Portable Heaters with Metal Housing
November 6, 2018 by Debra Lynn Dadd
I originally wrote this post in 2010. Not much has changed since then in terms of types of heaters, but I've updated it to bring the links to products up to date.
I had someone ask this week about portable heaters. I had written that I have a "ceramic heater" with a metal housing and she didn't know what a ceramic heater was, or what to look for. So I'm going to give you a little review here of different types of portable heaters that come with metal housings, including pictures, so you know what your options are.
First, though, I want to say that with any portable heater with a metal housing, there will likely be an initial odor from the finish that is not fully cured. These finishes are heat cured during manufacture, but there can be residual outgassing as the finish is dry to the touch, but not fully cured. Once the finish is fully outgassed, you can use these heaters with no problem.
About outgassing heaters...From reading your comments, I see that some of you are not outgassing them long enough. It requires a lot more than a few hours. I gave mine to a friend to use all winter. Others have just run the heater outdoors or in the garage. How long you need to outgas the heater depends on the model and even within specific models there are differences. Just heat it until it doesn't smell any more. But for some types of heaters we're talking about 100 hours or more of heat before the smell goes away.
You can buy some of these heaters used, like on eBay or try your local Craig's List. A used heater will already be gassed out and you'll save money too.
You may not be able to find a heater on your local store shelves that does not smell initially. But if you bake it out, the smell will eventually burn off and you will have a good serviceable heater. There are some heaters you can buy online that are unfinished.
Ceramic "utility" heaters
I have two ceramic heaters with metal housings that I purchased more than ten years ago. But I have not been able to find them recently in stores. They are still working now, twenty years later.
I've noticed now that the ceramic heaters in metal casings are called "utility heaters." Here are some that say "all metal construction" in their description.
There are a lot more. The way I found these was I did a Google search on "utility heater" and it gave me Goggle search results for utility heater. I just started clicking and reading descriptions. Sometimes I had to read descriptions from several different vendors to find out they had metal housings.I've found this year that if the housing is metal, they say so in the description. If it doesn't say metal and look further into the Q&A, it always says plastic if someone asks. So look for "metal" or "steel" in the description.
These utility heaters are the least expensive heating option, around $40. They are not beautiful [although the 2018 models are getting more stylish], but they will heat your room.
My experience with buying this type of heater is that they don't have much odor right out of the box, You might need to run it a day or two to burn offf any odor, but it hasn't been a problem for me.
Radiator heaters
These are oil-filled heaters that look like old radiators. The oil is completely sealed in and should not leak. I have one and it works very well to heat up one room. And it's totally silent. Has no fan.
This type of heater is notoriously bad about outgassing. This is the one that requred an entire winter to outgas, But once I outgassed it, it's been a great, reliable heater for more than twenty years. It was worth the effort.
These are made by many different brands.
Baseboard heaters
Baseboard heaters are filled with water or other substances.
One reader wrote that she moved into an apartment with 50-year-old baseboard hot water/oil heaters that also contained glycol, which was leaking. She and her cat got very sick. So that's something to watch out for.
Another reader wrote that she installed Cadet Soft Heat baseboard heaters throughout her house and there is no odor. I just looked at their website again and they also have wall heaters and garage heaters which look to have metal housings, but they don't say in the description. So this is something to check if their products interest you. The baseboard heaters have metal housings.
Infrared Radiant Heaters
The heat produced by infrared heaters and the heat produced by the sun are very much alike. The heat we feel on our planet is infrared heat produced by the sun. In contrast to most heaters, Infrared heaters do not heat the air in the area and do not cause circulation of the warm air--instead, they heat objects directly. The rays produced by an infrared heater penetrate the skin and warm your body beneath the skin.
They are the heat source for far-infrared saunas.
A reader recommended radiant heaters from Radiant Electric Heat. They have stainless steel models "which produces no chemicals, dust particles, odors or fumes." Their portable stainless steel model has no finish—just stainless steel. The company is experienced working with people with MCS.
StainlessSteel model s DME Certified
Non-allergenic, perfect for chemically sensitive or people with acute allergy or sinus conditions
Built-in thermostat for accurate control of your comfort
Internal tip-over switch for your safety
Silent – Clean – Odorless – Economical – Reliable
Warm Your Body Instead of Your Home
I can’t pass up this opportunity to remind everyone that you can save a lot on your heating bills by warming your body instead of the air around you. It takes a lot more energy to warm the air in a room than it does to warm your body. Many body warmers need no energy at all!
Put on a sweater or scarf or even a wool vest. In the winter I wear flannel shirts with tank tops underneath, sweatshirts, sweaters scarves, wool sock. Long underwear is great!
Drink hot liquids. Skip the hot chocolate and find herbal teas that you like that you can sip all day, or vegetable soup or bone broth.
Snuggle with a loved one under a blanket. Body heat is great!
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