You can heat a home office without heating the entire house by turning the thermostat down slightly for the rest of the home and providing extra heat only at your workspace. Milieu Centraal calls this the smartest form of supplementary heating: at the place where you are sitting, and only while you are there.
Why not just heat the entire home?
If you work from home, you sit in the same place for hours. The radiators in the hallway, bedrooms, and kitchen then heat spaces where no one is. In that case, you can turn the thermostat down. According to Milieu Centraal, supplementary heating works best in places where you sit, such as at the desk, on the couch, or at the dining table, so that you can set the thermostat for the rest of the home a few degrees lower. As a guideline, Milieu Centraal recommends 19 degrees during the day and 15 degrees when you are away for a home with a central heating boiler and standard radiators.
What does Milieu Centraal say about electric heaters?
The same source is honest about the downside: an electric fan heater is not an energy-efficient measure because it uses a lot of electricity. The advantage, therefore, is not that it is cheaper than central heating, but that you can use it specifically where needed. Only use it when you are actually at your workspace and turn it off as soon as you leave. If you want to find out what a certain power rating costs, read how much an electric heater costs per hour.
How to approach it practically
Start with the basics: close the office door to keep the heat inside, and check for drafts around windows and gaps. Set the thermostat for the rest of the house a few degrees lower, within the recommended values. Place the heater on a stable surface, clear of papers, cables, and curtains, and point it toward where you sit. Set a timer so that the heater does not accidentally keep running. Cold feet often feel the worst, so a position that directs the heat toward your legs will be more comfortable than a heater at desk height.
Pay attention to electricity costs by choosing a power rating that suits your space. A small room does not need 2000 watts. Read how to set an electric heater to be as energy-efficient as possible to learn how to set the heater most efficiently. If you do not know which model is right, check which electric heater suits your space.
Direct answer: heat a home office by turning down the thermostat in the rest of the house and providing extra heat at your workspace with a heater on a timer. This is not necessarily cheaper per kWh, but you only heat the place where you are actually sitting.
Dynter HW2002 for your workspace
The Dynter HW2002 is compact and has an adjustable power rating, so you do not always have to run it at full power.
Product name: Dynter AirFlow HW2002 electric heater
Power: adjustable from 1500 to 2000 watts
Temperature: adjustable from 15 °C to 45 °C
Controls: LCD touchscreen and remote control, with timer function
Heat distribution: rotating function for even distribution
Safety: overheat protection and fall detection
Size: 18 × 18 × 45 cm, 1.6 kg, 1.7 m cable
| Approach | Benefit | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Entire home at 20 °C | Warm everywhere | You heat empty spaces too |
| Lower thermostat + heater at desk | Heat where you sit | Heater only on when you work |
| Only office door closed | Heat stays in the room | Works best with supplementary heating |
Which approach suits you?
If you work from home several days a week, it is worth viewing your office as a separate zone. If you would rather compare the total cost of a room with central heating, read is an electric heater cheaper than central heating for one room?.
View the Dynter HW2002 electric heater or discover the full heater collection.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature is comfortable in a home office?
That is personal. Milieu Centraal recommends 19 degrees during the day as a guideline for the home. If you sit still at a desk, you will often feel cooler and local heat can be comfortable.
Is a heater cheaper than central heating?
Not necessarily. Milieu Centraal does not consider an electric fan heater an energy-efficient measure. It can be smart, however, if you use it to turn down the thermostat for the rest of the house.
Can I leave a heater on all day?
Technically you can, but it will use a lot of electricity. Use the timer and a lower temperature setting, and turn off the heater when you leave the room.
Where should I place a heater in the office?
On a stable, flat surface, away from paper, curtains, and cables, and not on an extension cord. Always follow the manual.