Walking into a store or browsing online for a heater can be overwhelming. Panel heaters, oil columns, fan heaters, ceramic, infrared, convection—the terminology alone is enough to make your head spin. Each type works differently, suits different situations, and comes with its own set of pros and cons.
This comprehensive guide breaks down every major heater type available in Australia, explaining how each works and helping you determine which is right for your needs.
How Heaters Work: The Basics
Before diving into specific types, it helps to understand the two fundamental ways heaters deliver warmth:
Convection Heating
Convection heaters warm the air in a room. The heated air rises, cooler air moves in to replace it, and a circulation pattern develops that gradually warms the entire space. This is what most people picture when they think of room heating.
Radiant Heating
Radiant heaters emit infrared energy that directly warms objects and people in their path, similar to how sunlight warms you. They don't heat the air—they heat you directly.
Panel Heaters
Panel heaters are slim, typically wall-mounted units that heat primarily through convection. They contain electric heating elements behind a flat panel that warms air passing over it.
How They Work
Cool air enters at the bottom, passes over internal heating elements, and rises as warm air from the top. Many models include a thermostat that maintains consistent room temperature by cycling the heating element on and off.
Best For
- Bedrooms and offices requiring quiet operation
- Spaces where a heater needs to blend with decor
- Supplementary heating in well-insulated rooms
- Situations where you want "set and forget" heating
Pros
- Silent operation—no fans or moving parts
- Slim profile takes minimal space
- Can be wall-mounted or freestanding
- Even, gentle heat distribution
- Safe low surface temperatures
Cons
- Slower to heat a room than fan heaters
- Best suited to well-insulated spaces
- Higher-quality models can be expensive
🔲 Panel Heater Verdict
Panel heaters are excellent for bedrooms, home offices, and any space where quiet, consistent heat matters more than rapid warming.
Oil Column Heaters
Oil column heaters contain a thermal oil that's heated by an electric element. Despite the name, you never need to add or change the oil—it's permanently sealed inside.
How They Work
The electric element heats the oil, which circulates through the column's fins. The fins radiate heat into the room through a combination of convection (warming the air) and radiation (directly warming nearby objects).
Best For
- Living rooms and large family spaces
- Overnight heating in bedrooms
- Any space where sustained warmth is valued
- Homes where silence is important
Pros
- Silent operation
- Retains heat well even after turning off
- Doesn't dry the air as much as other types
- Portable with built-in castors
- Generally affordable to purchase
Cons
- Slow to heat up (15-30 minutes)
- Heavy and bulky
- Hot surface fins can pose burn risks
- Large units needed for bigger rooms
Fan Heaters
Fan heaters use a heating element combined with a fan to blow warm air directly into the room. They're the fastest way to add heat to a cold space.
How They Work
An electric heating element (metal coil or ceramic plates) heats up while a fan forces air across it, distributing warm air throughout the room. The fan provides immediate circulation, unlike convection heaters that rely on natural air movement.
Best For
- Bathrooms requiring quick heat
- Personal heating at a desk or workstation
- Quick warm-up of any small space
- Portable heating you can move between rooms
Pros
- Very fast heating—instant warmth
- Compact and lightweight
- Usually inexpensive to purchase
- Many can double as cooling fans
Cons
- Creates noise from the fan
- Stops warming quickly once turned off
- Can dry out the air
- Higher electricity consumption during operation
Ceramic Heaters
Ceramic heaters are essentially fan heaters that use ceramic plates as the heating element instead of traditional metal coils.
How They Work
Electricity heats ceramic plates, which warm up quickly and transfer heat to air blown by a fan. The ceramic element provides more even heating and cools down faster when turned off, improving safety.
Best For
- Homes with children or pets (improved safety)
- Personal heating at desks or workspaces
- Bathrooms and small rooms
- Situations needing quick heat with better safety
Pros
- Heats up and cools down quickly
- Generally safer than traditional fan heaters
- Compact and portable
- More energy-efficient than older fan heaters
Cons
- Still produces fan noise
- Limited heat retention once off
- Best for smaller spaces only
🔑 Ceramic vs. Fan Heaters
Ceramic heaters offer improved safety and efficiency over traditional fan heaters at a slightly higher price. For families with small children, the safety benefits often justify the extra cost.
Infrared Heaters
Infrared heaters emit radiant heat that warms objects and people directly, rather than heating the air. They provide instant warmth in their direct path.
How They Work
Infrared elements emit electromagnetic radiation in the infrared spectrum. When this radiation hits a surface (including your skin), it converts to heat. It's the same principle that makes sunlight feel warm.
Best For
- Outdoor patios and entertaining areas
- Bathrooms where instant warmth is needed
- Garages and workshops with poor insulation
- Spot heating in large, open spaces
Pros
- Instant heat—no warm-up time
- Works in outdoor and drafty environments
- Silent operation (no fan)
- Doesn't dry the air
- Efficient for spot heating
Cons
- Only heats what's in direct line of sight
- Doesn't heat the room's air
- Moving away from the heater means losing warmth
- Less suitable for whole-room heating
Outdoor Heaters
Outdoor heaters are specifically designed to warm open or semi-enclosed outdoor spaces. They come in electric, gas, and wood-burning varieties.
Electric Outdoor Heaters
These use infrared technology to radiate heat directly onto people below. They're popular for patios, covered decks, and outdoor dining areas.
Gas Patio Heaters
Freestanding or mounted units that burn natural gas or LPG. They produce significant heat and create a focal point for outdoor gatherings.
Best For
- Alfresco dining areas
- Covered patios and verandahs
- Outdoor entertaining spaces
- Commercial hospitality venues
Reverse Cycle Air Conditioners
While technically not "heaters," reverse cycle air conditioners deserve mention as they're the most energy-efficient electric heating option available.
How They Work
They use heat pump technology to extract heat from outdoor air and transfer it inside—even in cold weather. This process uses significantly less electricity than generating heat directly.
Efficiency Advantage
For every 1 kW of electricity consumed, a reverse cycle air conditioner can produce 3-4 kW of heat. This makes them 300-400% efficient compared to 100% for all other electric heaters.
⚡ Long-Term Value
Despite higher upfront costs, reverse cycle air conditioners often have the lowest total cost of ownership due to dramatically reduced running costs. They also provide cooling in summer.
Choosing the Right Type for You
For Bedrooms
Panel heaters or oil column heaters—both offer silent operation essential for sleep, with oil columns providing excellent overnight warmth retention.
For Living Rooms
Oil column heaters for sustained warmth, or reverse cycle air conditioning for maximum efficiency in larger spaces.
For Bathrooms
Fan heaters or infrared heaters—both provide quick heat for the short periods bathrooms are occupied.
For Home Offices
Panel heaters or ceramic heaters—quiet operation won't disturb concentration, and targeted heat keeps you comfortable.
For Outdoor Areas
Infrared electric heaters or gas patio heaters—the only effective options for heating in open environments.
Conclusion
There's no universally "best" heater type—the right choice depends entirely on your specific situation. Consider how you'll use the heater, what characteristics matter most (speed, silence, efficiency, cost), and match those needs to the heater type that delivers them best.
Armed with this knowledge, you can confidently choose a heater that keeps you warm efficiently and safely all winter long.