Bathroom heater buying guide

Space heaters are used to heat rooms or other spaces where the main heat source lacks power or is intermittent. They can come in handy when the central heating isn't working. If you live in a block of flats and the communal heating is out, you need to find a solution to ensure you don't freeze when you get out of the bath.

The heating in your bathroom is always there when you need it, but maybe it's lacking some power on a cold winter's day? Your ceramic radiator provides gentle heat, but can't wait for it to heat up when you just want to jump in and out of the shower quickly? A bathroom space heater should warm up quickly and be powerful, providing you warmth in a short time.

Easy to move around, you can store it away when it's not being used or use it in another room as required. In a nutshell, it's an appliance that's easy to position where you need it and doesn't require any particular work. Just move it into place, plug it in and off you go!

As with any electrical appliance, a space heater should not be located above or near a water source such as a sink, a shower or a bathtub. Any potential water spillage could have catastrophic results.

A standard space heater should not be located within 1.2 m from a sink or 3 m from a bathtub. These distances can be difficult to respect in a cramped bathroom. In contrast, heaters designed for bathrooms are splash-proof. Therefore, opt for a space heater designed especially for bathrooms and place it as far away as possible from any water sources for better safety.

A variety of space heater technology is available on the market, each differing not only in the technology they use but also in their price, use and the comfort they deliver.

Portable convector heater

A protected heating element in metal casing heats the air in contact with it, causing it to rise. This natural air circulation, known as convection, heats the air in a room gradually, which in turn leads to the formation of even hotter layers of still air as it approaches the ceiling. This technology can unfortunately lead to dry air and high energy consumption. Also, convector heaters don't store heat, meaning you feel the cold as soon as you turn them off. Providing only basic comfort and energy-intensive, they are however very affordable and lightweight.

Oil-filled radiator

First appearing in the 60s, these heat the ambient air through radiation (hence radiators) and operate using fluid inertia like mounted fluid inertia radiators. Mounted on wheels, oil-filled radiators are easily recognisable due to their distinctive body made up of grooved sheet metal leaves containing oil and spaced 5 to 10 cm apart. These radiators are powerful, cheaper to run (being storage heaters, they continue to give off heat once switched off) than convector or panel heaters, but are also heavier and bulkier. They are suitable for any room in the home, and depending on the model, boast power ratings of up to 3,000 W i.e. the capacity to heat a room measuring approx. 30 m² with standard insulation and a standard ceiling height. While they prove cheaper to run, they heat more slowly because the oil takes time to warm up.

Panel heater

A panel heater emits a large part of the electricity it consumes as infrared radiation. This radiant heat is diffused around the heater and is directly transferred from it to the room, and any objects in it. In other words, everything near the radiator heats up, including your legs if you're standing in front of it. They provide a feeling of warmth even in cold air. They heat up fairly quickly however, so it's a good idea to position them a good distance away from the user or any furniture (they can yellow surfaces).

Fan heater

An element in contact with the air or protected within a ceramic block heats the air set in motion by a fan. This forced convection means a large volume of air can be heated in a short space of time and limits the stratification effect caused by convectors. Fan heaters struggle to keep a low profile. If you're the quiet type or like to enjoy the morning show on your favourite radio station, pick a model that's quiet or adjustable.

For large bathrooms, an oscillating heater will blow the heat out in all directions, heating the whole room. Some fan heaters can be mounted on the wall. Follow the manufacturers guidelines to ensure there is sufficient airflow to prevent overheating and account for at least 5 cm. These heaters are light, easy to move around and store, and they feature several heating speeds. Unlike the other technologies, if your bathroom is small, you're sure to find one of these to suit your needs. They come in ceramic versions (better heating quality) or with a single heating element (more affordable).

Halogen heater

Protected by a grille, the heating tube (+1000 °C) contains a filament and infrared-emitting halogen gas. Often in the form of a strip heater installed above a sink or on top of bathroom furniture, these heaters can be turned on and off using a pull cord if they're high up or a button if lower down. These heaters warm up fast and are commonly used in small bathrooms. The bulb needs to be replaced every 5,000 hours and halogen heaters can be riskier to use than other types of heater.

All of these electrical appliances can be equipped with add-ons to make them more user-friendly, cost-effective and efficient.

Express heating

Give your heater a boost and warm your room up faster! A must-have when you're in a rush. However, it comes at the expense of efficiency and leads to higher energy consumption.

Timer

The heater will switch itself off once the time is up. Comes in handy for turning the heater on before a shower, then not spending the rest of the day wondering if you've switched it off! Otherwise, a timer plug will do the trick.

Digital thermostat

Unlike a mechanical thermostat, this minimises heating ups and downs. Operated in more efficient areas, your heater will consume less and offer greater thermal comfort.

Heat settings

An indispensable feature if you want to be able to regulate your space heater according to the season and temperature. Heat settings vary from one heater to another: usually 2 for a fan heater, 2 or 3 for an oil-filled heater, etc.

It doesn't make sense to look for an inexpensive space heater because the energy consumption of a heating element is based on inertia and the heating process takes time as it requires a wet or dry body (dry inertia or fluid inertia) to rise in temperature, then radiate this heat into the surrounding air. So, if it's possible to programme or switch the space heater on 30-40 minutes before using the bathroom and you'll be spending a good 2 hours in there, then an oil-filled radiator is perfect.

A spacious bathroom - over 6 m² minimum - can be equipped with a panel heater as a back-up option. Properly installed, 15 minutes is enough for it to heat the bathroom up a few degrees.

For people who are always in a rush and basically want instant heat, opt for a fan heater in a small bathroom; under normal conditions of use, the bathroom will be heated in 5 minutes! These are preferable for small spaces (up to 5 m²).

Convector heaters, however, are not ideal for heating a bathroom. They might suffice if you're looking for a heater for any room in the house and you don't need one specifically designed for bathroom use.

More information

• Electric heater and radiator buying guide

• Central heating radiator buying guide

• Portable air conditioner buying guide

• Space heater buying guide

• How to furnish your bathroom

• Bathroom furniture buying guide

• Shower set buying guide

• Bathroom accessories buying guide

• Direct hot water cylinder buying guide