Space Heater Reviews

Heater reliability and safety varies in tests

Space heaters are a good way to warm up cool spots at home or in an office. Plus, using a space heater occasionally during milder fall and spring days might let you skip turning on your central heat. Electric space heaters -- the product covered in this report -- are the safest type to use in insulated rooms.

We found the best comparison reviews of electric space heaters at ConsumerReports.org and Good Housekeeping. ConsumerReports.org documents their testing procedures best, evaluating 14 heaters based on ratings for safety, temperature control, noise and ease of use. Good Housekeeping editors test almost twice as many heaters, but report only on the three best electric heaters they found. Owner-written reviews and ratings of space heaters complement these brief comparison tests by reporting on product performance over a longer period of time, in various situations. We found the most useful owner-written heater reviews at Amazon.com, but Viewpoints.com, Epinions.com and various retailer sites also add important comments.

Because space heaters can cause burns, fires and deaths, it's important to follow safety precautions. Although newer space heaters are said to be safer than their predecessors, some products can still carry risk. According to 2006 data from the National Fire Protection Association, space heaters are the cause of 78 percent of heating-related deaths. Experts say most space-heater fires are caused by heaters placed too close to curtains, upholstery or other combustible materials. Additionally, every year there are several electric heaters recalled for safety issues. Because of this, experts urge consumers to register new heaters with the manufacturer right away, and they'll be informed of any known safety issues.

In some heaters, there also to be a tradeoff between safety features and performance. Although this doesn't show up in comparison tests, it often arises in user reviews. For instance, some consumers say the DeLonghi SafeHeat Oil Filled TRD0715T (*Est. $80) and faster-heating DeLonghi Mica Panel Radiator HHP 1500 (*Est. $90) don't warm rooms as well as older oil-filled radiator heaters. However, older models can get hotter to the touch, and are thus not as safe for homes with pets or children. Many owners also complain about grilles with smaller openings -- designed to keep kids from getting their fingers burned. Even the heaters that rank high in comparison tests earn complaints from owners about quality control. For instance, many heaters smell bad for at least the first few hours of use as various coatings burn off -- but in some cases, this odor can persist.

Expensive space heaters aren't always better

A higher price tag doesn't guarantee a better product. One example: The expensive EdenPure Quartz Infrared Heater (*Est. $400) ranks lowest in comparison tests, and user reviews aren't much better. This large space heater is supposed to heat 1,000 square feet, but a healthy percentage of the two dozen reviews at Amazon.com say it doesn't heat any better than other space heaters. Others say it broke down shortly after the one-year warranty expired.