An electric heater can be used in the bedroom as supplementary heating, for example on cold mornings or in a poorly insulated room. However, it is important to follow a few safety rules, as you will be sleeping near it for longer periods without supervision.
Why a heater can be useful in the bedroom
Not every bedroom heats up quickly with central heating, especially a room in the attic, an extension, or a house with older insulation. An electric heater can quickly and efficiently heat such a space without having to heat the rest of the house as well. This is useful on cold mornings or in the evening before going to bed.
Safety rules to always follow
Never place a heater directly against curtains, bedding, or clothing, and leave at least one metre of free space around the device. Place it on a stable, flat surface, not on the bed or a rug, and do not use it with an extension cord of questionable quality. When purchasing, check that the heater is equipped with tip-over and overheating protection; this is standard on most modern electric heaters.
Checklist for safe use at night
- It is best to turn off the heater before going to sleep, or use a model with a built-in thermostat that does not continuously run at full power.
- Do not completely seal the room: a little air circulation prevents the bedroom from becoming too dry and stuffy.
- Do not leave children or pets unattended in a room with a switched-on heater.
Dry air as a side effect
Electric heating dries out the air in a room slightly, which can cause a dry throat or dry eyes at night. Therefore, do not leave the heater on the highest setting for longer than necessary, and ventilate the bedroom well during the day to restore the humidity levels.
Our advice
Used with a little common sense, an electric heater is an excellent and affordable way to supplement the heating in a cold bedroom. In our experience, the AirFlow HW2002 is suitable as compact supplementary heating for a bedroom, attic room, or study, as long as you place it in a safe location and do not leave it running at full power unattended all night.