our lab tests. Consider becoming aÌýÌÇÐÄVlog memberÌýto see the top-rated heaters.

Lowest rated heaters in our tests

Mill Oil Column Electric Heater (AU AB-H2000TIMBK)

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 48%
• Heating score: 36%
• Price: $299

Oil column heaters are usually favoured for small or medium rooms, as they can gently heat a space over a long period of time, or overnight (if the model has a fan they can be good for larger rooms). But we advise looking past this model.Ìý

With its unique Scandi-style design, it comes with a cheap price tag and a more stylish design than other heaters in this category. Sadly, its good looks are wasted: it received the lowest Heating Score in our test of just 36%, failing to achieve an increase of 10°C in our test room (approximately the size of a medium-large bedroom) in two hours.

Read the full Mill AU AB-H2000TIMBK review.Ìý

Rinnai Panel Heater (PEPH-22PEW)

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 53%
• Heating score: 52%
• Price: $339

The running costs for this model come in at around $400 for the winter, which is fairly standard when compared to other models in our review. But it’s a lot of money to pay if you’re not actually getting great performance when it comes to heating.Ìý

Experts rated this model’s heating performance in our test as ‘borderline’ – although it may be more effective in a much smaller living space than the one we tested in.

And while features such as a delay timer function and the option to install it as either an electric wall heater or a portable room heater are convenient, it only has one heat setting.

Read the full Rinnai PEPH-22PEW review.Ìý

Lenoxx Oil Column Electric Heater (H210)

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 53%
• Heating score: 44%
• Price: $100

A heater for $100 seems like a bargain, but this one’s performance in our testing was lukewarm at best. It received a poor Heating Score of 44% from our experts, failing to increase the temperature in our test room by 10°C in two hours.

By comparison, some heaters can manage a 5°°ä rise in as little as seven or eight minutes, which we rate as an excellent performance. A 10°°ä rise usually takes much longer, but again some manage an excellent performance, achieving this in 30 minutes or less.

If you want toasty toes but you’re on a budget, there are several other low-cost models in our test that outperform this one.

Read the full Lenoxx H210 review

Omega Altise Panel Heater (OAPE2000W)

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 54%
• Heating score: 49%
• Price: $199

Panel heaters are a popular choice for bedrooms as they can emanate a gentle heat without a noisy fan. They are also often relatively light and easily portable, and can be mounted to a wall (this Omega model comes with castors, wheels and wall mount brackets).

The price tag on this model is admittedly attractively low, but sadly, the performance score our experts gave this model is also below par. In fact, it managed a Heating Score of just 49% and did not achieve a temperature increase of 10°°äÌýwithin two hours in our test scenario.

If you’re after a panel heater, there are many other models in our review worth considering over this one.

Read the full Omega Altise Panel Heater review.

DeLonghi Oil Column Heater (TRRS0920T)

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 54%
• Heating score: 43%
• Price: $189

Oil column heaters like this DeLonghi model can be useful for gently heating a small or medium room over a long period of time, or overnight. But they’re also heavy and bulky, which is a bad point our testers noted about this model.

Although it’s relatively cheap to buy, has a seven-year warranty and a heating timer, it failed to achieve an increase in temperature ofÌý10°°äÌýin our test scenario and received a poor Heating Score of just 43%.

Read the full DeLonghi Oil Column Heater review.

DeLonghi Panel Heater (HCM2030)

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 54%
• Heating score: 55%
• Price: $85

This panel heater costs less than $100 (it’s one of the cheapest models we looked at) but it’ll add hundreds of dollars to your energy bill this winter in return for an ‘only OK’ heating performance, according to our experts.

The manufacturer says it is suitable for use in medium rooms but when we tested this model in a medium-sized room (4.9 deep x 3.5 long x 2.4 metres high), it took over 10 minutes to increase the temperature by 5°°ä and over an hour and a half to increase the temperature in that room by 10°°ä.

This heater is small and lightweight, so easily portable, but the actual performance may leave you feeling chilly.

Read the full DeLonghi Panel Heater review.

Breville the Smart Heat Control Max Panel Heater (LCH308)

• ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating: 54%
• Heating score: 43%
• Price: $399

Many people might not be aware that Breville, the brand arguably most well known for its range of premium coffee machines and kitchen appliances, also sells heaters.Ìý

This slimline panel heater boasts a few fancy features such as Wi-Fi and voice-activated connectivity, plus a “Smart Eco Mode” which claims to monitor room temperature and auto adjusts heat settings accordingly.

Despite claiming to be “perfect for open concept living or larger rooms”, in our medium-sized test room, it took over 15 minutes to increase the temperature by 5°°äÌýand failed to increase the temperature by 10°°äÌýin 2 hours.

It may have a sleek slimline design and handy remote control, but do good looks and hundreds of dollars outweigh poor heating performance? We don’t think so.

Read the full Breville Panel Heater review.

How to reduce your heating costs this winter

Temperatures may be dropping, but the cost of living keeps rising. How can you stay warm this winter without blowing your budget?

Here are a few tips from our experts:

• Use a ceiling fan on the reverse setting to help make your electric heater more effective by moving the warm air through the whole room.Ìý
• Insulate your home to keep the warmth in. Without insulation, up to 35% of a home’s warmth can be lost through the roof, so adding wall, ceiling and floor insulation can save you hundreds of dollars a year in energy bills.
• Seal any gaps where cold air can get in. Silicone sealant, weather seal tape and draught strips can help keep the warm air in and the cold out.
• Before you buy a new electric heater, make sure you know how much it’ll cost you to run – some are far more expensive than others. Our detailed electric heater reviews break down running costs to help you budget for ongoing costs.Ìý
• Don’t assume the most expensive heaters are the best, or that cheap models won’t work well. Our tests regularly reveal high-end duds and affordable winners.Ìý

Our expert guide to buying a heater

Electric heaters aren’t the most energy-efficient way to heat up your home (that would be reverse-cycle air conditioning), but they’re still an effective solution to quickly take the chill out of a cold room.

“An electric heater is generally a short-term solution for those nights when it gets chilly in the spare room or the kids’ room and you don’t have a reverse-cycle air conditioner in that area of the home,”Ìý²õ²¹²â²õÌýÌÇÐÄVlog home heating expertÌýChris Barnes.

Here are Chris’s top tips for features to look for when buying a new heater:

Look for a long cord

You want the heater reasonably close to you, particularly in a large room, and you don’t want to be using an extension lead.

Try to get a timer

Electric space heaters are the most expensive heating product to run, so a timer can help you manage those costs. If you want to use an electric heater to take the chill out of the room before going to sleep, set the timer for the heater to turn off after a couple of hours, and maybe have it set to turn on again early in the morning.

Consider size and storage

You’ll need to stow the heater somewhere in the summer months, so you might want to consider one of the smaller models.

Be smart about using it to dry laundry

Don’t put your clothes over an electric heater – even an oil column heater – to warm them up. It’s a fire risk. Instead, put the clothes on a rack at least one metre away from the heater. If you often need to dry laundry indoors, a clothes dryer or a dehumidifier might be a better option.Ìý

Read more tips on how to choose the best electric space heater for your home in the ÌÇÐÄVlog electric heater buying guide.

The post Electric heaters to avoid buying appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

Overseas online retailers are continuing to sell dangerous plug-in electric heaters, even after regulators effectively banned them from being sold in Australia.Ìý

These miniature heaters are plugged directly into the power socket (that is, they don’t have a power cord) and use a fan to circulate hot air.Ìý

Models bought from overseas may not have the standard Australian three-pin plug, and therefore need an adaptor, which can pose more risks as the weight of the heater on the adaptor may lead to a poor connection and exposed live pins, creating a serious safety hazard.

They’re cheap to buy – some less than $20 – and with the rising cost of living, many people may be enticed by what seems like a cheap and convenient way to heat their home.Ìý

However, ÌÇÐÄVlog warns against purchasing these unsafe and illegal heaters.

After we notified the ACCC about the heaters’ safety failures, state regulatory bodies began monitoring retailers who continue to sell these products.

Mini heaters fail safety tests

In February 2023, ÌÇÐÄVlog’s UK counterpart, Which?,Ìý.Ìý

Every single one of them failed their safety tests, with four of them presenting a risk of fire and – especially concerning – one presenting a risk of explosion due to counterfeit fuses.

The consumer organisation also uncovered evidence of sellers posting fake reviews and advertising to encourage people to buy these products.

This winter we’ve continued to see ads on YouTube and other online platforms promoting these unsafe heaters for sale in Australia, including listings on eBay and AliExpress. Brands of the unsafe heaters include Blumeheat, WellHeater and Handy Heater.

ÌÇÐÄVlog heating expert Chris Barnes alerted the ACCC about these dangerous heaters in February 2023, but says that electrical appliance safety and compliance in Australia is overseen by a complicated and convoluted system: different states use different rules and regulations, and there’s no single consistent scheme across the country.Ìý

“However, the ACCC is coordinating discussions on potential reforms that would lead to a nationally consistent electrical safety framework,” says Chris.

Standards updated to exclude mini heaters

So what did these separate bodies do to ensure these dangerous heaters are taken off the market?

“Late in 2023, the electrical safety and performance standard for electric heaters was updated to effectively prevent these mini heaters from being certified safe. That means that they can’t legally be sold in Australia,” Chris says.Ìý

“We strongly advise against buying any of these mini heaters that plug into the wall.

“Although they may seem like a cheap and convenient option for heating, they carry serious risk of fire or electrical fault – and they probably won’t be that effective or efficient at heating your home either.”

Queensland takes action

“To bolster the changes to the standard, in March 2024, Queensland issued a prohibition notice for these mini heaters,” says Chris.

“That makes it easier for a safety inspector to act immediately if they find these heaters for sale – they can immediately order them removed from sale and take action against the retailer.”

The prohibition notice took effect on 6 March 2024, and some online platforms are removing these products from sale in Australia.

We spoke with Carl Porritt, from the Queensland Electrical Safety Office, who told us that when these mini heaters came to light in 2023, regulators were horrified and moved quickly to prevent them from being sold, andÌýcertifiers were directed not to certify them.

The safety office also issued the prohibition notice, which makes it illegal to sell these types of heaters in Queensland.

“I also have inspectors tackling the online platforms and checking a few of the cheap stores around Queensland,” he says.

Be aware of safety risks

When buying products online, it’s important to be aware of potential safety risks, especially from retailers selling items that may not meet Australian safety standards.

“It’s telling that these heaters only appear on online platforms and in dodgy online ads; no reputable retailer in Australia stocks this type of heater at all,” says Chris.

“That’s a helpful alarm bell that they are products to avoid.”

You can read our tips for how to protect yourself from buying an unsafe product.

The post The banned mini heaters still being sold online appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

But before you plug it in, take a few minutes to brush up on these golden rules – for your own safety and that of others in your household.

Electrical appliances cause 40% of home fires, with heaters being one of the main culprits.Ìý

Here are seven things you should never do with an electric heater.

1. Don’t ignore the ‘leave a metre for heaters’ rule

It’s important to leave space around electric heaters.

Fire & Rescue NSW recommends keeping everything at least one metre away from your heater – but especially anything flammable such as curtains, bedding and clothing.

And yes, that definitely means don’t use it to dry your clothes or warm up your towel, no matter how frustrated you are by slow-drying laundry or how cold your bathroom is.Ìý

In short, just don’t put anything on or close by your heater. Laundry on a rack more than one metre away should be okay.

2. Don’t plug it into a powerboard or extension cord

Heaters use a lot of energy, which can cause the extension lead or powerboard to overheat, potentially causing a fire. Always plug your electric heater into the powerpoint in the wall.Ìý

Our electric heater reviewsÌýlist the cord length of each model so you can check whether it’s right for your home.

3. Don’t leave it unattended

Children and animals can be unpredictable at the best of times.Ìý

When you have an electric heater switched on in your house, always supervise children and pets around it.Ìý

And if you’re from a pet-free and kid-free home, still don’t leave it unattended, just to be safe.Ìý

4. Don’t leave it on high

If you hate cold mornings, we have some good news for you.Ìý

“Most heaters – particularly convection, panel and oil column heaters which don’t have exposed heating elements – are safe to leave on overnight on a low setting, as long as they are well clear of any furniture, curtains and so on, as per the ‘leave a metre for heaters’ rule,” says ÌÇÐÄVlog heating expert Chris Barnes.Ìý

But it’s best not to leave it on a high setting overnight, or when you’re not close by (see point 3 above).Ìý

Also, check that the heater has a thermal cut-out feature (so it switches off if it gets too hot) and a tilt switch (so it turns off automatically if knocked over).

5. Don’t use it if you suspect it’s faulty

If you’ve had your heater packed away over summer and it’s time to drag it out of the cupboard again, don’t just plug it in and hope for the best – make sure you check it over carefully first.Ìý

Have a look at the cord to see if there are any loose wires, and check that the cord doesn’t feel hot to the touch when the heater is switched on. Give it a wipe down or even a vacuum to remove any dust inside and out.

It’s best to store heaters in a dry area to avoid any risk of rusting, and with a cover over them to avoid dust building up on and inside the heater.Ìý

You might notice an odd smell the first time the heater is turned on after months in storage – that’s probably just a bit of dust burning off, but if the smell persists for a long time, switch off the heater and check it thoroughly.

If you’re not 100% comfortable with it, don’t use it – have it serviced or replaced. Better safe than sorry!

6. Don’t put it on top of anything

No matter how chilly your toes are, or how many icicles you have hanging off your earlobes, don’t be tempted to put your heater on top of something to give it some height – and especially not something soft and flammable, such as a bed or sofa. If the heater tips over, it could easily start a fire.Ìý

In short, put it on the lowest,Ìýflattest surface you can find (usually the floor),Ìýfollowing the one-metre rule.

7. Don’t try to use them to heat multiple rooms

Let’s face it, electric heaters aren’t the most efficient way to heat a room, and they’re certainly not an efficient way to warm a whole house.Ìý

Although they’re cheaper to buy upfront than a reverse-cycle air conditioner, they’ll cost you quite a bit to run, particularly if you have several running at once.Ìý

One way you can optimise your heater is to use your ceiling fans. It may sound counterintuitive, but it’s actually beautifully simple.Ìý

Most ceiling fans have a reverse switch. This makes the blades turn anticlockwise and, since warm air rises, it’ll push the warm air from your heater back down towards the floor, helping to keep you warmer.Ìý

The post 7 things you should never do with an electric heater appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Best heater for bedrooms and small spaces
• Best heater for a baby room or child's bedroom
• Best heater for living rooms and large spaces
• What's the cheapest electric heater to buy?
• What's the cheapest electric heater to run?

If the temperature has dropped and you need a fast heating solution, you’re likely to be looking at electric heaters. Relatively cheap to buy, and with no installation required beyond plugging it in, they are a convenient and accessible heating fix.Ìý

But, if you’ve looked online or headed to the shops, you may have quickly become confused by all the different types of electric heaters out there. Between panel heaters, fan heaters and oil column heaters, there’s a wide range of hot options all vying for your dollars.

So which one will leave you feeling warm and cosy? The best option for you will depend on how you plan to use your heater,Ìýhow portable you need it to be, andÌýthe size of your room.Ìý A heater’s aesthetic look might also play a part in your decision.Ìý

Perhaps you need to quickly warm a small kitchen area on a frosty morning, or something to take the chill out of the air in a child’s bedroom? Or you’re working from home in a larger living area and want a heater that’ll efficiently keep you cosy all day.

No matter your needs, our expert reviews and advice can help you pick a top-performing heater that’ll keep you going through winter.Ìý

Best heater for bedrooms and small spaces

No one likes hopping out of a warm bed onto an ice cold floor or shivering at their desk all day.Ìý

If you’re after a heater that can quickly and effectively warm a small space such as a bedroom or an office, a fan heater is a good option. Usually light and portable, they’re specifically designed to blow hot air into a room and are suited for heating smaller spaces, or for using as a personal heater (for warming your feet at your home-office desk, perhaps).

The smaller square heaters can be quite low-cost, however, there are premium fan heaters in the ‘fan tower’ style from brands such as Dyson that can cost up to $600 or more.Ìý

If you are heating a room that’s about 20 square metres or smaller, a less powerful heater with a capacity of around 1000–1500 watts is all you need.

So look for heaters that have a lower capacity (you can check the claimed maximum wattage of each fan in our electric heater reviews), or choose a heater with multiple power settings so you can opt for the lowest one (otherwise you’ll be paying for heat you don’t really need).

Best heater for a baby room or child’s bedroom

If you want a heater that you can leave on all night in a bedroom, or to gently heat a child’s bedroom while they nap, a convection heater such as an oil column heater or panel heater is likely to be the best option as they can emanate a gentle heat without a noisy fan.

Oil heaters are easily identifiable by their vertical columns or ‘fins’ – they work by heating oil within those columns which is then circulated to produce heat.Ìý

Panel heaters (which are a type of convection heater and have a particularly slim, relatively flat shape) are a great option for a child’s room as certain types can be mounted to the wall and aren’t as hot to the touch as oil heaters can be.Ìý

Regardless of type, if you’re looking for a heater to keep you warm and toasty while you go to sleep or when you wake up, you should look for one with a timer so it can turn itself down or off once you’re asleep under the doona to save electricity, and then turn itself on to warm the room up again in the morning to make getting out of bed that little bit easier.

Best heater for living rooms and large spaces

If you’re looking to heat a large or open-plan space, keep in mind that, overall, electric models are not the best option.

If you already haveÌýa reverse cycle air conditionerÌýor can afford the upfront costs to install one, they’re generally the most energy- and cost-efficient option.

However, if you are using an electric heater to warm a large room, its power (or wattage) is more important than the type.

ÌÇÐÄVlog home heating expertÌýChris BarnesÌýsays, “For a large living area, you’ll need a high wattage heater (ideally 2400W) with a good fan to distribute the hot air. A convection heater such as a panel or oil column heater with a fan, or a tower fan, is usually the best option here”.

What’s the cheapest electric heater to buy?

As with many products we review at ÌÇÐÄVlog, the prices of electric heaters can vary from cheap to expensive across all the different types, and depend on various factors such as size, brand, features and more.

And while you can pick up a small fan heater for as little as $30, how effective that heater will be and how much it will cost to run is another story.

We’ve also tested heaters that cost several hundreds of dollars or more that fail to deliver on performance, so they’ll really burn a hole in your pocket.Ìý

In our electric heaters review, we’ve tested models in the following price ranges:

Fan heaters: from around $90 to $999.
Convection with fan or convection panel heaters: from around $60 to $649.
Column heaters (oil-filled or non oil): from around $129 to $429.

What’s the cheapest electric heater to run?

When choosing a heater, it’s really important to consider how expensive it will be to run, and how you will be using it.

As we mentioned earlier, electric heaters are not always the most efficient home heating option available, and running one all day and night throughout winter can add up to hundreds of dollars to your energy bill.Ìý

If you’re weighing up buying an oil heater versus panel heater, for example, and wondering which is the most cost efficient option for you, consider how you will be using it. Are you likely to switch it on for short periods of time or are you likely to have it on all day?

While an oil column heater might be slightly cheaper to run, on average they take longer to heat a room than fan-assisted heaters of a similar capacity, so may not be the best choice if you only want to use it for short periods of time.

In comparison, panel heaters will heat your room quite quickly and evenly so are a good option if you just want to get warm fast in the morning, but they’ll cost slightly more to run.Ìý

On the whole, the cost of running an electric heater does not vary hugely between the different types as you can see in our breakdown below.

The price of the energy used will depend on if you are running your heat at off-peak hours when electricity is cheaper (usually 10pm to 7am) or peak hours (roughly 2pm to 8pm). Costs may also vary depending on your energy provider and the price plan you are on.Ìý

Your running costs will vary based on your electricity price. To calculate your own running costs, multiply your energy cost per kWh by your heater’s hourly energy consumption. To calculate your annual running costs, multiply this figure by the number of hours a day, and then by the number of days per year that you expect to be running your heater. For our calculations we use an estimate of 40c/kWh, and an estimate of 500 hours use in winter.

The post Panel heater, fan or oil column: Which electric heater is best for you? appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

You’ve heard of a pub with no beer, but what about a hot water bottle with no water? Dutch lifestyle brand Stoov has brought a number of stylised products to the Australian market, one of which is the Homey: a cordless electric bottle that uses infrared technology and a rechargeable battery.

Measuring 20x25cm and in the same familiar shape as a hot water bottle, the stuffing-filled device heats up thanks to a small lithium-ion battery that fits in a compartment under the Velcro lining.

How does the Homey work?

Once you’ve connected and inserted the lithium-ion battery, you just need to turn on the rocker switch and press the power button to the required level.

The Homey comes with three heating levels, but there’s no explanation of what these levels mean in temperatures on either the instructions or the packaging. Thankfully the website reveals more details and claims that the Homey heats up to 42°°ä.Ìý

In our trial, we found level 3 was just getting to an uncomfortable temperature point when sitting on a chair with the Homey positioned over the lower back.

Temperature settings and run times, as per our testing

• Level 1: 50%, 4 hours, 36°°ä max
• Level 2: 70%, 2.5 hours, 43°°ä max
• Level 3: 100%, 2 hours, 62°°ä max

When we ran an infrared camera over the Homey it measured an impressive 62°°ä at its highest heat, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to how it feels against your skin when coming through the layers. We found the edges of the bottle are just as cold as the surrounding areas.

Putting it to the test

With a price of $144 for the standard Homey (or $159 if you’re feeling particularly fancy and want to opt for a pink velvet cover), you’d want to be getting a superior experience to the $10 hot water bottles you can pick up at Big W or Kmart.Ìý

So just how does this lavish electric heated bottle perform? We decided to look at three ways people tend to use regular hot water bottles to see how the Homey compares.

Lower back pain

This was one area where the Homey had mixed reactions from our reviewers. We had two people sit at a desk for a few hours with the Homey shoved at the back like you’d normally use a hot water bottle.

While one of them felt the Homey had enough heat and the “bladder” of the bottle did manage to act like a hot water bottle usually would, the other felt the amount of heat generated wasn’t high enough to satisfy compared to the everyday hot water bottle.

Heating cold feet in bed

Unlike hot water bottles, the Homey doesn’t deliver enough heating to the foot space of the bed, as there’s just not enough heat being generated compared to your average hot water bottle. The Homey delivers spot heating, whereas a hot water bottle seems to spread the heat further – most likely due to the higher temperature of the water in the hot water bottle.

Sitting on the lounge

Spot heat of this type is always appreciated, but again, the amount of heat generated by the Homey just doesn’t satisfy (unless you’re a fan of a lukewarm measure of heat rather than a quick blast). Once again the Homey doesn’t measure up to the cosiness of the tried-and-true hot water bottle.

Lithium-ion heat?

Stoov claims to be using infrared technology to heat the Homey rather than direct heat, stating that “IR-C heat’s absorbed by the skin which causes our body to warm up”.

Specifically, it “penetrates approximately 1 to 3mm deep into the skin and the tissues of the body”.

If any of this wording is turning you off, Stoov reassures you on the same page that “to date, there are no known negative health effects associated with the magnetic fields of electrical heat products (source: Federal Office for Radiation Protection)”.

We feel more sceptical than reassured, but that does tend to be our modus operandi here at ÌÇÐÄVlog.

Safety concerns

With all the stories going around regarding lithium-ion batteries burning houses down, it’s a difficult time for a company to release a bunch of heating products into the market heated by those same batteries. However, the appropriate batteries, chargers, labelling and instructions included with the Homey are encouraging.

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TV infomercials rarely undersell the products they’re spruiking, and Tiva calling its 2000W infrared heaterÌý“the fastest, warmest indoor/outdoor heater you’ll ever own” is no different. We bought this instant heater model via TV Shop AUÌýfor $699.95, which gives you two heaters and one stand as a package (part of a buy one get one free special offer over the phone). We’ve found similar products available at Bunnings for around $200 per heater, and they look more versatile.

Getting set up

The heater took only two business days to arrive and came in cardboard packaging with minimal plastics to dispose of. The unit has an electric cord on the right-hand side (from the back of the heater), so keep in mind if you’re buying and installing it away from a power point.Ìý

The recommendation is to install it straight into a power point, not via a power board or extension cord, which is advice we give for all electric heaters (heaters draw a lot of current which can cause smaller gauge extension cords to heat up and catch fire).

Putting the stand together was only marginally painful, with only a small amount of blood lost in the process. We found that the stand isn’t versatile, with little way to adjust the angle of the heater easily, and it’s also tall (around 190cm), which is problematic – you’ll need a spanner to adjust the angle of the heater, and it doesn’t make for a good experience.

The upper tube that connects to the heater slots into the lower tube part of the stand. This means it feels top-heavy, and with no way to screw in the upper tube to the lower tube, it feels a little dangerous. However, it’s not a problem as long as nothing disturbs the heater stand, but keep watch for children and pets nearby as you might for any heater on a stand.ÌýTools and appropriate screws and bolts are also supplied for a hard install into a wall.

Heating ability

You can change the temperature of the Tiva heater with a remote control or manually on the heater itself. There are four levels to the heater, but not much indication as to what the levels mean in terms of temperature aside from one being the lowest heat and four being the highest.

There’s also a motion sensor built into the device so when something moves in front of the heater it starts up again,Ìýwhich is useful, but as with anything on standby it’ll still be drawing a trickle of energy.

So does the Tiva instant heater heat you up? Absolutely. Assuming you’re standing in front of it and it’s angled the right way. We tried it out on a very cold deck in mid-winter, and depending on the way we placed it, we could warm up to two people at the highest heat.

But despite the reflective material used at the back of the heater to widen the spread of heat, once something gets in the way of that direct heat you’re suddenly cold again. Like any radiant heat, it heats the thing it’s pointed at and not the surrounding area like a convection heater would.

The advertised advantages of infrared are that it creates instant heat, but these heaters are essentially just radiant heaters. Remember the old radiant heater experience from bathrooms in the ’70s and ’80s?

The Tiva instant heater claims to have an IPX4 rating, which means it protects from splashing water in any direction, which is definitely an advantage in the outdoors. But given the high price tag and awkward ease of use experience, we think it’s worth shopping around as there are cheaper options available that’ll deliver the heating experience you’re looking for.

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If you’re looking for a cheap fix to fend off the winter chills, an electric heater is probably your best bet.Ìý

While they’re not great for heating large spaces or energy efficiency, a decent unit can reliably turn the heat up in a room so you can at least feel your toes again.

The great news is ourÌýlatest lab testsÌýuncovered some impressive performers for under $100 that should do the trick.ÌýSome cheaper models even rated better than big-budget flops that cost well over $500.

The bad news is they also found plenty of cheapies that rated poorly. Kmart’s Anko heaters, for example, have a terrible track recordÌýbut happily we found one this year that’s worth considering (which we reveal below).Ìý

Of course, when you’re shopping online or in store, it can be impossible to tell the hot from the not, which is why we’ve scientifically tested more than 30 popular heaters, includingÌýfan, convection, column, panel and tower types from leading brands.ÌýÌý

What our heating expert says

“Sadly, there are some terrible heaters out there at all price points,” says ÌÇÐÄVlog heating expert Chris Barnes.Ìý

“Some don’t have enough grunt to raise the temp in our test chamber by 10, or even five degrees. Others have failed our safety tests or suck up a lot of power, which means higher running costs.”

“Quality can even vary dramatically within a brand’s own range, which can make shopping even more confusing,” he adds.Ìý

“We’ve seen some brands put out very good panel heaters but also release very ordinary oil heaters. That’s why it’s so important to do your research before buying one.”

Consider becoming a ÌÇÐÄVlog memberÌýto see two great bargain buys under $100 (and one recommended model that costs just a little more) so you can bag a good quality heater than actually warms your home.

Members can access the list compiled by our experts and our full heater test results, plus reviews for over 200 other product categories.

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They’re not the most energy-efficient heating option, but many households rely on electric heaters for a quick blast of warmth when the temperature drops.Ìý

ÌÇÐÄVlog reviews electric heaters based on heating performance, energy efficiency, ease of use and safety.

At ÌÇÐÄVlog, we take consumer safety seriously. This is why when we review a product, our expert testers often include a series of specially designed safety tests that go above and beyond the minimum legal requirements.Ìý

While all heaters sold in Australia must comply with Australian Electrical Safety standards, our safety testing goes one step further, putting heaters through their paces in situations that mimic real-life and worst-case scenarios to identify possible safety hazards.

The three electric heater safety tests we perform are:

• Cord anchorage test – assesses how securely attached the power cord is by performing a series of ‘pull and twist’ tests. A power cord that is not securely attached could result in various electrical faults, which could cause damage or even fire. This test is based on the electrical safety standards in Australia and New Zealand.
• Tilt and ‘knock over’ test – assesses how easily a heater can be knocked over and how quickly the tilt switch or thermal cut-out feature shuts the heater off when the heater is placed on its side.
• Heat safety test – measures surface temperatures at various points on the heater.Ìý

Heaters fail safety testing

ÌÇÐÄVlog’s most recent electric heater reviews have revealed an alarming number of unsafe models on the market.ÌýThree models, including the two recently recalled Bunnings heaters, failed the cord anchorage test.Ìý

Bunnings acts to recall unsafe products

ÌÇÐÄVlog contacted each of the manufacturers of these heaters to advise them of the results of our safety testing. As a result, Bunnings, who sells the Mill AUSG2000LED Convection Panel Heater and the Click CPN convection panel heaterÌý – launched an investigation that involved running their own safety tests, which confirmed our finding that the power cord was insecurely attached.Ìý

Bunnings has now issued a for the white AUSG2000LED model that failed our testing and the same model in black (AU SG2000LED BK) as well as the models CPN1500 and CPN2500, which were also flagged in our testing.Ìý

The Noirot DM73588TWIFI was also by the distributor Olimpia Splendid in July following ÌÇÐÄVlog testing, along with three other models the distributor found to have the same fault.

ÌÇÐÄVlog welcomes Bunnings recall

ÌÇÐÄVlog expert Chris Barnes says that while ÌÇÐÄVlog safety testing goes above and beyond the minimum safety standards, it’s still very reasonable to expect that any heater being sold in Australia passes all four tests.

“It shouldn’t be easy to find models that fail and that’s why these results are so disappointing,” he says.

While Barnes says it’s alarming that electric heaters with unsafe supply cords have been sold to consumers, he welcomes Bunnings’ response to the findings.

“Bunnings have done an extensive investigation, looking into a number of models, and they’ve taken the appropriate course of action by issuing an immediate recall.”

What do I do if I own this heater?

If you own a Mill Electrical Convection Panel Heater or the Click Electric Panel Heter, check the model number on the unit. If your Mill unit has the model number AU SG2000LED or AU SG2000LED BK, or the Click unit has the model number CPN1500 or CPN2500 unplug it from the power point and stop using it immediately. You can return your heater to any Bunnings store for a full refund.

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In this year’s test, the $59 NY2311-16M oil column heater didn’t even manage to heat a small room by 10 degrees in two hours, and took almost an hour to raise the temperature by 5°°ä. (For reference, some heaters we test can manage a 5°°ä rise in as little as seven or eight minutes, which we rate as an excellent performance.)

It seems Kmart heaters are on a streak – and not a good one.

• In 2019 the Anko HD904-11 oil column heater scored equal last with a ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating of 48%, taking a whopping 57 minutes to warm a room by five degrees.Ìý
  
• In 2020, the $59 Anko DL03L convection heater received a ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating of just 45%, making it the worst heater we’d tested since 2014.Ìý
• 2021’s tested models, a ceramic fan heater and a digital oil heater, didn’t fare much better.

“Some of the poorest performing electric heaters we’ve ever seen at ÌÇÐÄVlog have come from Kmart,” says Matthew Steen, our director of testing and reviews.

“Being cheap doesn’t have to mean poor performance, which we see time and again in many of our product reviews, so it’s disappointing that Kmart continues to deliver inferior products in this category. Several models from other brands cost only marginally more but score a lot better.”

Yet another warm doorstop

This year’s Kmart entrant in our electric heater reviews was an 11-fin oil column heater. While it’s not as bad as previous Kmart models we’ve tested, there are other products with comparable price tags that will give you better performance.Ìý

The Anko NY2311-16M is a pretty standard oil column heater that’s easy enough to use and has relatively low energy consumption – plus an attractive price tag of $59.Ìý

But because we assume you’re looking for a heater to actually increase your room temperature rather than just a warm doorstop, this model is more likely to give you the chills than a happy glow.Ìý

So it isn’t a big power suck? Low energy consumption is cold comfort when the heater doesn’t even manage to heat your home – what good is a smaller power bill in spring when you’re freezing in winter?

When our lab testers measured how long it takes to raise the temperature of a room by 5°°ä and 10°°ä from an ambient temperature of 8°°ä, they gave it a score of just 44% for heating performance and an overall ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating of 53%.Ìý

This heater may be effective enough if you want to heat a tiny space, but for a standard-sized room, it’s going to leave you feeling out in the cold.Ìý

It’s also sadly lacking in features, with no timer and no remote control, and our lab testers found it heavy to move around.Ìý

Always check the reviews

“For a product that has the lowest cost efficiency across any space heating category, you’d hope that the heat these electric heaters do produce gets distributed effectively,” says Matthew.Ìý

“Unfortunately, this isn’t the case with plenty of electric heater products on the market, so be wary of what you’re buying and check our expert reviews to make sure you don’t end up with a dud.”

Kmart not the only lukewarm performer

Three other models – ranging in price from $79 to a red-hot $459 – didn’t rate higher than 50%, and many more struggled to surpass 60%.Ìý

The results show you can be equally ripped off, whether you’re making a $50-plus or a $400-plus investment. Given how poorly these heaters performed in our independent heater tests, it’s important to be cautious about the suspiciously glowing reviews you find online.

Our electric heater tests are carried out by an independent lab team, which assesses heating performance, safety, energy efficiency and ease of use.

So how should I heat my home instead?

It may come as a surprise, but a reverse-cycle air conditioner is the best heating option for most homes.Ìý

But we realise not everyone can afford that investment or get their landlord to agree to install one. This is why we test portable electric heaters – to help you find a good performer to suit your needs and budget.

Our experts also have some cheap and simple tips that can make a big difference when it comes to keeping your home warm without a heater.

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