Reporter Alison Brinkworth with the tower heater that has changed her life

I bought a heater from Amazon to save on bills and now I can't live without it

by · Birmingham Live

As the chill of winter approaches, the struggle between staying warm while working from home and coping with soaring energy bills is putting a strain on my marriage, writes Alison Brinkworth. The tense debate over when it's cold enough to warrant heating our house has sparked more spats with my husband than any other issue this year.

Being cold is unbearable for me, especially when it hampers my work as I find myself shivering and unable to focus, stretching out the simplest tasks far longer than necessary. Yet seeing the numbers climb on the smart meter does nothing for my stress levels either.

Trying to warm up with layers doesn't solve the problem; my nose and fingers remain icicles, and despite my protests to my other half, typing in woolly gloves is simply not an option. In desperation to salvage both my marital harmony and our bank account from the clutches of crippling gas prices, I've invested in a 'make or break' fan heater.

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However, I had to be careful choosing one that wouldn’t devour electricity, thus defeating the whole point of saving money. .

Even the Met Office underscores the importance of heating, advising that "ideally you should heat your home to a temperature of at least 18°C", increasing that figure if you're over 65, unwell, or less mobile. The thermometer in our three-bedroom end-terrace already dips below that advised warmth, and the mere thought of snowfall fills me with dread.

I made the decision to invest in an efficient electric fan heater for the small room I work in. The idea was to use it for short bursts, creating a warm bubble around me and saving on heating the entire house unnecessarily, especially when it's just me at home.

Recent energy cost figures from the end of October reveal that the average cost of running central heating through radiators is £1.75 per hour. In contrast, an energy-efficient fan heater of up to 2KW costs 68p an hour - two and a half times less.

After extensive research on Which?, Amazon, Curry's and more, I found out about energy efficiency classes for heaters. This greatly aided my selection of a 1.6hKW Vortex Air Fan Heater, which falls into the A+ energy efficiency class.

I appreciate its 10 different fan speeds and its ability to heat my room within minutes up to 35°C. Usually, I only need to keep it on for about five minutes to feel cosy, and this keeps my room warm for the next hour or two.

It's adjustable, so I can direct the airflow straight at me. Plus, it's lightweight and easy to move from room to room.

I often end up placing it in the bedroom at night for a quick blast before I go to sleep.

The Vortex Air Fan Heater, which comes with a remote control for easy use from your desk, is not only energy efficient with an A+ energy class but also currently discounted on Amazon at £159.99, saving you £10. This made it a more affordable choice for me.

It's a bonus that it doubles as a fan for potential summer heatwaves. The reduction in arguments over heating with my husband and the decrease in our smart meter's day rate makes it worth every penny.

You can find out more about the Vortex Air Fan Heater Amazon deal here. Alternatively, take a look at the Challenge 2kW Convector Heater from Argos reduced from £30 to £24 as a cheaper option.