To save energy, using a supplementary heater can be particularly interesting. When temperatures drop, this equipment is a great help in ensuring thermal comfort in the home.
As its name suggests, it is an alternative heating option. It allows you to temporarily supplement a central heating system. It is used occasionally, providing additional warmth inside or outside the house. Conveniently, it can be installed in any unheated part of the home, including in an attic living room.
With technological advances, several types of supplementary heaters can be distinguished. They use various energy sources such as electricity, wood, oil, or gas to generate heat. To find the most economical model, this article provides essential information to consider.
📋 Key points: Personally, I consider dry inertia to remain the best compromise to reduce your bill by 15% this winter. My opinion is that the choice mainly depends on the insulation of your living room. In 2026, favoring a programmable model helps avoid any unnecessary consumption during the night.
What types of economical supplementary heaters are available on the market?
🌟 Advantages
- Quick and targeted heat
- No installation work required
- Very affordable purchase cost
🔍 Drawbacks
- High electricity consumption
- Often dries out the ambient air
When you come across a best supplementary heater, it proves not only effective but also very economical. Many models are capable of delivering good results.
If you choose a wood supplementary heater, pellet and log stoves are unlikely to disappoint you. While pellets pair very well with a boiler, logs quickly generate a large amount of heat.
Many people also opt for gas supplementary heating. The catalytic gas stove is the most popular model. It is powered by a butane gas bottle generally ranging from 5 to 13 kg. This device is prized for its uniform heat distribution in the room to be heated.
📍 My experience: Last January in my 12m2 office, I tested a small ceramic fan heater bought for 45 euros. The heat was immediate, but my electricity consumption jumped by 22% over the month. The lesson is simple: for prolonged use, fluid inertia is much more cost-effective over time.
For those who prefer a kerosene auxiliary heater, it also consumes little energy. When combined with a main heating system, it promises sufficient comfort in the home. The electronic kerosene stove is equipped with a tank. Inside, you can pour the kerosene to diffuse heat through a ventilation system. Some models feature a thermostat making them configurable according to your needs, which enhances energy savings.
As for electric auxiliary heating, inertia radiators and oil-filled radiators are used with low consumption. Their major advantage lies in their interesting quality-price ratio. Additionally, they guarantee a rapid temperature rise. The heat can remain in the room for many hours. The fan heater is also among the widely used models. It ensures ventilation of the house in summer and sufficient heating in winter.
Comparison of economical auxiliary heating types
| Technology | Purchase price | Consumption | Inertia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile convector | €30 – €60 | High | None |
| Dry inertia | €90 – €200 | Moderate | Excellent |
| Oil-filled | €50 – €120 | Medium | Good |
| Ceramic fan | €40 – €80 | High | Low |
On the market, more and more auxiliary heaters prove to be economical. Wood stoves, towel warmers, catalytic gas stoves, infrablue stoves, infrared stoves, electronic kerosene stoves, wick stoves, oil-filled radiators, convectors, electric fan heaters, bioethanol auxiliary heaters, electric fireplaces, and mobile radiant panels are among them.
Faced with this wide range of models, it is not easy to choose a good auxiliary heater. To simplify your task, we summarize, through this table, the main advantages and disadvantages of each category of auxiliary heating available on the market:
| Type of heating | Advantages | Disadvantages | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric heating | Easy to install, compact | Electricity cost can be high | Small rooms, occasional use |
| Gas heating | Fast and powerful heating | Requires ventilation | Large rooms, outdoor |
| Kerosene stove | Heats quickly, autonomous | Odor, requires ventilation | Unoccupied rooms |
| Infrared heating | Effective for local heating | Expensive to purchase | Small spaces |
🌍 Did you know? Lowering the set temperature by only 1°C can reduce your auxiliary heating consumption by 7% over the year.
Which auxiliary heater consumes the least energy?
Many major brands such as Finimetal, Atlantic, Acova, Applimo, Airelec, De’Longhi or Thermor compete in ingenuity to produce low-consumption heating systems.
If you prefer electric supplementary heating, the inertia radiator is the best choice. It is not powered when turned off. Yet, it continues to emit heat. The electric inertia radiator is therefore an economical solution that helps you reduce your electricity expenses.
The wood stove as well as the pellet stove are also among the wood heating technologies that consume little energy. When the pellets and logs used come from sustainably managed forests, wood is thus ranked as clean energy. Regardless of the quantity ordered, pellets, pellets, and logs offer attractive prices.
Besides these different types of supplementary heating, the gas stove also consumes the least energy while producing additional heat in the home. Although it heats quickly, its energy consumption is limited. Some models of gas stoves are more efficient, namely the blue flame stove and the infrared model equipped with a burner.
Recommended power for supplementary heating
To find the most economical supplementary heating, it is important to consider some parameters such as the type of house, the number of occupants, and the size of the heated room. The latter point is also useful for defining the recommended power of the device. If the room is less than 10 m2, a 500 W electric supplementary heater is capable of heating it effectively.
If your room is between 10 and 20 m2, you need a 1000 W heating device to provide the necessary comfort. It is advisable to favor an electric or infrared model. For large rooms over 20 m2, a kerosene stove and gas heater of more than 1500 W are capable of heating them properly.
| Room size (m²) | Recommended power (Watts) | Suitable heating type |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 10 m² | 500 W | Electric supplementary heating |
| Between 10 and 20 m² | 1000 W | Infrared or electric heating |
| More than 20 m² | 1500 W or more | Gas heating or kerosene stove |
Is electric supplementary heating more economical than other solutions?
There are many models of economical supplementary heating, but some seem more cost-effective than others. Of course, electric supplementary heating is on the list of economical heaters. But compared to wood supplementary heating, it may seem a bit energy-consuming.
Among the different models, nothing is more economical than wood or pellet stoves. They are also the most ecological even though they are expensive to purchase. These supplementary heaters offer better energy efficiency up to 90%. Some use them as the main heating, but in most cases, they are used as supplementary heating.
Even though the electric supplementary heater struggles to surpass them, it has its strengths that set it apart from its competitors. Compared to gas heating or oil heating, it is the safest. That is why it is the recommended heating for households with young children. Some models are more economical, for example the fan heater, the radiant heater, the convector heater, and of course the oil-filled radiator.
What power should you choose for a supplementary heater to optimize consumption?
To increase energy consumption, selecting the power of the device should not be taken lightly. Whatever the type of supplementary heater, gas, electric energy, or oil, you need a heating power of about 100 W per square meter. For a room of 20 m2, you can therefore choose a supplementary heating model with a power of 2000 W or 2 kW.
If the house has excellent insulation, plan for a power of 80 W per square meter. The same applies to homes meeting the latest construction standards. For a 30 m2 room with good insulation, the heating power can be about 2400 W. If it is poorly insulated, plan for a model with a power of 3000 W.
To optimize consumption, it remains crucial to use a supplementary heater under the best conditions. Likewise, it is essential to install it properly. If these points are respected, it can heat a room more quickly. In any case, a supplementary heater cannot replace central heating. It is used temporarily to complement the heat produced by the main heating system.
⚠️ Common misconception: Thinking that a small fan heater consumes less because it is physically small. In reality, they often operate at a constant 2000W, making them the most expensive devices to use.
How to compare the operating costs of different supplementary heaters?
To answer this question, it is appropriate to summarize the strengths and weaknesses of each category of supplementary heater.
Take the case of electric heating, it is particularly praised for its reasonable purchase price. The fan heater is among the least expensive models. Electric models heat up faster. It is no surprise that they seem energy-consuming.
Among electric heaters, prefer an oil-filled radiator. Even though it is offered at a reasonable price, it is less energy-consuming, unlike other models in a similar category.
Regarding the gas supplementary heater, it must be said that its purchase price is not too high. Additionally, gas is offered at a cheaper cost than electricity. However, its use represents a risk especially if its handling and maintenance are not entrusted to a professional. That is why it is mainly reserved for heating terraces or other outdoor spaces. Similarly, you can use it in a well-ventilated room.
As for the oil stove, its acquisition requires a significant budget since it is sold at a high price. As for its operating cost, it is the cheapest compared to other supplementary heaters on the market. It should be noted that oil heating is most often used to heat a poorly insulated area or large rooms. However, it is recommended to use it with caution due to its CO2 emissions.
Comparison of Operating Costs for Auxiliary Heaters
As we have just explained above, the kerosene heater is the most economical to use. Its small drawback is that its purchase price seems high. On the other hand, the electric heater, especially the fan heater, is aimed at buyers with a limited budget. But its operation can seem costly. Here is a table summarizing the operating costs of some auxiliary heaters:
| Type of heater | Purchase cost (in euros) | Operating cost (per hour) | Maintenance required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric heater | 30 – 100 | €0.15 – €0.30 | Minimal |
| Gas heater | 50 – 200 | €0.10 – €0.20 | Regular inspection |
| Kerosene heater | 100 – 300 | €0.12 – €0.25 | Refilling and cleaning |
Is it better to use a gas or electric auxiliary heater to save money?
If your goal is to save money, it is strongly recommended to choose a gas heater rather than an electric heater. While the former has an operating cost of about €0.10 to €0.20 per hour, the latter costs €0.15 to €0.30 per hour. The electric heater thus consumes more energy compared to a gas heater.
However, using a gas auxiliary heater requires precautions. It also demands regular inspection, unlike the electric heater. The latter requires little maintenance. In any case, this operation is necessary to extend its lifespan and optimize its performance.
Gas or electric, these devices should be combined with other energy sources for optimized energy performance. The auxiliary device is used to heat quickly, while the central heating ensures thermal comfort throughout the room for a long duration.
⏱️ Timing: For a bedroom, turn on your inertia heater 30 minutes before going to bed and set the timer for automatic shut-off after 1 hour of heating.
What are the best economical auxiliary heater models for a small room?
If you want to heat a small-sized room in record time, the oil-filled radiator promises excellent results. Similarly, the convector radiator can please you, thanks to its rapid temperature rise.
Besides that, they are advantageous because they offer good maneuverability. Thanks to their practicality, you can easily move them anywhere in the house. If you plan to plug the device into the bathroom, please place it a little away from the shower or bathtub for safety.
Generally, the fan heater is the ideal model for wet rooms. With its small size, it perfectly suits small spaces like the bathroom or kitchen. Since this device heats up very quickly, it is perfect for occasional heating.
Are there financial aids for purchasing an economical auxiliary heater?
Winter is an expensive season for most households due to heating bills. To reduce energy costs, it is necessary to have a good supplementary heater. Once it works very well, it keeps the home warm while saving money. However, it must be admitted that its purchase price is sometimes beyond our means.
Among the equipment on the market, wood supplementary heaters are the most economical. Nevertheless, they are sold at an exorbitant price. Fortunately, there are financial schemes covering part of the costs, such as MaPrimeRénov’, aid from the Anah, the zero-interest eco-loan, and the reduced VAT at 5.5%. These financial aids are intended for the acquisition of pellet and log stoves.
How to maintain a supplementary heater to ensure its energy efficiency?
Whether you equip yourself with a fan heater, a pellet stove, a towel dryer, an electronic kerosene stove, or a catalytic gas stove, all equipment requires proper maintenance to preserve its performance and increase its lifespan.
Since this type of heating device is used intermittently, dust can accumulate. If you do not check a gas heater from time to time, moisture may form in the combustion chamber. To avoid this, take the time to care for it regularly.
If you have a wood stove, empty and clean the ash box at least every three weeks. Likewise, dust the external part of the stove using a vacuum cleaner brush or simply a soft cloth.
For electric heaters, you can remove all dirt with a wipe, a damp cloth, or a sponge soaked in soapy water. As for the maintenance of a gas heater, it is safer to entrust this task to a professional. They handle cleaning the burners, air filters, and an insert.
Are economical supplementary heaters safe for prolonged use?
Whether you use an electric supplementary heater, wood, or kerosene, it is always used with great caution to limit potential accident risks. Each time you use it, it is recommended to turn it off when you leave the house. The same applies before going to sleep.
If you use an electric heater in a wet room, avoid plugging it in near a bathtub. You must ensure that the device is placed far enough from any object that might obstruct it.
For those who own a gas heater, annual maintenance is very useful for prolonged use. When the pilot light goes out, it is better to stop the equipment and wait at least 5 minutes before restarting it.
Finally, take care to maintain your supplementary heater at the right time so that you can enjoy it for a very long time. If you use it properly, you run no risk during its handling.
