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, CHOICE heater 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 CHOICE member 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)

• CHOICE Expert 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 scored an acceptable 'OK', but with a score of just 40% in our heating tests, this is one you probably don't want to waste your money on.

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 Kogan heater is cheap but won't leave you feeling cheerful.

Kogan KAOILHTB24A oil column electric heater

• CHOICE Expert Rating: 51%
• Heating score: 43%
• Price: $109

Since starting in 2006, Kogan.com has become one of the country's biggest online retailers, selling thousands of products across hundreds of categories, including its own range of house-brand items. If a cold snap has caught you by surprise and you're on a budget, it may be tempting to head online and click to buy this cheap heater, but our experts advise you think twice. Our test results found it's likely to leave you out in the cold: it couldn't even heat up a room by 10°C in two hours. (The best electric heaters can do this in 30 minutes or less.)

It couldn't even heat up a room by 10°C in two hours. (The best electric heaters can do this in 30 minutes or less.)

We calculated running costs of $202 over the winter, based on 500 hours of use (approximately six hours per day for three months), which is low compared to other models we've tested. However, lower running costs aren't much of a consolation if you're still feeling the chill. We tested a few heaters for less than $100 that performed better than this Kogan buy, so cross this one off your list and look elsewhere.

Read the full Kogan KAOILHTB24A 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 CHOICE home 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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