Portable Car Heaters for Winter
With winter right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about your car’s heating system. Sometimes, it’s not enough to rely on your car’s internal air conditioning unit to keep you warm during the coldest months of the year, so whether you are a first-time car owner or someone familiar with automobiles, taking portable car heaters into consideration to keep inside your car is a viable option.
Portable car heaters are small, compact heating units that work in the small space of your vehicle. They use your car’s cigarette lighter socket to power, and they’re perfect for the coldest days of the winter festivities or for unexpected emergencies. You do not want to get stranded inside your car without the certainty of a heating source.
Unlike other systems like residential heaters, portable car heaters are inexpensive and available almost everywhere, at local car shops and online retailers like Amazon and BestBuy. In this guide, Amarz Muffler & Auto Service will review all car heater essentials and the best options for your vehicle for this upcoming winter.
Types of Heaters
If we were to review every type of heater in the market, we would write an extensive and tiring guide about heating physics and cooling systems. However, the most popular types of conventional heating systems are:
Radiative Heaters
These heaters include the popularly demanded ceramic and quartz infrared heaters and Halogen type heaters. Ceramic and Quartz heaters use infrared energy to warm the objects in the room to propagate heat; they are best used for long-term heating and bigger space. Halogen heaters are an environmentally friendly option best suited for outdoor heating.
Radiative Heaters
Wire and oil-based heaters are the two most popular subcategories of connective heating. Wire heaters use nickel or chromium and are cheaper than other types of heaters, but they are not as energy efficient as ceramic heaters. Oil-based heaters, on the other hand, are more expensive, but they use convection to transfer thermal energy from heated oil to the metal wiring around it, thus creating heat. Contrary to popular belief, these types of heaters do not burn oil to function.
Despite the variety of heaters available, not all are suited for confined spaces, as they are flammable or displace oxygen to function. However, when talking about voltage, there are two types of heaters available:
120V Heaters
These heaters are designed to be plugged into an outlet and warm larger spaces; however, if you’re only looking to warm your car seats before going on a car ride, using an extension cord and warming your car from the outside might be a suitable option. Some 120V heaters are small enough to fit in your vehicle, but they need an inverter to work. It’s important to point out that Amarz Muffler & Auto Service does not recommend 120V heaters in your car for safety reasons unless that specific 120V heater has been designed to heat small spaces.
12V Heaters
These types of heaters are designed for your car. They are safe to use in confined spaces and use your cigarette lighter socket to function. Although they are limited in wattage, they are great for emergencies and designed to be carried around in the small spaces in your car. These are safe to use and carry without worrying about fire hazards.
Advantages of Portable Heaters
Now that we’ve reviewed the types of heaters available in the market, it’s important to review the advantages of owning a car heater. Aside from providing heat, portable heaters are well — portable. Their compact design makes them easy to carry and store in your car when you need them. They are also inexpensive, so they won’t put a dent in your wallet. They also serve as an excellent replacement for your car’s heating unit when those hot AC unit temperatures are just not cutting it.
Buying Options
With such a vast market for car heaters, it’s not uncommon to be indecisive about what option is best for you. Amarz Muffler & Auto Service has developed a short list of handy and deliverable portable heaters for your car that are budget-friendly and environmentally conscious:
This portable heater can not only provide warmth, but it can defog and defrost your car’s windshield when things get just a little tricky. It can cool and heat quickly in about 60 seconds, making it a great and quick choice for your automobile.
This heater does not only have an attractive design, but it can be used as a cooling fan for the hot summer months in case your AC unit gets busted. It’s never too cautious to have a backup plan.
This heater is windshield attachable and provides a 180-degree angle adjustment for easy directing. It also includes automatic power-off protection for your safety.
This 360-degree rotating heater has a double adhesive for easy installation. It has a universal shaft adjustment and a versatile wind system.
This car heater also adjusts with a double-sided tape and includes multi-level adjustments with different functionality. This heater also moves 360 degrees for your convenience.
It’s important to keep warm during the upcoming winter months. Portable car heaters are great in everyday or emergency situations and, especially in colder countries, it’s crucial to have one in hand. You never know when you might need it (or when you need to keep your hands toasty for a long car ride).