As mercury dips down and winter sets in, the demand for low power consumption heaters goes up, these heaters not only keep you warm but also save you from big electricity bills. By doing some maths you can make a smart choice in selecting the types of room heater for yourself that will not only give you warmth but also save you from high electricity bills.
In winters many Indian families buy rooms and water heaters, however, the main challenge is to find a room heater that maintains heat at an affordable pricing. A low power consumption heater helps you control both comfort and monthly expenses, especially if you run it for several hours a day. Understanding how heater power consumption works makes it easy to compare different models and avoid nasty billing surprises.
And now we will consider the easy way of determining precisely how much any heater will be costing you to operate.
Begin with the product of the watt output of the heater and the number of hours the heater was used in a day.
Now convert those watt hours to KWH unit by dividing it by 1000
Next step is get you electricity rate per unit and multiply those watt hours
As an illustration the amount of a 1500W room heater operated 6 hours a day:
Units per day = 1500 x 6 = 9000/1000 = 9 KWh
Let us consider electricity rates rs 8/unit
cost/day = 9 x 8 = 72 rs
Monthly cost = 30X72 = 2160 rs
Power consumption of room heaters comes in a wide range of values and types. The following are the effects of various options on the monthly bill assuming 6 hours of lasting use per day at 8 rs per unit:
2000W fan heater
Units/day = 2.0 x 6 = 12 units
Cost/month 12 x 8 x 30 = 2,880
1500W standard heater
Units/day = 1.5 x 6 = 9 units
Cost/month = 2,160
Low power consumption room heater, 800W.
Units/day = 0.8 x 6 = 4.8 units
Cost/month 4.8 x 8 x 30 = 1,152
400W small room or one person personal low power consumption heater.
Units/day = 0.4 x 6 = 2.4 units
Cost/month = 2.4 x 8 x 30 = 576
It is important to note that when you switch 1500W to 800W and keep the heater on the same amount of time, your monthly bill can be reduced by nearly half.
Use of heater in your room is as significant as the usage of a water heater. An average 2000W storage geyser that runs 1 hour per day:
Units/day = 2.0 x 1 = 2 units
Cost/month 2 x 8 x 30 = 480
Provided the family is substituted with an instant water heater and reduces bathing time to 3000W-30 minutes total day:
Units/day = 3.0 x 0.5 = 1.5 units
Cost/month 1.5 x 8 x 30 = 360
It is vital that power rating, and daily use of the heater be comprehended before any choice is arrived at and this is vital to water heater power consumption. The use of water heaters is also usually lower in comparison with room heaters and this means less power consumption with the high wattage.
Not all low power heaters behave the same. Here is a simplified comparison of popular options in India:
|
Heater Type |
Typical Power Range |
How It Heats |
Best Use Case |
Key Benefit |
|
Oil-filled Heater |
400–800W |
Heats oil, which radiates heat slowly |
Bedrooms, continuous overnight heating |
Excellent heat retention, very comfortable |
|
PTC ceramic heater |
200–800W |
Blows air over ceramic heating elements |
Study rooms, home offices, spot heating |
Fast warming, self-regulating, compact |
|
Infrared / halogen heater |
400–800W |
Radiant heat directly to people and objects |
Small rooms, people sitting close by |
Instant heat, suitable for targeted heating |
|
Quartz/low-watt bar heater |
400–800W |
Radiant tubes, focused area heating |
Personal use near sofa/desk |
Affordable and low power option |
Here are some a few targeted changes work wonders:
Right temperature setpoint: A thermostat of 50–55°C usually gives comfortably hot water while saving energy.
Bucket instead of shower (where possible): You usually end up using less water during bucket bath in comparison to shower.
Short, predictable timings: To keep the power consumption in check use heater or geyser in a short period of 15 to 20 mins as most of these come with insulated tanks and keep the water hot.
Use a low power consumption heater for rooms and effectively bring down your winter electricity bill.
Bedrooms: Oil-filled radiators in the 800–1500W range for silent, steady overnight warmth.
Study/office corner: PTC ceramic or quartz heater around 400–800W for focused, short-duration use.
Living room evenings: An infrared or halogen heater 400–800W placed near seating areas means the whole room does not have to be heated.
Always check the wattage on the label, apply the simple cost formula, and consider your actual hours of use. A really low power consumption heater is one that matches your room size, is used intelligently, and makes full use of every unit of electricity, instead of just having a small number printed on the box
By understanding heater power consumption in this practical way, you can enjoy cozy winters in India with a clear idea of what each degree of comfort is costing you—and how to bring that cost down without sacrificing warmth.
Q1: How much electricity does a space heater use?
Ans: Most space heaters use 1,000–1,500 watts, which means they consume about 1–1.5 units (kWh) of electricity per hour when running at full power.
Q2: Do higher watt heaters consume more electricity?
Ans: Yes. Higher wattage = higher electricity consumption, it will consume less electricity only if the run time is less.
Q3: Does running a heater at low heat save electricity?
Ans: Yes. Running a heater on a lower heat setting uses less electricity.
Q4: Can a room heater be used overnight?
Ans: Yes, provided it has safety features like tip-over switch and overheat protection.
