How to Spot Low-Quality Space Heaters Before Buying

Imagine you’re in an aisle or browsing online and see rows and rows of space heaters. They all look pretty much the same. Some are $30. Others are $200. How can you tell which space heaters are worth your money?

You could waste hundreds on space heaters that suck up electricity and don’t heat your rooms. Or worse, you could buy one that hurts your safety. Learning how to spot red flags before purchase will keep your hard earned money in your pocket and your family safe at home.

space heater

Inspect the Build Quality

Hold the heater if possible. Does it feel flimsy? Budget heaters tend to use thin crackable plastics because they want to save every cent. The body should feel solid, durable – not like something you’d purchase at the toy store.

Inspect the power cord as well. Heaters that are built well have thick heavy-duty power cords. Thicker cords do not overheat as easily because of their ability to manage the power running through them. If the power cord feels thin, or the plug looks cheap and junky, walk away.

Inspect all the buttons and knobs. Do they easily turn? Click into place? Cheap heaters have wobbly, loose knobs and buttons that will probably fall off after one or two uses.

Look For Safety Certifications

Do not skip this step. Every heater you look at SHOULD have a UL or ETL certification sticker on it. If you don’t see that label, throw it back on the shelf. That sticker means the heater was put through many safety tests to prevent safety hazards.

Thousands of fires are caused each year from space heaters that skip this step. NHS noted that safety certification stickers are located on either the back or bottom of the heater. Don’t think it’s anything to fancy or brag about; it’s a sticker that ensures it won’t burn down your house.

Check for an automatic tip-over switch. This is a button which will turn the heater off immediately if it tips over. This gives you great protection if your pets kick it over or your child bumps into it.

Overheat protection is another important safety feature. The better heaters have automatic shutoffs if overheated. Budget models often skip this feature to cut costs.

Read Honest Consumer Reviews

This doesn’t mean look at the star rating and call it good. Take your time and read what consumers have to say about their experience with this heater. Find trends in what problems they have.

If you notice more than one person has the same problem, there’s probably a problem with the manufacturing process. Cheap heaters tend to have common problems you’ll see repeated in the reviews. Keep your eyes peeled for complaints about burning smells, sparking, or units that stopped working after a few weeks.

Take note of reviewers that purchased the heater months ago. You’ll want to see how the heater operates after long periods of use. If a heater works wonders for two weeks then stops functioning properly at three months, that’s not a great purchase.

Search for phrases like “useful one season” or “kept tripping the breaker” and steer clear. These reviews are more helpful than the cheesy company description on the box.

Identify Heating Element Type

Not all space heaters are created equal. They use different technologies to heat your space. Knowing the different types can help you weed out cheap models.

Ceramic heaters are safe and efficient. They heat up quickly and spread heat uniformly. These types of heaters are great for any room.

Oil-filled radiators take a while to heat up but once they do, they maintain heat very well. Another nice quality of these heaters is that they’re safe to touch. You won’t burn your fingers if you lean up against it.

Lastly we have coil heaters. These are the cheaper option. Because they’re cheap, they often sacrifice safety and efficiency. These can get extremely hot and cause burns.

Stay away from space heaters that don’t mention what type of technology it uses. Any reputable manufacturer is proud of the technology they use to heat your home.

Beware of Bold Claims

Some heaters will promise you the world and go broke heating your home. Here’s a newsflash, if a heater claims to heat your 1500 sq foot home for 5 cents a day, it’s full of crap.

No miniature space heater can heat a large area like that. Don’t fall for it. Countless people have fallen for these scams when they see “whole home heaters”

They’ll also claim to have the best “new heat technology”. Newsflash, almost all space heaters operate under the same heating principles.

Don’t fall for space heaters claiming their new technology is better than all other space heaters on the market. When you see that, they’re lying.

Watch out for space heaters saying they’ll save you 50% on energy costs. All space heaters require about the same amount of electricity to create the same amount of heat.

Compare Watts and Room Size

Heater manufacturers who care about quality post watts and the size area the heater can warm. Don’t buy a space heater until you know these specs.

The standard wattage for most heaters is 1,500. This heats up to 150 sqft. Because this is the standard you can compare between models. A heater that is only 750 watts will save you money on electricity but will not put out as much heat.

If a $50 heater claims to heat 1000 sqft, run the other direction. Either it’s inefficient or the manufacturers are lying on the box.

Know how many square feet of area you need to heat. Measure the length x width of the room you want to heat. This will give you the square feet of the room. Purchase a heater that matches the square footage of your room or bigger.

Test the Thermostat Settings

You want a heater with an actual thermostat. If not you will be wasting money and fight with your comfort level.

The cheapest models have only 2 settings: high and low. Because these heaters only have two settings, they’ll run whenever they’re on. You want a heater that you can adjust the temperature to what you’re comfortable at.

Digital models are much better than their old twist dial type. Digital thermostats are much more precise which in return keep a more consistent temperature.

If you’re able to, test out the thermostat by turning it to different temperatures. Does it turn smoothly or is it hard to move? If the dial is hard to turn and sticky, this could indicate low quality build.

Check the Warranty Duration

Companies who stand behind their product put warranties on their heaters. Don’t buy a heater that doesn’t have a warranty.

A 90 day warranty is a good indicator that they know their product will fail. Want to know the sweet spot for warranties? One year. I’ve seen heaters that offer 3-5 years but once again they know the product will last.

Read all the fine print when looking at warranties. Some require you to send a product back at your cost to be repaired even if the heater is under warranty. Check to see if the company has a real phone number. Lots of companies only offer email support from China. You’ll never talk to anyone if there’s a problem.

Example: Fake and Unsafe Mini Space Heaters Sold Online

A great example of why it’s important to learn how to avoid low-quality space heaters comes straight from safety research conducted by Which?, the UK consumer watchdog group. They bought 10 inexpensive plug-in mini space heaters from online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay and had them independently safety tested at a laboratory.

Here’s what they discovered: NONE passed safety testing and every single model was illegal to sell in the UK, posing serious risks of fire and shock — some models could even catch fire!

Fake reviews and misleading adverts were selling these dangerous heaters to cost-conscious consumers looking to save a few bucks during the winter when space heaters are most popular. Moral of the story? Always look for safety certifications like UL, ETL, or CSA marks, and avoid cheap heaters that make outrageous claims without any certifications to back them up.

FAQs

Do space heaters need to have safety stickers?

Safety certification labels from trusted testing agencies like UL or ETL are a good sign your heater has been independently tested to meet important safety standards. Heaters that lack certification have failed to meet even minimum safety requirements and can pose unreasonable fire and shock hazards.

Are inexpensive space heaters safe?

They can be, but usually aren’t. Cheaper models often compromise on materials, electrical components, and safety features to drive down the price. In fact, Which? found that none of the cheap mini heaters they purchased were safe — some were recalled!

Does a space heater need a thermostat?

Some space heaters come with built-in thermostats. Thermostats help keep energy consumption in check and can help lower fire risk. You can learn more about thermostat features here: Do Space Heaters Need Thermostats?

Are space heaters from online marketplaces safe?

Yes and no. You should always check what you’re buying. In many cases reviewed by safety certifications and recall sites due to hazards. It’s always smart to do your research on a unit before purchasing.

Are cheap space heaters dangerous?

Cheap doesn’t always mean dangerous, but counter-intuitively, cheap often means riskier when it comes to electrical heaters. The materials and construction of low-cost heaters are often sub-par build and might not include essential safety features. For space heaters, you usually get what you pay for.

Can space heaters cause fire hazards?

Yes, when they’re poorly made or have malfunctioning components. Many recalls are due to fire hazards caused by poor insulation, shock risks due to faulty plugs/polarity, and improper wiring. Always be sure to research whether the heater has ever been recalled or received a product safety alert from a certified organization.

Do space heaters have to comply with UK safety regulations?

Yes, under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994, electrical appliances are supposed to conform to safety standards before they’re put up for sale. Remember, no safety sticker likely means that the space heater is illegal to sell in the UK.

How do I know if my space heater has safety features?

The best way to know before you buy is to research the product. Read through authentic customer reviews, check if it’s been recalled or received a product safety alert on dedicated websites, and look for safety certifications and labels on packaging. If things look shady or vague, they probably are. Trust your gut!

Final Words

Alright, last thing. If you see a heater and something doesn’t feel right. Trust those instincts and don’t buy it. People rush into these kinds of purchases all the time and immediately regret buying the cheap heater. Don’t be that person.

Space heaters are a big investment that can affect you and your family’s comfort. Invest a little extra and save yourself the headache. That $50 could cost you over $300 if you purchase it cheaply.

Think about that next time you’re debating between a $30 heater and $60. The $30 heater will most likely lead you to spend more money in the long run. Pricey? Yes. But it’ll be worth every penny when your wife doesn’t kill you.. :)

Hmm, no posts. So lonely...