Good Indoor electric heaters!?? (Fargo, Hope: apartment, house, to buy)

[Fischer_girl]

Hi All!
Ok, this is going to sound completly crazy! My husband and I just moved out of ND about a week ago and relocated to Santa Fe, NM. Housing here was VERY hard to find as it is very government regulated and one must "qualify" to live somewhere.
Anyway! My husband and I found a great apartment.. with one downfall. Central heating! For whatever reason, our ground floor apartment is FREEZING! Not kidding..back in Fargo we NEVER turned on our heat...EVER..and now that its 50-60 degress ourside... we can't keep our apartment above 60 degrees...EVER. *sigh* Would would ever think you could move somewhere WARM and be colder than you were in ND?! We already rigged up the draft blocker for our door as well as the clear plastic over out windows...its MISERABLE!
My point being..does anyone know of a GOOD heater that heats more than just a dinky closet sized room. We've tried a Bionaire one, and currently have a fan forced Sunbeam as well as a Holmes heater that are ready to be returned to Target. I've researched that Amish heater and found it to be a fraud ad. Any other ideas?! I sure wish I knew this was going to be an issue.
Thanks for your honest advise!!!

[Blondie621]

Go to Home Depot or anywhere and get an oil filled radiator heater. I have been using them for years....they are the safest and work the best! Just one will heat up a huge room, or the downstairs of a small apt.
This is the one I have. It is easy to use, just push the button in for the temp you want. Do not get one of those complicated ones that has all the bells and whistles.
Amazon.com: Kenwood Oil Filled Electric Radiator Room Heater 6708EP: Kitchen & Dining

[Robhu]

Yep, the oil filled radiator style electric heaters are the way to go, imo.
They are also the safest. There is one in the room I am in right now because this particular room doesn't have its own didicated hot water heat radiator. It is 23 degrees outside and the room is at 70. That's what I set the heater at. I have also used them for years and they seem to last forever. I'm not recommending leaving any space heater on all the time but I leave mine on even when I'm not in the room. It just cycles on and off as needed and keeps the room warm just using the low wattage setting. It does take them a while to initialy heat up. Granted, this is a smaller room. Only 8x11 ft. I just use it as a computer room.

[MikeyToo]

I would have to agree with the oil filled type heaters. Although any electric heater is 100% efficient (i.e. 1kwh = 3414 btu's/h) the added oil in the heater gives additional thermal mass. With the additional thermal mass, your heating element will cycle less often. There are also oil filled base-board heaters which work like up-right radiator style ones if you would prefer that style. Another one you might want to consider, if you don't mind the fan noise is a ceramic heater. It typically has a honeycomb ceramic element along with the heating element that adds additional thermal mass. Myself, I would go with the oil filled, as I don't like the fan noise....

[Fischer_girl]

WOW! You guys are awesome! Annnd...for MikeyToo and Blondie621..what in the heck do you need a heater for "in CA" and "somewhere near the beach"!? Kidding..what do *I* need one for in the middle of the DESERT?!
Anyway. Thanks for your help. To be honest... I was avoiding trying to oil filled heaters for some reason..although I'm not sure why. As soon as stores open up for today (Sunday) I'm off to buy one! Hope I can find the ones recommended.
I don't mind the fan noise of the ceramic heaters...kinda like it actually..but that was one of the ones we tried already.
lol..lastnight we had the tv and computer going..and two heaters blugged into different outlets..and blew the fuse! Long live our search for an efficient heater!
THANK YOU!!!

[Blondie621]

I live in Northern Florida and it has been cool here. There is of course heat in the house but I have always used the portable one for my parrot. I keep the heat low in the home but that oil filled one stays at 72 in where my bird is on these chilly Florida days and nights that have gone down as low as 28 degrees. Tonight will go down to the 30's possibly.....brrrrrrrrrrr! My parrot will be warm though with his own heater!
Before the oil filled heaters came out I always used those little cube ceramic heaters. They were ok but the air was always toooo dry and could never get the room temp just right! Good luck, hope you find the Kenwood like I have!