When purchasing a bathroom heater, a few questions might pop in your mind, “Are bathroom heaters safe?”, “Is my bathroom too small/large?”, “What kind of heater should I buy?”.
We are here to give you answers to those questions and help you decide which heater will work best for your bathroom.
Why should you add a heater in your bathroom?
Few things are worse in life than having to get ready in the morning in a cold bathroom, or heaven forbid, stepping out of a hot shower into freezing air, especially in the winter months.
Instead of turning on your central heating system and unnecessarily heating up your whole house, why not just warm up your bathroom?
This will make a huge difference in reducing your heating bills, all while making it possible for you to stay warm during the cold days after showering.
Additionally, bathroom heaters can also boost your overall health through improved circulation. The extra heat will have a huge benefit for your sore muscles and joints as well.
When choosing a heater, you need to take into account every detail, including safety, bathroom sizing, air flow, heater type, heating costs and your heating needs.
Why should you add a heater in your bathroom?
It is also important that they are installed properly and safely since mixing water and electricity can be dangerous. Bathroom heat lamps are intended to be able to work in a wet environment. Bathroom heat lamps are designed to cope with the damp bathroom environment.
Safety guidelines when choosing a bathroom heater?
Safety always comes first. The most important thing you need to know about bathroom heaters is that, just like any other electrical appliances, they cannot be placed near water sources, like the sink, shower, or the bathtub.
Regular electric radiators must be at least 1.2 meters away from a sink, and 3 meters away from a bathtub. However, most bathroom heaters have a form of splash protection so they can be placed even 60 centimetres away from a water source.
Just in case, make sure to read the manual before placing it as there are specific standards for many heaters.
Choosing the right heater for your bathroom size
This will be one of the most important decisions when choosing a bathroom heater. If you pick a heater that is too small or weak, you will never be able to properly heat your bathroom, raising your bill without warming your feet. So, how to choose the right one?
The rule of thumb is 10 watts of power for every square foot of your bathroom (12 watts for a poorly insulated bathroom). This means, for a bathroom that’s 150 square foot, you will need a 1,500-watt heater.
But, what to do when there’s only BTUs (British Thermal Units) labelled on the heater? Simply divide the total BTUs by 3.41 (1 watt = 3.41 BTUs). Most bathroom heaters use around 5,000 BTUs, which is around 1,500 watts.
If you have high ceilings (over 8 feet), you can calculate the required wattage to properly heat up your bathroom by multiplying the total square footage with the ceiling height and 1.25. Example: 150 sq ft x 10 feet x 1.25 = 1,875 watts.
Choosing the right type of bathroom heater
Once you know how much power it will take to warm up your bathroom, it’s time for choosing the right type of bathroom heater.
Portable bathroom heaters
These are particularly useful if you do not need a heater for the warmer months. Portable heaters are easy to set up and move around, making them ideal for people who don’t want to go through too much trouble heating up their bathroom.
Safety and Placement: Portable bathroom heaters should be placed at a specific distance from any water source, according to the heater type. Never put clothing or wet towels on this type of heaters.
Ceiling bathroom heaters
A great choice if you want permanent heating. Usually, a single unit combines a radiant heater, a fan, and a light. They are perfect for smaller bathrooms as they are almost impossible to get in the way.
Safety and Placement: One of the safest bathroom heaters, as they are away from any water sources. Ceiling heaters should be placed where it works best for you, as they do not get in the way of anything. One of the most common placements for this type of heaters is just outside the shower.
Heater/exhaust fan
An excellent way of preventing humidity damage in bathrooms, installing a heater and exhaust fan combination unit will draw out the moist air while producing a warm stream of heat to your bathroom.
Safety and Placement: Before purchasing this type of fan, make sure your home has a proper ventilation option that can carry all the moisture out into the atmosphere to avoid any damage to your walls and ceiling.
Wall heaters
Wall heaters are mounted to the wall and the existing wiring, so they are a good fit for any smaller bathroom as they don’t take any floor space.
Safety and Placement: Wall-mounted heaters should not be obstructed in any way. The space in front of them should be clear so the heat doesn’t do any damage to objects. The risk of electrical shock is much smaller with this type of heaters as they are usually connected to the existing wiring. Just make sure to install them at a proper distance from the wall and the floor, according to the manual.
Heated towel rails
Another great option for small to average bathrooms. They are a more practical heating solution than standard radiators and keep your towels warm and fluffy, all while being a stylish detail in your bathroom.
Safety and Placement: Just like wall mounted heaters, they should not be obstructed. The best place to hang your heated towel rail is on the coldest wall of your bathroom, usually an exterior wall, to ensure that heat will distribute evenly throughout the bathroom.
Just remember, no matter the heater type, always take into consideration the manufacturer clearances, and/or consult a professional electrician before installing one.
To wrap things up, no matter how big your bathroom is, or what your heating preferences are, there are bathroom heaters for everyone’s needs. Remember to pick a heater according to your necessities if you really cherish those warm mornings in the bathroom. A quality bathroom heater will last longer and come with a warranty as well, leaving you worry-free.
