Warm up this winter with a portable heating system that’s right for you.

There are two main types of heat offered by portable heating – radiant and convection. Radiant heaters emit heat from a hot surface, such as an electric element, and will heat you instantly, but not the whole room. Convection heaters work more slowly, heating a room by filling it with warm air.

There are many portable heaters available that run on electricity, gas or kerosene, with either radiant or convection heat, or a combination of both. Although portable heaters are cheap to buy, they can be expensive to run, so it is important to get the right type of heater for your needs.

The best heating solution depends on how long you think you will be running the heater each day. If you want immediate spot heat for when you’re dressing or in the bathroom, then a bar radiator may be right, but to keep a whole bedroom or study warm for several hours at a time, then a convection heater with a thermostat may be more suitable.

Most portable heaters with a range of heat settings allow you to control the output of the heater. This means you can minimise running costs if you keep the heater at the lowest comfortable temperature. In fact, thermostats can cut running costs by up to 50 per cent. For every degree over 20 degrees, running costs increase by 10 to 15 per cent.

Yes it does, along with the room’s ability to retain heat. For an average room with an insulated ceiling less than 2.7 metres high, you should roughly allow about 100 watts (0.5MJ) of heat per square metre of floor space. Generally a portable electric heater’s maximum out put is 2400 watts, which means they can heat approximately 24 square metres

As with any portable heating system, ensure the room can retain the heat. Energy efficiency can be helped with good insulation, draught-proofing and good window coverings.

Find a portable heating supplier near you.