Best Space Heaters For Basements (2022 Review)

If you’ve been thinking about investing in an appliance to keep your basement warm, keep on reading! In this post, we’ll be discussing the best space heaters for basements.

In this proHVACinfo guide, you’ll learn:

  • What are space heaters for basements? (are they any different?)
  • What are the different types of space heaters for basements? (learn know what you need before you buy)
  • How do space heaters for basements work? (surprising differences in heating methods)
  • What do you look for in the best space heaters for basements? (keep an eye out for these 5 things)
  • Our reviews of the best space heaters for basements
proHVACinfo | Space Heaters for Basements

And much more!

Short on time? Check out our quick roundup of our top 5 space heaters for basements!

ImageProduct
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  • Digital Touch Control
  • Thermal Overload Protection
  • Long Range Heat Coverage
  • Digital Touch Control
  • Thermal Overload Protection
  • Long Range Heat Coverage
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  • Maintenance Free
  • Patented Thermal Slots
  • Extremely Quiet
  • Maintenance Free
  • Patented Thermal Slots
  • Extremely Quiet
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  • Convenient Wall Mount
  • Safe Touch Grill
  • Modern Design
  • Convenient Wall Mount
  • Safe Touch Grill
  • Modern Design
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  • Power Indicator Light
  • 1 Year Warranty
  • Easy Swivel Casters
  • Power Indicator Light
  • 1 Year Warranty
  • Easy Swivel Casters
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  • Attractive design
  • Realistic Flame Effect
  • Safe For Children and Pets
  • Attractive design
  • Realistic Flame Effect
  • Safe For Children and Pets
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What Are Space Heaters For Basements?

Space heaters are simple household appliances that are used to heat targeted indoor area.

This is opposed to central heating (which heats your whole home).

Space heaters are available in a number of different styles and with a number of different power sources, including electricity and propane.

While there are no space heaters specifically for basement use, basements are rooms that many homeowners always find colder than the rest of the home, and often struggle to keep warm.

Keeping your basement warm can be extremely beneficial in preventing the growth of mold and preventing damp conditions.

Not only that, but warming your basement can also help to prevent pipes from freezing over, a potentially disastrous situation.

The space heaters that work best in basements are typically those that are either able to be permanently affixed to a wall, or, are highly portable.

Especially if the basement floor space is large and you only have a small heater, you will want the heat to be directed directly towards you if you’re in the area.

What are the Different Types Of Space Heaters For Basements?

Keep reading as we discover the most popular types of space heaters for basements

Ceramic

Ceramic heaters use electricity to heat a metal coil. In turn, the coil transfers its heat to a ceramic plate.

Ceramic plates are highly regarded for their ability to not only absorb heat, but to disperse it – believe it or not, the space shuttle was covered in external ceramic plates to dissipate the enormous heat generated when reentering the atmosphere!

As the heat dissipates, it radiates out into the room, and when assisted by a fan, provides a safe and efficient heating medium.

Infrared Heaters

With infrared heaters we get a little more technical.

These space heaters for basements use a special quartz lamp that generates electromagnetic radiation (don’t worry, it’s harmless)!

This radiation works in a similar fashion to the radiation from the sun, it heats up the people and objects in the room, objects will only experience a temperature increase if they are in direct contact with the waves.

They have the benefit of providing almost instant warmth, however this heat doesn’t last long after turning off the heater.

Oil Filled Radiator Heaters

Oil filled radiators are amongst the oldest of the space heater designs.

They don’t use their oil as fuel, but rather as a conduit for dispersing heat out into the room by thermal convection.

They use electricity to power an element that heats the diathermic oil within.

As the oil heats, it expands and fills the radiator fins, which warm the surrounding air.

As the surrounding air gets hotter, it begins to rise, and this has the effect of drawing down cooler air from above, which then in turn gets warmed.

How Do Space Heaters For Basements Work?

By taking advantage of the technologies described above to provide heat, space heaters for basements warm the air within your basement.

There are many advantages to this beyond comfort.

One of the most important considerations is structural protection. Keeping your basement at the right temperature can help to prevent the air from becoming too humid, which can in turn reduce the risk of damp, mildew and mold.

As we mentioned earlier, a warmer environment can also help to prevent burst pipes.

These basement space heaters are a must have in colder climates as frozen pipes often burst, leading to catastrophic flooding of your home.

Of course, space heaters can also just make your basement more usable. In this age of remote work and reduced social gathering, many people have converted basements into home offices or even gyms.

A space heater for your basement can make the space a much more comfortable place to be!

What Do You Look For In The Best Space Heaters For Basements?

Even poor quality space heaters for basements will produce some heat when turned on, but what is that separates the great ones from the not so great?

Let’s take a look at the features that distinguish those that make the grade from those that aren’t worth your time.

Fan Speed Control

Being able to alter the fan speed on your fan equipped heater will give you greater control over the ambient air in your basement.

By fan forcing hot air around the room, you will be able to increase the rate in which the average room temperate increases, ultimately speeding up the process of heating your basement.

Precision Thermostat

Look for models equipped with a precision thermostat.

This will give you the greatest possible control over the actual temperature in the room, which is obviously ideal for maintaining optimum conditions for preventing mold and mildew development.

A dial control is good, a digital thermostat is better.

Automatic Thermostat Control

The best models come equipped with thermostats that maintain a constant temperature in the room.

They will allow the heater to run until the set temperature is reached, and then shut off.

Once the temperature falls below the desired setting, the unit will turn on again automatically and continue heating until once again, the room is at the right temperature.

Timer

Timer functions are great for coming home to a nice warm space.

If you need to have your basement warm for starting work in your home office for example, set it to run for an hour or so prior to your start time.

This takes the thought out of operating the heater and ensures you’re only using the electricity to power it when absolutely necessary.

Safety Features

Any device designed to provide heat brings with it an inherent fire risk, and as basements may be unoccupied while heaters are running (although we strongly discourage leaving any heating device unattended while running).

The best space heaters for basements are designed with safety features to reduce the risk of accidental fires.

Tip over protection is an important function – this is a feature that, when a tip over is detected, will automatically turn off the heater.

A second, and equally important safety feature is overheat protection.

Overheat protection automatically shuts down the heater if the internal temperature reaches a predesignated point.

Not only will it shut down the heater, it will prevent it from being turned on again until a safe temperature is detected again.

Best Space Heaters For Basements Reviewed

Final Thoughts On The Best Space Heaters For Basements

Keeping your basement warm should never be an afterthought.

Whether you’re down there often or not, keeping the temperature up can help to prevent many potentially serious issues, and of course, making it more comfortable makes you more inclined to actually use the space you have.

Stephen Marks

Stephen Marks

Stephen is an HVAC and home-repair enthusiast. He's here to answer any of your questions about HVAC!

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Stephen Marks

Stephen Marks

Stephen is an HVAC and home-repair enthusiast. He's here to answer any of your questions about HVAC!

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