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If you're feeling the chill and need a quick heating solution, an electric heater is a convenient option with relatively low upfront costs. 

It's as easy as picking one up from the shops and bringing it home to plug it in, and (hopefully) immediately basking in its warmth. 

But before you buy the first model you look at, it pays to do some research. A poor-performing electric heater is likely to leave you feeling frosty, or worse, run up an eye-watering energy bill.

Each year, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳heater reviews give you a rundown on the latest models on the market, and how they perform in our rigorous tests. We give each model a score based on factors such as how quickly it heats up a room, how evenly it distributes heat and how consistent it keeps the room's average temperature. 

We don't want you to end up with a dud buy, so here are the products that scored lowest in our lab tests. Consider becoming a ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳member to see the best performers.

It may have Wi-Fi, but the Arlec PEH224HA panel heater left our testers cold.

Arlec Black Smart Convection Panel Heater (PEH224HA)

• ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳Expert Rating: 47%
• Heating score: 40%
• Price: $149

This Arlec heater may initially impress with its sleek glass look and Wi-Fi capabilities (enabling it to be voice- or remote-controlled via a smartphone app), but it's tough to overlook its dismal heating performance.

When we compared its energy efficiency to other models, it was rated as 'OK', but with a score of just 40% in our heating tests, it's one you probably want to think twice about before buying.

And even though it has a cheapish upfront price tag, our calculations show that it'll cost you a relatively pricey $404 to run it over winter (approximately 6 hours a day for 3 months). 

Read the full Arlec PEH224HA heater review.

This Rinnai heater costs almost $400 to buy and $400 to run, but its performance is lacking.

Rinnai panel electric heater (PEPH-22PEW)

• ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳Expert Rating: 53%
• Heating score: 52%
• Price: $339

Like the Arlec model above, the running costs for this model come in at around $400 for the winter, which is fairly standard when compared to other models in our review. But it's a lot of money to pay if you're not actually getting great performance when it comes to heating. 

Experts rated this model's heating performance in our test as 'borderline' – although it may be more effective in a much smaller living space than the one we tested in (which is a room that's 4.9 m deep x 3.5 m long x 2.4 metres high, or approximately the size of a large bedroom).

Experts rated this model's heating performance in our test as 'borderline'

And while features such as a delay timer function and the option to install it as either an electric wall heater or a portable room heater are convenient, it only has one heat setting.

Read the full Rinnai PEPH-22PEW review. 

We tested several oil column heaters and this Goldair model scored at the bottom of the bunch.

Goldair oil column electric heater (PEPH-22PEW)

• ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳Expert Rating: 53%
• Heating score: 45%
• Price: $129

Oil column heaters can be a good option for bedrooms as they emanate a gentle heat over a long period of time without a noisy fan. However, they can get quite hot to touch and can be heavy and bulky (more on which types of electric heaters are best suited to which areas).

Our latest heater review includes several oil column heaters and this Goldair model scored at the bottom of the bunch. With a heating performance score of 45%, it wasn't able to increase the temperature in our test room by 10°C over the course of two hours.

It'll be a bit kinder on your budget – with a low upfront cost and estimated running costs over winter of $195 – but if you're wanting to get warm fast, you may want to look elsewhere.

Read the full Goldair GOC1211 review. 

How to reduce your heating costs this winter

Temperatures may be dropping, but the cost of living keeps rising. How can you stay warm this winter without blowing your budget?

Here are a few tips from our experts:

• Use a ceiling fan on the reverse setting to help make your electric heater more effective by moving the warm air through the whole room. 
• Insulate your home to keep the warmth in. Without insulation, up to 35% of a home's warmth can be lost through the roof, so adding wall, ceiling and floor insulation can save you hundreds of dollars a year in energy bills.
• Seal any gaps where cold air can get in. Silicone sealant, weather seal tape and draught strips can help keep the warm air in and the cold out.
• Before you buy a new electric heater, make sure you know how much it'll cost you to run – some are far more expensive than others. Our detailed electric heater reviews break down running costs to help you budget for ongoing costs. 
• Don't assume that the most expensive heaters are the best, or that cheap models won't work well. Our tests regularly reveal high-end duds and affordable winners – there's just really no telling how a heater will perform based on its price tag. 

Our expert guide to buying a heater

Electric heaters aren't the most energy-efficient way to heat up your home (that would be reverse-cycle air conditioning), but they're still an effective solution to quickly take the chill out of a cold room.

"An electric heater is generally a short-term solution for those nights when it gets chilly in the spare room or the kids' room and you don't have a reverse-cycle air conditioner in that area of the home," says ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳home heating expert Chris Barnes.

Here are Chris's top tips for features to look for when buying a new heater:

Look for a long cord

You want the heater reasonably close to you, particularly in a large room, and you don't want to be using an extension lead.

Try to get a timer

Electric space heaters are the most expensive heating product to run, so a timer can help you manage those costs. If you want to use an electric heater to take the chill out of the room before going to sleep, set the timer for the heater to turn off after a couple of hours, and maybe have it set to turn on again early in the morning.

Consider size and storage

You'll need to stow the heater somewhere in the summer months, so you might want to consider one of the smaller models.

Be smart about using it to dry laundry

Don't put your clothes over an electric heater – even an oil column heater – to warm them up. It's a fire risk. Instead, put the clothes on a rack at least one metre away from the heater. If you often need to dry laundry indoors, a clothes dryer or a dehumidifier might be a better option. 

Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.

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