Convection heating

Space heaters can provide two types of heating: convection heating and/or radiant heating. Convection heating involves the heating of the air of a room or space, while radiant heating involves heating the objects or the people in the room (radiant heaters provide directional, spot and personal heating, contrary to convection heaters).

Mechanics of convection heating

Convection heaters heat the air next to them and get the air circulating throughout the room; they may use fans but they rely mostly on a natural law: "hot air rises".

They heat a space from the top down. They do not provide instantaneous heating to the people in the room (which can be a disadvantage). They require time to heat...

Electric convection heating

Most modern space heaters combine radiant and convection heating, though they are mostly of radiant or convection type

Water and oil-filled radiators heaters are an example of typical convection heaters (they employ a heating element in a bath of oil or water). Baseboard electric and baseboard water heaters are also major examples of units using primarily convection heating.

Requirements

Since convection heaters are designed to heat entire rooms, they work best in closed spaces, that is, in rooms that can be sealed off by closing a door...

They also require time to meet their goal; they don't provide a quick heating, and you will have to rely on their thermostats (a common feature) to anticipate the heating of the room and to have a comfortable enough temperature...

Top Manufacturers and customer reviews

Delonghi, Honeywell and Optimus convection heaters are very well rated in customer reviews (oil and water-filled convection heaters). See, in Amazon: Oil Filled Space Heaters (average prices between $50 and $80).

As to electric and other baseboard heating, Honeywell and Cadet have the best customer reviews. To see them in Amazon.com: Electric baseboard heaters.

Advantages and disadvantages

Convection heating is even and more comfortable and healthy than radiant heating. Convection heaters also pose fewer risks of burning (modern heaters remain cool to the touch) and are very silent…

On the downside: convection heaters are more expensive than radiant heating (they involve the entire room....) and do not provide an instantaneous heating. They should be used where they are advantageous, and where they are best suited…

Convection Heating Prices

Prices around $20-$40 for small convection heaters are common. But oil-filled heaters are pricey: $50-$100...

Fuel fired convection heaters

The market is now also offering fuel-fired convection heaters (namely propane), but unlike electric convection heaters these other units require a fresh air supply. Propane and other fuel-fired convection heaters are best suitable for barns, patios, basements and other semi-enclosed spaces.