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Different Electric Bathroom Heater Types To Choose From

Have you ever stepped out of the shower or the bathtub and felt like your bathroom could really use some extra degrees? Sometimes even when our bathroom is really warm, every time we get out of the water, it still feels a little bit chilly.

Electric Bathroom Heater

Before you get into that comfortable robe, you probably want to enjoy some of that bathroom heat, but there just doesn’t seem to be enough of it. Make no mistake, there is a solution to this problem, and it’s called a bathroom heater.

What Types of Bathroom Heaters Are There?

Before you choose one bathroom heater over another, it’s important to be able to distinguish the different types of products out there so that you can make the best choice.

  • A lot of people opt for portable bathroom heaters. These are especially common amongst homeowners that find their bathrooms require more warmth during the winter but don’t necessarily need a heater in the summer as well. Portable bathroom heaters can simply be used in the bathroom in the colder months and then be removed and stored away for the rest of the year. Moreover, portable heaters also offer a lot of other different advantages, such as the fact that when you are not using them in the bathroom, you can re-purpose them in another room of your home.
  • Another type of bathroom heater is the heater/exhaust fan. The benefit of using such a product is that it can also prevent some of that humidity by making sure the air isn’t too moist and preventing steam from doing damage to your bathroom furniture, your walls, or your ceiling.
  • Wall-mounted heaters are also very common because they are basically wall-mounts that will never get in the way and don’t take up too much space in the bathroom. They are also safer to use if you have children or pets because mounting them at the appropriate height will get them out of their reach.
  • Ceiling heaters are great for people that want permanent heating in the bathroom. Because of their location, they are impossible to obstruct, and they are also very safe because you don’t risk touching them. Another benefit of a ceiling heater is that it is far away from any water sources.

A lot of people believe that a fan variant is the best bathroom heater. Bathrooms are often small spaces, and a fan heating unit can rapidly and efficiently warm them up. To heat the bathroom air, fan heaters might use an electric coil or ceramic plates.

Safety concerns

Bathroom heating Safety concerns

This is the biggest concern that people have when choosing the best bathroom heaters for their homes, so we wanted to talk a little bit about what safety means when choosing this particular type of product.

Bathrooms are considered ideal locations for portable space heaters equipped with ACLI safety plugs. ACLI safety plugs, according to OSHA, are meant to interrupt ground faults really fast, in 1/40 of a second. 

Because ACLI safety plugs do not completely eliminate the risk of electrical shock, attention should still be exercised as their units operate in moist locations. Monthly testing of ACLI outlets and plugs is recommended, as is replacing of outlets and goods that fail.

The best bathroom heaters when it comes to safety are the wall and ceiling heaters. Secure mounting to the wall or hardwiring into existing wiring ensures safe operation without risking electrical shock.

Top 5 Bathroom Heater Reviews

To further shed some light on this whole bathroom heater situation, we are going to explore some of the most popular models currently sold online, hoping that there’s at least one product in here that matches your expectations.

1. Stiebel Eltron 1500-Watt Wall Mounted

Stiebel Eltron 1500-Watt Wall Mounted

One very practical bathroom heater is this model over here. It’s a wall-mounted product that comes with an ultra-quiet fan made from galvanized steel, which is capable of keeping the noise to a minimum of 49.7 dB.

Thanks to the frost protection setting, even if your thermostat is set to the lowest setting, it will maintain above-freezing temperatures. This particular bathroom heater also comes with a booster timer which can provide you with a maximum of one-hour heat output before returning to its original setting.

Even if this bathroom heater provides you with plenty of freedom when it comes to its wall mounting position, it is still important that you place it at least at an 8-inch distance away from the floor because the fan heater blows warm air out of its bottom side. Also, take into account the fact that these heaters require vertical mounting.

Pros:

  • Built-in thermostat.
  • Frost protection setting.
  • Quiet fan.
  • Easy mounting.

Cons:

  • Not suitable for large spaces.

2. Broan-NuTone 170 Wall Heater

Broan-NuTone 170 Wall Heater

With a simple yet very practical design, we bring you yet another sturdy wall heater that’s perfect for a space such as your bathroom. It is a pretty straightforward product that can supplement other heat sources inside your bathroom. The thermostat is mounted on the front panel, giving you the freedom to control the heat without having to reach for a dial located on the side.

Inside the heater, you can find a lubricated motor, a nickel-chrome heating element, a manual reset thermal overload protector, and other quality components. Because the heater itself is quite small, it can only cover areas around 65 to 100 feet. The built-in thermostat has an auto-shutdown feature, providing you with three different heat settings.

However, you need to take note of the fact this shouldn’t be used as the primary heating source but rather as a supplement to an already-existing heating system.

Pros:

  • Budget buy.
  • Manual reset thermal overload protector.
  • Easy to mount.
  • Built-in thermostat.
  • Conveniently placed thermostat.

Cons:

  • Doesn’t serve as a primary heating source.

3. Broan-NuTone Fan-Forced Ceiling Heater

Broan-NuTone Fan-Forced Ceiling Heater

Broan is back with another cheap heating system that is designed to be mounted on the ceiling of the bathroom. It features a low-profile housing that has a grille made with satin finish aluminum. It shares a lot of the features that you can also find in the aforementioned model, such as automatic overheat protection or a lubricated motor.

As far as mounting is concerned, these bathroom ceiling heaters can be attached to a 3.5 or 4-inch round or 4-inch octagonal ceiling electrical box. This can be quite a viable option where you’re looking to diffuse some extra heat inside the bathroom, but it might not be of much help if you plan to use it as the primary heating source.

Pros:

  • Lubricated motor.
  • Satin finish aluminum grille.
  • Automatic overheat protection.

Cons:

  • Unattractive looks.

4. Lasko Portable Space Heater

Lasko Portable Space Heater

The Lasko portable heater is a simple and easy-to-use product that you can easily carry from one room to another. When you’re not using it in the bathroom, you can put it on your desk, under your table, in your pantry, or in any other place that you’d like to heat up.

Such ceramic heaters come with two different heat settings, plus a one-hour timer which already provides you with plenty of options considering the low price of the product. Operating at1500 W, this heater should do a good job in heating up most small to medium-sized bathrooms.

This bathroom heater comes with its very own safety plug, which basically cuts out the power to it in case of a shortage. The unit also has automatic overheating protection and a ceramic heating element that maintains a cool external temperature.

Pros:

  • Three heat settings.
  • Highly portable.
  • Easy to use.
  • No assembly required.
  • Comes with a safety plug.

Cons:

  • Only good for small spaces.

Do Towel Rails Heat a Bathroom?

A heated towel rail is another option that works beautifully in bathrooms of all sizes, including smaller ones. Not only are towel rails more functional than normal radiators in terms of keeping your towels dry and warm, but they also add style to any bathroom.

Do Towel Rails Heat a Bathroom?

Heated towel rails are frequently favored over regular radiators in contemporary, minimalist, or modern bathrooms due to their more timeless and streamlined appearance.

You’ll need lots of unobstructed wall space for your towel rail since the majority are meant to take up a substantial amount of area. They do, however, provide a good space-saving solution for those of you that have small bathrooms, as they are normally mounted vertically on the surface of the wall and don’t occupy any floor space.

The majority of heated towel rails will give enough warmth to work as additional bathroom heaters while also keeping your towels fluffy and warm when you exit the bath or shower. A larger bathroom, on the other hand, may require an additional source of heating to keep the room appropriately warm.

Do Wall-Mounted Heaters Use a Lot of Electricity?

Do Wall Heaters Use a Lot of Electricity?

Electric wall heaters can be rather pricey to operate. This is because electricity is quite expensive. Generally, less expensive fuels such as oil or natural gas are more cost-effective for domestic heater operations.

During bathroom heater operation, a significant amount of electrical energy is squandered. A large amount of energy is lost in the process of heat creation and transmission. This reduces the efficiency of the electric bathroom heaters to around 50 percent or less.

Electric Wall Heater vs. Baseboard

Both types of bathroom heaters operate on the principle of electrical resistance. Electrical current passes through the heating elements, resulting in friction, which generates heat. The fundamental distinction between baseboard heaters and electric wall heaters is in the method of heat distribution.

Electric Wall Heater vs. Baseboard

Electric Wall Heater

An electric wall heater is equipped with a little fan. The fan circulates air across the heated elements, releasing air into the room by forcing it through the grate. On the other hand, a baseboard heater has elements that heat up and consequently warm the metal fins located on the cover. Without the aid of a fan, the fins then transfer that heat into the room.

Baseboard Heater

A thermostat regulates the demand for heat in both types of bathroom heaters. The thermostat can be put directly on the heater, which is cheaper but also less precise, as it is impacted by the heater’s heat. The other option is to wall attach the thermostat, which improves accuracy but involves additional wiring. In larger rooms, a single thermostat can operate multiple wall heaters.

Electric Heaters vs. Oil-Filled Heaters 

Two types of heaters that are often compared by potential buyers are electric heaters and oil-filled heaters.

Electric Portable Bathroom Heaters

Because it is a mass-produced commodity, there is a great deal of competition, which results in low prices for consumers. If you’re searching for a quick boost in heating power, these can be the best bathroom heaters for you. Electric fan heaters can heat a room in a matter of minutes. 

Electric heater 

With the help of their fans, they can be the best space heaters, distributing the warmth in the whole room quickly. There are tens of thousands of models to pick from, and the possibilities are endless. You’re likely to find the best bathroom heater powered by electricity for your home without any difficulties.

Because such a portable bathroom heater relies on the movement of air to distribute heat, any inadequate insulation or drafty windows will cause you to lose heat quickly. Because of the rapid heat loss, typical electric heaters must operate at a higher temperature for a longer period of time, consuming more energy.

Oil-Filled Portable Bathroom Heaters

These portable heaters have incredible heat retention capabilities. Once they’ve reached the proper temperature, they end up saving you a significant amount of energy by simply needing a small amount of power to keep the heat going. Because all of the heat is generated by heating the oil, there is virtually little noise produced by these heaters. If you feel that the fan noise tends to be distracting, these are the best bathroom heaters for you.

bathroom oil heater

An oil-filled bathroom heater typically has an excellent thermostat, featured in the majority of models. Oil heaters are excellent if you prefer a temperature that remains steady throughout the day. 

Because of the excellent heat retention of oil heaters, they can keep their heat for several hours after they have been turned off. Excellent for energy conservation and for use at night.

Oil heaters can weigh more than 20 pounds since they rely on a heavy liquid spread over a broad surface area, but they often have wheels for improved portability. It will take some time to heat up all of the oil to the correct temperature, so plan on waiting 30 minutes before the room is fully heated.

Are Electric Heaters Allowed in Bathrooms?

Electric heating solutions, like radiators, baseboard heating systems, and heated towel rails, have grown in popularity in recent years due to their efficiency and major advances in quality and design.

However, because we are hardwired to be careful of the electricity/water combo, as we should be, it may seem a little dangerous to use an electric heater in a bathroom. The first step in understanding that it is indeed safe to use an electric heater in the bathroom is to familiarize yourself with your bathroom’s zones.

Pros and Cons to an Electric Bathroom Heater

The advantages and drawbacks of electric heaters depend on the type of heater in question so, instead of giving you a general and vague overview, we’re going to take a look at the pros and cons for different types of electric heaters, so you can make a more informed shopping decision.

Electric Radiators

Pros:

  • Installation is simple and inexpensive.
  • It is the best space heater for radiative and convective heat while maintaining a suitable temperature in the room.
  • It requires little upkeep.
  • A boiler’s plumbing isn’t required in this case.
  • Day and night, you have the option of having temperature-controlled heating.
  • They help save floor space
  • There is no heat leaking.

Cons:

  • They tend to consume a lot of electricity.
  • Because of their high energy consumption, they are most useful in small rooms or when used as secondary heating sources. 

Storage Heaters

Pros:

  • There is no need for pipes or a boiler.
  • They help to keep the house warm at night and in the early morning hours.
  • It may be a more cost-effective method of heating the home. If you have a time-of-use tariff, you will be able to take advantage of lower off-peak electricity rates.
  • In areas where mainline gas is not available, night storage heaters are used to provide heat.
  • There is little or no maintenance required.
  • Installation is less complicated and less expensive than installing a new central heating system.

Cons:

  • The nighttime electric pricing is frequently only as good as the standard price, and it does not always result in lower heating expenditures.
  • They are large and heavy, and they take up a lot more floor space than the radiators that are used in other types of heating systems.
  • It is possible that dust will be expelled from the heater when the fan is turned on to boost the heat transfer.

Convection Heaters

Pros:

  • Each room’s temperature can be changed independently of the others.
  • Convection heaters distribute heat evenly throughout a room. This is due to the fact that the warm air they produce rises and falls uniformly within an enclosed space.
  • The energy savings from convection heating systems are approximately 10 percent greater than those from electric baseboard heaters.
  • Depending on the size of the room, convection panel heaters can be installed higher up on any free wall space.
  • Convection heaters, with the exception of the fan-equipped heaters that are most usually found in bathrooms, are virtually silent in their operation.

Cons:

  • A significant amount of dust disturbance can be caused by convection heaters because they do not contain any air filters and instead move the air around the room. People who suffer from dust allergies may find this to be an issue.
  • Because of the technology contained within the heater, convection heaters can be more expensive to operate because they consume a significant amount of electricity.

Best Bathroom Heater Alternatives 

As efficient as electric heaters might be, one of their major flaws is the fact that they increase the cost of your energy bills. So, here is a list of alternatives that you might find useful for even the best bathroom heaters:

  • Seal any gaps in the door and window frames to keep the warm air inside. Alternatively, no matter how much heat you put into your bathroom, the heat will continue to escape through the vents.
  • The color scheme of your bathroom can have a major impact on how warm or cold it is. Many people prefer to decorate their bathrooms with cool colors, such as different shades of blue, which are considered to be soothing. Consider introducing a warm color into your home’s decor.
  • As soon as you get out of a hot shower, put on the exhaust fan or open a window to allow for ventilation and the steam to escape. Mold growth cannot be prevented unless this step is taken.
  • Rather than utilizing huge towels, invest in a bathrobe to keep you warm. It will cover your entire body, and you will be able to step out without becoming numb.
  • Instead of utilizing cold white lights in your bathroom, try using warm yellow lighting instead. Whereas white lights are connected with cold, yellow lighting will assist you in visualizing warmth. 
  • Alternatively, candles or string lights can be used to create a nice mood in the room. However, you must be quite cautious when placing them in order to avoid any hazards.

The Bottom Line

While these five products are really good at what they do, there are plenty of other bathroom heaters that you can opt for, regardless of the category that you most fancy.

The most important thing is to look for a product that can withstand being in a humid environment and, if you don’t opt for a wall or ceiling heater, you should at least choose one with a solid waterproof rating.