You want to celebrate the winter holidays in a warm homely atmosphere but it feels a bit chilly at home. Why don't you add an electric radiator to your gift shopping list? It can be a good gift for the whole family, which is going to keep your home warm on cold winter days. A great variety of electric radiators can impress first-time buyers so you may appreciate some help in choosing the new device.

First, you need to think which fuel to use. Modern heating devices consume different types of energy: electricity, oil, gas and even solar energy. Many specialists agree that the former is the most suitable solution for any household. Electric heaters are 100% efficient because they convert all consumed energy into useful heat. With an electric radiator any energy loss is reduced to its minimum if not eliminated. When you use liquid fuel or gas, your heater is going to produce by-products, which need to be dispersed outside. It imposes certain limitations on the use of electric radiators as they can only be installed near the wall or the window. Besides, installation and maintenance costs of electric heaters are lower than other heaters.

Second, choose the most suitable type of heater: convector, radiant, fan or heat pump. Convector heaters generate background warmth by heating air near the heating element or the heater case. The convector electric radiator functions on the principle of natural convection so warm air circulates around the entire room. Some models come with incorporated fans to warm up quicker. Popular types of convector heaters are upright, box type and panel heaters. Upright convector electric heaters come as conventional column heaters. Box type heaters have the heating elements installed in the bottom part and the top grille for letting the warm air out. Panel heaters are flat; they are usually wall-mounted as they provide background heat. Convector radiators can come with storage tanks. These heaters consume night-rate electricity to heat the air inside the tank and release the warm air during the day. The fan assisted electric radiator is compact; it is placed on the floor and heats the object in front of it. Radiant heaters come with special glowing elements with reflectors so heat is radiated directly onto the object. Heat pumps are electric radiators designed to collect cold air outside the building, heat it and then release inside the building.

Third, study heater manuals carefully to check whether the chosen heater meets your requirements. There are some general guidelines you may benefit from. Lounges, which are usually larger in size than other rooms in the house, require background warmth so you can go for a convector panel electric radiator. If you want to heat a particular area of the room, for example, around the sofa in front of the TV, select a portable electric heater. When it comes to bedrooms, these usually need less warmth so you can choose a column radiator with a thermostat or a storage heater. For bathrooms and kitchens select splash proof models.

Advanced electric radiators can warm your home efficiently so you can celebrate the holidays in a cosy warm atmosphere.