Are halogen heaters energy-efficient?
Halogen heaters are ideal for spot heating small spaces, using infrared to heat the space directly in front of them. As such, they tend to be more efficient than fan heaters, which need to run for longer to heat an entire room.
When temperatures aren’t super cold, you can also run a halogen heater on a low setting – using just one halogen bar run at just 400 watts - which will significantly lower running costs.
That said, halogen heaters are not recommended to heat larger rooms or for use over longer periods - infrared panel heating or oil-filled radiators may be more energy efficient if you intend to run them over longer periods.
Are halogen heaters safe to use at night?
Halogen heaters are not recommended for use overnight due to safety concerns. With no thermostats or timers, they don’t turn off automatically, meaning a room could quickly become too hot.
As the bulbs themselves are hot, they should never be left unattended, even with tilt cut-offs, due to the risk of fire.
Recommendations from real Mumsnet users
There is a lot of debate within the Mumsnet forums on how to keep warm during winter, with many users sharing their hints and tips on the best clothing, thermals and tools for the job.
First, we sought out the trusted opinions of Mumsnet users, to get their feedback on what they look for when choosing a heater for their home.
We also looked out for any negative reviews, where Mumsetters highlighted products that they felt were poor quality, noisy or simply struggled to maintain a comfortable room temperature.
Expert opinions
Next up, we considered reviews and feedback from trusted industry experts. We want to be confident that the products we recommend are fit for purpose, so we looked out for award-winning products or those that were well regarded in the marketplace, including those suggested by consumer champions such as Which?.
Authentic consumer reviews
Finally, to bring you our definitive list of the best fan heaters on the market, we thoroughly investigated genuine, in-depth customer reviews on retailer sites such as Amazon, Currys, and AO to gather a wider range of consumer experiences regarding the products on our shortlist.
About the author
Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in home and kitchen product reviews and roundups. Having written reviews on her own blog, Real Mum Reviews, for over a decade, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of products, scrutinising expert opinions and consumer feedback to help parents make informed purchases that benefit their families.
Someone who feels the cold and works from home, Lucy knows only too well how hard it can be to stay warm in winter. She’s also written several Mumsnet articles to help families stay cosy, including the best thermals and the best heated gloves.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.
Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.