Ceramic vs Quartz Heater – Which One Should You Choose?

If you are looking for a heater to warm up your home, there are two main types to choose from: ceramic and quartz heaters. 

Ceramic heaters produce radiant heat that is similar to the sun’s light. Quartz heaters use infrared waves to provide warmth in the room.

Choosing between these two types of heaters might appear to be a tough choice, but it’s not. They both radiate heat via infrared, reaching high temperatures and providing an almost immediate supply of warmth. However, they do so in a different way.

This post will discuss what each type of heater has going for it and how they work.

What is a Ceramic Heater?

A ceramic heater is an electric-powered device that uses radiant energy to provide warmth. It emits the same type of heat as traditional gas or oil radiator but without any flame. 

The heating coils are heated by electricity through resistors and often use quartz rather than metal for high efficiency at low temperatures.

The biggest advantage of ceramic heaters is that they produce no emissions, ideal for use in a smoke-free environment. 

They also tend to be more energy-efficient than other types of electric heaters, and many models have adjustable thermostats to help you control the temperature.

Pros and Cons of Ceramic Heaters

Ceramic heaters have their advantages and disadvantages. Here, we’ll list them down to help you learn more about them.

Pros of Ceramic Heaters

• Safe: One of the main advantages of ceramic heaters is that they are considered very safe. They usually don’t have any exposed electrical wires, and they also don’t overheat as easily as some other types of heaters.
• Inexpensive: Ceramic heaters are often much less expensive than other types of heaters, making them an excellent option for people on a budget.
• Quiet: Ceramic heaters also tend to be quieter than other types of heaters, which can be an important consideration if you plan to use them in a bedroom or another room where you need to stay quiet.
• Portable: Many ceramic heaters are also portable, meaning you can take them with you wherever you go.
• Energy-efficient: Ceramic heaters also tend to be more energy-efficient than other types of heaters, meaning they can help you save on your energy costs.
• Thermostat control: Ceramic heaters often come with thermostat control, allowing you to adjust the temperature depending on your needs easily.
• Small size: Another advantage of ceramic heaters is that they are often much smaller than other types of heaters, making them ideal for small spaces.
• Stylish: Finally, ceramic heaters often come in various stylish designs, making them a great addition to any room in your home.

Cons of Ceramic Heaters

• Not ideal for large spaces: While these heaters are great for smaller spaces, they don’t work well in larger areas.
• Smaller heating element: The main problem with ceramic is that the heater itself is much smaller than other types of space heaters, which means it takes more time to warm up your room and can take longer to recover after being turned off.
• More expensive upfront cost: Ceramic baseboard or wall-mounted models tend to be a bit pricier than quartz at first glance. Still, this price difference tends even out over time compared with their electric savings because you need less energy from them over time.
• Physical objects can block heat transfer: If you have a lot of furniture or other objects in the way, the ceramic heater might not be as effective at transferring heat to your space.
• Most of them have to run constantly: Because the heating element is so small, these types of heaters tend to run constantly.
• Heating elements can break: Small ceramic panel heater units don’t have a complicated design. However, they still contain moving parts, meaning that there are more opportunities for them to fail over time, resulting in expensive repairs or replacements.

What is a Quartz Heater?

A quartz heater is an electrical heater that uses an element made of quartz to generate heat. The element is heated by electricity, and the heat is then transferred to the object or area being heated.

Quartz heaters are usually relatively small, ideal for heating individual rooms or small spaces. They are also relatively energy-efficient, meaning they don’t use a lot of electricity to produce heat.

One downside of quartz heaters is that they can be quite noisy when in operation. Additionally, because they rely on electricity to generate heat, they can be somewhat expensive to operate compared to other heaters.

Pros and Cons of Quartz Heaters

Quartz heaters also come with their pros and cons. Check them out below.

Pros of Quartz Heaters

• They offer even heat distribution: Quartz emits infrared rays at a more consistent rate, so it is ideal for use in large rooms.
• The quartz heater will heat the room faster than any ceramic heater because of its instant heating abilities and high wattage capacity.
• Quartz models are designed with safety features that help prevent them from overheating or tipping over – if they become too hot, many come equipped with an automatic shut-off function that turns off power before excess damage can occur.
• They are more durable: Over time, the quartz heating element will not break as easily as a ceramic one.
• Affordable: Quartz heaters are also more affordable than their ceramic counterparts. This is because the quartz element is a more common heating source.
• Quartz heaters are designed with safety features that help prevent them from overheating or tipping over – if they become too hot, many come equipped with an automatic shut-off function that turns off power before excess damage can occur.
• Speed: Quartz heaters can produce quick, high-powered warmth that melts away the cold faster than other types of heaters.

Cons of Quartz Heaters

• Safety issues: Quartz heaters can be dangerous because they get very hot and cause fires.
• They are not as energy efficient as ceramic heaters: Ceramic heaters convert more of the electricity used into heat, so they use less power to produce the same amount of warmth.
• They cost more than ceramic heaters: Quartz heaters usually cost more than ceramic ones.
• Color issue: Quartz heaters are available in a limited range of colors.
• Skin health problems: Most people will not stay in a room with infrared heat waves for a long time. Infrared waves can cause skin problems if they are used too much. When people spend a long time in front of a fireplace, they can get blotchiness on their face exposed to the fire.

Ceramic Heater vs. Quartz Heater – In-depth comparison

Price

When it comes to pricing, the price of the ceramic heater is much higher than that of a quartz heater. 

The ceramic heater is often about two to three times the price of a quartz heater. This is due to the materials used in each type of heater. 

The ceramic material costs more than the quartz material, so this drives up the cost of the ceramic heater.

Energy Efficient

Ceramic heaters are very energy efficient. They use less power to produce the same heat as quartz heaters. 

The most energy-efficient one is the ceramic heater between both of these heaters.

Ceramic heaters are made out of a material that resists electricity and does not use as much power to create heat. 

Quartz heaters work by passing an electric current through quartz, creating heat. 

Ceramic is a better insulator than quartz, so it takes less energy to produce the same amount of heat.

This also makes ceramic heaters cheaper to operate in the long run. While both types of heaters have their benefits, go with a ceramic heater if you are looking for an energy-efficient option.

Cost to Run

Ceramic heaters are typically more expensive than their quartz counterparts. 

However, the cost of running them is less because they use up less energy and are cheaper on electricity bills overall. 

They also do not need as much maintenance or upkeep since there are no heating elements that require replacement, like other space heaters (e.g., infrared).

Safety

In terms of safety, both types of heaters provide the same protection. They both shut off if tipped over, and they do not open unless you press a button on top. 

The quartz heater has an automatic turn-off switch that shuts down the heating element to prevent overheating or fire.

This is done manually with ceramic models by unplugging it after use as there is no electronic circuitry in these units.

Portability

One of the main benefits of a ceramic heater is that it is highly portable. This makes it perfect for use in small spaces, such as bedrooms or offices. 

On the other hand, a quartz heater is not as easily transported due to its larger size and weight.

Control Features

Both quartz and ceramic heaters typically have a range of control features, including low, medium, and high settings, as well as an adjustable thermostat. 

This allows you to customize the temperature of your space according to your needs. 

Additionally, many models come with timers that allow you to set a specific duration for heating. 

This can be especially useful if you want to warm up a room before bed or while you’re away from home.

Quietness

Comparing the quietness between these two types of heaters, people say that quartz heaters are quieter than ceramic ones. 

This is mainly because ceramic heaters produce a clicking noise as they turn on and off, while quartz ones do not.

If you are looking for a heater that will be quiet and will not disturb you or your family, then go with a quartz heater. 

However, ceramic heaters can be just as good if you don’t mind a little noise.

What is the Best Ceramic Heater?

Lasko 755320 Ceramic Space Tower Heater

Pros

• It comes with two quiet settings – This heater comes with a widespread oscillation that enables it to distribute warm air throughout the room.
• Remote control and built-in timer – The heater allow you to adjust the temperature, timer, oscillation, and more from a distance. The easy to program timer also allows you to select 1 hour to 8 hours in one-hour intervals.
• Safety features – This heater also comes with overheat protection that ensures it doesn’t overheat even if left on for an extended amount of time.

Cons

• This heater gets too hot to the touch
• It doesn’t turn off when it falls over

Lasko’s Remote Control Ceramic Tower Heater with Digital Display will make you feel at ease in your own home office, bedroom, or almost any other room. 

Its elongated ceramic heating element, strong air circulation, and broad oscillation distribute proper warmth throughout the space.

It’s small enough to carry with you at all times. It features a convenient carry handle that makes it easy to transport throughout your home. 

This heater offers digital controls, a programmable thermostat, and an 8-hour timer for making staying warm as simple as possible.

What is the Best Quartz Heater?

Dr. Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater

Pros

• Ideal for heating large rooms
• This heater is safe as it offers tip-over protection and overheat protection
• Programmable timer – You can set up to 12 hours to automatically shut off when it reaches the programmed time.
• Quiet – This blower is so quiet you won’t even notice it is on.
• This heater is also relatively easy to clean, which makes it user-friendly.

Cons

• Durability is a major concern because some buyers have reported the heater breaks down after using it for a while.
• The fan is a bit loud and very disruptive.

Dr. Infrared Heater works similarly to sunlight by warming items rather than air, in which case it’s known as “thermal radiation.” 

The infrared heat is pleasant and energy-efficient, using 100 percent of the heat produced to generate almost no loss in heat transfer at a low cost.

The space heater is also built to endure many winters. So, it includes a detachable filter that is simple to maintain and replace, allowing for a fresh start each time required.

Which One Should You Choose – Quartz Heater vs Ceramic Heater?

Both types of heaters have their benefits and drawbacks. So, it is important to consider what each one has to offer before making a purchase decision. 

Keep in mind the size of the room you plan to use the heater in, how often you will be using it, and your budget when deciding which type of heater is best for you.