Heating an apartment using alternative solutions - Tips and effective portable devices

Heating is a necessity in any home, and with an energy crisis expected and prices exploding, it's useful to know what alternative solutions are available to you.

Heating prices are expected to rise this coming winter, so you'll need to find options to heat your home. Mobile small apartment heating solutions are ideal for people who don't own an apartment or just want to use something temporarily until they can install something permanent. These are electric panel heaters, electric fan heaters or electric radiant oil heaters. Apartment owners can choose a continuous heating solution such as mini-splits or electric underfloor heating.

Radiant panels

These are low-power heaters that can be used to heat small spaces. Their advantages are that they are not very expensive, do not take up much space, which makes them ideal for a small apartment, and quickly warm up the room. No special skills are required for installation. Basically, all you have to do is plug it into an outlet. Most of these heaters are low wattage, so they don't consume much. Their disadvantages are that they are not able to heat a large room, do not distribute heat well, and must be located near an electrical outlet.

Electric fan heaters

More powerful than wall heaters, electric heaters also have fans that force warm air into the room. The main advantage of this type of heater is precisely that it has higher power. It has the ability to heat large rooms at lower temperatures. In addition, electric fan heaters can even be purchased as fireplace models. Electric fireplaces are aesthetically pleasing and can be opened using a remote control. The downsides are that they can be more expensive, and you should keep small children, pets, and anything that could be damaged by heat away from them.

Oil radiators

They look like traditional space heaters, but simply plug into an electrical outlet. They have oil inside them that is heated to provide radiant heat. The advantage of this type of heater is that it works more efficiently than an electric heater with a fan. It's also quieter. Another benefit is that they are relatively cool to the touch, so they are not as dangerous to pets or small children. The downside to this type of heater is that it can take a while to heat up. It also has the same power limitations as an electric fan heater. In addition, it will take up more space than other types of electric heaters and is not entirely aesthetically pleasing.

Mini split heating system

Permanent solutions include permanent mini-split heating systems, ideal for homes and small spaces. These heaters have many advantages and very few disadvantages. They are effective for both heating and cooling. They take up no floor space, have advanced electronic features, and are relatively inexpensive compared to other continuous heating options. Heat pipes lose up to 25% of heat through the pipe system. Because mini-split technology provides heat directly, without pipes, you end up using less fuel, which is better for the environment in addition to saving money. You will have a ventilation unit inside and a condenser outside. The disadvantages of air conditioners for heating are the installation costs and the risk that the installation is not done correctly, in which case they will not work efficiently.

Electric heated floors

Electric heated floors are suitable for installation under laminate, ceramic tiles and even carpeting. They make the house more comfortable, because the rooms will be heated from the ground. The heat is evenly distributed throughout the room and operates silently. However, it also has disadvantages: the need to remove parquet or tiles for installation and high costs. In the case of harsher winters, you may find that they only work well with additional heaters.

Worth remembering!

Any heat source - electric radiator, electric fireplace, oil radiator, heat gun - cannot be blocked by furniture, so they cannot be placed behind it.