An electric heater is a device that heats rooms by converting electric current into heat. With resistors, the heat is emitted as radiant energy. These resistors are composed of metal-alloy wire, non-metallic carbon compounds, or printed circuits. Heaters are usually installed in small rooms, but some are made to heat larger areas such as the whole house.

Electric heaters are rated in British thermal units, or BTUs, that determines the space heated. It is also the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.

There are numerous types of electric heaters. These are the following:

•    Convection heaters
Convection heaters, or electric fires, raise air using a heating element that conducts heat. As the hot air rises due to buoyancy, the cool air is heated to create a constant flow. The current of hot air is emitted through vent holes in the appliance. This type of heater is ideal for closed spaces.

Convection heaters operate silently. They also have low risk of ignition hazards.

•    Fan heaters
Fan heaters, or forced convection heaters, operate similarly to convection heaters, except they have an electric fan to speed up the flow of the hot air and decrease thermal resistance between the heating element and its surroundings.

Fan heats operate with noise because of the fan. They should not be left unattended, too, because they pose a risk of igniting nearby objects.

•    Radiative heaters
Radiative heaters, or space heaters, utilize reflectors and infrared beams to produce heat. Instead of heating the air in the entire room, the heating element travels through the air and allows itself to be absorbed by people and objects. This type of heater is ideal for places that need spot heating, like basements and garages.

Radiative heaters operate silently, but they also present potential danger of igniting nearby objects and furnishings because of their output’s focused intensity and the lack of overhead protection.

•    Storage heaters
Storage heaters, or heat banks, have clay bricks or other ceramic material that absorbs and stores heat during night, when base load electricity is cheaper, and releases the heat during the day.

•    Underfloor heaters
Underfloor heaters work through domestic electrical underfloor heating. This system is called radiant heating system, and either includes a heat exchanger or a radiator, or electricity. Underfloor heaters heat flooring to a temperature set by a floor thermostat, and through convection, heat the adjacent air. They create consistent temperature and even heating.

Now that you know the different types of electric heaters, you are now ready to buy yourself one. But before buying an electric heater, consider the model’s efficiency, safety features, and size. Choose one that is the right size for the room you intend to use it in. Make sure it can heat up the room at moderate speed to save you money and energy. Get a heater that has automatic shut off that prevents overheating and shuts off the heater if it is hit too hard.