A fan heater can heat up a cold room quickly. It’s compact, portable and easy to use. These factors make it a great option for heating your home, flat or office. However, fan heaters come in many shapes and sizes. Some are perfect for heating a small bedroom. Others will keep you warm in a larger office or lounge room. Some fan heaters are quiet. Others produce more noise from the fan but emit heat at a higher rate.

Different models suit different rooms and meet needs. Consider your room size, budget and how often you’ll use it before you make your purchase. And consider safety. A heater should heat up your space. It shouldn’t put you at risk. Here’s everything you need to know about choosing the right fan heater.

Measure Your Room First 

Think about where you want to use your heater first. A compact fan heater will do well heating up a box room, study or small office space. It may struggle to heat up a large lounge room with high ceilings.

Fan heaters usually state their power level in watts. A popular size is 2,000 watts (displayed as 2kW on the unit). This is a powerful option that suits many small to medium-sized rooms. A 1,000W heater may suit your desk area or small bedroom.

More power equals faster heat emission. But it doesn’t always equal a better heater. That powerful heater in a small room may overheat the space. It could use more electricity than you need as well.

Factor in heat loss. Do you have older windows with poor seals? Are there walls which face outside? These areas may become cold very quickly. A powerful heater may help here. Or you may want a model which has oscillation. Oscillation fans move from side to side. This can help distribute heat throughout the whole room.

You may only ever want to heat the small space around your desk in your home office. A small heater kept near your feet may be enough to keep you warm. Do you use your office for work shared with others? Consider a heater which can cover a larger area without making too much noise.

Pick the Correct Heat Controls 

Simple fan heaters may have only two levels of heat. For example, a low and high setting. This is ideal if you want maximum heat when you get up. But lowers heat throughout the day. 

A thermostat is one of the most useful features to look for. You can set your desired temperature. Once the room reaches this temperature, the heater can turn off or down. When the room loses heat, it can kick back in.

You’ll have greater comfort than a heater that just runs at full power all the time. It could even stop you wasting electricity. 

A timer is another helpful feature. Set the heater to switch off after 30 minutes, one hour or a few hours. Timers are great if you want to heat a room before bedtime or before you start work.

Some fan heaters also include an eco-mode. These usually emit less power once the room reaches your desired heat level. Check the product instruction guide to learn more about how this mode works. Eco doesn’t always mean economical running costs. 

Consider Running Costs 

Check how much power your heater uses before you buy it. A 2kW rated fan heater will use up to 2 kilowatt-hours of electricity when it’s on and running at full power. A 1kW heater will use up to 1 kilowatt-hour of electricity per hour.

You can work out how much it may cost you using a simple calculation:

• Heater kW x hours used x your electricity price per kWh

For example, if you use a 2kW heater for one hour, it will use 2kWh of electricity. Multiply that by the price you pay per kWh on your energy bill and that’s roughly how much it cost you.

This is where a thermostat and timer can become so handy. They can prevent your heater from running at full power when it doesn’t need to. A long jumper, closed curtains and a draft stopper can also help retain heat in your room for longer.

Remember, a fan heater is a short-term heating solution. It’s great for heating the room you're currently using. But it might not be ideal for heating every room in your house all day long.

Check the Noise Level and Comfort 

Fan heaters blow air. That means they’re going to make a bit of noise. It may be a low background hum. Or a more obvious rush of air when it’s running on high.

This might not be a problem if you plan to use it in your garage or a busy kitchen. But what about your bedroom, study or quiet office?

WFH? Look for a heater with a low noise rating or a quiet mode. Bear user reviews carefully in mind when selecting your heater. Someone may describe it as ‘quiet’. But that might be quiet to them and too loud for you.

Comfort should be considered when positioning your heater too. You don’t want to sit with the heater blasting air directly onto you all day. It can dry out your skin. And make your eyes feel sore and irritated. Aim to sit with the heater a short distance away from where you’re sitting instead.

An oscillation heater can help with this. Instead of blowing hot air in one constant direction. It’ll move the warm air from side to side. Tower fan heaters often include this feature. It might be a good option for heating a larger room. Or warming multiple people in an office space.

Do you use your heater all year round? Check if it has a fan-only mode. You can then enjoy it as an airy breeze in warmer months. It’s not a replacement for an air conditioner. But it’ll allow you to get more use out of the unit.

Case Study: Understanding Real World Heating Requirements & Performance 

Wattage may suggest how powerful a heater will be but it’s not the be all and end all of real world heating performance. To understand how three different heater technologies perform in the same conditions, 2DHeat ran a helpful case study comparing a range of heaters.

The heaters tested were: a 2kW floor-standing fan heater; a 2kW electric convection heater and 800W infrared heating panels.

Testing took place over consecutive days in the same room, measuring temperature, humidity levels and personal comfort.

Study findings highlight why consumers shouldn’t always simply opt for the heater with the highest wattage.

Case Study – Performance of Different Heater Types

Why a fan heater can be a smart choice…

A 2kW fan heater generates heat and uses a fan to actively distribute it around the room. Compared to other heater types without a fan, this can make it ideal for when you want to quickly heat a room, such as overnight or first thing in the morning. Homes offices and bedrooms are a common example.

…the room you’re in matters 

Heat distribution isn’t the only thing that matters when choosing a heater. Room insulation, external draughts, room size, heat loss and how heat is distributed all have an impact on how warm a room feels.

…and so do your heating needs 

For consumers this means think about what you need from a heater before you buy. Room size, how quickly you need the room heated, how long you plan to run the heater for and how heat is distributed should all factor into your decision.

If you need to heat a room fairly quickly, fan heaters can be great. They’re also perfect for when you only need to heat the room you're in – like a bedroom – as opposed to heating your whole house. When you do want to run your heater for long periods or heat multiple rooms it can be worth comparing different heating technologies and estimated running costs.

https://www.ariston.com/en-sa/the-comfort-way/news/heat-pump-efficiency-what-you-need-to-know/ 

Fan Heater FAQs 

What size fan heater should I buy? 

It depends. Consider your room size, insulation, ceiling height and heat loss when choosing a fan heater. For small rooms or desk spaces a 1kW fan heater may be all you need. For small to medium-sized rooms a 2kW heater will generate more heat.

Is a 2kW fan heater expensive to use?

The worst case scenario is a 2kW fan heater uses 2kWh of electricity for every hour it runs on maximum power. How much you pay depends on your electricity tariff and how often you use the heater. Using a thermostat and timer can help reduce unnecessary running.

Are fan heaters good for bedrooms? 

Yes. Because fan heaters provide heat quite quickly they can be ideal for bedrooms. A small desktop or standing fan heater may be all you need to keep warm. Look for models with a thermostat, timer and other useful features like safety protection.

Are fan heaters OK for home offices? 

Fan heaters can be ideal for home offices. Because you can position them fairly close to where you’re working you don’t have to heat your entire home. If you’ll be working, on video calls or concentrating for long periods then it can also be worth choosing a low-noise model.

Do fan heaters use a lot of electricity?

When running on maximum power all the time then yes, fan heaters can use a lot of electricity. However the amount of electricity your heater uses depends on its wattage, how long you use it for and your settings. Using lower heat settings and thermostats can limit energy waste.

Are fan heaters safe? 

Like any electrical appliance fan heaters should only be used as directed by the manufacturer’s instructions. Always use on a stable surface, away from curtains, furniture, bedding and other objects that could block airflow or cause a fire. Never use enclosed spaces and don’t cover your heater.

What’s the difference between a fan heater and a convection heater?

A fan heater uses a fan to actively distribute warm air around the room. Convection heaters don’t have a fan and rely on natural heat convection to slowly warm a room. Fan heaters provide instant warmth. Convection heaters are usually much quieter when operating.

Are oscillating fan heaters better? 

Oscillating fan heaters rotate back and forth automatically distributing heat across a wider area. Standard fan heaters direct heat in one direction only. If you need to heat a larger room or office space where multiple people will benefit from heat then an oscillating model could be a smarter choice.

Can I leave my fan heater on overnight?

Check your manufacturer's instructions. Some portable fan heaters are only designed to be used under supervision. If your heater doesn’t explicitly state that it can be left on overnight or unattended then don’t leave it on while you sleep.

What fan heater features are worth considering? 

There are lots of useful features to look for when buying a fan heater including: adjustable heat settings, thermostats, timers, oscillation, safety features (like protections against overheating and being tipped over), and low-noise modes. Ultimately what’s best will depend on where you’re planning on using your heater and how often.

Pick a Heater You Like 

Fan heaters are offered in several styles. A small, upright heater can be portable and easy to store. Great for boiling yourself from the inside on colder mornings. But it may not take the chill out of a larger room.

Tower heaters are more tall and can come with added features. A remote control, digital display, timer and oscillation. This may suit heating a larger bedroom or office space. But they can cost more. And take up more floor area. 

A small desk heater can provide heat near your work station or favourite chair. It’s not going to heat your whole room. But it can keep you nice and cosy. Ideal if you share an office with others who like it a bit cooler.

Wall mounted heaters are another popular choice. They keep the heater itself out of the way. Great for bathrooms or small utility rooms. But they do need fitting correctly. Check the manufacturer’s instruction guide before buying and fitting one yourself.

Don’t stress about making the perfect choice. The best fan heater is the one that suits you and your needs.