Convector heaters are not expensive to run, especially when you compare them to other types of heaters, considering that they keep your room warmer for longer.
Convector heaters heat up the air throughout a space and can be installed in a variety of different places within your space.
However, the costs associated with running a convector heater can add up, but this will not be more expensive than other types of heaters and can be optimised with the right specifications.
The benefits of having a convector heater
There are two main types of heating that appliances use to warm up a space, namely convection heating and radiant heating.
A convector heater is beneficial, because it will heat up your space evenly and uniformly as the air naturally rises and falls, because of temperature differences, throughout your space.
Convector heaters are also very versatile in terms of design. This will allow you to mount them in various places within rooms.
Many convector heaters are designed to be portable, allowing you to move them from one room to another.
Convector heaters work well in large open spaces, where there are many windows, as they will continually warm up the air in the space.
Are convector heaters expensive to run?
Besides understanding the benefits of a convector heater, to understand all of the running costs associated with this appliance, it is important to understand how this type of heater actually works.
A convector heater relies on the fact that hot air rises and cold air sinks. Therefore, a convector heater takes in the sinking cold air from the bottom of the room and runs this air over a heating element.
It is important to understand that a convector heater actually heats the air, as this differs from a radiant heater, which warms up whatever is within the room.
This difference is important, because it explains why, although convector heaters do not require too much power to operate, they will need to be switched on for longer before you actually feel the heat in the room from the air.
However, the room will also stay warmer for longer, because all of the air is being heated instead of specific people and things.
The cost of running a convector heater depends on the wattage of the unit and the cost of electricity in your area; it will not be expensive to run a convector heater if you need to run your heater for an extended period of time, like 10 hours a day and the heater has an automatic thermostat setting.
Looking at examples of specific convector heaters can give you a better idea of the costs involved, especially when this is compared to other type of heaters and the ideal specifications to keep your convector heater running costs as low as possible.
The actual cost per hour of operating a convector heater
The most accurate way to determine the cost per hour of your convector heater model is to use a watt meter to determine the average wattage, and then multiply this by the price of electricity in your area.
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However, the following costs can be determined for different convector heater models, at the US average electricity cost of $0.16 per kWh:
| Convector heater | Where to buy | Wattage | Running cost per hour |
| Dimplex 30″ Linear Convector Electric Baseboard Heater |  |
1000 W | 1 kWh x $0.16
=$ 0.16
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| De’Longhi Convection Panel Heater |  |
1500 W | 1.5 kWh x $0.16
=$ 0.24
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The cost of operating other types of heaters per hour
When you compare the examples above with other types of heaters, it becomes clear that convector heaters are just as expensive to run as other types of heaters, if not less:
| Type of heater | Where to buy | Wattage | Running cost per hour |
| Comfort Zone CZHTV9 Oscillating Electric Halogen Radiant Heater |  |
1500 W | 1.5 kWh x $0.16
=$ 0.24 |
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| DeLonghi, Quiet Adjustable Oil-Filled Radiator Space Heater |  |
1500 W | 1.5 kWh x $0.16
=$ 0.24 |
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| Lasko FHV820 Oscillating All Season High Velocity Hybrid Fan and Space Heater in One |  |
1500 W | 1.5 kWh x $0.16
=$ 0.24 |
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Convector heater settings to keep your costs as low as possible
Since convector heaters use about the same wattage as other types of heaters to run, a convector heater heats up a space so evenly that it will be operating for longer hours, but will also not need to work as hard as other types of heaters to keep the space warm. This results in lower costs after long periods of continuous use.
Many convector heater models, such as this KLARSTEIN Bornholm convection panel space heater also have an “Eco” setting, where the thermostat switches the unit on and off automatically in order to be more energy-efficient.
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