Halogen Heaters to Keep Your Warm (and Not Set the House on Fire)

Ever since I was a child, I have dreamed about living in a house with a working fireplace. 

And even though I had to wait quite a bit of time for that dream to come true, I can now light a fire in our living room (and several other rooms) whenever I so choose.

Considering this is our first house, and that we have previously only ever lived in flats – the fireplace wasn’t the only new asset I was happy to embrace. 

Not having had the opportunity to play with fire before, I had to stay content with other sources of heating up until recently. 

And while a halogen heater is certainly much less romantic and definitely much less cosy than an open fireplace – it does have its uses. 

I can vividly remember, for example, how we used to dry the kids’ onesies next to it one particularly grim winter. Or the time one finally gave up and died on us in the middle of a January Saturday night, and we had to figure out an alternative way to stay warm until we could get ourselves a new heater. 

But I digress, as usual.

Halogen heaters are energy efficient and safe to use, they can heat up a space quickly, and they also cool down quickly too. They are great for smaller spaces especially, as you can get plenty of heat out of them in a shorter space of time. 

If you are in the market for one this winter – take a look at some of the basic halogen heater purchasing considerations I have outlined here:

What to Look for in a Halogen Heater 

When buying any kind of heater, you want to make sure the purchase you make is sound, safe, and that your chosen item will last for a long time. Here are some of the main considerations to take into account:

Safety: we don’t say safety first for nothing. You want to make sure the halogen heater you buy does not heat up too much on the outside, i.e. that the actual heater itself remains relatively cool to the touch. This is especially important if you have pets or young kids. You should also make sure the heater can’t be easily overturned, and that it will turn off when tipped.

Energy efficiency: you should also make sure the halogen heater you choose is as energy efficient as possible. If you need to turn on all three lamps, you won’t be spending as little energy as you could, so a heater that provides the most heat with the least amount of energy expenditure is a winner. 

Size: this will of course depend on the size of the room you want to heat up. Smaller halogen heater models will be enough to heat up a small room, but you may want something a bit more powerful and on the larger side for a lot of bigger rooms. 

Auto-off: an important setting even if you don’t have kids and pets around who may accidentally knock your heater over. Auto-off settings mean that the heater will turn off if it gets too hot, or even if it gets covered or tilts. There is also the option of turning automatically off after a certain period of time, which you can usually adjust to fit your needs.

Now that you know the basics of making a halogen heater purchase – let’s take a look at some models that you might want to keep you company this winter. 

1 – Beldray Portable Halogen Heater

Here is a halogen heater that will keep you as snug as a bug during the wintertime. 

It uses infrared heaters to focus the heat, meaning it will warm a specific area and prevent energy waste by spreading the heat throughout a part of the room you don’t actually want heated. 

It comes in at 1200 watts and has 3 heat settings with a wide angle oscillating function, meaning you can easily manage the temperature and find one that is just right. It will also heat up rather quickly, so you won’t have to wait too long to warm up after a day spent in the snow. 

More importantly, it has a tip-over switch and a thermal cut-out which will ensure your safety and prevent your halogen heater from getting uncomfortably hot.

You can leave it unattended as well (although common sense should dictate your never leave a heater on when leaving the house, no matter how safe it is advertised to be), as long as you don’t crank it up all the way.

It has a rather sturdy base so you won’t be likely to tip it over by accident, and it also comes with a handy handle. This means you’ll have no trouble moving it from one room to another, and that you can essentially use it to heat up the whole place (as long as you don’t live in a mansion).

You’ll also be happy to hear that it’s silent – so you won’t be bothered by an unpleasant sound while watching TV or reading your favourite cosy book. 

The halogen tubes can also be replaced (if you ever need to), which ensures this halogen heater can last you quite a bit of time. 

2 – Belaco Halogen Electric Heater 

Here is another 1200 watt halogen heater for you, this time from Belaco. 

It also has the 3 heat settings you can tweak to your comfiest pleasure (at 400, 800 and 1200 watts), and 3 halogen bars as well. 

This seems to be the best possible combination, as it allows for plenty of flexibility, and at the same time ensures you can actually get the amount of heat you require – something steady at a lower temperature, or a super high and effective burst of high heat.

As for safety, you get the accustomed auto cut-off and tip-over protection, so you won’t have to worry about accidents. Again, don’t leave your heater unattended for prolonged periods of time. 

It’s light and easy to carry around from room to room, and it’s also very easy on the eyes. In fact, this one might be the most stylish of the lot. Not that it will ever actually replace your fireplace, but if a halogen heater is what you’ve got, this one will be pleasant to look at at the least.

The brand advertises this model as an upgrade on their previous one – which should mean this one is more stable, more safe, and that it will last you for quite a while. 

A reliable halogen heater to warm up those chilly winter evenings if there ever was one.

3 – Status Premium Portable Oscillating Halogen Heater

Another halogen heater with similar features but with a slightly different design is this Status model. 

You also get the 3 different heat settings, which will operate at 400, 800 and 1200 watts. Plenty of tinkering thus available, and enough for anything from adding some slight warmth to a space to a proper full-on quick heating up of an entire flat. 

There is an oscillating function too, so you can additionally adjust where the heat is aimed at. Great if you want to angle it towards, or away from, a specific nook of the room in question. 

A safety tip-over switch is also a part of the setup, and you are protected from overheating as well. Basic safety precautions for halogen heaters, but nevertheless very important ones. Seeing as how popular these heaters are, it’s no wonder they come with plenty of safety features. 

The base is sturdy and you would really have to try hard to tip this one over, and the grill on the front will prevent kids or animals from touching the actual bars. 

It’s easy to move around the home as well, and as it heats up so quickly, you won’t have to wait too long before the entire space is nice and crispy. 

It does have that egg-design to it a bit (or at least that’s how it appears to me), so it might not be the most stylish of the bunch, but it is certainly great at doing its job.

A good option if you are looking for a quick way to heat up a space.

4 – Igenix IG9514 Portable Halogen Electric Heater 

Another egg-shaped affair, this Igenix halogen heater comes with all the features we have come to expect from similar models.

There are 3 heat levels, clocking in at 400, 800 and 1200 watts, and there are the usual safety precautions, so you get a safety tip-over switch. 

There is an oscillating function too, so you get to make the most of this heater, allowing you to target specific areas of your cold home. And, incidentally, it’s great for warming your hands and feet up after you’ve just come in from the outside cold. 

It is of course also portable, and the handle is heat resistant, making it safe and simple to move it around. 

What I like about this model is the way the manufacturer emphasises the multi-purpose use of their product. You can easily take it with you to your motorhome, a garage, the basement or attic –  wherever you need heat (and have a plug socket available), this guy can keep you warm and toasty.

The halogen heater itself is cool to the touch, so you won’t have to worry about your youngsters injuring themselves. Although, I would still advise teaching them to stay at a safe distance away from any heater, no matter how well-made it may be.

A good and easy to use model for when you need that added warmth in your home.

5 – Benross 42400 Oscillating Halogen Heater

Finally, let’s take a look at another model that delivers the same kind of reliable and quick-to-fire-up kind of halogen heat. 

This Benross halogen heater also has the usual 3 heat settings. It also has an oscillating heater that moves side to side, that will target the coldest area of the room (if that’s how you set it up). 

It’s easy to use of course, and the safety tilt switch also makes it safe, even when you have a dog or a cat around who might accidentally knock it over while playing. 

There is a carrying handle as well, so moving your heat source from room to room will not be a challenge anymore. 

Like most halogen heaters, this one is also silent and odourless. What you can’t ignore however is the light, but that’s just the way these heaters work.

If you prefer one that does not come with plenty of light, a halogen heater is definitely not your best bet. 

Another model that will serve you well for years and that can help make those long winter months a little bit less frosty.

That concludes my quick list of the best halogen heaters that will warm the atmosphere up this winter. 

Which Halogen Heater Should I Buy? 

To be perfectly honest with you – you really can’t go wrong with a halogen heater. 

They are very easy to use, the newer models are also incredibly safe with their tip-over and overheating protection features. They are easy to move around the home and they are silent and odour free.

If you are looking for a straightforward and energy-efficient way to heat up your space (be it your home, a dorm room, a garage or a motorhome), a halogen heater can be your best ally.

All of the models I have listed are rather similar – they come with the customary safety features and operate along the same lines of heat settings, so the choice can ultimately come down to size, weight and the actual design. 

Although they are not the most eye-pleasing source of heat imaginable (a fire will always look more merry and cheerful), they are much more affordable than a fireplace, and can provide all the warmth you need in the dead of winter. 

Stay warm this Christmas, and enjoy a nice mug of hot choc snuggled up with your favourite Christmas movie and your halogen heater!

J.