Portable Space Heater Reviews

The portable space heaters reviewed in this article are electric radiant or convection space heaters, cost less than $100, and offer a maximum heat output of 1500 watts.

All of the following space heater suggestions are rated an average minimum of 4 out of 5 stars by consumer reviewers.

Radiant heaters work like the sun by warming people and objects. Radiant heaters without fans are not designed to heat an entire room, but excel at providing instant heat for one or two people.

Two examples of radiant heaters without fans are radiant heat panels and parabolic heaters.

Radiant heat panels are constructed with the heating element embedded in the panel. By virtue of their simplicity, they are safe, reliable and maintenance free.

The Presto Parabolic Heat Dish is a cost effective choice for workshops or garages when you want to heat just you and not the entire building.

The Cozy Legs radiant heat panel, with only 100 watts of heat output is by no means a whole room heater, but performs admirably when installed under a desk or hung on the wall to warm a bird cage.

The next four categories of radiant heaters are equipped with fans to provide whole room heat.

Quartz Infrared Heaters
Quartz infrared heaters can cost as little as $50, or as much as $450 for the SunTwin or EdenPure heaters. The SunTwin brand features copper heat exchangers for consistent, non drying heat; a child and pet friendly cool to the touch exterior, fan assisted heat for larger spaces, and a lifetime washable filter.

The less expensive Marvin 1500 watt quartz heater uses replaceable quartz tubes in front of a reflector and a fan to project whole room heat. Quartz heating elements reduce positive ions in the air and consume very little oxygen. Reviews say this heater works extremely well. The security locked grill swings out for easy quartz tube replacement. Replacement tubes are readily available for $9.99 each.

Ceramic Heaters
Ceramic heaters come in a wide variety of models: fixed, tower, oscillating and pedestal. One of the most popular and inexpensive of these is the Honeywell HZ-315. Weighing in at only 3.3 pounds, it's the mighty mite of space heaters capable of quickly heating small to mid-sized rooms.

A specialized version of the ceramic heater is the remote controlled Soleus Air MS-20A. The cool to the touch exterior, even heat, and wall mounting feature make it a favorite for nurseries.

Electric Fireplaces
What are they? Expensive space heaters or a piece of furniture that also keeps you warm? Definitely a piece of furniture. If you went crazy and spent $2200 on an electric fireplace (they're out there), it still won't heat your room any better than the $299 model.

Electric Stoves
Similar to the electric fireplace, an electric stove is a radiant, fan assisted space heater installed in a decorative housing. The most popular model by far with consumers is the Dimplex CS3311 compact electric stove.

You can continue to read the reviews for convection heaters, micathermic heaters and oil filled radiators at Sam's Guide to Small Heaters.

►Reprint Rights◄

Join Sam Streubel's Fan Club

Comments on this article:

» left by Anonymous (272 days 6 hours ago.)

I am extremely happy with my CZ infrared heater. My home is approximately 900 sq ft, and well insulated. I live in the pacific northwest, since purchasing my CZ infrared I have seen a decrease in my electric bill of $40-$55 a month compared to using my standard basebord heating. I am planning to purchase many more for friends and family as we could all use a break in our monthly bills through this tough economic time.

Respond to this comment

» left by Garrison Roberts from Rapid City, SD (213 days 6 hours ago.)
Good Morning, my name is Garrison Roberts. My wife and I just bought our first home 5 months agomoving up and finally realizing the American Dream. So shortly thereafter we found that it could be very costly during the impending winter to pay the higher propane costs that heating a 1800 sq ft home iswe needed a better solution. So we looked around and found some friends using 2 CZ Infrared 1500P heaters to supplement their home heat. It seemed to do an excellent job in the main areas of their home. So I took the leap of faith and invested in 3 units...they do not disappoint whatsoever. We run our thermostat at a constant 55 F and supplement up to 75 degrees F in our living room, one in our kitchen/dining area, and one in our finished basement that is converted into an office/study. The units perform perfectly and we set them to delay start about 45 minutes prior to coming home for an even, comfortable heat. I run our 3 units for about 12 hours per day for the cost of $1.58 per day or less than $50.00 per month in electrical cost per unit. It has saved us hundreds in potential propane costs this heating season already. I am so glad that I took the leap of faith and decided to choose Infrared heat to keep my new home comfy and warm. Thank you, CZ Infrared.
Respond to this comment

» left by Anonymous (231 days 9 hours ago.)

My name is Brian Dempsy and Im an aspiring student who just left the temperate climes of my hometown of Northridge, California for the bone-numbing weather only found at Boston University where I left in search of a BS in Management. Upon arriving last fall I soon realized that my dorm, while carpeted and self-contained, didnt keep in heat during the waning throws of fall. This made me start really considering other options as the impending doom of winter loomed. I started asking around and some of my fellows were using a CZ Infrared 1000 model heater to warm their rooms. I have to admit, I was skeptical. I mean, how is a small and unassuming heater supposed to warm my entire 300 square foot dorm room? It didnt seem possible. After a week of listening to the testimony of my peers, I finally got enough nerve to make that phone call to my parents to buy me the heater.

 

The unit arrived last month and man was it a life saver. Instead of focusing on staying warm, like I was doing, I can focus on cramming for exams and partyingthe important staples in a young students life. The unit simply works. By producing an even, comfortable heat that warms my furniture versus the air in my environment, I can focus less on my room being an oven (like my friends do with their units) and more on my room being an comfy, inviting place to study and live. Thank you Comfort Zone for saving my collegiate career.

Respond to this comment

» left by Anonymous (195 days 10 hours ago.)

In response to Mr. Roberts, the only issue I can see with your assertions is that I fail to see how a space heater can effectively heat an area of this magnitude comfortably or efficiently. Please explain to me how this unit can be as efficient as a standard central heat system. Thank you for your time.

Respond to this comment

» left by Jacqueline from Minnesota (189 days 9 hours ago.)

Although I am happy that summer is approaching, I am a little disappointed I will not be able to use my CZ infrared this summer as the temperature outside will not allow it. My husband has mild joint pain and loved to rest his weary body in front of the heater. Although the manufacturer does not claim any health benefits, my husband notices that his joint pain has improved significantly.

Respond to this comment

» left by Anonymous (188 days 6 hours ago.)

Just poking around to see what other people are saying about the heater I jusr bought. It seems that 3 1500 watt infrared heaters would be able to handle 1800 square feet rather nicely at 1000 each. I have 2 of my own, and while my house is quite a bit smaller than Garrison's, I agree it's worth the money.

Respond to this comment

» left by Peter Garrett from Medford, Oregon (187 days 7 hours ago.)

Good Morning, I purchased my CZInfrared 1500WT last winter to keep my townhome warm and toasty because I found that using clean and efficient electricity was a better environmental option versus our propane heat in Medford, Oregon. Being an active participant in the security of this planet’s future, I abhor the use of fossil fuels in any fashion. The burning of fossil fuels creates unnecessary amounts of greenhouse gas in our volatile environment which threaten the stability of our ozone layer causing unnatural climate change and limiting the amount of oxygen that we breathe. Due to my concerns, I needed a better option to heat my home that is powered by solar panel technology that produces the electricity I use. While I do save inherently on my power from our local utility, it still makes sense to find an efficient option to heat my home during the height of winter. My CZInfrared heater allows me to do just that. I kept it on constantly this winter heating my living room, study, and bedroom depending upon where I was. It did a fantastic job of maintaining an even 72 F in all of these areas mentioned while being unassuming and blending into my wood-toned décor seamlessly. In fact, my only regret was that I had only purchased one between all rooms in my home. Next year, before the big winter hits my local area, I plan to buy 2 more CZ1500 models for my study and bedroom to continuously keep all my rooms at a consistent and comfortable temperature.

Respond to this comment

» left by Harold Regis from Medford, OR (178 days 9 hours ago.)
That just figures from such a greener, tree-hugging destroyer of the common man. The world has been used the same way, generation after generation, in just the same manner without incident so what will a few moments in the vast history of our planet change save for serving as a tool to separate the hard working coal miner or auto technician or logger or mill technician from his job at a time when the economy couldnt be in more dire of straights since the great depression of our fore-bearers. I get so upset when I see a man who has worked all his life for one particular industry only to be told just shy of retirement that due to environmental protections that his job has been made obsolete.just tragic. Now that being said, I have nothing to say about the CZInfrared product save for I wonder whose poor job was cut in the creation of such a perfect product. I have yet to see an environmentalist suggest something positive that didnt DESTROY something wholesome in the process. Thank you for your time.
Respond to this comment

» left by Charles from USA (2 days 23 hours ago.)

It appears that this article turned into a posting of Comfort Zone. Actually Comfort Zone is now CZ heater for those unaware. They needed to change the name as there was already another heater out that had that name.

Another type of heater worth mentioning is the Solar Comfort Infrared Heater. The reason I mention it is that the article talks about Quartz Infrared heaters which are basically a halogen bulb. However, Solar Comfort uses a totally different lamp type.

The original Infrared heater created back in the 1980's that started the Infrared revolution is nearly the same as the Solar Comfort using Infrared heat lamps. They were not Quartz. The Infrared heat lamps are safer and used in farming for poultry, hog and lamb. They are also used in the food industry as well as saunas.

I have seen many issues with the Quartz as they get too hot.  A tip is if you have an Edenpure, Comfort Zone (CZ heater) or equivalent, be sure to keep the filter clean. If you don't the air flow is reduced and cause for danger as the hot air can not get out of the unit. You might say  though that they have a safety feature. Well not so fast. I have seen instances where it was too late and the plastic front melted.

Regarding the lifetime filters. These two units are not a quality filter in any way. So my advise is not to buy it based on the idea that is doing any kind of filtering. The filter will be less restrictive to debree than one used above a stove.

One thing I will say is that Edenpure has been around much longer than Comfort Zone which is currently having major financial issues. Best thing is to do your research.