STACK's handy guide for keeping warm in the colder months

At a glance

• Space

• Ceramic

• Column

• Panel

• Fan

• Personal warmth

• Throws

• Pads

• Saving on heating bills

How big a space do you wish to heat?

This is the first question that you must ask yourself when looking at a heating solution.

If you're intention is to heat a vast area, then you'll need to look beyond portable heating options to something like a reverse cycle split system, which have many advantages, such as cooling in hotter months, but are also more costly and require professiona linstallation.

If it's more concentrated heating options that you're after though, you're in the right place. Read on!

Portable heating

When it comes to portable heating, there are four popular types that offer convenience, value for money, and, most importantly, warmth!

Snuggle up with us now as we help you to understand the differences between the various types, so that you can determine which one may be best for the space that you wish to warm.

Ceramic

A ceramic heater appears much like a classic fan heater, but generally they’re cheaper to run. There are also larger, more column-shaped options, any of which are top portable choices.

The “ceramic” refers to the element inside the unit, which heats up quickly, making it a very effective generator of warmth, especially for small to medium spaces.

Some ceramic heaters even come with a handy remote control, so if you’ve found a comfy couch nook, you needn’t leave it.

As they incorporate fans, ceramic heaters are a good option when you have a space where you wish to spread the heat about, rather than concentrating it in one area. Their effectiveness will, naturally, depend upon the size of the space in question, but as a general rule ceramic heaters are perfect for bedrooms and studies, and less open living areas.

Column

Bringing a classic old school look to heating, the oil column heater remains a very viable option for banishing the cold. The oil in the title can be misleading as they don't require you to add any, rather they are filled with the viscous liquid, which is heated electrically.

A great solution for small and even medium rooms, a row of fins delivers a large heating surface, which also holds and radiates warmth for a longer period of time.

As such, they’re great for spaces that you spend lots of time in, generally in one spot - say TV watching. Being near silent in operation, they’re a superb choice that allows you to get on with everything from TV watching to sleeping, without having to put up with distracting fan noise. They're also a safer option for leaving switched on for longer periods of time, like in a bedroom overnight.

Panel

Another quiet option for your heating needs is the sleek and modern-looking panel heater, also known as a convector heater.

These handy devices warm up a space by pulling air over a heated element, with the natural rising of warm air helping to heat your space both evenly and quietly. They can be freestanding for handy portability, while some models also offer the flexibility of being wall mountable if desired.

Generally equipped with an internal fan to spread the heat, these can be a noisier option, however their portability is a big plus, and fan-equipped models are good for heating small to medium spaces evenly, and are another safer option for all-night heating.

Fan

One of the most compact - and portable - options for warming up your winter is the classic fan heater.

Packing a whole lot of watts for easily directed heat, the internal fan spreads it around, making it a great solution for knocking the frostiness out of small rooms or home offices, and quickly. Or, it can be targeted directly towards you if you’re in a bigger space such as a lounge or family room.

Depending upon the model, it may also oscillate to spread the warmth further, or even feature an air purifying function, banishing unwanted gremlins from the air that you breathe. Depending upon how high you set the fan, they can be a bit noisy, but on lower levels they blend neatly into the background as they kill the chill.

It's worth noting that some fan heaters even act purely as a fan when you just need a bit of cooling at those warmer times of year, and some extra bang for buck.

Personal warmth

Are you looking for something more localised to keep you warm? There are ways to keep the winter chills at bay beyond traditional room heaters. Here are some more personal options for keeping toasty.

Heated throws

If you have fond memories of your blankie as a child then you’re certainly not alone. There’s something reassuring about snuggling up with a woollen wonder – but when they’re heated, they’re even more comforting!

Not only does a heated throw keep you warm – allowing you to target areas that are really feeling the chills such as the neck, back, or shoulders – they can allow you to keep the room’s thermostat a degree or two lower, saving energy. They’re also perfect for folk who tend to feel the cold more than others in the family, meaning no arguments over thermostat settings.

Heating pads

You’ve likely heard of the comfort benefits of weighted blankets, and a weighted heating pad offers a similar experience, but with added warmth.

Not only perfect for general personal warming, a heating pad can also provide pain-relieving benefits, allowing you to target problem areas with soothing warmth, whether you’re sitting, standing, or lying down.

Keeping warmth up – and power bills down

There are several ways that you can stay warm without having to chew through enough power to light up the MCG.

• Watch the room temperature setting. While you may be super toasty at 24 degrees, you’ll likely notice little difference knocking it down to 22 or even 20, but the power savings will add up.

• Rug up! You can’t complain about the cold if you’re flopping around in a T-shirt and shorts. If it’s cold, pop on a jumper and you won’t need the heat set so high.

• Close doors and windows. If the entire family is in one room, shut the doors to keep the heat in. Also, make sure that no windows are ajar and letting cold air inside. Draught excluder snakes (not real ones!) are also a cheap and handy way to keep warm in, and cold out.

• Make sure that you have an efficient heater. You may have an old faithful that’s been serving the family for years, but advances in tech mean that a newer model will likely be more efficient, both in heating and keeping those energy bills down.