Halogen heaters are generally used for outdoor heating or smaller indoor spaces. They immediately radiate heat by using halogen elements. This quick delivery of intense heat can naturally lead some people to be concerned that they might not be safe.
Halogen heaters are safe to use with a normal amount of caution. Though the heater does radiate heat through its front elements, they are covered with a safety screen, and the rest of the unit remains cool to the touch. It is important not to leave them running unattended or when going to sleep.
The rest of this article will explain why halogen heaters are generally safe, why caution should still be applied, how the heaters work, the difference in existing heaters on the market, and which ones are recommended.
Why Halogen Heaters Are Safe
Lowered Risk of Fire and Contact Burns
Halogen heaters have a very low safety risk, which makes them an excellent option if you’re looking for a way to heat up a small indoor area securely. Though halogen lamps do give off a lot of heat, surprisingly, the body itself doesn’t become hot to the touch. This eliminates the risk of burning yourself or starting a fire if materials in the area should come in contact with the body of the heater.
This is a serious concern with other heat sources that produce open flames or electric elements hot enough to start a fire. If you have children or pets, this might be a very important item to consider.
No Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Risk
Carbon monoxide is something many people are worried about when it comes to heaters. It is a legitimate concern because it’s extremely dangerous, and we’ve all read the stories where unfortunate people have used other types of heaters in enclosed spaces and have gone to sleep and never woken up.
However, there is no need to worry when it comes to halogen heaters as they do not use gas. This means that you won’t risk carbon monoxide poisoning, even if the product is broken or damaged.
Modern Safety Features
Most new Halogen heaters are equipped with several safety features that greatly help reduce the risk of accidents. Wide bases give portable units stability and help to prevent the unit from tipping over. If the unit does tip over, safety cutoff switches engage in shutting off the elements, which then cool down rapidly and greatly reduce fire risk.
Many units also include timer features that reduce the risk associated with leaving the heater on when going to sleep or forgetting to switch it off when leaving the house.
Safer Than Other Heaters
The halogen heater already scores points based solely on the fact that they’re safer than most other space heaters. A lot of other space heaters use gas; other space heaters could cause fires when flammable objects are in close proximity or can get very hot, which can lead to burning hazards. These facts alone make it very encouraging to choose the halogen heater over any other type.
Other Advantages of Halogen Heaters
In addition to the safety features mentioned above, halogen heaters have several other advantages which might be of interest to you when you’re thinking of purchasing one:
- Energy Efficiency: Since halogen heaters use near-infrared heat, smaller areas are quickly heated, which significantly reduces total energy consumption. Halogen heaters also provide a great way to target your specific heating area rather than expanding fuel or electricity to heat areas that are not being used.
- Environmentally Friendly: Halogen heaters radiate clean heat without the sooty smoke or carbon byproducts of fossil fuel heaters.
- Ease of Use / Installation: Indoor halogen heaters come in a variety of easily portable sizes and require no installation or refueling.
- Durability: Traditional electric heaters use wire filaments to produce heat, which is susceptible to physical failure. Halogen heaters, in contrast, use quartz bulbs that enclose tungsten filaments and halogen gases and are extremely durable and long-lasting.
General Cautions
Even though halogen heaters are generally very safe to use, it is always important to use common sense:
- Do not leave the heater on when you’re asleep or not present.
- It is best not to use an extension cord on halogen heaters as this might cause a fire hazard.
- Preferably buy a new halogen heater instead of a second hand one.
- If you notice that the heater is damaged, do not continue to use it.
- Make sure you read the manual that comes with your heater to make sure you are aware of any specifics that are important in regards to safety.
How Halogen Heaters Work
Halogen heaters use radiant instead of convection heating. This simply means that while other heaters, such as electric heaters, heat a wire element in the unit to create the heat source and then use a fan to blow the hot air out of the unit, the halogen heater simply heats the Halogen elements and the heat is radiated directly into the space around the unit.
When the tungsten filament is heated in regular incandescent light, it is slowly burned and deposited on the inside glass of the bulb and filament, eventually burning out. In a halogen heater, the element contains halogen gas, which reacts with the tungsten and prevents it from blackening and burning out.
This allows the element to produce extremely high temperatures, which is great for heating! Quartz is used for the element as it has a higher tolerance for heat than glass.
The Best Halogen Heaters
There are many great halogen heaters on the market today. This can make it challenging to decide which one to buy as there are so many to choose from. The heater’s purpose is an important aspect to keep in mind when choosing which one you’re going to go for. I’ve selected a few of the best halogen heaters for you based on user reviews.
The heaters below have several different purposes, so you can see which one fits your needs best:
TaoTronics PTC 1500W
- For indoor room heater
- Small and light product
- Comes with remote control, and a timer which allows for more convenience
AUZKIN Space Heater
- For great as desk heater
- Tip-over protection
- Takes up very little space since it is very small
- Affordable
Dr. Infrared Heater 1500W
- Purpose: an outdoor (or indoor) heating
- Made with weatherproof materials
- Includes wall and ceiling mounting installation
TaoTronics TT-HE001
- Purpose: a small indoor space heater
- Has an eco-mode
- Has a timer
Brightown Portable Electric Space Heater
- For indoor use
- Small but powerful
- Claims to heat up to 200 sq. ft
Final Thoughts
Halogen heaters provide a safe, reliable, and cost-effective way to heat small to medium indoor spaces.
However, like any powerful product, it is important to use common sense and logical thinking when using your heater. Do not leave it on unattended or when you go to sleep, don’t use an extension cord, buy a new heater instead of a second hand one and immediately stop using it when it’s damaged.
If the points mentioned above are taken into serious consideration, the average home user can enjoy the warmth that halogen heaters bring without a worry.
Vincent is a freelance writer based in Santa Ana, California. When he isn’t writing articles for Temperature Master, he can be found biking or hanging out with his cat, Shelly.