While we obviously love our wood powered stoves, but we realize they are not for everyone. Some people just want a safe and reliable space heater at a great price. For these individuals we’ve looked into the category, and come up with the below guide to getting the best value for the money! Let’s take a closer look..
Our Top 5 Selections (Available on Amazon)
| Product Name | Heat Radius | Our Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Duraflame 9HM8101-0142 Infrared Quartz Heater | 1,000 Square ft. |  | $$ |
 | Dr Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater | 1,000 Square ft. | | $$ |
 | Lifesmart Large Room 6 Element Infrared Heater | 1,000 Square ft. |  | $$ |
 | Lasko 755320 Ceramic Tower Heater | 300 Square ft. |  | $ |
 | LifeSmart Large Room Quartz Fireplace | 1000 Square ft. | | $$$ |
Infrared Heater Reviews
#1 Duraflame 9HM8101-0142
This Duraflame is built to last and provides all the features you could ever need or want. It is built with premium technology, as well as with top quality parts. It is s also very portable because it contains concealed castors that allow you the wheel it around with ease. Although this product won’t replace your home’s existing temperature control system, it provides effective results in any room you choose to place it in. Furthermore, the wood construction delivers a homely ambiance and unique look. The exterior material also acts as a safety shield for kids and pets because it remains cool to touch. Moreover, with 5,200 BTU this product will cover a zone up to 1,000 square feet. There is an adjustable thermostat and the unit arrives fully assembled. Overall, this is a great option that really is plug and play!
Features:
- 1,000 square feet
- Beautiful Design
- Quiet Operation
- Overheat Protection
- Adjustable Thermostat
#2 Dr Infrared
The Dr. will see you know…In all seriousness, the Dr. is the best choice for smaller rooms of up to 1,000 square feet and for those who want a functional and aesthetically pleasing product. This model comes with an adjustable thermostat that can be tuned from 50 to 86 degrees. Other features include tip-over and overheat protection for advanced safety and comfort. The Dr weighs 24 pounds, uses 12.5 amps of power and 1500 watts. This is a great choice because of its efficiency, size, design, and safety.
Features:
- Tip-over Protection and Overheat Protection
- Electronic Thermostat: range 50 to 86 degrees
- Castor Wheels
- Quiet and Efficient
- Dual Heating System
#3 Lifesmart Large Room 6 Element
This is best for large rooms as it provides safe, healthy, and efficient warmth. The electrical parts within are warrantied for a year. Also, this model comes with 3 energy saving settings. There is also an Eco Setting, which only uses 500 watts, and will warm small areas up to 68 degrees. The Lifesmart comes with a remote that makes it very convenient to adjust the settings. You can feel comfortable leaving this product on because its equipped with dual timers that can be used to schedule the product up to 12 hours in advance.
Features:
- 3 Heat Settings
- 12 Hour Start and Stop Timer
- Digital Thermostat with Remote
- Warranty on Parts
- Large Room
#4 Lasko 755320 Ceramic Tower
The Lasko comes with an easy to use digital display and remote control. This vertical shaped tower is the best budget option. It’s cheap, powerful, and effective. With 1500 watts, this electric unit warms up small rooms with ease. Not only do these come with a remote control, they also have an auto setting and you are able to program a specific temperature and leave it on. Overall, the Lakso Tower is durable, light, and easy to carry around due to its the built-in handle.
Features:
- Affordable
- Compact and Portable
- Widespread Oscillation
- Automatic Thermostat
- Uses Little Electricity
#5 LifeSmart Large Room
Rounding out the list is one of the highest rated options for large rooms. This product is uniquely designed to look like a real fireplace. The Quakerstone dark oak cabinet and mantel add aesthetic capabilities unlike any other commercial options. The LifeSmart fireplace uses 1500 watts which is equivalent to any common hair dryer. The fireplace displays beautiful dancing flames as if it were real. There is even an option to operate the display without turning the warmth on for year-round entertainment! The LifeSmart is the best home warmer because of its versatility and beauty.
Features:
- Realistic Fireplace Design
- Can Display Fire without Heat On
- Affordable Electric Fireplace
- Easy to Install
- Quiet Efficient Heating
How do they work?
These mechanical marvels work differently than other house warmers you are used to seeing. These devices work by warming the steel tube or ceramic device within the device, which then radiates the heat out into the room. The power source varies, but most are fueled with either electricity, natural gas, or propane. These devices can have a variety of temperature ranges, controls, and designs. The most popular version is an electric portable space warmer. These are extremely safe to use and are best suited for small to large rooms. Other types include garage, baseboard, oil-filled, and fireplace heaters. They operate within a safe and healthy heating range at 9-14 micron meters.
The Benefits?
Radiant has several advantages over convection and conduction heating. Conduction heating is the physical transfer of heat through direct contact, making it impractical to use. Convection works by transferring heat through liquids or gases. Most homes use convection via central temperature control systems, but it is inefficient because air is lousy at absorbing warmth and transferring it to other objects. Furthermore, warm air rises to the ceiling which makes the coldest areas near the floor. On the other hand, radiant heat directly warms the objects in your environment and doesn’t influence the air.
Instantaneous
Other types of room warmers take a long time to get to work because of the inefficient air distribution. Radiant warmers circumvent this obstacle by providing direct warmth to the objects in front of them. An intense heat is felt within minutes of turning the product on. These are priceless during the wintertime after being outside, and children love to use them.
Cost Effective
Conventional systems are expensive and waste a lot of money by heating air and letting the hot air drift away towards the ceiling. The options covered in this post allow you to turn your central air temperature down and focus on warming occupied rooms. Your bills will be significantly reduced, and the product will pay itself off in a short period of time.
Efficiency
The best models are much more efficient than traditional systems because they distribute heat to objects rather than through the air which then warms them. This means that energy isn’t being wasted heating the entire room, but rather just the people or objects that need it the most.
Healthy and Environmentally Friendly
Additionally, radiant systems provide health benefits by maintaining greater levels of oxygen and moisture in the air. People can breathe and feel comfortable because their skin and sinuses aren’t dried out. Similarly, smoke or by-products that can harm you are not produced.
Silent
Uniquely, these products are silent. Noise-sensitive environments benefit greatly, because they do not use a fan.
Minimal Maintenance
There is basically no maintenance necessary. They are simple plug-in and use devices with no moving parts. Just clean the reflectors once a month to ensure the highest quality performance.
Appearance
The best models are equipped with a beautiful design, as well as effective performance. Many of the options we recommend have a sleek wood finish. These devices look great in any setting, and you won’t be embarrassed for owning one.
Final Thoughts
IR heaters have gained immense popularity over the past few years and have become the selection of choice. They are the perfect way to provide supplementary warmth for your family and home. Radiated heat is safe, delivers instant satisfaction, and saves you money. Consider the features you desire most, and choose one based off of these decisions.Stay warm this winter with the help of BestSmallWoodStoves & check back often for new articles!