Baby, it’s cold outside. An indoor heater helps heat things up when the temperature outside plummets. But, with so many options out there, finding the perfect indoor heater for your home can be a tough nut to crack. Here, we are going to provide you with the tips you need to find the best indoor space heater for your money. But, before we begin with the reason you’re here (the reviews), let’s take a quick look at the different types of room heaters that are available in the market, and their pros and cons so that you can make a more informed decision.
How do Indoor Heaters Work?
While there are lots of categories for room heaters, the two main options for heating up large rooms are with convection heating and infrared heating. We’ll try to keep it as simple as possible, so here’s a short description of what these are.
- Convection Heaters — Oil-filled radiators and blue-flame heaters both fall under this category of indoor heaters despite having different working mechanisms. Both types of heaters send hot air into a room once it has been warmed.
- Infrared Heaters— On the other hand, infrared heating devices work in a completely different way. The main difference is unlike the oil filled radiator or blue flame heater, the infrared heaters does not heat the air directly but rather, heats objects in the direct line of the heater. This eventually warms up the air in the room too.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Various Heaters
Here, let’s take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of various indoor heater options available in the market so you can decide on the type of heater you would want to go with when choosing an indoor heater for your home.
Advantages of Infrared Heaters
- This type of heater does not affect the humidity level in a room since it targets objects and people, which also reduces the heating costs.
- The humidity that’s left in the room can be beneficial for your health since it promotes better circulation of the blood and allows you to enjoy natural sunlight without the harmful effects of UV radiation.
Disadvantages of Infrared Heaters
- The heating effect goes away once the infrared heater has been switched off. This can cause a big problem since the heat does not linger once the heater has been shut off. This can also lead to increased heating bills since the heater has to be on to get the heating effects.
- An infrared heater uses radiant heat which travels in a straight line. This will be a problem if you have to move around in a room.
Advantages of Convection Heaters
- Convection heaters are good if you have lots of furniture since you cannot keep an infrared heater close to furniture since they heat up objects. With a convection heater, you don’t have to worry about where you set it down in a room.
- Another advantage of a convector heater is that it heats a room efficiently, meaning you can walk around the room and still keep warm regardless of how far you are from the convection heater in a room.
Disadvantages of Convection Heaters
- One of the main disadvantages of a convector heater is that they are not the ideal option if the room is not already properly insulated. Since these heaters heat the air, opening any doors or windows will mean that the heat is going to escape, which is not the case with infrared heaters.
- Another problem with convector heaters is that it takes a while before the room heats up, while infrared heaters are quicker.
Advantages of Oil Filled Heaters
- Some people prefer to turn off their heater when they sleep. This makes the oil filled heater a good option since the room won’t cool down suddenly as soon as the heater has been switched off.
- The oil filled heaters are also usually quiet, making it easy to get a good night’s rest. Since this heater doesn’t use any fans to help distribute the heat around the room, it’s relatively quieter than other heater options.
Disadvantages of Oil Filled Heaters
While oil filled heaters won’t turn the room cold as soon as it’s turned off, it does take some time for the heater to warm the air in the room. So, if you don’t like to wait to get warm as soon as you rush inside from the cold, this heater is not for you.
A major disadvantage of getting an oil filled heater is that the heat seems to last in the room for a long time after the heater has been turned off. This is an advantage as well as a disadvantage because sometimes, you wouldn’t want the heat to linger on after the heater has been turned off.
Why Invest in an Indoor Heater?
The following are some of the reasons why you should make an investment in an indoor heater:
- You will find that the utility bills will start to drop.
- It will serve each family member by heating up only those rooms where it is needed.
- You will be doing your part to protect the environment.
- The portability of an indoor heater means it’s easy to move them from room to room.
- You can easily get warm in a matter of minutes.
- Room heaters are ideal for homes without any central heating.
Top Indoor Heaters for Large Rooms
Now, let’s get to our reviews for the best indoor room heaters for large rooms you should definitely invest in this winter.
DeLonghi TRD40615T Dragon 4
Features:
- Up to 40% more heating surface
- Multiple Safe Heat features such as thermal cutoff, and anti-freeze to help prevent pipes from freezing
- Patented thermal chimneys are engineered to maximize heat flow and maintain low surface temperature
- Patented smart-snap wheels easily snap into place with no complex assembling needed
- High quality, patented steel assembly
- Permanently sealed oil reservoir does away with the need to constantly refill
- Adjustable thermostat and three heat settings to customize the heating
- 24-hour on/off timer
- 1500 watts of heating power
- Silent operation
DeLonghi TRD40615T Dragon 4 — Overview
- Can Heat a Room as Large as 144 Square Feet — The DeLonghi TRD40615T Dragon 4 is a great choice for rooms that are large in size and can easily heat up rooms as large as 144 square feet. This is mainly because of the new panel design that helps produce more heat with a 25% larger radiant surface design.
- Oil System Cannot be Opened — The oil system of the DeLonghi TRD40615T Dragon 4 is permanently sealed, which is great news since you won’t have to waste your time with maintenance and periodic oil changes. Since the heater is made from tough metal, the oil will not seep out.
- Patented Thermal Chimneys — The DeLonghi TRD40615T Dragon 4 offers another advantage in the form of its patented thermal chimney that keeps the surface cool. This makes it a safer option for those who have small kids or pets who can get injured with the hot surface temperature even after the heater has been turned off.
- Thermal Cutoff Prevents Overheating — Indoor heaters can cause lots of damage if they overheat. Luckily, you will not have to worry about that with the DeLonghi TRD40615T Dragon 4, since the thermal cutoff feature of this heater prevents any chances of the heater overheating. Apart from that, this heater also has anti-freeze protection that has been integrated into the design so the system does not overheat.
DeLonghi HCX9115E
Features:
- 1500 Watts of power
- Thinner design (only 3″)
- Digital controls – Adjustable thermostat, Timer and multiple heat settings with LED display
- ECO function saves energy by automatically adjusting heat and power settings
- Freestanding or wall mounted use
- Safe Heat feature and Tip-over alarm
- Overheat protection and Antifreeze setting
- Unique Two Fan System for better heat distribution
DeLonghi HCX9115E — Overview
- Unique Two-Fan System — The DeLonghi HCX9115E features a sleek design with its two-fan system that is able to deliver an impressive amount of power, making it ideal for heating up large rooms. The two-fan design means you don’t have to wait long for the room to heat up.
- Automatically Switches Off when Tipped Over —The DeLonghi HCX9115E delivers the ultimate in safety which is why it is considered one of the best indoor heaters for large rooms. The most important safety feature of the DeLonghi HCX9115E is its tip-over safety protection which stops the device from overheating.
- ECO Function Saves Energy — This heater offers three different heat settings that can be used to customize the temperature of a room to maximize your comfort level. When switched on, the ECO function in the DeLonghi HCX9115E helps regulate power flow and the temperature level of the heating unit. This means you can save on your utility bills while still keeping warm during winter.
- Soft-Touch LED Control Panel — The DeLonghi HCX9115E features a soft-touch LED control panel that is easy to use and provides you with all the information you need to keep the temperature of your room at a comfortable level. The LED display provides information on the current temperature and the multiple heating settings of the unit, so you’ll know exactly when the temperature needs to be tweaked to a higher or lower level.
Duraflame DFI-5010-01
Features:
- 5,200 BTU heater provides supplemental zone heating for up to 1,000 sq. ft.
- Cool to the touch. Requires no venting or gas lines
- Remote control with 2 AAA batteries included
- Realistic flame effect with glowing log and ember bed
- Infrared heat helps to maintain the natural humidity within the air
- Easy-to-assemble
- Durable metal body construction with side viewing windows and a beveled glass, operable door
- Adjustable thermostat allows you to decide the temperature of your room
- 3D flame effect technology with five adjustable brightness settings
Duraflame DFI-5010-01 — Overview
- Can Heat Up a 1,000 Sq. Ft. Room — The Duraflame DFI-5010-01 is an infrared heater that is powered by electricity and can heat up large rooms of up to 1,000 square feet. What’s great about this heater is that it will automatically shut off once it has reached the set temperature.
- Added Safety with Over-Heat Protection — One of the problems with indoor heaters is that people are uncomfortable leaving it on while they sleep for fear of the unit overheating. This will not happen with the Duraflame DFI-5010-01, thanks to the over-heat protection function that prevents the heater from overheating.
- Can Be Operated Manually, or Via Remote Control — With the Duraflame DFI-5010-01, you will have a couple of options when it comes to operating the unit. Users can either use the multi-function remote control to turn the unit on or off, or set the thermostat without having to get up, or you can do that manually by using the control panel on the unit itself.
- Patent Pending 3D Flame Effect Tech —Another nifty feature of the Duraflame DFI-5010-01 is its patent pending 3D flame technology that looks just like real fire, but of course isn’t. With this heater, you can choose from up to five different settings to set the brightness of the 3D flames according to the environment you wish to create.
Mr. Heater MHVFB30NGT
Features:
- 30,000 BTU per hour
- Automatic low oxygen shut-off system (ODS)
- Blue flame burner for even convection heat
- For use with Natural Gas
- Heats up to 750 sq. ft.
- Legs and wall mounting hardware included
- Quiet integrated blower for gentle circulation of heated air
- Thermostat for automatic temperature control
- Does not work over 4,500 Ft. above sea level
Mr. Heater MHVFB30NGT — Overview
- Can Heat Up a 750 Square Feet Room — The Mr. Heater MHVFB30NGT is a gas-powered room heater that can heat up large rooms with relative ease. With up to 30,000 BTUs in power, the heater makes quick work of heating large rooms without any hassle.
- Automatic Low Oxygen Shut Off System — Heater MHVFB30NGT is a vent-free gas heater, which is why it has included a low oxygen shut off system in its design, which is basically an Oxygen Depletion Sensor or ODS which monitors the air in a room and shuts off the heating unit if the oxygen level falls below a certain level.
- Can Work in the Middle of a Power Outage— The Mr. Heater MHVFB30NGT is a great option if the power goes off frequently in your area during the winter. Since it is powered by gas, the Mr. Heater MHVFB30NGT does not need an external power source to operate in the middle of a power outage.
- Integrated Blower —It is common for blue-flame heaters to raise the warm air to the ceiling, and then make its way around the room. With the addition of a blower to the design of the Mr. Heater MHVFB30NGT, you don’t have to wait too long for the room to heat up before you can get comfortable.
Ending Note
It’s easy to find a heater for small rooms, but finding one for larger rooms is often a challenge. While choosing a heater for large rooms, it is important to pick one that has enough power necessary to heat the entire room. The information shared here will let you make a more informed decision the next time you’re in the market for a new heater for large room.