When looking to save money on your electricity bill during the cold seasons, you may be looking into buying some heaters to keep your family warm. Keeping your centralized heat on during these times might be too expensive for your tastes.
While some space heaters are costly to purchase, most will allow you to make that money back by only heating the rooms used, like your living room or office. One of the main questions today is whether a ceramic heater is energy-efficient or not?
Most of the time, ceramic heaters are cheaper when purchasing and good for energy efficiency. However, it can still be costly in terms of electricity. They are also one of the better alternatives to your centralized heat. If you want a ceramic heater specifically, there are bonus features that you can look for that will make your heater better at saving you money.
In this article, we will be answering most if not all of your questions regarding your interest in ceramic heaters. This article will also provide examples of some of the highest-rated ceramic heaters you can buy, including a quick summary of their features.
Is A Ceramic Heater Energy-Efficient?
Ceramic heaters are usually small and compact, allowing them to be transferred from room to room. They use less energy than other types of space heaters, such as infrared or some oil-filled versions.
On the other hand, many ceramic space heaters are ideally suited for small spaces. These space heating solutions are for baseboard heating, a stove, or a fireplace that you must consider for larger rooms.
Ceramic heaters are incredibly safe. This is because the elements do not overheat and remain relatively cool to the touch. A more controlled exterior dramatically decreases the likelihood of burns or accidental fires.
Most ceramic heaters have features like timers and automatic shut-off, which allow you to save energy and money. Ceramic heaters are a great value and energy saver, particularly if you need to heat a small region.
Something else you should consider looking for when purchasing ceramic space heaters, especially if you are looking to save money on electricity, is an adjustable thermostat.
These typically will have either 2 or 3 settings depending on the model. These settings are generally high, low, and eco (economic).
Eco is the setting you want to have the most when saving yourself money. The eco setting will turn your heater off, and when the temperature of the room it is heating hits certain temperatures—for instance, turning off when the room temp hits 85 and turning back on when it hits 79 degrees Fahrenheit.
What Is The Advantage Of A Ceramic Heater?
Ceramic heaters produce heat by passing electricity through ceramic plates. As the plates heat up, the aluminum baffles do as well. A fan blows the hot air out of the baffles and into the room.
- One of the many advantages of using a ceramic heater is that it provides a reliable heat source while not being hot enough to pose a fire danger or burn risk. Since ceramic parts surround the heating elements in a ceramic heater, it is safer than other heaters that can create sparks or other safety hazards if the heating elements fail.
- These heaters produce a lot of heat for their size, are suitable for smaller spaces such as offices or dens, and provide extra heating in colder areas.
- Ceramic heaters can also be used in front of windows to minimize condensation, which can help keep an entire room warmer throughout the winter.
- Most ceramic heaters can be set to two or three different temperatures, enabling you to monitor how much heat your device emits. This option is very economical and is an excellent choice if you need anything to replace your primary heating source or to warm a smaller room.
How Long Do Ceramic Heaters Last?
When looking for heaters for you and your family, longevity is one thing you might consider the most. The longer your heater of choice lasts, the more money it will save you in the long run. Typically, you hope the heater will pay for itself by preserving your electricity when buying a heater.
When it comes to ceramic heaters, they can last anywhere from 2 to 6+ years. If you have the misfortune of buying a faulty heater, you can expect your heater not to last longer than two years.
However, suppose you maintain your heater and store it properly. In that case, your ceramic heater can last a very long time, saving you plenty of money on your electricity.
Can I Leave My Ceramic Heater On Overnight?
While there are space heaters you can leave on overnight, you want to keep the heaters under supervision most of the time. If malfunctions happen, you want to be aware of them as soon as possible.
That being said, there are ceramic heaters you can run overnight to keep you comfortably warm. If this is one of your primary concerns, there are features you need to have to keep the heater on overnight.
1. Auto-Off Timer
The first safety feature you need your heater to have is an auto-off timer. This timer will allow you to set a specific time when your heater will shut off. This feature will automatically turn off the ceramic space heater after a factory predetermined amount of time.
For instance, if your heater has been on for 12 hours, the heater will automatically shut off. This will help prevent your space heaters from overheating and give you an extra safety net in case you forget to turn off your heater.
2. Shut-Off Switch
You need to have the other safety feature if you plan on turning your ceramic space heater to stay warm overnight, like an overheat shut-off switch. This feature is self-explanatory. If the unit overheats for any reason, the heater will automatically shut off, preventing the system from starting fires.
3. Cool To Touch Exterior
If you have pets or little children that sleep in your room with you, other features you need to look for are a cool-to-the-touch cover and a tip-over safety switch. The cool-to-the-touch case prevents you and your pets from burning yourselves when you accidentally nudge the case.
4. Tip-Over Protection
The tip-over safety switch will automatically shut off the appliance if it is accidentally knocked over. This will help prevent the heater from burning the floor surface if it lands face down.
Most, if not all, ceramic heaters come with these safety features. However, it is a good idea to double-check before purchasing to make sure you and your family stay safe when looking for extra comfort.
How Much Does It Cost To Run A 1500 Watt Ceramic Heater?
Energy efficiency will be a primary concern if you believe your electricity costs too much for comfort. Space heaters are an excellent alternative to your centralized heat as long as your heaters are run at proper times and in rooms when you and your family are using them.
When trying to see how much your space heaters will cost you to run, you can use this basic calculation to see how much it will take.
Most electric and gas companies will charge anywhere from 0.15 cents to 0.33 cents per kilowatt per hour. Kilowatts are essentially the larger measurement of watts.
1000 watts equals 1 kilowatt. That said, most space heaters run anywhere at 600, 900, or 1500 watts, so in kilowatts, that is 0.75 to 1.5 kilowatts.
Say your heater runs at 1500 watts or 1.5 kilowatts, and you run your space heater for at least 10 hours a day. Divide 1500 by 1000 to get 1.5.
Assume the heater is 1500 watts or 1.5 kilowatts, and you use it at least 10 hours a day. 1.5 is obtained by dividing 1500 by 1000. Then add 1.5 by 10 to get 15 kilowatt-hours. So at $0.15 per kW, the heater would cost about $2.25 to run 10 hours daily. (electricity use calculator)
If you run multiple heaters, you can multiply or add the outcome by using the same steps for those heaters to get your overall cost. In most cases, running 1 or 2 space heaters to keep your family warm will be cheaper than running your centralized heater all day.
Which Type Of Heater Is Cheapest to Run?
The type of heater you pick significantly affects how inexpensive it is to operate, but there are other considerations to consider. The first point this article would like to address is placement, as the position where you plan to use your new heater will influence how long it needs to work. This is also where most customers consider the heater size they need.
The size is generally determined by the BTU or wattage rating and the room’s square footage. If you’ve decided where to install your heater and its efficiency factors, it’s time to consider how often you’ll use it.
Seasonal Heaters
Another thing to consider is if you need your heater just for the cold winter months or looking for a more permanent space heating option. Seasonal heaters are taken out of closets, attics, and tool sheds during the winter and stored away again in the spring.
You can find some of the most affordable electric space heaters in this group, perfect if you need anything compact for small to medium-sized rooms in your house. Seasonal heaters are usually inexpensive and electric in design.
Although seasonal heaters are an excellent choice for many households, they will not save you as much money as the more permanent heating system in the long run. These units are more extensive and costly upfront, but they can heat a more significant area despite being propane or natural gas.
Portable Electric & Propane Gas Heaters
When discussing the cheapest heater to run, we must look at all the different heaters. This article will only talk about the different kinds of portable heaters on the market to keep it short. This comes down to portable electric and portable gas heaters.
Portable electric heaters are the most common type, and most consumers go for them when purchasing a space heater for their home. Electric space heaters are simple to use. Just plug them in, and they heat up pretty quickly. They also cool down efficiently when you need to put them away again.
Of course, they’re inexpensive, which is what most people look for! However, this does not imply that the operating expenses are low.
Here is a breakdown of the various types of portable electric heaters and the benefits and drawbacks of each.
1. Oil-filled Radiators
Because oil is excellent at retaining heat, oil-filled radiators are among the most efficient. They are also among the most affordable.
2. Convector Or Convection Heaters
These heaters work by warming the air directly next to them and, after that creating a cycle of hot and cold air until the entire room is equally heated. They take a little longer to complete the task, but the result is well worth it.
3. Halogen Heaters
Halogen heaters, another quick-heating option, are popular among the frugal because they are the least expensive to operate.
4. Fan Heaters
These fast-heating devices are great for targeting a specific area because they are the lightest and the most portable option of all portable heaters. What’s the catch? You will have to deal with the sound of the fan!
How efficient are they? Very much so! Because they convert all of the energy they use into heat, all-electric heaters have a 100% efficiency score. Portable electric heaters are much more efficient when they have thermostat controls, allowing you to set them to turn off once the room has reached the desired temperature.
If your heater lacks a thermostat, you can achieve the same effect with a separate plug-in thermostat or even a simple plug-in timer.
Electric heaters are the most efficient option and the simplest to install and use. They are also less expensive and safer than gas heaters.
Electric heaters are more costly to operate than gas heaters, despite being less expensive to purchase (the higher their wattage, the more they cost). You must exercise caution if you have small children or pets in the vicinity because it is portable.
5. Portable Gas Heaters
As the names imply, portable gas heaters can be picked up and carried around, allowing you to use them anywhere in your home. These heaters come in two main types:
- Radiant gas heater: These space heaters are ideal for spot heating specific areas.
- Portable gas stove: This type of heater is similar to a traditional mini fireplace in that it is cozy and aesthetically pleasing but more challenging to move around.
In general, gas heaters are less efficient than electric heaters. This is because they tend to leak heat and fumes. They are also fueled by nonrenewable fossil fuels, making them less environmentally friendly than an electric heater (which you could run with renewable electricity).
Portable gas heaters are less expensive to operate than electric heaters because gas is less costly than leading power electricity. Despite the reduced operational costs, there are a few disadvantages. Gas heaters tend to be very heavy and difficult to maneuver.
They can also be unstable, so keep an eye on them if you have young children or pets. You’ll still need to leave the windows open or ventilate the space to allow the water vapor they produce to escape. Oh yes, please don’t forget to load up on gas canisters less you find yourself without heat.
Pros & Cons Of Ceramic Heaters
While you may still be dead set on getting ceramic heaters for your home, there are still things to consider when it comes to ceramic heaters directly.
| ADVANTAGES | DISADVANTAGES |
|---|---|
| Compact in size | It does not heat a large area (best for smaller-sized rooms) |
| Lightweight | Ceramic heaters that do not have a fan heat a room slowly |
| Heat up quickly | To provide heat, most types must run continuously (and consume electrical energy) |
| It takes some time for ceramic plates to cool off (heat still radiates after being turned off) | Physical objects can hamper heat transmission |
| Heat can have the ability to oscillate | |
| Some come with a wireless thermostat | |
| Housing that is cool to the touch | |
| Moving around is easy |
What Is The Best Ceramic Heater to Buy?
When it comes to looking for the best ceramic heater for you, there are a few that we will list here. These ceramic heaters are among the highest-rated and just about anywhere you typically go shopping.
Honeywell’s UberHeat Ceramic Personal Heater is a 1500-watt, adjustable thermostat and tip-over switch personal heater.
The UberHeat features overheat protection, cool touch housing, and an overheat safety shut-off. It also features an easy carry handle for portability from room to room or office to cubicle!
Honeywell’s UberHeat is the perfect personal heater for any home or office space.
The Honeywell UberHeat Ceramic Heater tower heater has a programmable thermostat, simple digital controls, and two heat settings: high (1500 watts) and low (750 watts). Its slender design allows it to fit into any room in your house without taking up too much space, even while packing a punch.
This Honeywell model is also not lacking in safety features. It has a sturdy base, oscillation, and a cool-touch plastic enclosure. This heater has a cutoff switch to prevent overheating and two-fold overheat protection in the form of an overheat sensor. Along with those features, this model has a 360º tip-over protection switch.
This ceramic space heater delivers 1500 watts of power with 2 settings for fast and effective heating. The Auto setting allows the unit to automatically switch between the two settings as needed. The unit features an adjustable thermostat and remote control to adjust the temperature. The heater has a built-in timer from 1 hour to 8 hours.
The Lasko 755320 has two very quiet high and low, running at 1500 watts and 750 watts. Because of its extensive oscillation, this heater distributes warm air throughout the room. The digital display allows you to adjust the heater’s 1500-watt ceramic heating element. You can select from a wide range of Fahrenheit or Celsius temperatures using a simple digital temperature indicator.
The Lasko also includes a remote control and a built-in timer, allowing you to adjust the heater’s temperature, timer, and oscillation speed without leaving your cozy spot.
Overheat protection ensures that the space heater will not overheat even if left on for an extended period. Because of the cool-touch exterior, the heating remains cool to the touch even after hours of operation. This model also includes the standard tip-over protection, which automatically shuts off the unit if an accident occurs.
The Portable Electric Space Heater provides two heat levels: one at 1500 watts and 750 watts. It produces both as a heater and fan so you can use it both in the winter AND summertime. The thermostat is adjusted to a longer time and has an auto-off button once it tilts.
This radiator is easy to carry around and not so bulky to sit in the corner of a room. Lastly, this portable electric space heater can heat up to 200 square feet and has upgraded abs material, meaning it is better flame-resistant.
Final Thoughts
As this article concludes, we hope to have answered all of your questions regarding ceramic heaters. We hope to have equipped you with the perfect heater for your home with examples of good ceramic space heaters.
