Cold September mornings are just around the corner, and you might consider buying a bathroom heater so that you can continue to have enjoyable morning showers. Otherwise, you will soon feel goose bumps while preparing for your job in the morning. We will not even mention the troubles you will have if you like to take long evening baths in your bathtub!
Seriously, owning a bathroom heater is a must! There are different types you can choose from, and we have made sure that you are able to make an informed decision and make your bathroom an enjoyable place no matter the season. Our reviews are not bijous, and you can be sure that all five reviewed bathroom heaters are top-notch! So sit back and let us guide you through the world of bathroom heaters.
Quick Comparison
Last update on 2024-04-19 at 05:18 PST - Details
How to Choose the Best Bathroom Heater?
Finding the best bathroom heater that will satisfy your personal needs and preferences and be reliable, efficient and right on budget, is not an easy task. However, do not start sweating yet, because we are here to guide you through the process.
1. Choose the type of heater
First of all, there are several types of heaters that can be used in bathrooms, and you need to decide what type best fits both your bathroom and your requirements. We have created an easy to follow overview:
Type | Description |
|---|---|
WALL HEATERS | As the name suggests, these heaters are to be positioned on the wall of your bathroom. You must have a suitable space on your wall which is not obstructed by the door or bathroom furniture. Wall heaters are very efficient in providing heat in smaller bathrooms but may not be sufficient to keep a large bathroom warm. They can differ in ways they emit the heating power. Always make sure that the description or the package states that it is safe to use in a bathroom. They are budget friendly - cheap to buy and install. |
CEILING HEATERS | If you want a permanent heating solution, these heaters are an ideal choice. They do not require any extra space and cannot be obstructed by anything. They are an ideal choice for extremely small bathrooms or when there is no suitable place to place the heater. They are also the safest option as they are positioned far away from water sources, high up on the ceiling. On the downside, you will probably have to run an electric cable for the heater in the ceiling. |
PORTABLE HEATERS | If you do not want a permanent heater, you need bathroom heating only during the winter, or you rent your current accommodation, portable heaters are your perfect solution. They are also suitable for small spaces as you can get them out of the way when not in use. They just need to be plugged into a socket, and you will soon be warm. Of course, you have to make sure to position them safely in your bathroom- away from any water splashes as they are often not 100% waterproof. Safety features must be incorporated too. |
HEATER/EXHAUST FAN | As humidity is a common problem in all bathrooms, most of the households have exhaust fans installed to deal with this issue. It is best to purchase a heater and exhaust fan combination unit that will both heat the bathroom and extract the steam that accumulates and rises while you take your shower. In this way, you will prevent the steam from causing damage to your walls and ceiling while also providing a warm stream of air for heating your bathroom. First of all, carefully assess your ceiling and ventilation options as you will need a duct to transfer the moisture out. Before you spend your money, make sure that it is possible to install such a unit in your home. |
RADIANT FLOOR HEATING | If you want an “invisible” heater in your bathroom, you should not call a magician but rather invest in radiant floor heating. This will surely cost you a lot, but if you have already invested into a stylish bathroom, this is an excellent way to preserve that look. Take into account that if you have already installed floor tiling, you will have to have that removed and reinstalled which will be quite messy. |
2. Determine the heating power
All the heaters, including the ones used in bathrooms, are characterized by their emitted heating power. You need a heater that will be able to output enough heating power to warm your entire bathroom to a temperature you feel comfortable with.
Small bathrooms are usually no problem, but if your bathroom is large, you should make sure the heating ability of the heater is adequate. Manufacturers usually include an estimation of the heater’s heating ability in square feet, the number of watts or outputted heating power.
Measure your bathroom carefully to find out how many square feet you need to heat. Take into account the height of your ceiling too, as it also influences the heating power you will need for optimum results.
3. Set your budget
Even the wealthiest people usually have a budget (that we can only dream about), and for this reason, it is important to be aware of both the cost of the bathroom heater and all additional costs that will occur while or when we install it in our bathroom.
As far as the heater is concerned, we have already established that portable and wall heaters are the cheapest. Nonetheless, they are usually insufficient if you have a large bathroom you want to warm up.
Ceiling mounted heaters and heater and exhaust fan combination units are a little pricier, but also more effective in warming your bathroom while keeping you safe too. As stated, radiant floor heating is the most expensive type of heating you can purchase for your bathroom, and it also requires costly maintenance, especially if something goes wrong.
If you know your budget and anticipate all the possible costs, you should not have any trouble to find an ideal bathroom heater in your price range.
4. Make sure the heater is safe to use
The bathroom is one of the most dangerous places in your home. Everything that has to do with electricity can pose a danger, and bathroom heaters are no exception. It is, therefore, important that you maintain sensible bathroom heater safety.
First of all, make sure the heater is designed to be used in the bathroom. Even if a heater is waterproof, you should try not to get it wet. Install it far away from any water sources or pipes.
Ceiling heaters are the safest because they are positioned so high, and wall heaters should be installed high up on the wall too. In that way, no one will be able to reach the heater and get injured. Avoid installing ceiling heaters in particularly damp areas in which the steam accumulates such as above your shower or bath.
General safety measures should always be taken, so make sure to buy the correct type of fire extinguisher for tackling electrical fires and keep it in your bathroom just in case. Do not dry towels on your heater or obstruct it in any other way.
5. Properly place and install the heater
When you buy the appropriate heater and make sure it is safe, you should also install it in the best place possible. If you are going to mount a bathroom heater on your own, read the manufacturer’s instructions first.
It is important to take all the necessary precautions but also choose a place where the heater can reach its full potential. This means you should make sure that flow of warm air is not blocked so that you can benefit from the heat and avoid dangerous situations too. Keep it away from objects and avoid dead spaces such as behind a door.
If your heater features a thermostat which is to be installed separately, place it away from the heater. If you place the thermostat directly above the heater or too close to it, it will not get a precise reading of the temperature in the bathroom.
Proper ventilation is always important in bathrooms, especially if you are installing a heater with an extractor fan. Typically the ventilation tubes are placed in the wall or the ceiling. If you do not have the proper electrical wiring in place, you should contact a professional electrician to ensure that you have the required electrical structure in place to safely mount and use the bathroom heater.
Top Five Bathroom Heaters Reviewed
Stiebel Eltron CK 15E (120V) is an electric fan heater designed to be mounted on a bathroom wall. With a white finish and sleek, elegant design it will enhance any stylish bathroom. As it is compact (18 1/8" x 13 1/4" x 4 3/4"), it can fit in small bathrooms too and installing it is fairly easy since you do not need to cut into the wall.
It is designed to push the air downwards, so your bathroom floors will never be cold and wet for a long time anymore. The fan operates rather quietly, and the built in thermostat will allow you to set your ideal temperature. When you turn it to the lowest, most economical setting, it will keep your pipes from freezing during winter.
Housing is made of painted steel and plastic, but it seems to be missing a top cover as the wires can be seen there. It is a little more expensive than similar models on the market today, but it is highly effective and seems very durable. It is energy efficient as well, and should not influence your heating bills greatly.
Pros
- Very powerful
- Quiet operation
Cons
- Manual is not detailed enough
- The top cover should be added
- Cord and plug are not included
The Panasonic FV-11VH2 Whisper Warm 110 CFM is a combination of an extractor fan and an integrated heater. It is mostly made of stainless steel, and with a 1400W output, it is both durable and powerful. However, it is surprisingly quiet- it operates at a 0.6 sones noise level, which should not annoy even the most sensitive users.
It is designed to extract the damp air from your bathroom and provide warmth at the same time which means that there will be no foggy mirrors anymore too. You can use these features separately as well so during summer you can use only the extractor.
Installing the unit proved to be a bit difficult as we discovered that the instructions are incomplete and we needed some additional parts too. It is also more suitable for new construction when the drywall is yet to be installed because of the metal flange that interfaces with the ceiling material is 1/2 inch wider all around than the unit and makes mounting challenging even with included rail mounts (suspended).
Pros
- Durable stainless steel construction
- Zinc galvanized to prevent rust
- Powerful and quiet
Cons
- Expensive
- Incomplete installing instructions
- More suitable for new constructions
Cadet Com-Pak CSC202TW Bathroom Heater is another wall heater which can produce up to 2000 watts of heating power and is an ideal solution for medium-sized bathrooms. The Com-Pak is both efficient and affordable. The simple design and powder coating in a soft white paint make it blend in and not interfere with the bathroom decor. It is not very loud when in operation but you can definitely hear when it is on.
It is easy to install, and all the directions were helpful and easy to follow. Everything you need to install the heater arrives with it- a nichrome coil element for quick heating, a metal grill piece, and the wall can. It also has an integrated thermostat with the temperature range of 40°F - 85°F, to easily adjust the heat.
Safety features include a primary and secondary thermal safeguard which guarantee the unit will shut off when it reaches unsafe temperatures. We have only a single complaint- the control should be easier to read as we found it almost impossible to know what temperature the barely visible markings show.
Pros
- Efficient
- Does not take up any floor space
- Compact design
- Safety features
Cons
- Audible fan
- Barely visible markings on temperature control knob
Delta BreezRadiance RAD80L 80 CFM is a combined unit which includes an exhaust fan, light and 1300W heater ideal for small and medium-sized bathrooms. It requires a dedicated electrical circuit and a triple switch as it has three functions that can be turned on/off separately. Installation is, therefore, best left to professionals, and you need to add that cost to the price of the unit too. Furthermore, it is not meant to be a retrofit in existing finished space as that would make installation even more complicated and costly.
On the other hand, it offers numerous benefits once properly installed as it is a very quiet and powerful unit. With loudness rating at 1.3 sones, it is barely heard, and power consumption of 10.5 Watts makes it energy-efficient too. It also includes a built in thermostat for convenient temperature control. It is HVI certified, UL listed and features a heater module equipped with thermal cut off.
Make sure the unit is mounted in the proper location on the ceiling as the heater blows air at about a 45-degree angle. If you position it directly above the part of your bathroom you want to heat, you might end up disappointed.
Pros
- Quiet and powerful fan
- Satisfactory heating
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Direction of heat- does not blow directly down
- Complicated installation
Holmes Digital Heater HFH436WGL-UM is a portable heater that has a wall mountable option too. It features a fan that distributes hot air quickly and digital controls which enable you to set the most comfortable temperature. The incorporated timer is a great addition as it allows you to preheat the bathroom for your bath time.
With 1500 watt max output it is an ideal choice for small and medium bathrooms, but it can also be used as a supplemental heating unit anywhere around the house. We especially liked the safety level as it is designed with ALCI plug, overheat protection, manual user reset and is also cool to touch.
We found the setup to be extremely easy; it's relatively quiet and works well. We do not like the fact that the fan has only one speed, as we expected at least two. Moreover, the heater tends to constantly shut-off in tight spaces- so be careful if your bathroom is very small as the unit will overheat and you will need to unplug and reset the heater repeatedly.
Pros
- 1-Year Limited Warranty
- Affordable and versatile
- Numerous safety features included
Cons
- Shuts off in tight spaces
- Only one fan speed
Best Bathroom Heater On the Market
All the heaters reviewed have their advantages, and you will not regret buying any of them- they are sure to keep your bathroom warm and cozy. Since we have to choose only one winner, we vote for Panasonic FV-11VH2 Whisper Warm 110 CFM Bathroom Heater/Fan as it balances the price and quality the best.
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