the cheap small fan heaters… the cheap $20usd ones
Every local small appliance store (there are several in each neighborhood – just walk around), 全國 (quan2guo2) chains, 3C chains, all the hypermarts like RTMart, Carrefour, on and on, ad nauseam. Plus check the moving sales here in the Taiwanted classifieds section.
I prefer 全國 because usually they are quite aware of recalls and generally you get good service after buying, like repairs, followup. Next would be Costco, in case something goes wrong, for gurantee and exchange policies.
I like the Ceramic fan heaters. Used one per room and that works quite well. SAfe enough to fall asleep using it too, apparently.
True. Stay away from the ones that have red hot heating elements. May be cheaper, but deadly dangerous.
I’m looking to get a good quality heater for the winter. The two-year old is all too likely to knock the electric space heater flying, and it’s just not strong enough in any case.
Any recommendations? Warnings?
Get an oil filled heater with an in-built fan. They retain their warmth well and the fan spreads the warmth around the room nicely. You can put a guard around it to stop any children from hurting themselves - and even if a child touches one of these, it won’t get seriously burned. They are also bottom heavy and therefore difficult to knock over, especially if you put them up against a wall.
That’s the solution I’m leaning towards. I’m inclined to get something larger, rather than smaller, as well. But still hoping for specific recommendations.
We got a kerosene heater after years of freezing for the few short weeks of Taipei winters that get really cold. Now only does it warm the house up rather nicely, you can keep your tea warm! 
If it’s your own place, or you intend to stay there a good while, or if your aircon is old and needs replacing, get a heat pump (a reversible aircon). It’ll set you back 50K, but I’m really impressed with the one we got. Since aircon units tend to have quite powerful fans, the heat gets nicely distributed - and of course they use a lot less electricity than an ordinary heater for a given heat output.
[quote=“finley”]If it’s your own place, or you intend to stay there a good while, or if your aircon is old and needs replacing, get a heat pump (a reversible aircon). It’ll set you back 50K, but I’m really impressed with the one we got. Since aircon units tend to have quite powerful fans, the heat gets nicely distributed - and of course they use a lot less electricity than an ordinary heater for a given heat output.[/quote]If only! sigh
That’d be ideal. But we’re renting.
Kerosene heater: never used one (aside from a small camping unit), but ran into a few in Japan. Not sure I want to be sucking back those fumes, or trusting that the rug rats won’t get into mischief. Locally available units safe enough?
[quote=“Jaboney”][quote=“finley”]If it’s your own place, or you intend to stay there a good while, or if your aircon is old and needs replacing, get a heat pump (a reversible aircon). It’ll set you back 50K, but I’m really impressed with the one we got. Since aircon units tend to have quite powerful fans, the heat gets nicely distributed - and of course they use a lot less electricity than an ordinary heater for a given heat output.[/quote]If only! sigh
That’d be ideal. But we’re renting.
Kerosene heater: never used one (aside from a small camping unit), but ran into a few in Japan. Not sure I want to be sucking back those fumes, or trusting that the rug rats won’t get into mischief. Locally available units safe enough?[/quote]
We have the same one Sandy has, if you’ve been there. The smell ain’t so bad (just some at the light up and switch off, and you always have some cross ventilation going anyway and we’ve never had an safety concerns.
The rugrats will learn. 
This looks ideal. Anyone know of propane heaters being sold here:
kotulas.com/deals/kotulas-fa … 200000-btu
Jaboney,
I can’t remember the make of the one I have, but it is German. I remember getting it from B&Q for about $1500NT. I’m not in Taiwan at the moment, so unable to check for you.
I remember the bigger Carrefours carry similar heaters as well.
Propane heaters or paraffin heaters are great, but they have to be maintained or cleaned well. One I had years ago caught fire because of soot buildup. They are not ideal for kids.
I picked up a large oil filled heater at COSTCO last year. It’s one of those that looks like an old fashioned steam radiator. It doesn’t provide immediate warmth but it does a nice job if left on low at night and crank it up during the morning and evenings. It has a small fan and keeps a small amount of heat pumping out all the time. I think it was about 8,000 NT.
I’ll probably get another one this year for our bedroom.
BTW, I keep seeing deaths caused by kerosene heaters but they may be the old style and not the new modern stuff. Anybody know if these new ones need outside ventilation?
[quote=“Enigma”]I picked up a large oil filled heater at COSTCO last year. It’s one of those that looks like an old fashioned steam radiator. It doesn’t provide immediate warmth but it does a nice job if left on low at night and crank it up during the morning and evenings. It has a small fan and keeps a small amount of heat pumping out all the time. I think it was about 8,000 NT.
I’ll probably get another one this year for our bedroom.
BTW, I keep seeing deaths caused by kerosene heaters but they may be the old style and not the new modern stuff. Anybody know if these new ones need outside ventilation?[/quote]
I saw one of these at Costco the other day and was tempted to buy it - costs 10,000 now.
But maybe it wouldn’t be any good for me - as I would want to come home and turn it on to get heat? Are you saying it doesn’t work like that?
Also - do you need to refill the oil? Or is it all kept inside?
Thanks!
It doesn’t provide immediate heat. It needs to warm itself up a bit first. I usually wake up in the am, turn on the heater, snuggle back in for the morning news and then venture out after about 1/2 hour. The room is still not warm but the heater has some warmth that is starting to be pumped out - - slowly - - - VERY VERY slowly.
Oil is sealed. Electricity heats the oil which provides heat around the radiator modules and is pumped into the room by the fan. Very kiddy friendly. I also have a small Panasonic heater that I bought several years ago that you have to add water to. I assume the water is to keep the plastic contraption from melting but it seems to work pretty good. I only need to add water once a year and it shuts off if knocked over or the water runs low. It is cool enough and apparantly safe enough for a kid enviroment. It was about 3,000 NT and has been a good heater but there is just something about a heater made of plastic that just doesn’t sit right with me.
On a side note, if you own your “split system” A/C, you might want to consider retro-fitting heater modules on the units. This was mentioned a few years back. I know others have done it. When I bought mine, the installer talked my wife out of the heater units and I have ever since regretted that I didn’t step in. I had them in the U.S. and they work quickly to take the edge off a crisp morning and are cheap. I think the ones for my units were about 2,000 NT per A/C/ unit.
Thanks Enigma - I guess the radiators in the UK take the same amount of time to warm up a room 
I’m assuming I could buy one of those timer devices for the plug socket and have it turn on automatically for me in the morning?
As for the heater aircons - yes - I can recommend them too. My apartment in Japan had them, instant heat!
You might want to discuss with your landlord about splitting the cost of a new aircon system. Unless your apartment already has a brand spanking new system, he/she might be up for it. And you DO get instant heat. They are by far the nicest heating method I’ve ever encountered, as well as being very efficient.
Without the fan, best place to put them is below the window.
This way, the cold air falling down from the window and the hot air from the heater will mix and be distributed closer to the ground.
If you put the heater on the other side of the room, the hot air will rise to the ceiling while the cold air from the window will fall to the the floor.
The air will also circulate faster and the cold air coming from the window will take more energy from your body.