Which plug-in space heater is actually the most efficient?
All standard electric resistance space heaters convert electricity to heat at the exact same efficiency, meaning no single brand or model will produce more heat per watt than another. This prevents people from finding a high-efficiency plug-in option to offset cold air from a heat pump water heater or reduce heating costs.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Using oil radiator style electric heaters for thermal mass and silence
- 2Adding a box fan to a radiator style heater to warm a room faster
- 3Dumping extra electricity production into an EV
- 4Consulting online HVAC communities for comparison advice
- 5Analyzing manufacturer specifications and ratings to weigh installation trade-offs
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“looking for honest opinions on the most efficient plug in heater. Not looking for mini-split, my townhouse won't accommodate that. I just have some excess solar production that I would like to turn into heat to offset the cold air coming out of my HPWH in winter.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2Using a tankless water heater for radiant floor heat
- 45How to choose between different HVAC replacement quotes
- 11How do I use and maintain an oil heating system?
- 2How to know if I need an 80k or 100k BTU furnace
- 3Should I buy an appliance size I can see or risk one online?
- 2What size heat pump do I need for a waterfront cottage?