Replacing Sensors on Your HVAC System

Here's What to Look for in an Electric Wall Heater and Why

12 March 2019 by Olivia Morris

When it comes to beating the cold temperatures of the winter months, a good electric wall heater is a helpful ally. But this doesn't mean that you should rush to install the first heater that you come across. 

Like air conditioners, not all wall heaters are created equal. For this reason, it is important to thoroughly think through which type of heater is best for you. The following guide discusses what to look for in an electrical wall heater and why.

The Heating Capacity of the Unit

Rooms and homes differ in size. This is why electric wall heaters come in a range of sizes to match the heating needs of different living spaces. If you choose a heater that is too small for your space, you won't be able to achieve the desired level of warmth. If you choose a unit that is too big, it will simply waste energy and money. 

You definitely need to get warm, but this shouldn't mean footing huge monthly electricity bills.

Determining your heating needs prior to buying a wall heater is essential for ensuring you create a comfortable living environment on cold days while keeping down energy expenses. You may do this by calculating how much space you need to warm up and then choosing a unit designed to handle that heating load.

The Energy Efficiency of the Unit

Aside from the heating capacity of your wall heater, you should also consider its energy rating. Manufacturers of electric wall heaters and other space heating equipment are constantly offering newer, more energy-efficient wall heater models to their customers.

While the more energy-efficient models of wall heaters may cost more to buy and install, they will lead to greater savings on energy and energy costs in the long term. Therefore, you might be better off paying more for the initial purchase and installation rather than paying less initially and then ending up incurring higher energy bills over the lifecycle of the heater.

Installation Method

There are two primary ways to install a wall heater: the unit can be built into the wall or attached directly to it. Installing a heater into a wall involves making a cutout in the wall. This makes the unit almost impossible to relocate because that would involve a lot of work.

Heaters that are mounted directly on the wall require less effort to install and aren't as messy to relocate.

You need to carefully think about how you want your heating unit to be installed before making a final choice.

It is important to point out that electric wall heaters generally provide less heating capacity than air conditioners that feature a heating function. As such, these heaters are suitable for cooling small living spaces and not for use as standalone heating systems for the entire home. For homeowners that already rely on air con units to warm their living spaces, electric wall heaters are perfect for supplemental heating. Call a heating installation professional for more information.

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