A Guide to Bathroom Heaters

Jumping out of a hot shower into the cold is something no one enjoys having to do during those colder winter months. But there’s a simple solution to staying warm – bathroom heaters. A bathroom heater can change your attitude about the post shower chill and be a useful appliance for more than just heating.

Canstar Blue’s handy guide to bathroom heaters has all you need to know about staying warm and avoiding bathroom chills.

Types of bathroom heaters

Bathroom heaters are separated into two main categories: installed heaters and portable heaters. An installed heater will generally need to be installed by a professional while portable heaters can be moved from room to room. Portable, wall-mounted and ceiling heaters explain where they are installed whereas infrared, convection and fan forced explain the type of heat the appliance produces. Types of bathroom heaters include:

• Portable heaters
• Wall-mounted heaters
• Ceiling-installed heaters
• Infrared heaters
• Convection heaters
• Panel heaters
• Fan-forced heaters

Are bathroom heaters safe?

Generally speaking, bathroom heaters are safe. They are designed for bathrooms, meaning that their design takes into consideration water, moisture and humidity as well as any other potential hazards. However, if not used correctly, a heater can become dangerous when being used in a bathroom, especially if it is not a bathroom-specific heater. Always read the instructions, storage information and hazard tag of any appliance being used in or around a bathroom or water.

Benefits of bathroom heaters

There are a number of benefits that bathroom heaters offer outside of just heating your bathroom:

• Reduces steam – allowing you to use the mirror straight after a shower, or allowing someone else to use it while you’re soaping up in the steam, the holy grail of bathroom sharing
• Reduces the moisture in the air – this helps prevent mould build-up on bathroom fixtures, on the ceiling and walls
• Save water and time – there’s no need to prolong jumping out of a hot shower if your bathroom is just as warm as the water

Most energy efficient bathroom heater

The most energy-efficient way to heat your cold bathroom is to install an overhead heating lamp. Not only are they easily retrofitted into existing bathrooms, with limited costs involved, but they also come with varying wattage bulbs to ensure adequate heating for the size of the room. There’s also no pre-heating required as it only needs to be on when you’re using the bathroom, so that will help keep your power bill in check.

The least energy efficient heater is a convection heater, as they blow heated air into the space which can be easily lost if a door or window is opened. However, how you use your heater will ultimately depend on how much energy it’s using, so keep an eye on it if you’re looking to drag out your showers, not your energy bill.

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How much do bathroom heaters cost?

Bathroom heaters generally cost between $50 and $1200. These price points cover models from portable to installed models. Installed heaters generally sit at the higher end of the price scale, whereas you can find small portable heaters under $100.

→Related article: What’s the Best Way to Heat Your Bathroom?

Who sells bathroom heaters?

There are a number of brands that sell bathroom heaters that suit different bathroom designs and sizes, including brands such as Goldair, Dimplex and IXL.

Goldair Bathroom Fan Heater

Fan heaters are one of the cheapest options when it comes to bathroom heaters. These robust little heaters take up barely any room and put out heat, but that’s about it. Unlike other bathroom heaters, fan-forced heaters don’t extract steam, meaning that chances of mould are higher than with other types of heaters.

The Goldair bathroom fan heater has a heat output of 2.4kW and two safety cut outs for your protection. It is available in three colours: glossy white, white & stainless steel, and black & stainless steel for $80.

Dimplex Alta Top Outlet Panel Heater

A wall-mounted heater is a great way to save space, ideal for those with small bathrooms. Panel heaters use convective heat to warm up a room, and are compact and great for small bathrooms. However, they’re not the most energy-efficient solution, as they usually require time to warm up.

At 55mm thick, this Dimplex Alta panel heater really doesn’t take up much room. Plus, it has concealed air vents to remove visual clutter. This wall mounted heater comes in models from 500W to 2400W, ranging in price from approx. $250 to $400.

Spending a bit more on a panel heater can get you some additional safety features, like the Dimplex Alta’s overheat protection, digital thermostat and optional timer.

IXL Tastic Luminate Dual 3

The Tastic Luminate Dual 3 is by far one of the most expensive bathroom heaters available on the market. At $1200, the Luminate Dual 3 is a exhaust fan with a light and heater, meaning it adds heat while removing steam.

This bathroom heater is installed in your ceiling, allowing it to illuminate your bathroom with a dimmable LED light. 2x 800W infra-red heat lamps work to provide long lasting warmth, while an auto cut-off timer ensures you don’t use too much electricity or cause damage.

The IXL Tastic Single 3 in 1 offers much of the same features as the Luminate Dual 3 (minus one heat lamp) and is available for $900.

What to look for in a bathroom heater

A heater may seem like a simple buy with little to no thought necessary, but that’s quite the opposite if you want to find exactly what you’re looking for. By weighing up all your options and taking into consideration different models, prices, functions and more, you can make the perfect choice. Here are some crucial elements to take into consideration:

• Waterproofing – bathrooms are naturally humid places. When it comes to water and electrics, it’s a dangerous combo, so if you don’t want to battle a fire after your bubble bath, you need to look for a heater with sufficient waterproofing and the necessary safety requirements.
• Wattage – every heater comes with a wattage reading. Before you jump to the highest one, consider your heating needs – a small room may require a lower heating capacity, or you may live somewhere that only needs minimal heating at certain times throughout the year. Choosing the right wattage will save you money in the long run.
• Size – choose a heater size that fits the room, but bear in mind that some types of heaters throw out more heat than others, regardless of the size. It’s more important to match the size of the room to heat output when selecting a unit.
• Heating times – don’t leave yourself out in the cold – look at how long a heater takes to warm up. If it’s too long, it probably isn’t worth putting in the bathroom.
• Controls – controls allow you to get the most out of your unit. Here are some common ones to look out for:
  • A thermostat cuts down on power costs and gives you temperature control
  • A remote allows you to use the heater from anywhere in the room (or even house!)
  • Multiple switches that independently control fans, heat, and lights
  • Safety features such as automatic switch-off, tip-off sensors, drip protection, and waterproofing
  • A timer will set heating times, or even preheat a room before you enter it

Is a bathroom heater worth it?

Whether a bathroom heater is worth it or not will come down to a number of factors. If you’re in a home that’s in desperate need of some warmth, particularly if you’re stepping out of the shower into a chilly room, then it could be a great purchase. Finding the right heater that suits your bathroom and needs will be an easy choice now that you have all the right tools, and with a wide range of price points and types of heaters, finding a great fit that will keep you toasty all winter long doesn’t seem as daunting.

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About the reviewer of this page

This report was reviewed by Canstar Content Producer, Caitlin Bingham. Caitlin is an experienced writer whose passion for creativity led her to study communication and journalism. She began her career freelancing as a content writer, before joining the Canstar team.