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Energy-efficient heater for large rooms
Heaters have become an essential device to keep us warm and toasty during winter, but running costs can get expensive very quickly. To reduce heating costs, you can opt for energy-efficient heaters. They are generally cheaper to run compared to traditional heaters. However, not all energy-efficient heaters are created equal.
Before choosing an energy-efficient heater, determine your heating needs and size requirements. Then, consider if you want a gas, oil, wood or electric option. When comparing heaters, check any energy-efficient functions such as an eco mode, low emission technology and programmable timer. Other factors to consider are safety features, user-friendliness and portability.
Our team has examined hundreds of heaters from brands like Omega Altise, Rinnai, DeLonghi, Winterwarm and Aiko to find the best energy-efficient heaters. We picked models based on customer reviews and ratings and considered key product features when choosing heaters for each category.
Read more detail on our methodology below.
Our pick for the best overall energy-efficient heater is the Omega Altise Brigadier 25MJ Natural Gas Radiant Convection Heater. This model has an average rating of 4.55 out of 5 stars on The Good Guys and Harvey Norman. It is also one of our choices for the best heaters you can get online.
Using radiant and convection heat, the Brigadier can keep rooms up to 90sqm warm during cold winter days. It has a sleek and portable design as well as an energy-efficient operation to help reduce costs. With a 5.9-star energy rating and a decent $899 price tag, this model is an economical choice for larger households.
Customers praised the heater's compact design, durable build and superb performance. And while it doesn't heat up as fast as its competitor, the Brigadier evenly distributes long-lasting warmth. It also has handy safety features such as an oxygen depletion sensor and a flame failure shut-off function for peace of mind.
We recommend Bitzong's Energy Efficient Portable Office & Home Electric Ceramic Heater as the best cheap option. It has a rating of 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
Featuring an energy-efficient and compact design, this electric ceramic heater is suitable for warming small rooms. It claims to have a quick heating feature as well as cold and hot air modes for ultimate versatility. It is also flame-resistant and has a safety power off for protection.
This heater has a wide-angle automatic swing to quickly and evenly distribute warmth through the room. Customers said it is extremely user-friendly, thanks to its LED power indicator and thermostat control. Apart from a quiet operation, several reviews praised the heater's sleek design. However, one critic said it doesn't instantly turn off when tilted over.
When it comes to the best gas option, we recommend the Rinnai Granada 252 Radiant Convector LPG 252L. It has a rating of 5 out of 5 stars on Bing Lee.
The Granada 252 is the largest model from Rinnai's Portable Radiant Convector range, quickly and evenly heating rooms up to 52sqm. It features a powerful fan and high heat output for long-lasting warmth. And with 3 heat settings and a 2-speed fan, this can accommodate all your heating requirements.
Part of our list of the best gas heaters, the Granada 252 has an 8.5MJ per hour output on low settings and 25MJ on high. It also has an impressive 5.9-star energy rating, to help reduce running costs. For safety, this heater features a tilt-switch-off function, dress guard, sensors and flame failure device. However, this doesn't have a child lock.
We recommend the DeLonghi 2400W Digital Ceramic Tower Heater as the best energy-efficient electric option. It has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Harvey Norman.
This digital ceramic tower heater features an integrated ceramic heating element to evenly and quickly spread heat in small- and medium-sized areas. With optimised heating airflow, this also provides long-lasting warmth to keep you warm and cosy. Apart from a handy safety system, this has a user-friendly touch control panel, 3 power settings and an anti-dust filter.
Customers gave positive feedback on the heater's sleek look, high efficiency and value for money. It features an ECO PLUS function that helps regular power flow and manage temperature levels, allowing you to reduce energy costs. This heater is also one of our top choices for the best electric heaters. And because it's got an anti-dust filter to remove pollutants and allergens in the air, this heater is suitable for people with asthma and allergies.
We recommend the Omega Altise Lancer Radiant/Convector Heater as the best portable model available online. It has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars on Harvey Norman.
The Lancer uses radiant and convection heat to warm up rooms at a rate of 15MJ per hour. It also has a fan-only function and 2 heat settings to adapt to any heating needs. For optimum safety, it features a flame failure shut-off function and a safety tip-over switch. It has a 3-year warranty as well.
With a whopping 5.9-star energy rating, this is an economical choice for heating up areas up to 52sqm. It uses natural gas to create a warm, comforting environment to keep you cosy during cold days. The Lancer also comes with remote control and adjustable temperature for convenience. However, some said it heats slightly slower than other models they've tried in the past.
We recommend the Winterwarm WWDF20E Downflow Electric Bathroom Fan Heater as the best energy-efficient bathroom heater. On Amazon, it has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars.
Providing rapid heat and an adjustable heat output at installation, the WWDF20E has earned a spot on our list of the best bathroom heaters. It uses a mechanical pull cord for activation and runs for about 30 minutes before switching off. You can also reactivate it by pulling the cord again. And with a power of 2,000W, this little number can heat up a small bathroom fast. It is 1P22-rated for durability, too.
This fan heater is an affordable and energy-efficient option if you're on a budget. It has an easy-to-use mechanical control and a wall-mounted design that is easy to install. Despite being quite simple, this has won the hearts of many Amazon buyers. Customers said this handy heater gets them warm and toasty in no time, while others love that it can help them reduce energy costs. Several reviews wish it came with a light, but this seems to be a minor concern.
Our team selected DeLonghi's Radia 2400W Oil Column Heater with Timer as the best oil option. It has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Harvey Norman. This model is also what we considered the best oil heater available online.
The Radia has 3 power settings and an adjustable timer to cater to any heating requirements. It also features a handy safety thermostat, anti-frost function and takes 12 minutes to evenly distribute long-lasting warmth. And because it has pre-assembled castors, wheels and a carry handle, it is easy to move around.
This has a patented design that the brand claims helps distribute even and long-lasting heat in small and medium rooms. It also uses Real Energy technology that optimises the amount of energy used by steadily increasing heat until the heater reaches your desired temperature.
We recommend the Rinnai Avenger 25 Convector Portable Natural Gas Heater AV25SN3 as the best energy-efficient model for large rooms. It has a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on Appliances Online.
The Avenger 25 features 8.2Kw of power to heat up large rooms in no time. With low emission technology and a 5.8-star energy rating, it is also an efficient and economical way to keep your household warm during winter. Additionally, it has an economy mode, clean filter light and electronic thermostat for ease of use.
When it comes to safety, the Avenger 25 has a child lock, flame failure function and a tilt switch. It also has a power failure feature and an overheat switch. The heater's memory function is also quite handy, allowing you to record selected temperatures for future use. It is quite pricey at $1,799, but customers said its durable build, handy features and efficient performance are well worth it.
For small rooms, we selected the Omega Altise Unflued LPG Convector Heater as the best option.
Designed to heat spaces at a rate of 25MJ per hour, this heater is a versatile option for both small and large rooms. It uses convection heating to provide even and long-lasting warmth. This heater also has a touch glass digital control panel, remote control and a delay timer of up to 24 hours for convenience. As for safety, it has a flame failure shut-off, child lock and tip-over switch.
This Omega Altise gas heater features 3 heating modes, including an eco mode that optimises energy efficiency. For a quicker heating time, you can use the unit's boost mode. Its remote control is also user-friendly, allowing you to easily set the timer function, adjust temperatures or pick from the different modes. Several reviews said the heater is quite noisy, but this seems to be an isolated concern.
Our team has examined hundreds of energy-efficient heaters – from gas, electric, oil and portable options. We looked into models from the following brands:
We created a shortlist based on customer ratings and reviews (as of July 2022). We also considered each model's key product features, including price, energy rating, safety features and size coverage. We came up with what we believe are the 9 best energy-efficient heaters you can get right now in Australia.
When it comes to energy efficiency, reverse cycle conditioners, wood heaters and gas heaters are at the forefront.
Reverse-cycle conditioners are the most energy efficient. Other electric and gas heaters use energy to create heat, while a reverse-cycle conditioner takes heat from outside your home and releases it to heat a room.
Most gas heaters have an energy rating of 5.8-star and 5.9-star, which means they are about 90% efficient.
The gas energy rating helps consumers compare the energy efficiency of different gas heaters in the market. It is part of the certification requirements. All states require both LPG and natural gas heaters for sale to be tested and certified under AS4553. However, the gas energy rating is not under the E3 program.
Modern wood heaters have an energy efficiency of up to 80%, depending on the model. However, they can produce more green gas compared to other types of energy-efficient heaters.
Oil heaters are also quite energy efficient as they retain heat quite well. And when an oil heater hits your desired temperature, it automatically turns off. This can help you reduce running costs.
Electric heaters are not as efficient as other options. Most electric heaters need constant power to keep an area warm and toasty.
Consider the following factors when choosing an energy-efficient heater:
Find a heater that can warm the room where you'll be using it. A heater that is too small for an area wastes energy and may increase your bill. Make sure to check the heater's size capacity when shopping.
Choose between gas, wood, oil, electric and reverse-cycle options. Gas, wood and reverse-cycle heaters are more energy efficient than electric models. However, electric heaters are more user-friendly.
Opt for a heater with energy-saving features such as an eco mode, low emission technology, programmable timer and multiple heat settings.
Make sure to pick a heater with a child lock, auto shut-off system and a tilt switch and overheat protection for a worry-free heating operation.
Here are several tips that can help you reduce your heating costs:
Read our guide to know more about winter heating costs.
Gas heaters are more energy efficient compared to electric models. While electric heaters are cheaper, they constantly need electricity to maintain warmth. Gas heaters have lower running costs because gas is generally cheaper than electricity. Additionally, they provide longer-lasting warmth for small and large areas.
To calculate your heater cost, find the label with the input power in MJ for gas or kW for electricity. Then, check your power bill and look for the usage rate cost for gas or electricity. Multiply the input power by the usage range to get the cost of your running a heater per hour.
You can set a schedule for your heating, insulate your room and use other heating sources to help with your appliance's energy efficiency.
Ericka Pingol is a writer for Finder specialising in reviews. She has previously written articles about property investment, finances, and health. She’s a huge fan of Tina Fey, bubble teas and dogs. Ericka has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of the East, Manila and is currently writing her thesis for a Master’s degree in Communication
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