As we progress through these colder months, you might be noticing a persistent chill in your home. Whether you need to supplement your existing heating system or you use a zone heating system, having a space heater at hand is never a bad idea. But, rather than investing in a traditional fan heater, this year you should strongly consider buying one of the best infrared heaters instead.
While these heaters are more expensive than the puny fan heater you’ve been using all these years, they are sturdy, efficient and effective.
Some of the benefits of using an infrared heater in your home include:
Nearly Instant Heat: As soon as you switch your infrared heater on, it starts heating. Unlike convection heaters, which take time to warm the air in the room and create airflow, infrared heaters cut out the middle man (the air) and radiate heat directly onto objects in the room, and most importantly onto you.
Less Noise: Because they aren’t acting on the air and don’t require its movement, either, there’s no need for noisy fans inside. This means having your device on will be nearly unnoticeable, which is ideal for when you’re deep in conversation or watching your favorite TV show.
Healthy: If you’re used to a convection heater, you’ll know that the air tends to feel uncomfortably dry. This doesn’t happen with an infrared heater because they aren’t affecting the moisture in the air which leaves you with a more comfortable environment to enjoy.
Cost-Effective: When compared to convection heaters and most other heating methods, infrared heaters waste far less of the heat that is produced. As previously mentioned, there’s no need to warm the air which means an infrared heater’s efficiency is better. This, in turn, leads to comparatively low electricity bills.
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So, if you’re ready to keep the winter chills at bay and enjoy some sun-like rays in the comfort of your own home, check out our top eight picks for the best infrared heaters available online.
1. Dr Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater
BEST OVERALL
One of the main reasons people use infrared heaters is zone heating. This means that you don’t heat every room in your house. You simply turn off the heating vents in rooms you don’t often use, like dens or furnished basements. Then, when you want to use the room, you turn on an infrared heater which can quickly heat it up without an issue. The Dr Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater is perfect for this purpose. It’s small enough to easily move from room to room, can heat a room up to 1000 square feet and boasts a safe to touch design. Plus, the digital thermostat automatically controls your desired temperature.
2. Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove
RUNNER UP
You likely know the Duraflame brand thanks to their success in creating fire logs and fire starters, but with their Duraflame 3D Infrared Electric Fireplace Stove, the company enters another market segment. The 5,200 BTU device can heat up to 1,000 square feet using infrared quartz heat. The result is a comfortable heat that won’t dry out the room’s occupants. In addition to providing heat, the Duraflame infrared heater also provides good looks. It has a wood fire stove appearance and features 3D flame effect technology that produces realistic flames on the logs. This can be set to display five different colors, brightness and speeds.
3. Comfort Zone Quartz Wood Heater
BEST BUDGET
More affordable than any other infrared heater on our list, the Comfort Zone infrared heater is fan-forced and designed to heat large spaces while using minimal power. It has electronic controls on it as well as a full-function remote so you can make adjustments from afar. It has a 12 hour on/off timer so you don’t accidentally run it all day, and at $80 it’s quite budget-friendly as far as space heaters go.
4. Heat Storm Wi-Fi Smart Deluxe Infrared Heater
BEST SMART
The Heat Storm Wi-Fi Smart Deluxe Infrared Heater has two major advantages over the competition. First, it can be easily mounted on the wall of the room or office you would like to heat. Second, it can be controlled from anywhere in the world using your smartphone. The heater connects to your wifi network and comes with a technologically advanced app in which you can set a timer, the temperature you want your room to be or simply turn the device on and off. Two power modes let you choose between 1500 watt and 750 watt usage. And, as an added bonus, the device has a patented heat exchanger that uses the humidity in your space to provide safe, non-dry heat.
5. Duraflame Electric Infrared Quartz Set Heater
MOST REALISTIC
Similar to our best overall pick, the Duraflame Electric Infrared quartz Set Heater offers the same technology for a smaller price. Rather than being an entire unit, this looks more like an open flame grate with logs stacked on top. Yet, the heater still features a 5,200 BTU heating element for effective warming of spaces up to 1,000 square feet. In addition, the infrared quartz heat keeps the natural humidity in the air, while the included remote makes it easy to control the settings of the heater. The best part? The logs actually look like they’re on fire thanks to the ember beds which project flame-like lights onto the walls surrounding the heater.
6. Dr Infrared Outdoor Patio Heater
BEST OUTDOOR
If you’ve got a sheltered outdoor space that could use some heat, this infrared heater from Dr. Infrared is perfect. It produces clean, almost-instant Infrared heat at 900W, 1200W or 1500W. It’s a plug-and-go design with a 120V infrared bulb inside that you can control on the unit or via a remote. Your purchase includes a ceiling- or wall-mounting bracket, and the whole unit is made of durable, weather-proof aluminum.
7. Dyna-Glo Infrared Wall Heater $227.78
BEST WALL
As we work our way down this list, you’ll notice that we start to discuss heaters with higher BTUs. Remember that BTU (British thermal unit) is a measurement of heat. In particular, one BTU is the amount of heat required to warm one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. So, a heater with a higher BTU rating can create more heat. That’s exactly the case with the Dyna-Glo Infrared Wall Heater which is rated at 30,000 BTU. This particular infrared heater is 99.9% efficient and can be hung on the wall in homes, cabins or garages for instant heat. However, this heater does require propane to operate.
8. Dimplex Indoor/Outdoor Infrared Electric Heater
BEST OUTDOOR
If you love sitting outside during the colder months but would rather not have to deal with unpleasantly cold temperatures, consider investing in the Dimplex Indoor/Outdoor Infrared Electric Heater. This versatile device can be used either indoors or out and boasts an impressive IP65 water and debris resistance rating. Plus, in addition to providing comfortable heat in as little as three seconds, three different heating levels and the ability to control the device using a remote control, the heater looks classy, too. This means you can mount it with confidence, even in the more open areas of your home.
These Space Heaters Do a Great Job at Keeping Your Room Warm and Cozy