Quiet Convection Heaters

Convection heaters are quiet but slow

Convection space heaters are available in a wide array of styles and designs. One newer design, micathermic flat-panel heaters, can stand upright or be wall-mounted to save space and protect children. The mineral mica in this type of space heater warms quickly to heat all of the air in a room rather than a small area.

The DeLonghi Mica Panel Radiator HHP 1500 (*Est. $90) electric space heater performs well in comparison tests and gets mostly positive reviews from more than 150 owners at Amazon.com. Owners say that although one advertised feature is a bathroom splash protector, DeLonghi advises against using it in a bathroom. The Mica Panel space heater also gets mixed reviews from owners for heating small rooms if they're not very well insulated, but it still warms a room faster than an older-style oil-filled radiator heater and there's no risk of leaking oil. However, a few users say the DeLonghi micathermic space heater emits a persistent unpleasant odor and has early breakdowns. We found some number of breakdown complaints for every space heater.

Good Housekeeping recommends the similar Soleus Air HGW-308 (*Est. $70) as the quietest of 31 electric space heaters tested there. Its anti-frost setting is a useful feature for storage areas and basements; it turns the heater on only when the temperature drops below 41 degrees. However, quite a few owners reviewing it at Amazon.com say this sensor doesn't work, and some report problems with the temperature controls. And although it's supposed to be wall-mountable, several owners say the space heater's rear panel gets too hot to make this safe.

Oil-filled radiators, the most popular type of convection space heaters, have established a loyal following over the years. Tests at Which? magazine, the British equivalent of ConsumerReports.org, find that oil-filled radiators are quiet and economical to use but less effective than other types. We were surprised, however, to find so many reports of quality-control and reliability problems at Amazon.com, Epinions.com and other review sites. Many owners report a persistent unpleasant odor that smells like burning oil, and others complain of leaking oil -- a serious fire hazard. It's for this reason that we haven't included an oil-filled space heater as one of ConsumerSearch's Best Reviewed models.

Other things to note: Although oil-filled space heaters can get hot to the touch on the surface, a casual touch seldom causes a burn. They're heavy but stable, with casters and handles that make them easy to roll around on a level surface. The oil-filled radiator fins are permanently sealed, and they never need refilling. The main drawback is the time required to start producing significant warmth; they're not recommended for situations where you need quick heat, directional heat or warmth for only a short period of time

Although oil-filled products take a longer time to heat up, they stay warm for a long time without using much electricity. Natural convection distributes the heat, and there's no fan to make noise. Owners point out that this type of heater works best when it's the only source of heat in a relatively small room; the temperature controls seem to get confused when the room has another source of heat. Also, a drafty room or one with poor insulation may never get warm.

DeLonghi oil-filled radiators are recommended more often than any other brand, though we also found several complaints about them. One product, the DeLonghi SafeHeat Oil Filled TRD0715T (*Est. $80) has more covering over the sides of the fins, and most of the heat comes out the top. This makes it safer, but less comforting warmth-wise. Comparison tests give this space heater reasonably high ratings, and most owners reviewing it on Amazon.com praise it. However, we did find some complaints. Quite a few owners say the SafeHeat doesn't produce enough heat, and others say the product's timer ticks too loudly. Several consumers also complain of a persistent bad smell (longer than the typical few hours).

Almost 150 owners at Amazon.com give a higher average rating to the DeLonghi EW7707CM Oil-Filled Radiator with ComforTemp Technology (*Est. $75). This product uses an older fin design that radiates more heat to the sides. However, we found similar scattered complaints about a bad smell, noise and insufficient heat. Owners reviewing the less expensive DeLonghi 9707 Advanced Oil-Filled Radiator (*Est. $50) at Sears.com give it mostly positive reviews. However, there are a few reports of quality control problems, including several units that leaked oil onto a carpet. This model has been discontinued but is still available at some stores.