If you're thinking of buying a convection heater, here's what to consider.

Fan

A fan is a great advance on the old approach to convection heaters, as it allows for much quicker and more even heat distribution. While it can be noisy, you're likely to use it only for relatively short periods of time, to heat up the room quickly.

Thermostat

This maintains a desired average room temperature (as long as it's within the heater's capacity), and should have a control that's easy to read and set.

Heat settings

The more settings, the more flexibility you'll have to cope with different heating requirements.

Thermal cutout

This prevents the heater from overheating. It may or may not be triggered when the heater has fallen over.

Tilt switch

This turns the heater off when it's tipped over. We think it should be a standard feature, but it's fairly uncommon at present.

Cord storage

This allows you to stow the cord neatly when the heater is not in use.

Frost watch

This is claimed to maintain a temperature of about 5°C if the thermostat is left on its lowest setting, avoiding frost. It's a good idea for colder climates - perhaps suitable for protecting special plants in your conservatory on risky nights?

What type of electric heater?

All electric heaters are 100 percent efficient. That is, every kilowatt of electrical energy they use is given off as heat. But how warm they make you feel depends on the type of heater - and house.

Convection heaters are designed to heat the air in a room and distribute it as evenly as possible. They're good for background warmth, especially in well-insulated modern houses. For an older, draughty, high-ceilinged home you're better off using radiant heaters - which shine the heat at you.

For more information on what type of heater you need, see our guide to choosing a heater. To work out what size heater you need, see our calculator.