It’s getting hot in here: energy efficient heaters

April 27th, 2012

Back in the days when I was a poverty-stricken student, I lasted a whole Sydney winter without a heater – an experience I would not recommend.

There are only so many pairs of wool socks a person can wear (three) before things become silly, let me assure you. Very silly.

The irony is, it’s easy to get an energy efficient heater that won’t cost the earth to run. Honestly, what I saved in electricity I probably spent in liquor (to prevent my blood from freezing).

So without further ado, here’s our guide to heating your home:

Gas heaters

•   Great for living rooms
•   An energy efficient alternative to electricity
•   Offers precise and reliable heating

Our best seller: Rinnai Cosyglow Natural Gas Heater 650SN

Electric oil column heaters

•   Great for bedrooms, living rooms and studies
•   Sturdy, durable and reliable – offering precise thermostat control
•   Extremely safe, as there are no exposed grills or flames

Our best seller: Dimplex Electric Eco Column Heater OFRC24TIB

Electric ‘fire’ heaters

•   Great for bedrooms, studies or small living rooms
•   Safe and effective
•   Creates a cosy ambience

Our best seller: Dimplex Electric Fire Heater MINICUBE

Electric panel heaters

•   Great for living rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms
•   Stylish and space-saving design
•   Offers excellent temperature precision and thermostat control

Our best seller: Atlantic Artisan Electric Panel Heater 519617

Reverse cycle air conditioner

•   Great for living rooms and bedrooms
•   Keeps you warm in winter & cool in summer
•   Excellent temperature precision + relief for allergy sufferers

Our best seller: Kelvinator 2.6kW Reverse Cycle Split System Inverter Air Conditioner KSV26HRC

Other things to consider:

When choosing a heater, it’s important to consider the size of your room. The larger the room, the greater energy output you will need to heat it.

Gas heaters will have a star energy rating to show you how efficient it is, which is another important consideration:

There are also some really simple things you can do to make sure you’re not wasting energy. These include shutting the doors and curtains to stop heat escaping from the room. Insulating your home will also help to keep heater running costs down.

Heaters with thermostat controls help to control running costs by ensuring that you’re not overheating a room. Some heaters can detect the temperature in the room, and then automatically switch the heating off once the desired temperature has been reached.

Heaters with timers allow you to set the heater to switch on and off at certain times – say, switching on 10 minutes before you’re due to get up in the morning, for instance.

If you’re not sure what kind of heater is right for your home, feel free to give our knowledgeable customer service team a ring on: 1300 000 500.

You can also read more about energy efficient heating solutions here.

All of that said, if you insist on sticking it out without a heater this year, I suggest you stock up on peppermint tea, cheap port, and polar fleece undergarments. Or learn to enjoy shivering!

Louise Carter

Louise is a writer with a passion for appliances, especially those that involve food. She is particularly fond of ovens because they enable her to make cake. Apart from baking Louise also enjoys listening to alternative music, dying her hair various unnatural colours and writing poetry that has been described (by her Nan) as 'quite nice'. On her appliance wish list is a Hello Kitty toaster and 'Hero' the barking dog-shaped hot dog maker. She lives in Sydney. Google+