8 Best Basement Heaters for a Warm and Cozy Winter
Basement heating is rarely a consideration for homeowners when initially building their house. However, basements are typically much colder than the rest of your house.
Cold air sinks while hot air rises because cold air is denser than hot air. Moreover, basements are often cold because they do not get direct sunlight from the roof. As a result, your basement is much chillier than the rest of your house.
The low temperature poses a problem if you plan to use your basement for living or other recreational activities. If you want your basement to be habitable, you will have to consider various basement heating options. Not only will basement heaters improve comfort, but they will also prevent mold growth and help keep the rest of your home warm since a cold basement also results in loss of heat throughout the house.
Many different basement heaters are available to keep you warm and cozy throughout the harsh winters. Follow this comprehensive guide to choose the best heater for your basement.
Electric Space Heaters vs. Gas Space Heaters
Gas heaters operate by burning fossil fuels, either propane or natural gas. The gas burns to provide heat to your room. To get the required fuel, gas heaters need to be hooked to a propane or gas line. Gas space heaters produce carbon monoxide when they burn, which is why you need to ensure proper ventilation before investing in one.
On the other hand, electric space heaters use electricity to warm up the heating element. The heating element may be anything from metal, ceramic, or oil. Electric heaters only need to be plugged into an outlet, and they don’t produce carbon monoxide. Electric heaters are becoming an increasingly popular option day by day because they don’t emit any dangerous gases or have an open flame.
8 Best Basement Space Heaters
Now that you know the difference between electric space heaters and gas space heaters, here are some of the best ones that will keep you warm and toasty throughout the winter:
1. Dr. Infrared Dr-968 Infrared Space Heater
The Dr. Infrared DR-968 Infrared Space Heater uses infrared waves to heat every object in your room. Highly efficient, this model uses 100% of the energy it consumes to heat your home. It combines radiant infrared heat with convection heat through a fan to ensure it provides warmth to every corner of your room.
One of the standout features of this space heater is that you can upgrade it to include a humidifier. The air becomes much drier in the winter, leading to dry, flaky skin and respiratory issues. A humidifier can help alleviate those problems.
The DR-968 heater also has a user-friendly remote control and a digital thermostat and temperature display. Even though it is slightly bulky compared to some other models, it has wheels to aid portability, and you can move it around as per your needs.
It also comes with a range of safety features such as overheating protection, tip-over protection, and cool-touch housing. Overheating protection minimizes your fire risk by turning the heater off when the internal components reach an unsafe temperature. The Tip-over guard immediately turns off the heater if it falls over. Cool-touch housing ensures that if any kids or pets accidentally touch your heater, they won’t be burned.
2. Lasko Aw300 Bladeless Ceramic Heater
For basement areas up to 300 sq. ft, the Lasko AW300 Bladeless Ceramic Heater is hard to beat. This sleek-looking heater will have your home looking like a design studio in no time. Weighing only around 9 pounds, this lightweight heater makes it easy to move from room to room. The bladeless heater also creates minimal noise, ideal for people who are easily distracted or bothered by loud, persistent noises.
The Lasko Bladeless Ceramic Heater also requires no assembly or installation. You can have it up and running in a few minutes. One of the standout features of this heater is that it oscillates to spread the warm air throughout your room. You don’t have to worry about cold spots anymore. It also lets you set a timer between one and eight hours, so you don’t have to worry whether you left your heater on when you left the house. Set a timer, and the heater will automatically turn off when it reaches the specified time.
It also has an automatic thermostat which ensures that the heater will turn off when the room reaches your desired temperature. Even after continuously running, the heater isn’t hot to the touch. The only drawback of this model is that it doesn’t have tip-over protection. The absence of tip-over protection, combined with its tower-like design, makes it less than ideal for homes with pets or young children.
3. Duraflame Dfi-5010 Fireplace Heater
The Duraflame DFI-5010 Fireplace Heater is one of the most aesthetically pleasing heaters on the market. With its beautiful fireplace-like appearance, you can convince yourself that you’re in front of an actual fireplace and not a mere space heater. Its small size means that you can place it nearly anywhere. Just make sure to keep any flammable items at least three feet away on all sides. It also has plastic feet to prevent hot metal from damaging your floor.
This heater also comes with overheating protection. Space heaters commonly reach high temperatures to the extent that the plug melts. Duraflame has a built-in thermometer within the plug. If the temperature gets too high, the unit will automatically shut down.
There is also a timer button that you can use to ensure that the heater doesn’t run for longer than necessary.
The primary draw of this heater is the beautiful faux flames which look surprisingly like real flames. Moreover, sitting near the heater feels like sitting in front of a fireplace because it is an infrared heater.
The only drawback of this heater is that the top quickly becomes warm to the touch. It is best to avoid this heater if you have any curious children who must touch anything and everything in their path.
4. Lifesmart Burnished Oak Fireplace Heater
The LifeSmart Burnished Oak Fireplace Heater is a beautiful addition to any room. Moreover, it stands out from other space heaters because of its efficiency in warming larger rooms. However, it is cumbersome and difficult to move because this heater is made to heat large rooms or small houses. Due to its large size, you may even use the top to place decoration pieces and/or picture frames.
The LifeSmart heater also has several safety features which make it a worthwhile addition to your basement. It has tip-over protection and overheating protection. The third safety feature it offers, a digital child lock, is not commonly seen in space heaters but is useful nonetheless. The child lock renders the control panel and the remote useless, so no fiddling child can turn on the heater or adjust the settings. However, never leave children unsupervised with basement heaters, even with the digital child lock. The timer allows you to program the unit to run for anywhere between one to twelve hours.
5. Pelonis Ny1507–14a Oil Filled Space Heater
The Pelonis NY1507–14A Oil Filled Space Heater is ideal for small rooms between 150–300 sq. ft. Like most space heaters, the Pelonis Oil Filled Heater comes with overheating and tip-over protection. It also has a 10-hour timer which you can use to ensure it doesn’t run longer than required. It also has an eco-mode that optimizes the power settings to achieve your desired temperature. It comes with a user-friendly remote control that lets you change the temperature without getting up from the sofa each time.
The 360-degree rotating wheels allow the unit to be moved from room to room without hassle. The heater has a built-in thermostat. It will automatically shut down when the room reaches the desired temperature.
If the term oil-filled worries you, rest easy; the oil never has to be replaced. Overall, the Pelonis Oil Filled Heater is a safe and convenient option for small rooms.
6. Homegear Infrared Electric Portable Space Heater
The Homegear Infrared Electric Portable Space Heater is a small powerhouse. Despite its small size, it can quickly heat rooms up to 500 sq. ft. large. Because of its small size, it’s highly portable and can be placed anywhere. The 71-inch cable also allows increased flexibility in placement. The blower fan has a low noise level, so you don’t have to worry about it being disruptive.
For people who want a small heater that can effectively heat their medium to large rooms, nothing beats the Homegear Infrared Electric Portable Space Heater.
7. Vornado Vh10 Whole Room Heater
The Vornado VH10 Whole Room Heater is a compact fan heater that will keep you warm and toasty throughout the winter. It has two fan speeds and a temperature dial that lets you adjust the temperature according to your preference. The small size of this heater means it is highly portable and can be moved from one room to another with ease.
Despite the fan, this unit is so quiet it is sometimes hard to tell whether it is on or off. The control panel is user-friendly and straightforward, with a fan switch and a temperature dial. A small light lets you know when the unit is running.
It also comes with tip-over protection and is reasonably priced. Keep in mind that while the VH10 heater is terrific for smaller rooms, it cannot efficiently heat larger spaces.
8. Lifesmart 6 Quartz Elements Infrared Space Heater
The LifeSmart 6 Quartz Elements Infrared Space Heater uses quartz elements to heat a room. Quartz elements are highly energy-efficient, and all the electricity used to power them gets converted to infrared heat. The heater has three modes: high, low, and eco mode. On eco mode, the heater cycles on and off at a lower wattage to maintain the temperature at a moderate 68 degrees.
The LifeSmart 6 Quartz Elements heater can heat a room of up to 1000 sq. ft. An added benefit is that it doesn’t dry out the air. It is light and portable and can easily be picked up and moved around. The heater also has a cool touch exterior, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally burning your hands. It has a safety lock feature to prevent children from meddling. It also has tip-over and overheating protection.
One thing to keep in mind is that the user manual mentions that the unit gets its own circuit that is at least 15 amps. Not following this instruction will increase your fire risk.
How to Choose the Right Basement Heater for Your Needs
Now that you know all about the best basement heaters on the market, which one you choose depends on your needs.
Do You Need a Portable Heater for Your Basement?
One of the most important considerations when choosing the basement heaters is portability. Select a lightweight model with wheels if you need a highly portable unit that you can move around whenever you want. Electric space heaters are also more portable than gas ones because they do not require a gas line connection.
Size of Your Basement
Space heaters have limitations regarding the area they can heat. If you have a large basement area, space heaters may not cut it. In that case, you may have to consider other home heating options. You need 10 watts of power for every square foot as a general rule. For example, if your basement is 100 square feet, you will need a space heater with a capacity of 1000 watts. Take a look at our air conditioner sizing guide for a better understanding.
Is Your Basement Insulated?
If your basement isn’t insulated, it’s losing heat constantly. In that case, 10 watts of power for every square foot may not be enough. To be on the safe side, estimate 12 watts of power for every square foot. However, the best option would be to insulate your basement properly to limit air exchange. Insulation will also allow your basement heaters to work more efficiently.
Noise Levels
If even mild, persistent noises bother you, you are better off avoiding fan-forced heaters. Convection or radiant heaters are extremely quiet and are best for people with sensitive ears.
Bathroom Friendly or Not?
Does your bathroom get very chilly in the winter? Do you prefer stepping out of the shower and warming your hands immediately? Then, look for space heaters with ALCI plugs that help protect against electric shocks. Bathroom-friendly space heaters are usually labeled as such. They are specially made for damp environments.
With this handy guide on basement heaters, there is no doubt you’ll be able to make the best selection for your heating needs. Just don’t forget to assess your needs before making the final purchase.
Originally published at https://www.cielowigle.com on January 5, 2022.
