To help choose an additional source of heating for your home, Calor has put together some advice on what type of portable heater is the best to suit your needs.
A gas heater can heat up any room in just minutes and is an extremely versatile way to keep the cold out. Energy efficient, cost effective and practical, they are the perfect way to provide your home with all the warmth and comfort you'll need during the cold spells.
Portable gas heater vs. electric heater
Portable heaters operate on a butane gas cylinder, which is neatly concealed in the body of the heater. They can heat up a room almost immediately - and the fact that they are portable means that they can be moved around to heat any part of a room in your home. Best of all, it means no hunting around for a socket or enduring unsightly cables lying across your room which can be a real danger.Don't forget the following important safety information when setting up your new portable heater:
- For safety reasons portable heaters must not be used in the bathroom, bedroom or garage where petrol vapour is present.
- Heaters must be used in a well ventilated room and positioned at least one metre from flammable materials.
- A portable heater with a maximum heat input of 4.2kW should only be used in a room larger than 35.78m squared (based on a ceiling height of 2.4m).
- A portable heater with a maximum heat input of 2.4kW should only be used in a room larger than 20.44m squared (based on a ceiling height of 2.4m).
Coal effect stoves
- These rustic style heaters are the perfect addition to traditional or country homes. They will look the part in living rooms, conservatories or kitchens and can become a focal point in a room.
- Coal effect stoves are designed and look like a real fire but save you the hassle of a real fire - and no chimney is required.
Radiant heaters
- Radiant heaters work by heating infrared rays, which are then radiated out and absorbed by surrounding objects like, for example, floors, furniture or people.
- The increased temperature of these objects then heats the air surrounding them - and as floors absorb the heat, you'll find these kinds of heaters create warmer floor-level temperatures than many others.
- Radiant portable heaters are efficient and quiet - so no noisy blowers or fans are required to distribute the heat.
Catalytic heaters
- Catalytic heaters are flame-free (except for the pilot light), making them exceptionally safe and ideal for workshops and garages.
- This type of heater is often smaller in size, so is easy to store.
- Using a catalytic heater can also help to reduce carbon monoxide emissions.
