Basements and garages are the perfect places to set up your man cave, but they’re not always the most comfortable. For many of us, it can get a bit drafty in our lair when the colder months start to hit, especially for those with a lot of space to cover.
Most basements have poor insulation, and some aren’t even connected to the main HVAC system. Not only does this make the room uncomfortably cold, but it can also increase the risk of pipes freezing and bursting.
With the right space heater, you can transform even a large basement area into a cozy and comfortable man cave. You and your buddies won’t have to bundle up every time you want to head down and watch a game.
Portable space heaters are a popular way to heat basements because they’re convenient, efficient, and affordable. You can move the unit around with you to avoid wasting any energy by heating unoccupied areas of the house.
Most space heaters run on either electricity or propane. While propane is clean-burning, cheap, and efficient, it’s also more dangerous than electricity due to carbon monoxide poisoning risk.
No matter which style of heater you choose, it’s always important to monitor it during use and follow proper safety precautions. Only use it in a dry, empty location away from direct contact with people, pets, and flammable objects. It’s also best to avoid using extension cords.
With so many options to choose from, finding the right space heater for your man cave isn’t necessarily an easy task. With a cheap or low-tech option, you might be putting your health and safety at risk. It’s best to stick to a quality space heater that offers plenty of high-tech features.
For readers that are in a hurry we have provided our top space heater at the top of the page. It is the Lasko Oscillating Digital Tower. It made the top of the list because of its produced by a top name in the heating business, it has all the new functions of a heater like a remote, digital face and it oscillates to provide heat to ever part of the room. Click below to find the most up to date price on Amazon.
Read on to find out some of the other top space heaters for a large basement.
The Best Space Heater for a Large Basement
Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater
This portable space heater from Dr. Infrared Heater is a corded electric model that’s compact enough to fit in just about any basement. It has an attractive cherry case along with durable caster wheels for easy movement. You can also easily carry the unit, as it’s lightweight and clocks in at under 30lbs.
The Dr. Infrared Heater is designed to heat a large space with maximum efficiency. It has a dual heating system that combines traditional PTC with a quartz infrared element. This setup offers more heat than other similar 1500W models. The electronic thermostat can set the temperature anywhere between 50°F and 85°F.
The heater’s blower is quiet enough that you won’t notice it as you’re trying to chat or watch TV. The seven-inch blower produced just 39dB as it moved large volumes of air through the unit. Whereas the blower on most 1500W heaters offers just 155°F at 2.2m/s, the Dr. Infrared heater delivers around 250°F at 3.5m/s.
Despite producing so much heat, the Dr. Infrared heater is an energy-efficient choice for the eco-conscious homeowner. It uses 100% of the heat it creates so that you don’t waste any energy. Not only does this lower your carbon footprint but also your energy bills.
If you only want to use your heater for a set period, such as before bed, you can set a timer lasting up to 12 hours. When the clock runs out, the heater will automatically shut off so that you don’t have to worry about doing it yourself. You can control programmable settings such as the timer without having to get up by using the IR remote control included with this heater.
The Dr. Infrared comes with built-in safety features so that you can rest easy knowing your man cave is safe from harm. Tip-over protection ensures that the unit shuts off if it falls over. This prevents it from accidentally setting fire to rugs, carpeting, and more. Overheat protection turns the system off if components start getting dangerously hot.
In addition to heating your basement, this space heater also helps to improve air quality. A lifetime filter cleans and purifies air passing through your unit, trapping dust, allergens, and other airborne particles. It’s removable, so you can easily replace the filter as needed.
Thanks to its high-quality build and extensive safety features, the Dr. Infrared Space Heater is certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in the USA and Canada. This certification means that it meets stringent standards when it comes to safety, reliability, and efficiency.
Specifications:
- Product Dimensions: 13” x 12.5” x 17”
- Product Weight: 24lbs
- Cord Length: 72”
- Finish: Cherry wood
- Noise Level: 39 dB
- Thermostat Range: 50 to 85℉
- Amperage: 12.5A
- Wattage: 1500W
- Voltage: 120V
Dr. Infrared Heater DR968 Video Review
Lasko Oscillating Digital Ceramic Tower Heater
This heater is great for large spaces with its widespread oscillation to be able to distribute the heat evenly throughout. There are two heat settings a high heat and low heat but it also comes with an auto setting.
Here are some more specs on this heater:
- Remote control can be used to control the heater wherever you are in the room
- Built in timer can control the heater from 1 hour to 8 hours but only in 1 hour intervals
- Safety: it does not overheat due to being left on too long. The exterior also stays cool to the touch even after running all day!
- Product Dimensions: 7.25 inches deep x 8.6 inches wide x 23 inches high
- Product Weight: 8.8 lbs
- Cord Length: 6 feet
- Finish: Silver
- Noise Level: NA
- Thermostat Range:39 to 90℉
- Amperage: 12.5A
- Wattage: 1500W
- Voltage: 120V
This heater also comes with a 3 year limited warranty and is E.T.L. listed. E.T.L. tells the consumer that the product has been tested by Intertek and has in compliance with approved national standards.
Dreo Space Heater For Large Room
This space heater made by Dreo is E.T.L. certified and made of materials that are flame retardant to keep you safe in case you forget to turn it off.
We love the design of the heater as it brings it to a more modern age and almost looks like a really cool sound speaker. A majority of it is black but there are some silver parts to give it a little pop.
This heater like the others is 1500W and heats up your space quickly and quietly at 40dB. It rotates on a Dreo exclusive trackball system for quiet rotating to spread the heat.
More specs on this heater:
- The remote allows full control from up to 26 feet away.
- Built in timer can control it from 1 to 12 hours
- Safety: it has a 12 and 24 hour automatic shutoff, Tip over protection
- Product Dimensions: 5.9 inches deep x 5.9 inches wide x 15.8 inches high
- Product Weight: 4.63 lbs
- Cord Length: 6 feet
- Finish: Black/Silver
- Noise Level: 37.5 dB
- Thermostat Range:41 to 95℉
- Amperage: 12.5A
- Wattage: 1500W – 700 W
- Voltage: 120V
Dreo Radiator Heater
Some things that make this heater work so much better than the others is that it utilizes diathermic oil. The oil can reach high temperatures and then fins that create a lot of surface space so that heat can dissapate quickly into the cold room.
Some peoples initial reaction to the oil is that they don’t want it to spill or have to refill. But you don’t have to be worried about either of those things. The oil is completely sealed and the oil never evaporates or needs to be refilled.
And of course the heater comes with a remote and has all the bells and whistles.
The only negative about this heater is that it is the most expensive but if you have a large cold basement it might just do the trick.
More specs on this heater:
- The remote allows full control from up to 19 feet away.
- Built in timer can control it 24 hours. You can auto turn off and auto turn on.
- Safety: overheat protection, tip over protection
- Product Dimensions: 14.96 inches deep x 11.03 inches wide x 26.37 inches high (tallest)
- Product Weight: 20.28 lbs
- Cord Length: 6 feet
- Finish: Black
- Noise Level: Silent!!
- Thermostat Range:41 to 95℉
- Amperage: 12.5A
- Wattage: 1500W – 600 W
- Voltage: 120V
Check out the link to Amazon below to find the most up to date price.
Quick Tips For Buying A Space Heater
Before buying a space heater for your basement, there are a couple of things to consider. You should think about what features you want your heater to include, such as:
- Fan Speed: Some heaters offer variable fan speeds to give you control over how much air blows through.
- Thermostat Control: With temperature control, you can easily set your unit as hot as you need.
- Programmability: More high-tech heaters let you program heat settings and automatically maintain temperature.
- Timer: With a timer, you can set your heater to shut off safely after a certain number of hours.
- Oscillation: Like fans, you can find heaters that oscillate to spread warmth.
- Remote or Wi-Fi Control: With some heaters, you can control fan and temperature settings from your couch using a dedicated remote or a mobile app. Wifi control will add a lot more cost to the product.
- Safety Features: Tip-over and overheat protection both shut the unit off when there’s an increased fire risk.
Conclusion
If you’ve set up your man cave in a large basement, you may be noticing that your chill sessions are getting a bit too chilly. A space heater is an affordable and convenient way to heat your lair without wasting any energy. Our top pick for the best space heater for a large basement is the Lasko Oscillating Digital Tower Heater. It’s an attractive option that offers plenty of high-tech features to help you stay warm without putting your or anyone else’s safety at risk. The Lasko name is a top manufacturer of portable home heaters. This heater can heat up many sized rooms and it won’t hurt your pocket book either!