Heatomi PTC Heater: Running Costs and Safety

How to work out running costs

Every electric heater turns electricity into heat, so its running cost follows one formula:

cost = power in kW × hours used × price per kWh

Find the heater's power in watts on the label or product page and divide by 1,000 to get kilowatts. Find your price per kWh on your latest bill or in your supplier's app. Then multiply. As an example of the method only, a 1 kW heater running for 2 hours uses 2 kWh, and you multiply 2 by your unit price. Our example is not a Heatomi figure: we could not find the Heatomi's wattage on the offer pages, so check it before you buy.

A timer, such as the 90-minute timer the seller lists, caps how long it runs at a stretch, which helps you keep hours down. A thermostat or adjustable temperature setting can also cut use once the room is warm, depending on how the unit controls its output.

Will it save money?

Be wary of any promise that a small heater will cut your bills by a set amount. We make no such claim. What can be said fairly:

• Heating just the room you are using can use less energy than heating the whole home in some situations, such as working from a single room while the rest of the house is empty.
• That is not guaranteed. If you already heat efficiently or the room is large or poorly insulated, a plug-in heater can cost as much or more.
• Electricity usually costs more per unit than gas, so running a heater for many hours can be expensive compared with central heating.

The sensible approach is to use it for short periods in the room you occupy, keep doors closed, and compare your meter readings or smart meter data over a week or two.

Safety rules for plug-in heaters

• Do not cover it. Never drape clothes or towels over the heater.
• Keep it clear of curtains, bedding, sofas, papers and other flammable items. Leave generous space on all sides.
• Plug it directly into a wall socket, not an extension lead or multi-way adaptor.
• Do not leave it unattended with children or pets, and switch it off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Use it on a flat, stable surface, even though the seller lists tip-over shut-off.
• Follow the manual. Stop using it and contact the seller if the plug, cable or casing is damaged or hot in unexpected places.
• Check smoke alarms in the rooms where you use heaters.

The seller lists tip-over and overheat shut-off and a flame-retardant ABS body. They add a layer of protection, but we haven't tested them, and no feature replaces careful use. Read the main review or our legit check next.

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