Home Guides Heater Guides

Winter is coming!
Which heater is best for you?

There is a lot of choice when it comes to heating and many considerations to keep in mind so that you stay nice and warm through the winter months.  Little heaters are great to sit under your desk, but aren’t designed to heat your whole room, especially since they turn out quite expensive if overused. Other heaters can be way too much for a house that has great insulation.

This page offers advice on different heaters to help you decide which heater type is best to keep you warm over the cold winter months.  This guide goes into the details of the following to help you make your decision; room type, fixing type, cost per hour* and cost per month+ of each type of heater available both in store and online as well as safety and money saving tips! The information provided is to be used as a general guide and are indicative of the types of heaters mentioned, however exact specifications and features will vary on different models and brands.  

Below is the key to help you decide what heater is right for you:
 


Room Types

What kind of room situation best matches your heating needs?
Read below to find our heater recommendation. 

Personal Use

Personal warmth. I need heat just for me, in a small space; for e.g. at my work desk, as I step out of the shower, watching TV in my lounge, while at the dining table etc. 

Browse Range

Small Room

Small bedroom, office. Small, confined spaces including a small bedroom, a study or an office cabin.
  

Browse Range

Medium Room

Bedroom, small lounge & hallway. To take the chill out of the hallway, heat my lounge for a few guests, heat the kids’ small bedroom etc.

Browse Range

Large Room

Lounge, large bedroom & hallway. Heat the master bedroom, background warmth for an open plan area etc.

Browse Range

Open Space

For larger, open spaces. Includes a large lounge, dining cum lounge area or a big kitchen. Heat a large, open space quite effectively.

Browse Range

Fixed

Heaters designed to fix on walls

Portable

Heaters that can be moved from room to room

Per Hour

Based on average 28.4c per kWh*

Per Month

Average 30-day month+


Types of Heaters


Now let’s get down to picking what will work best for you!
We have broken down the types of heaters available,
with the features that you are looking for. 
 


Fan Heaters

Fan heaters are a cost effective personal heater, designed to provide instant heat for smaller spaces. Some fan heaters feature adjustable
thermostats.

Great for:

  • Small rooms
  • Portability
  • Personal Warmth
Guide Room Type Fixing Type Cost per Hour* Cost per Month+
2000W Small Portable 56c $38
2400W Small Portable 68c $46

Browse Fan Heaters


Ceramic Heaters

Ceramic heaters are the most efficient form of fan based portable heating due to their ceramic element technology. The key feature of a ceramic heater is that it has no glowing parts and is therefore safer. Some units feature a thermostat, timer and oscillating function.

Great for:

  • Small rooms
  • Quick heating
  • Personal Warmth
Guide Room Type Fixing Type Cost per Hour* Cost per Month+
1500W Personal / Small Portable 42c $29
2400W Large Fixed / Portable 56c $38

Browse Ceramic Heaters


Convector Heaters

Convector heaters provide warmth by pulling air over a heated element. When the heater is turned on the air is drawn over the element and rises
through the unit and out the top. To speed up the natural convection flow, some models include a fan.

Great for:

  • Medium to large rooms
  • Quiet operating
  • Lightweight & portable
Guide Room Type Fixing Type Cost per Hour* Cost per Month+
2000W Medium / Large Portable 56c $38

Browse Convector Heaters


Oil Column Heaters

Oil heaters warm the air by metal fins that have hot oil circulating through them. The large surface area of the fins allows more heat to be transferred to the surrounding air. Oil column heaters are ideal for heating any kind of room. Most models have 3 heat settings, thermostat control and a timer.



Great for:

  • Small to large rooms
  • Quiet operating
  • Portable
Guide Room Type Fixing Type Cost per Hour* Cost per Month+
800W Small / Personal Portable 22c $20
1200W Small / Personal Portable 34c $23
2000W Medium Portable 56c $38
2200W Medium / Large Portable 62c $42
2400W Medium / Large Portable 68c 46

Browse Oil Column Heaters


Panel Heaters

Panel heaters are convection heaters and provide warmth based on the principle of hot air attracting cool air over a large panel surface. Air is drawn over the element and rises up through the unit and out the top through vents.

Panel heaters are typically wall mounted and provide efficient heating in lounges, hallways and bedrooms.

Great for:

  • Lounges, hallways, & bedrooms
  • Heat pump complimentary heating
  • Quiet operating
Guide Room Type Fixing Type Cost per Hour* Cost per Month+
425W Small / Personal Fixed 12c $11


Radiant Heaters

Radiant heaters use quartz or halogen tubes which generate heat much like that produced by the sun. The heat rays are absorbed by you and other objects but the surrounding air is not heated. Radiant heaters provide instant heat and are ideal for personal heating. These heaters are particularly effective in draftier environments.

Great for:

  • Personal warmth
  • Ambience (warm glow)
Guide Room Type Fixing Type Cost per Hour* Cost per Month+
800W Small / Personal Portable 22c $20
1200W Small / Personal Portable
 34c $23
2000W Medium Portable
 56c $38
2200W Medium / Large Portable
 62c $42
2400W Medium / Large Portable
 68c $46

Browse Radiant Heaters


Tips

Safety Tips

  • Never leave heaters unattended, especially when children are present.
  • Be careful where you position your heater as there needs to be at least 1 metre of clearance from curtains, furniture and even people.
  • Don't use your heater to warm or dry clothes and keep your clothes rack at least 1 metre from your heater.
  • All homes should have smoke alarms installed.
  • To reduce the risk of heaters being knocked over, do not put them in places that see a lot of movement.
  • Always follow the specific instructions in the user manual.
  • Replace your heater if it has broken parts, makes funny noises or smells.
  • Only use one heater per power outlet to avoid overloading.

Want to Save Money?

  • A timer that switches the heater on or off automatically will save you money as leaving heaters on for too long can just be a waste. If your heater doesn't have a timer, then separate timers can be utilised.
  • Thermostats allow the heater to register the room temperature and automatically switch the heater on or off to maintain a comfortable temperature. Nearly all Warehouse heaters come with thermostats. Set the thermostat for healthy indoor temperatures - aim for 18°C to 20°C, and 16°C in bedrooms overnight.
  • Keep the heat in – shut all doors and windows!

 

Other Ways to Keep Warm

Dehumidifiers

Dehumidifiers extract moisture from the air, making your home drier, healthier and more cost effective to heat.

Browse Dehumidifiers

Thermal Curtains

Thermal curtains and blinds can significantly reduce heat loss through your windows.

Browse Thermal Curtains

Electric Blankets

Using an electric blanket can help warm you up before going to sleep and remove that damp feeling that cold bedding can get.

Browse Electric Blankets

Duvet Inners

A winter duvet inner can replace layers of blankets, quilts, sheets, and comforters, providing all the warmth you need while sleeping.

Browse Duvet Inners



FAQs

 

Except for heat pumps, all electric heaters are equally efficient. They convert all the electricity they consume into useful heat. However, it is important to keep the heating situation in mind, in terms of the size of the room, to get the full benefit of the heat you are paying for.
 
Panel heaters can work very well in small rooms, such as bedrooms or small studies. However, it can take long time to heat up cold room, since the heat output is low. They often don’t have thermostat which means you cannot regulate the temperature easily. On the plus side, they don’t get hot enough for children or pets to burn themselves so can be quite safe.
 
Warehouse heaters have various safety features to keep your family safe. As stated in the owner's manual, certain safety procedures need to be followed when using heaters to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, and injury to persons.
 
Most heaters should not be used in bathrooms or in wet areas.
 
Some other factors to keep in mind are the amount and type of insulation used in the construction of the room, the number of outside doors and windows, the overall tightness of the arein relationship to drafts and the outside temperature in relationship to the desired inside temperature.
 
A thermostat is control that is used to maintain temperature range in the general arewhere the heater is located. By adjusting the temperature knob you can set the heater to turn on and turn off automatically as required to maintain the set temperature range.
 
Most heaters should not be placed directly against walls because the air intake will be blocked, although some heaters are designed with the air intake in the front so they can be placed against the wall. Check the owner's manual for details regarding the correct placement of your specific model.
 
Always unplug the heater before cleaning and allow the heater to cool down.
  • Clean the unit with soft cloth moistened with mild soap solution.
  • NEVER use abrasive or flammable solvents to clean the unit.
  • After cleaning, be sure to completely dry the unit with cloth or towel.
  • Store Heater in cool, dry location.
  • It is recommended that you store the unit in its original carton.
  • Over time, dust may accumulate on the front grill. This can be removed by wiping the unit with damp cloth. We do not recommend opening heaters to clean them as it can void the warranty as well as cause safety hazard if it is not disassembled or reassembled properly.
     
It is possible that new heater will produce an odour when first used. This is normal and should go away after the heater has been used for while. heater can also have burning odour from dust building up on the element. This buildup on hot element can cause burning smell.