If you've already pulled the blankets out of the cupboard, or dug out your sweaters ready to face the dropping temperatures autumn has begun to deliver, then you may also be searching for a portable heater that will allow you to heat one room rather than your entire house of flat.
Various shops have switched on to the fact that Brits will be search for the mini heating wonders, so now choosing one from the vast array on offer is far from easy. A reporter at Nottinghamshire Live's sister publication, Birmingham Live, decided to take one for a spin. Here's what they discovered.
Writer Rebecca Astill said: "I’ve been after a decent space heater for a while, one that’s small enough to fit on my desk, low energy to keep bills cheap, and quiet enough to work alongside. Plus, I didn’t want to fork out an extortionate amount of money for one.
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"When I work from home I’m alone in my flat, and with the energy price cap rising in October I won’t be able to justify turning the heating on when it’s just me this winter."
Rebecca found the Blaux Heatcore Electric Portable Space Heater online at Amazon, priced at £78.99. It had mostly five star reviews and was described as promising "power, energy efficiency, a compact and lightweight design, approved safety features and a whisper quiet sound". The energy usage of the heater is 1200W, though that goes down to 700W on the lowest setting. It also has timer settings for one, two or three hours.
The heater claims to take five seconds to heat up, is made of flame resistant materials and has overheat protection. Though small, the heat comes out at an 85 degree angle.
So, what did she think? Rebecca said: "On first impressions, the Blaux Heatcore is stylish, with a copper ceramic front and white plastic outside, and it’s small, standing at just 21cm high and 14cm wide. It has mostly five star reviews on Amazon, with people saying it allowed them to 'turn off the central heating' and it got them 'through winter'."
Here's how Rebecca scored the heater
Practicality: 8/10
"It certainly packs a punch in action. It comes already set up, and the buttons are self-explanatory. I sat it in the corner of my desk and it truly did heat up in less than five seconds, leaving me warm and toasty as I typed away. I wouldn’t say it’s quite whisper-quiet, and it’s certainly too loud to have on in the background of work meetings, but it’s not loud enough to be distracting.
"The force of the fan is just enough to hit me with a warm current without feeling suffocated. I felt the difference immediately after switching it off."
Energy efficiency: 7/10
"The Blaux heater is one of the most energy efficient space heaters on the market at 1200W, with the average using nearer 1500W. At maximum, the Blaux Heatcore costs 40p per hour, and, using lower settings, it’s more like 26p per hour.
"Though a lot cheaper than turning the heating on, I do think the lower setting is still quite loud and powerful. I would have liked to see a quieter, more ambient low setting which used a lower wattage to save even more money."
Value for money: 7/10
"£78.99 is relatively expensive compared to other space heaters on Amazon, but I do think you’re paying for the quality, and the low energy consumption. It’s worth investing in a slightly more expensive heater which will ultimately save you money.
"The ceramic is sturdy and heats up, so it stays as a heater after you turn it off, and it’s one of the most efficient heaters I have ever used. I’d just like to have seen something other than plastic used for the outer part of the heater, for the amount of money you’re spending."
And finally
"All in all I think the Blaux Heatcore Electric Portable Space Heater is perfect for small spaces, on a desk, a bedroom or facing you on the sofa. It heats the air up quickly and uses little energy compared to its competitors. However I think the lowest setting could have been made even more energy efficient, and the materials used could have been better quality."
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