The Safest Electric Heater to Leave Unattended

Time is basically one of the essential commodities a person can trade with; hence most people try to maximize it over the years by trying to multitask. Talking about one of the most common multitasking scenes is in the home: cooking, cleaning and taking care of kids – all simultaneously. No wonder some forget to turn off a few sensitive devices – but not the heater.

Some heaters aren’t reliable enough to leave them running for hours on end. They may overheat and also dangerously increase the level of carbon dioxide in the room. 

However, this is not the case for all heaters on the market. Some are perfectly safe to leave unsupervised and may run all night long.

Therefore, it didn’t take me long to come up with an idea to review the safest electric heater that you can leave unattended.

The use of electric space heaters is very pleasurable due to the warmth and high level of comfort it brings to the home. However, due to the high amount of heat generated, they also require a whole lot of attention, or else they could quickly become a source of danger.

Most individuals prefer the flexibility of leaving a space heater unattended, which, as a result, placed a demand on manufacturers to come up with basically the safest space heaters we see around today.

For many, leaving space heaters unattended isn’t so much of a big deal anymore, thanks to the advanced features. One such example is a design like the cool-to-touch surface, which leaves the body cool regardless of the heat it generates. Even leaving electric space heaters alone, which were well famed for danger, doesn’t rock the mind as it once did.

In essence, space heaters that can be left unattended often put the mind at rest. Space heater safety is an all-time priority and it’s why I reviewed the safest electric heaters in this article. 

Top 6 Safest Electric Heaters to Leave Unattended

1) AirNmore Comfort Deluxe with Copper PTC, Infrared Space Heater

Special features: infrared and radiant space heater, ETL listed, 1500 watt max heater, copper PTC heating element, caster wheels.

This portable space heater is very small and designed to serve confined spaces. It takes the looks of a traditional heater, possessing a centralized fan, which blows out heat generated into the air, hence effectively raising the temperature of the environs by a considerable level. The mobility of this device is a piece of cake, as it has a built-in handle at the back where an adult hand can easily fit in.

With a unique vortex air circulation design, using this device is a very effective way of heating up the room at a low cost. The heater has a dial, which is used to select different heat levels. 

This design allows the unit to heat up and then circulate the air throughout a room, unlike some others that work by releasing extreme heat directly from the heater. This makes the device very hot too.

The body surface of this heater is very cool to the touch, and it is built with overheating protection. It means when the temperature gets to unhealthy levels, it shuts itself off automatically. Another shutoff act also comes into play when the device is knocked over for whatever reason to avoid fire hazards.

With the auto mode, this device is basically able to run itself, having an adjustable thermometer for picking a temperature level to be attained and maintained by the device. This temperature is varied by the user.

Despite having a fan for warm air circulation, it operates pretty quietly, barely making enough noise to attract attention. It also comes with a 5-year warranty attached to those in the US. Outside the US, there is no guarantee of proper functioning or performance.

Common Problems and How to Deal with Them

The Vornado heater resembles traditional small-sized heaters that have a fan to circulate the hot air. Unlike competitors, this heater will only blow air in one direction, which means it cannot distribute the heat evenly. 

Another disadvantage is obviously its size. It was quite difficult for me to warm up my small study room. However, when in close proximity, you will get warmed up pretty quickly. 

Key Features

• Adjustable thermostat
• Vortex air circulation

2) Comfort Zone Oscillating Space Heater

Another tower-type heater on my list is the Comfort Zone model. It is an oscillating type that is typically known for its easy mobility, as well as its ability to efficiently and evenly distribute around all areas through the use of a powerful fan.

If you are looking for a heater that is safe and can evenly distribute the heat, the Comfort Zone heater may be a good choice for you. 

This is possible due to its oscillating mode of operation, whereby it is rotatable by 360 degrees. It also comes with a digital thermostat that has an LED display for measuring and showing values of the next temperature level in the area.

The device is a ceramic space heater type; hence it is really efficient for heating up the air, and according to the build of this product, it is able to serve small to medium-sized rooms.

Aside from that downside, it possesses several impressive features that I surely found beneficial, such as the eco mode. The eco mode is responsible for managing energy, as well as maintaining temperature on a preset value chosen by the user.

The safety capabilities of this device are also top-notch, having the famed tip-over function, which plagued the early inception of space heaters by causing a whole lot of fire hazards, as well as a cool-to-touch surface. As a result, it can be placed anywhere in the home without the fear of burns.

Convenience features like the remote control for operating from a distance are also present, as well as the timer. This timer really comes in handy; I saved quite a bit of money running the device only for a limited time.I set a working duration of anywhere from 1 to 12 hours. 

The space heater is also very mobile, as it has built-in handles for easy lifting and moving to wherever it is needed.

Common Problems and How to Deal with Them

The only reason this and the previous heaters weren’t rated 5/5 is because of their size. Both heaters are portable and have great features. However, they will cost you a lot if you want to warm up a large-sized room. 

Key Features

• Ceramic heater type
• Oscillating design
• LED display
• Digital thermostat
• Eco mode
• ETL certified

3) Vornado MVH Vortex Heater with 3 Heat Settings

Special features: adjustable thermostat, vortex air circulation, 1,500 watts capacity, item weight; 3.76 pounds, product dimension; 7.68 x x7.13 x 5.95 inches.

This Vornado portable space heater is very small and designed to serve confined spaces. It takes the looks of a traditional heater, possessing a centralized fan, which blows out heat generated into the air, hence effectively raising the temperature of the environs by a considerable level.

The mobility of this device is a piece of cake, as it has a built-in handle at the back where an adult hand can easily fit in.

With a unique vortex air circulation design, using this device is a very effective way of heating up the room at a low cost. The heater has a dial, which is used to select different heat levels. 

This design allows the unit to heat up and then circulate the air throughout a room, unlike some others that work by releasing extreme heat directly from the heater. This makes the device very hot too.

The body surface of this heater is very cool to the touch, and it is built with overheating protection. It means when the temperature gets to unhealthy levels, it shuts itself off automatically. Another shutoff act also comes into play when the device is knocked over for whatever reason to avoid fire hazards.

With the auto mode, this device is basically able to run itself, having an adjustable thermometer for picking a temperature level to be attained and maintained by the device. This temperature is varied by the user.

Despite having a fan for warm air circulation, it operates pretty quietly, barely making enough noise to attract attention. It also comes with a 5-year warranty attached to those in the US. Outside the US, there is no guarantee of proper functioning or performance.

Common Problems and How to Deal with Them

The Vornado heater resembles traditional small-sized heaters that have a fan to circulate the hot air. Unlike competitors, this heater will only blow air in one direction, which means it cannot distribute the heat evenly. 

Another disadvantage is obviously its size. It was quite difficult for me to warm up my small study room. However, when in close proximity, you will get warmed up pretty quickly. 

Key Features

• Adjustable thermostat
• Vortex air circulation

4) Lasko 755320 Ceramic Space Heater

Special features: product dimensions; 88.5 x 7.25 x 23 inches, tower type, adjustable thermostat, 1,500-watt capacity, digital temperature display, ETL listed, item weight 8 pounds, ceramic heater type.

Lasko is a well-known name in the world of space heaters, and from the depth of their designs comes the 755320. It is a tower-type design unit, which is as portable as a heater could get, being very small in size, therefore not going to occupy much space in the home.

What Are the Safest Portable Heaters?

There are several types of heaters on the market, based on different criteria like the power source and heat generation medium.

Regarding the source of energy, it could be gas-powered, coal, propane, or even kerosene, but the safest of them all to operate inside your home is the electric type. Electric heaters are widely available but come at a higher price. The heaters work by converting power from an outlet to heat energy.

Several safety functions are also much easier to build in when dealing with an electric type heater, features like the auto mode, timer, tip-over protection, overheating protection, and a cool-to-touch surface. 

For this reason, it is more comfortable, safer, and advisable to go for an electric heater, though they are not nearly as powerful as the other types.

Are Space Heaters Safe to Leave on All Night?

Statistics have shown that more than 25,000 residential fires are caused by space heaters every year in the U.S. This begs the question, are these devices, which are responsible for such an alarming amount of fires, safe to be left on all night?

In response to that, I would say it depends on the condition and the heater being used. There are several features to counteract the start of a sudden fire, like the tip-over protection for turn-off devices in case they fall face ground, which could lead to a fire starting up on the surface they lay on from excessive heating. The overheating protection shuts off the device, preventing excessive heat concentration that could cause a fire too.

With these two features, you can leave a heater on for the whole night, though I recommend you program the thermostat so as not to raise temperatures too high. Another safety precaution is to place your device far from the highly-inflammable things like fabric or a wooden surface. Lastly, I always recommend turning off any devices you have at home before leaving. There is no need to waste energy and your money. 

How Long Can Space Heaters Be Left On?

Space heaters can run for as long as you want them to, though some come with overheat protection, which shuts the device off if the temperature becomes too high.

How long a space heater would last could also depend on the timer programmed to keep it running. One can easily set the device to run for anywhere between 1 and 12 hours, while some can even go up to 24 hours.