If you’ve moved recently and are still handling your heating system, or you live in a limited-spacing home, you must’ve looked for a compact, yet practically designed a heating system to support you. More often than not, people with central heating suffer from at least one room not being warm enough. This is where the wall heaters come in handy, and in this article, we’re listing the best electric wall heaters, as well as a compelling buying guide that will help you determine what it is you’re looking for.
If you’re worried that the heaters you’re looking for are too bulky or too cruel towards your electricity bills, don’t. These heaters are, like their name suggests, easily mountable on the wall and designed with small rooms and apartments in mind.
[toc]How to shop for electric wall heaters
Shopping for electric wall heaters isn’t rocket science, but there are still some important things to keep in mind. For one, electric wall heaters are ideal for smaller spaces, because they can either be installed inside the wall or mounted onto it. Also, they come with a plethora of features worth having when heating the house, as well as smart thermostats with automated features and timers. Here are some tips and tricks for buying the best electric wall heaters.
1. Size
If you have a larger room you need to warm up, you’ll need a bigger size and with that more power. Measure the dimensions of your room, so that you know the heat output you’re looking for. For example, most heaters need 10 watts to heat the square foot of a room, so in a larger room you may need a lot of wattages to warm up. Also, if you have a smaller room, you should consider more compact sizes and less wattage, so no overheating occurs.
Another thing that comes with it is the amount of heat loss elements in the room. A lot of windows, high ceilings and other factors make for less heating, so make sure to put all these things into consideration when determining the size and power for your electric wall heater.
2. Budget
In proportion to sizing, a budget is also important thing to consider. The sturdier the material, the bulkier size, the more power, the more expensive it will be. Don’t worry; however, there is a great variety of electric wall heaters that won’t empty your wallet to meet your demands. The cost is also determined by the number of features that come with it.
3. Thermostat
The thermostat is one of the most important components of an electric wall heater because it allows users to determine the number of degrees they want and the heat output. It allows consumers to have greater control over their heating system and control the amount of energy they want to spend. Lastly, a good thermostat determines the amount of heating in each room and prevents overheating as well as the risks of fire.
3. Timers
Some more high-end heaters are also equipped with timers that let consumers determine how long they want the house to heat. Some top-notch models come with WiFi which lets you set the timer in advance and determine how long you want the house to get warmed while you’re on the go. If you hate going to sleep in a chilly room or need more warmth when you enter the house after a gloomy day at work, this is a great investment.
4. Safety
Most thermometers are equipped with safety triggers that prevent any type of catastrophe from happening as a result of overheating or power outage. Additionally, if you have children or pets who mindlessly like to tinker around electrical devices, these safety features can lock the heater, preventing them from getting burnt or hurt. Also, there are safety guides that instruct users about the distance between heaters and other surfaces that could catch fire or explode.
5. Control
Control is mostly maintained through the thermostat and UI display on the heater. However, it’s important to highlight two main ways to control. While some devices come with programmable timers and displays, some are also equipped with remote control, which allows you to control the heating from a distance. While programmable heaters come with more convenience and intuition, it’s worth pointing out they are also more expensive.
Types of heaters
Different types of electric wall heaters may be more suitable for a certain kind of lifestyle. Below, we listed different kinds of electric wall heaters that deploy different technologies to heat your apartment or house. Make sure to check them out.
- Convection heaters – They use fans for quick warming up and even distribution of heat across the room. They rely on convection power to set it loose across different parts of the room and are great for rooms with a higher ceiling because the fans focus on the upper parts of the room too.
- Radiant heaters – Radiant heaters use halogen tubes to heat the room, which is great for smaller rooms or offices because the heat is targeted towards certain objects or people. That said, these heaters aren’t suitable for larger rooms, although they provide instant heat for those who need it.
- Micathermic heaters – These heaters work in a way that combines radiant and convection heating power, so the tubes get warm, and the fans distribute heat from them, making them ideal for larger spaces. Also, they combine less energy while delivering fast and even warmth in a room.
Research for the best electric wall heaters
Electric wall heaters are a great investment for fast and reliable heating, but only if you choose the right one for your needs. We researched some important points and benefits of wall heater usage. They are equipped with great benefit, but you need to know what you’re looking for first.
The first point is the installation. They are relatively easy to install, especially given that some other systems take much longer and often require a technician to help you with it. Although some heaters get installed in the walls, most can just be hooked or mounted to the wall, which is extremely easy to perform. Just watch for a safe position on the wall.
Some heaters require more energy and, as such are more expensive. Electric wall heaters are intended for smaller areas, and as such they don’t consume too much energy. Electric wall heaters consume less power compared to the centralized heating system, and as such, having a heater in each room is considered a one-time investment that can vastly lower the electricity bills in your house or apartment.
Lastly, the warranty, which serves as proof of one product’s durability is a great criterion to consider when shopping for the best electric wall heater. For more reliability and security, it’s best to pick electric wall heater that sports either many years of warranty or a lifetime warranty. Keep in mind that some warranties are limited, meaning that they can be applied only if a technician installs your heating system, or you call the company to check on your heater on a yearly basis to confirm that everything works in the right order.
There are a few things to keep in mind, however. While they provide a great heat source, they can’t be your primary heating source unless you install a wall heating system in each room in your house or apartment. Additionally, because they’re in a fixed position on the wall, these systems can’t be moved or transferred easily like other heaters like infrared heaters or others. With that in mind, plan the space in advance.
10 Best Electric Wall Heaters 2020
Having shared everything we know about electric wall heaters, it’s time for you to check out the best electric wall heaters we chose for you. We focused on all features we highlighted above, as well as picking the best overall, budget and premium option, depending on dimensions of your home, budget and value-to-price ratio.
- Stiebel Eltron 074057 – best electric wall heater overall
- Cadet CEC163TW Energy Plus Wall Heater – the best premium option
- Heat Storm Deluxe Mounted Space Infrared Wall Heater, best budget option
#1 – Stiebel Eltron 074057 – best electric wall heater overall
- Price: $$
- Type: Convection heater.
- Power: 2,000-watts
- Warranty: 3 years limited warranty
Stiebel Eltron is known for it’s minimalistic but also pricey wall heaters, but this one will exceed all your features in both terms of design and performance. It boasts beautiful bottom design with sturdy construction and durable materials. Its minimalist design will easily fit it into any kind of a room, and although it’s designed to be compact, you may find it’s not too much energy-saving. Given that it is equipped with 2,000-watts of power it will easily warm up a medium-to-large room in no time.
It is equipped with a built-in thermostat that operates quietly, and its convections fans aren’t too loud either. Its thermostat will automatically determine whether it needs to change the temperature, but it leaves enough space for the owner to change the temperature on their own. The company promises it’s easily applicable in bathrooms, guest rooms, kitchen and every place that requires warmth.
Its fans work ultra-quiet, so you don’t have to worry about going to sleep while it’s still on. An amazing timer also exists to provide protection and allow you to pre-heat the house before you come home and not have to worry about forgetting to turn it off.
The only drawback is that it is equipped with a cable that is designed upwards from the device, which will make it a little physically unappealing if you have problems with cable management. Other than that’ it’s the best electric wall heater we’ve found.
Pros
Powerful thermostat, minimalistic design, works quietly, heats quickly and efficiently.
Cons
Unaesthetic cable.
#2 – Cadet CEC163TW Energy Plus Wall Heater – the best premium option
- Price: $$$
- Type: Convection heater.
- Power: 1,000, 1,500, 1,600-watts
- Warranty: 5 years.
If you can squeeze a few spare bucks on getting the most premium version and two years longer warranty, Cadet CEC163TW is the best convection electric wall heater in the market. It’s great as a replacement to a faulty system and can work independently with more heaters in the house. Given it’s put in the wall, it’s an ideal replacement.
It has a simple and straightforward design with a small display and intuitive buttons that help you customize and program the settings you want it to operate under. It comes with three power options and that 1,000, 1,500 and 1,600, so you might take more of them and place them in a particular room suited for this wattage. It’s easy to set up and even easier to use.
It’s worth noting that it’s not as quiet as the option above, but it certainly won’t wake you up if you decide to go to sleep with it. The thermostat is accurate and supports various options that make working with it easier. The fan is also effective in the sense that it reduces overheating and keeps the air clean. It also warms incredibly fast and is energy-efficient despite that so it won’t be too painful to your electricity bill.
Pros
Minimalistic design, energy-efficient, smart thermostat, easy to install, intuitive controls, long warranty.
Cons
No time may be too loud to some.
#3 – Heat Storm Deluxe Mounted Space Infrared Wall Heater, best budget option
- Price: $
- Type: Radiant/infrared heater
- Power: 1000-watts
- Heat output: 3,100 BTU
- Warranty: 1 year
Infrared is the kind of radiant heaters that provide directional heat, targeted towards people or objects in the room, and if you’re on the look for that, while also being affordable, Heat Storm Deluxe is the best choice for you. It’s extremely portable and looks modern while also being efficient. It is equipped with a remote control that allows you to easily change the temperatures and adjust them to your needs.
It is equipped with a circular display that shows the temperature, while the heating utilities are located at the bottom of the heater. One of the most appealing features, however, is the safe-to-touch grill, which is a great safety feature for people who have kids that like to explore. It is compact in size, and it won’t take significant heat from you. It has a heat output of 3,100 BTU and power of 1,000-watts, which is great for heating up a medium room.
When it comes to cable management, this heater is great as it easily lets you hide the cables inside. Unfortunately, because it’s an infrared heater, it can’t be used in humid rooms and its warranty isn’t too long compared to the competition.
Pros
Easy to install, remote-controlled, built-in thermostat with LED display, hidden cords, protection features.
Cons
No use in humid rooms, only one year warranty.
#4 – Cadet 67507 Com-Pak Plus Fan Heater
- Price: $$
- Type: Convection wall heater.
- Power: 2000-watts
- Warranty: 1-year limited warranty
Cadet’s fan wall heater may be the most compact wall heater we’ve lived thanks to the unique and durable design. It can mount directly into the wall. It comes with a wall can, heater grill, built-in thermostat, which is used for hard-wired installation.
Because of its high voltage and wattage, this heater can easily be used in the medium, and larger room and easily cover 200 square feet. It is even possible to install it to the ceiling if you opt for a smaller wattage option, particularly under 1,500-watts.
It is equipped with various heating options which allow it to be rest-safe, the fan doesn’t work too loud so you can freely go to sleep, and the heater will smartly be turned off once the optimal heating temperatures are reached. Its only drawback is the same as with the model above, it comes with only one year of warranty, making it not the best option for long times.
Pros
Compact design, built-in thermostat, modern, quiet fan, safety features.
Cons
Short warranty, needs better LED indicators.
#5 – KING W2420-W W Series Wall Heater
- Price: $
- Type: Convection wall heater.
- Power: 2000-watts
- Warranty: 1 year
King W2420 from the W series is a power-efficient and affordable wall heater for smaller and medium rooms that come in various design and power options. It looks modern and has enough physical safety features to prevent pets and children from touching and injuring themselves.
It comes with an efficient impeller-style fan, although it may be louder than the other options above we compared. The fan is accompanied by a NiChrome heating element, which helps deliver instant heat even in medium rooms. As mentioned above, it’s equipped with many safety features that allow it to automatically shut down using Smart Limit Protection, and that way avoid overheating. If an abnormal event happens, such as a power outage, it needs to be manually reset for safety reasons.
It is also easy to install, because of its compact and miniature design, so all you need is to mount it into the wall, as the manufacturer promises, it shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes. Given it’s a budget option, there’s not a strong warranty.
Pros
Compact design, Smart Limit technology, NiChrome heating element, power-efficient
Cons
Doesn’t come with a thermostat, you need to purchase it additionally, loud, short warranty.
#6 – Broan-NuTone 198 High Capacity Wall Heater
- Price: $$$
- Type: Convectional wall heater.
- Power: 4000/2000-watts
- Warranty: 1 year
If you’re looking for a high-capacity heater that will cover larger spaces and taller room, Broan-NuTone 198 is a great option for you. It comes with two options, 4000-watts and 2000-watts. It boasts 18-gauge steel white grilles to direct heat evenly to every corner of the room, with enamel finish, which ensures its durability.
It’s extremely easy to install and is equipped with an adjustable front-mounted thermostat, which helps consumers easily adjust the temperature. The permanently lubricated motor makes up for high efficiency, consistent performance, and durability.
There are two issues with this heater. It’s quite loud for an expensive device, and it also comes only with a year’s warranty.
Pros
Modern design, multiple colors, built-in thermostat, timer, durable.
Cons
A short warranty runs quite loud fans.
#7 – Broan Wall Heater, White Grille Heater
- Price: $$
- Type: Convectional wall heater.
- Power: 1500-watts
- Warranty: 1 year
A little more affordable option compared to the above model is Broan Wall Heater, with a similar structure and ergonomics. It’s power-efficient and ensures energy saving, convertible in dual voltage module at 120VAC and 240VAC, and 1500-watts of power.
It is equipped with white grille system for the modern finish but also more even distribution of warmth across the rooms. It is also more compact in terms of design and can easily be adjusted to any position at your home.
It is equipped with an adjustable, built-in thermostat, which has simple commands for adjusting the temperature. It is UL-listed and uses an alloy heating element that warms up fast. There is also thermally protected motor, which has automatic controls for shutting down in case of overheating or another issue.
Unfortunately, this model shouldn’t be used as a primary heating system as it’s not sufficiently powerful to warm the entire house or room. It works great in combination with the centralized heating system.
Pros
Modern design, adjustable thermostat, convertible, heats up fast, thermal protection.
Cons
Short warranty, not for larger spaces.
#8 – Stiebel Eltron CKT 15E
- Price: $$
- Type: Convectional wall heater.
- Power: 1500-watt
- Warranty: 3 years on parts.
Another minimalistic design from Stiebel Eltron comes as a great option for smaller to medium rooms or offices. It has a modern surface-mount design and sturdy design, which makes it easily fitting to other elements in the room. Its assembling will well take less than fifteen minutes as all you have to do mount it on the wall.
It is equipped with a built-in programmable thermostat, which allows you to easily adjust the temperature you want even on the go. Its fans operate quietly and are powerful enough to evenly distribute heat across the room, although it’s not the most suitable element for taller and larger rooms.
Lastly, it is equipped with a timer that can be set up to 60 minutes and provide reliable heating even when you’re away from home and shutdown not to cause any inconvenient overheating or another catastrophe. It has a 3-year warranty on its parts, which is long enough compared to some other options in the same price range.
It also comes with the Frost protection setting, which means that the lowest thermostat setting will maintain heating above the freezing temperatures even in the coldest areas. It can cover up to 200 square feet.
Pros
Efficient, modern-looking, built-in thermostat, up to 60 minutes timer, Frost protection, long warranty.
Cons
It takes longer to heat up.
#9 – VonHaus Flat Panel Heater
- Price: $$
- Type: Convection wall heater.
- Power: 450-watts
- Warranty: 1 year
If you want an ultra-thin and eco-friendly option, VonHaus flat panel heater will do much more than exceed your expectations. It is only 0.4-inches flat, which means it won’t take too much space on the wall and will look more compact and ergonomic in the ruin. It is made out of ceramic elements which also means that you can change its color and paint it if you’d like.
It is extremely easy for installation and has smart buttons that determine the profile and settings it will work for. It has safety features that prevent overheating and protect them from hazards. However, unlike most of heaters listed in these reviews, this heater shouldn’t be placed in the bathroom, given it’s made out of ceramic. It has a major disadvantage. However, it can’t warm larger rooms and doesn’t come with a timer or a built-in thermostat, which makes controlling temperature even easier.
Pros
Eco-friendly design, compact, customizable, various safety features.
Cons
Not compatible with thermostats or timers, not powerful in larger rooms.
#10 – Stiebel Eltron 074058
- Price: $$
- Type: Convection wall heater.
- Power: 1500-watts
- Warranty: 3 years
The last from our list is another, more affordable Stiebel Eltron 074058 option, which is great for small to medium rooms and offices because of its compact, yet modern design which is easily mountable anywhere in the room.
It is made out of durable materials and operates quietly. It works by taking in the cold air from above and generating the warm heat downside, which makes it good for smaller rooms but not for too tall ceilings. It is equipped with a thermostat, which makes controlling and programming temperature settings much easier. What makes it worse than other Stiebel Eltron models is that it doesn’t come with a programmable timer, so you have to use it in real-time. Nevertheless, the thermostat turns off automatically when the desired temperature is reached, and the system shuts down when the overheating occurs.
Pros
A programmable thermostat, minimalistic design, more affordable, ease of use.
Cons
No timer included.
