Households in the northern and southern hemisphere have been using heaters since the 1800s to combat the winter cold. In today’s modern society, bathroom heaters have become popular as they are an essential appliance for comfortable living in colder climates. There might be questions as to why this has become a norm in society.
Imagine coming out of a hot shower just to immediately feel cold again due to the freezing temperature in the bathroom, not only is that unpleasant but it is also not too great for health. As such, bathroom heating should not be neglected as it could serve to make a more comfortable experience whenever we enter the bathroom.
In this article, we will go through some of the best bathroom heaters in today’s market as well as the pros and cons of each of our recommendations.
Why Bathroom Heating?
The benefits of bathroom heating would include staying warm while in the bathroom. Secondly having a heating unit in the bathroom can help remove moisture or odours from the air. A bathroom heater is also shown to improve overall health by improving cardiovascular circulation, a bonus is that it can help with some muscle and joint soreness.
Finding The Best Bathroom Heaters
When it comes to finding a bathroom heater, several things in mind must be considered to find the best one suited to meet the individual’s needs. We will go through some of the key aspects to look out for when looking for a bathroom heater in this article.
First, are there different types of bathroom heating? Well yes, there exist a wide variety of types, but the most common are as follows.
Portable heaters
These are small heating units that are easy to carry around and require little to no installation. A portable heater can be brought around the house if it is not needed in the bathroom. Most portable heaters use an electrically powered heating element inside accompanied by a fan to force hot air out of the heating unit into the surrounding space.
Wall heaters
Wall heaters are wall-mounted heaters. They can be mounted on a hook or permanently via screws. Wall heaters are generally inexpensive, durable, efficient, and ideal for most smaller bathrooms.
Ceiling Heater
This kind of heating unit is generally more portable compared to the other types of heaters as they can be removed and reinstalled in other places relatively easily. As the name suggests, ceiling heaters are mounted on the ceiling and are known for being reliable and compact enough to not take up too much space.
Heater with exhaust fan
This is a good option for those looking for an appliance they can use all year round. Heaters with built-in exhaust fans are great for bathroom use as they can help reduce the humidity and steam in the bathroom. During the warmer months of the year, you can use the exhaust function of the heater.
Underfloor heater
An underfloor heater is a heating system that is laid underneath the floor of the bathroom flooring. It will heat the room by radiating heat through the floors. There exist subtypes of underfloor heating units, namely in-slab heating, thin-film heating, and screed heating. Underfloor heaters generally utilize electric or hydronic heating methods.
Is Bathroom Heating Costly?
The cost of the bathroom heating will depend heavily on the heating system that you have chosen to implement in your bathroom. Certain types of heaters like radiant bar heaters are more costly than others.
What to Look Out For
When purchasing a bathroom heater, there are a few aspects that should be considered, among those would include:
Optimized Heating
Given that most of us do not spend our whole days in the bathroom, or do not wish to wait too long before using the bathroom, it is important to look for a heater that does not take too long to heat the room. A quick method to determine the efficiency of the heater in question would be to measure the wattage output and British Thermal Units (BTUs).
The higher the BTU, the more energy-efficient the heater is.
Is it Durable?
A bathroom heater is no different from a heater when it comes to durability. When purchasing a heater, one should always look for a heater that requires little to no maintenance and can last for a long time (8-10 years).
Is it Safe?
When it comes to any electrical appliance, safety is of the utmost importance, especially in the bathroom. When selecting a bathroom heater, you should bear in mind that it is often both a humid and wet environment and appliances are therefore more likely to short circuit or malfunction.
It is important to note that not all space heaters are suitable for bathroom use. When purchasing a space heater for the bathroom, ensure that it is suited to function in a wet and humid environment. It is also advised that you should purchase a model with an automatic overheat protection feature.
Size
The size of your heater will be dependent on the size of the room and is one of the most important factors to look at. Bathroom heaters that are too small for a large bathroom will not be able to heat the room quickly enough and will therefore leave you unsatisfied.
Whereas a larger heater could be too much for the small bathroom. This can lead to an unsatisfactory experience along with an expensive utility bill. A simple guide would be to keep 10 watts of power for every square foot.
Budget
The size of the heater selected could affect the budget of the heating appliance. Another factor that could affect the budget would be the type of heating technology used in the bathroom heater. If you choose to purchase a heating device such as an underfloor heater, the installation will require some renovation and could incur costs.
Types of Heating Technology
Heaters as discussed above come in a variety of heating methods. These methods can range from convection heating to infrared heating. The type of heating element used by the appliance can also determine the rate of warmth production and spread.
Placement of Thermostat
When installing an external thermostat, it is key that you do not place it near the heating device. If you do place it too close to the heating unit, it will not be able to properly gauge the temperature of the room and could make the room too warm or too cold. A recommendation would be to use a heating appliance with a built-in thermostat or mounter thermostat if the space is small.
What Should the Heater Do?
When looking for bathroom heaters, you should consider what functions you want the heater to have. Some bathroom heaters offer a multipurpose feature that allows them to do things such as removing humidity and heating the shower water. This can lead to a versatile heating system that can serve various functions.
Top 10 Best Bathroom Heaters in 2021
To help you find the best bathroom heaters for your needs, and to also give you a rough idea of what to look for, these are our top 10 best bathroom heaters.
1. Broan-Nutone 9093WH Bathroom Heater
In our opinion, this Bruon heating device is the best bathroom heater. This heating unit is ideal for those who own a small to medium-sized bathroom. This product is highly recommended for those looking for a ceiling-mounted heater that can easily and efficiently warm up the room of choice.
The heating unit is easy to integrate into most bathrooms and is quite aesthetically pleasing. To make it even more appealing, this heating unit is small and will not affect the ergonomics of the bathroom. This product is equipped with a light exhaust fan which aids in distributing warmth across the entire room.
Like any heating appliance, with proper ventilation, it will work without a hitch. The installation process is simple and can be done by anyone with a bit of DIY knowledge.
In terms of performance, this heating device comes out on top of its competition at 1500 watts of power and a 70CFM ventilation fan. With a performance like this, you won’t have to worry about a freezing bathroom anymore. The unit also comes with a 7-watt night light which is great to have as it is easy on the eyes which are built in to make going to the bathroom at night safer.
The materials used to make this heating device is durable and should boast a long service life.
The main drawback of this product is the warranty length. The warranty provided with a new model is only 1 year which is tough considering it is not one of the cheapest heaters in the market. Another drawback would be its lack of a thermostat. This would not be a problem if you had plans to install an external thermostat.
2. Pro Breeze 1500W Mini Ceramic Space Heater
This Pro Breeze heating device is in our opinion the best bathroom heater for those on a budget. If you are not looking for something too permanent such as a wall-mounted heater or ceiling mounted heater, this heating device is the perfect option for you!
It is a portable space heater that can be placed anywhere you want outside or within the bathroom depending on your needs at the time. When it comes to a value-for-money option, this portable space heater takes the cake. Though it is not one of the biggest options, it boasts an impressive power output of 1500-watt, which is more than enough for small to medium-sized bathrooms.
This heating unit utilizes advanced, premium ceramic heating elements for an even distribution of heat. It is also incredibly power efficient. Furthermore, this product comes with a programmable thermostat that allows the user to adjust the temperature as they please.
The heater has some additional safety features which will shut the device down in the event it overheats. It is incredibly light and can be moved around the house without issue. This has made it one of the more affordable high-performing heaters on this list.
A downside is that this heater is not the best option if you intend on keeping a heater running while you shower. This is because it is not very suited for humid and wet conditions and will be prone to short-circuiting.
3. Stiebel Eltron CK 20E
Bathroom heaters today are very ergonomic and they tend to not take up too much space. The Stiebel Eltron CKT 20E is one example of many modern-looking premium heaters. This product is among the top of the premium wall-mounted heaters in the market. This wall heater unit is great for bathrooms of all sizes, small or large. The heater itself consists of high-quality materials that make it extremely durable.
The heater itself is equipped with a silent yet powerful fan which enables it to evenly distribute heat across the room and warm it up in no time at all. The product is designed with a downdraft design which is not suited for houses with tall ceilings. The wall-mounted heater appliance itself can keep the bathroom floor heated for a while and is a great premium option.
The Stiebel Eltron CKT 20E is equipped with a powerful programmable thermostat and is easy to use. It also comes with a 60-minute timer that will shut the device down after 1 hour. The heating unit is equipped with a smart thermostat.
The smart thermostat has some start commands and will shut down if there are any unusual heating patterns detected, similar to automatic overheat protection. The fans in the unit are silent enough that they will not be heard from outside the bathroom.
The main drawback of this heating unit is the fact that it does not work well in rooms with high ceilings. Secondly, this heating appliance is rather pricey as well.
4. Holmes HFH436WGL-UM Bathroom Heater
This fan heating device is one to look out for if you own a smaller bathroom. This affordable fan heater is small enough to not take up too much space, which is essential if you do not own a larger bathroom. Features of the Holmes heater would include its ALCI plug.
This allows it to operate safely in wet conditions such as bathrooms. Furthermore, it has a powerful thermostat which gives the owner more control over the temperature they want the room to be. This small heating unit has digital controls which allow it to automatically shut down or start up depending on the temperature of the room.
This heating appliance can also give the user the option of operating it manually or through a timer which will run 30 minutes at a time, ensuring the bathroom is always warm and ready.
A downside to this heating unit would be the loud fan which could pose a problem if you plan on using it during the night. Not only that, the warranty provided is only good for 1 year, which is not great in the event of short-term issues. The UI of the thermostat is also confusing at times and will therefore require some getting used to. These are all reasonable issues as this is a budget option.
5. Broan Model 157 Bathroom Ceiling Heater
Another product of the Broan brand makes its way onto this list with the Broan Model 157 Bathroom Ceiling Heater. This heating appliance is good for small to medium bathrooms. This heating device is a ceiling-mounted heater and can be easily mounted to the ceiling using the bathroom’s electrical box.
This feature allows it to beat out its competition when it comes to installation as there are no additional wires required. It also makes this bathroom ceiling heater a great option for those looking to replace their old ceiling heater.
The compact design of this ceiling heater does not seem to impact its performance when it comes to efficiently heat the room. It is unable to support the heating of larger rooms due to the nature of the slower heating process. The heating unit compensates by being able to distribute heat fairly evenly around the room.
A con to this heating unit is the lack of automation. There is no built-in thermostat for easy temperature management and no controls for it. It is a simpler device that operates through a single switch. In terms of safety, there is an intuitive safety trigger that can shut down the device in the event of overheating or malfunction.
6. Broan-Nutone 656 Heater and Light Combo
This Broan heating unit is a multifunction option for those looking for both a light and a heater combo. Similar to the other Broan heating units on this list, this product is also not suitable for larger bathrooms and is better suited towards small to medium-sized bathrooms. It has a power rating of 1300-watts and comes with a 1-year limited warranty.
This model boasts a sleek modern design with its white polymeric grilles. This allows it to act both functionally and decoratively. The ceiling heater is equipped with Insulation Contact in the ceiling so that its electrical components are safe from water damage. The ease of use combined with its dual functionality makes this a great value for money buy.
This heating unit also comes with a visible heating control which can be installed on the wall. This gives the buyer control over the heating profiles of the heating appliance.
The only downside to this, like all ceiling heaters on this list, is the inability to operate effectively in a larger room.
7. TrustTech Electric Space Heater
The TrustTech company is known for its multipurpose design approach in heating appliances. This model is designed so that it can stand on its own and be wall mounted with the hooks provided. It is incredibly portable and can be used in bathrooms or wherever a heating unit is needed in the house.
This heating device has a power output of 1500-watts. It is ideal for use in small to medium-sized bathrooms and is quite effective at providing instant warmth. This is a great option for those who do not like waiting for the bathroom to heat up before entering. This heating unit is for you if you want to save on the utility bill as it doesn’t consume a lot of energy.
This can be attributed to the variety of power-saving modes available on the device. When it comes to safety features, the product comes included with overheating protection which will shut it down if it overheats. There are LED light indicators that help with temperature control as opposed to a thermostat. The timer function can be handy in some situations and is a nice addition to this product.
The main downside to a product this complex is that there could be issues that arise during operation. This is only made worse as it only comes with a 6-month warranty. It is also one of the bulkier and noisier heating units present on this list. But it is no doubt a great wall-mounted bathroom heater.
8. Panasonic FV-11VH2 Bathroom Fan Heater
Another ceiling-mounted heating option would be this product from Panasonic. This mounted electric fan heater is easy to install and easy to use not to mention comes with a 3-year warranty. It has a slightly lower power output when compared to the others on this list at only 1425-watts.
Despite having a lower power output, it is still a good heater to have. It is extremely quiet even though it is a fan heater. It is an incredible energy-efficient device, this allows it to function effectively while keeping the utility bills low.
A drawback of this heating unit is its inability to perform in rooms with taller ceilings. But if you own small to medium-sized bathrooms, this is one to consider.
9. Lasko CD08200 Small Portable Ceramic Space Heater
This small portable heater by Lasko is great for heating up smaller to medium-sized bathrooms. With a power output of 1500-watts, this portable bathroom heater is great for those looking for a smaller option. Though it is not as flashy as some of the other products on this list, it makes up for that with its efficiency. Not to mention that it is Amazon’s choice for the best bathroom heater.
The small portable bathroom heater has temperature regulating ceramic heating elements and has an ALCI plug that cuts off power in the event of a short circuit or malfunction. Other safety features included with this heating unit include automatic overheat protection and is safe for bathroom use. There is a function that allows the heating device to run for an hour.
There is no installation needed for this product and it is ready for use once taken out of the box. There is no doubt that this is one of the best bathroom heaters.
10. Opolar Space Ceramic Bathroom heater
This Opolar heating unit will be the last one on this list. It is a heating appliance that utilizes ceramic heating elements and has a power output of 1500-watts. Space heaters such as this come with an IP21 standard which protects them from damp and wet environments such as the bathroom. It is extremely portable and can be used anywhere around the house.
There are 2 safety gears and overheating protections included. The heating unit can shut itself off if it overheats. Like most portable heating appliances, this one includes a tip-over protection function, this just means that it will shut down in the event it is tipped over.
To make it even more enticing, it has a fan-only mode which can be used on days where the heating unit is not needed, giving it sort of a year-round usage capability. It even has an adjustable thermostat that can be used for easy temperature adjustment.
The main downside of this product is its size. It is small and should only be used for small space heating.
Conclusion
When choosing a heater for the bathrooms in your house, it is advised to consider important aspects such as safety and the type of heating element used. We hope this buying guide has given you the help you need in choosing your very own heating unit.