The Insider’s Guide to Electric Wall Heaters

An electric wall heater is an appliance that offers a better choice than the conventional type of unit available on the market today. Conveniently installed or mounted on the wall, these heaters occupy less space compared to others installed somewhere else in the room or on the floor. These appliances are ideal to use in a given room while greatly reducing the amount of energy used.

The following is a guide to electric heaters that may be of great help to buyers:

• Types of electric wall heater. There are two common types of electric wall heater. The first one is the Fan Forced Electric unit. This type of wall heater can be installed almost anywhere, from your entrance, basement, kitchen, bathroom, living room, or small garage. The second type is the Convection Electric unit. This appliance offers an ideal solution for sound-sensitive rooms like bedrooms, TV rooms, and small home office.
• Most electric wall heaters come with a built-in thermostat. The thermostat is the knob located on the outside of the unit. It helps keep the temperature in your home at a controlled and comfortable level. Without the built-in thermostats, you have to adjust the heat manually making you get up a lot to turn the temperature either up or down when it gets too hot or too cold.
• Heater sizing. The size of the heater should complement the size of the room it will be installed in. Manufacturers of these appliances provide computation guides on how to calculate the proper size for your reference.
• Voltage. Depending on the unit size and the size of the room to be treated, electric wall heaters will require an electrical circuit of 120 or 240 volts. A standard 120 volt heater which comes in 500 to 1,500 watts which can heat a room from 50 to 150 square feet, while a standard 240 volt heater with 1000 to 4,800 watts can heat a room with an area of 100 to 480 square feet. Knowing your available voltage comes in handy as it will prevent you from blowing a fuse.
• Noise level of the heater. Like air conditioners, heaters produce noise. The level of noise produced depends on the size of the unit.
• Heater location. When installing your heater, avoid placing any obstructions like chairs or curtains in front of it. Refer to the user’s manual for installation guidelines. Manufacturers recommend that the heaters should be installed at least 8 inches from the floor, 8 inches from the nearest wall. If you plan to mount it up high, be sure that it is at least 8 inches from the ceiling.