Home Bargains is selling the Pifco 1.2kW Halogen Heater for £14.99, with running costs from as little as 10.5p per hour, offering shoppers a cheaper way to stay warm without switching on their boiler.
As temperatures fall, many UK households face the dilemma of staying warm without sending energy bills soaring. Standard gas central heating costs between 75p and £1.20 per hour for a typical three-bedroom home, prompting many to consider portable heaters.
Heater features and price
The store says: "Stay cosy and warm with our advanced halogen 1.2kW heater featuring three heat settings for customisable comfort and a wide 70-degree oscillation to evenly distribute heat throughout your space."
It describes the heater as the "perfect addition to any room during those chilly days and nights," adding: "Experience unparalleled heating efficiency and convenience with this easy to use heater, that's ideal for medium sized rooms." The heater is available in stores and on the Home Bargains website.
Running costs compared to central heating
Experts say a space heater can be cheaper than central heating, but only if you change how you think about heating your home. Electricity is more than three times more expensive than mains gas per unit of energy, but central heating warms the entire house, while a halogen heater provides "radiant heat," emitting direct beams that warm whatever is in front of it rather than the surrounding air.
This makes the Pifco heater efficient for "zone heating." Running costs depend on the setting: low (400W) costs roughly 10.5p per hour, medium (800W) roughly 21p, and high (1200W) roughly 31.6p. For someone working from home or spending an evening in one room, sitting directly in front of the heater on its lowest setting costs around 10p per hour.
A medium setting costs 21p and the highest 32p. Choosing this over central heating could save households up to £1.00 for every hour the main boiler remains off.
Potential downsides
Energy experts warn portable heaters can become expensive if misused. Halogen heaters do not warm the air, so the moment the unit is turned off or you step out of its direct line, you feel cold again.
If multiple family members run separate electric heaters in different rooms at the same time, the combined electricity costs will quickly overtake the cost of running gas central heating.
