Best Temporary Heating Solutions for Home Renovations

Why Heating Matters During Home Renovations

While completing interior renovations, heat can escape more quickly from your home if walls are being reworked, the central heating can't be used, or you're building an extension to your home that's not yet connected to your heating system. If you're working outside, having temporary heating is even more important to protect your health while on the job.

Not only are heaters important for keeping you healthy and working at your best, but they can also help speed up the drying process for some tasks. If you’re working with paint, you can see a big difference when placing a heater nearby. They will shorten the drying time and help you finish the work faster.

While using a heater to help dry plaster quickly might sound like a good idea, it can actually result in it cracking and failing. Instead, use heaters to maintain a room temperature of between 18 and 21 degrees celcius to get the best results.

Types of Heaters for Home Improvements

Portable heaters are a great temporary solution if you want to maintain a comfortable temperature. They’re usually lightweight and have a convenient design, giving you the flexibility to move around rooms and worksites. You can focus the heat on a specific space or room to get the best efficiency without burning money and wasting energy.

This section introduces different heating options for home renovations.

Infrared Heaters

Infrared heaters are the top choice rated by our experts to use to keep you warm during home improvement. This is due to their smart design and how they function. In short, infrared heaters offer direct warmth to people and surfaces instead of warming up the air. Even in unfinished rooms or outside areas, their efficiency is evident with instant warmth without heat loss and high energy bills.

Choose Infrared Heaters if you:

• Love the natural and instant feel of sunlight-like warmth. 
• Work on outdoor home renovation projects. 
• Need a temporary, dust-free, efficient, and portable heating unit. 
• Want to save energy while using heaters for home improvements. 

However, when using this type of heater, you need to make sure that there is enough space for heat to travel effectively and reach the object. For very small and closed rooms, consider fan heaters instead. 

Examples of home renovations: loft conversions, home extensions, garages, workshops, or newly-plastered rooms that need steady heat. 

Read our comprehensive blog on infrared heaters to learn more about their benefits, use cases, and how to use them. 

Propane Forced Air Heaters 

Propane forced air heaters are made for large and open home renovations, such as garages, worksites, or extensions. They can generate a strong blast of warm air and keep you warm even in spaces without insulation. Powerful propane heaters are chosen by a lot of construction sites for their efficiency and great capacity. 

Choose a propane forced air heater if you: 

• Carry out house improvements in a large area or open space. 
• Undertake building work for renovations. 
• Need rapid and powerful heating. 
• Want a portable and robust heating unit. 

However, as their name suggests, these heaters use propane (liquefied propane gas) as their fuel. They burn fuel and produce exhaust gases, which need to be properly ventilated to ensure safety. You should never use propane heaters in small, enclosed rooms or areas with poor ventilation/ no airflow to avoid risks of fumes.  

Examples of home renovations: house extensions, garage conversions, building sites, or outdoor renovation spaces like gardens and backyards. 

Fan Heaters 

Fan heaters are also great for short-term use during decorating works or home improvements. With the powerful fan engine, they provide immediate warmth when turned on. There are also no complicated installations or instructions. 

Choose a fan heater if you: 

• Do renovations in small to medium-sized rooms. 
• Want a compact and affordable heating unit. 
• Need a quick warm-up after turning on the unit. 

Fan heaters use airflow to work as they pull in and push out air. Imagine a fan, but with heat coming out. This is the reason why you shouldn’t place them in a heavy-duty, dusty, or open construction space, as they might blow dust around.  

Examples of home renovations: painting, decorating, or finishing bedrooms, bathrooms, or hallways. 

Oil-Filled Heaters 

An oil heater or oil radiator is the perfect supplemental heating source when you’re fixing your central heating system. They work using hot oil inside the unit, which spreads out and releases heat through the metal fins into the air. You can even enjoy steady heat for a short period after turning it off.

They’re efficient for overnight use in finished or semi-finished rooms. However, it’s best to use oil radiators in closed rooms to limit the heat loss.

Choose oil-filled heaters if you: 

• Need extra heating in small to medium-sized rooms. 
• Want a safe and secure heater for indoor use and overnight. 
• Need silent operation. 
• Want to save more energy while doing renovations. 
• Need extra warmth when fixing a traditional heating system. 

Oil-filled heaters work in a relatively similar way to central heating. They perform best in closed, fully or almost finished rooms. Open cold areas and poorly insulated rooms will prevent oil heaters from reaching their maximum performance. 

Examples of home renovations: Living room renovation, home office upgrade, newly finished bedrooms, and loft rooms awaiting radiator installation. 

Radiant Heaters 

Radiant heaters are recommended in dust-heavy work areas and home renovations because they can emit direct warmth to objects instead of relying on airflow. With radiant heating, you can focus the heat in specific ventilated areas or rooms under renovation. Our radiant heaters are also lightweight and easy to move around. 

Choose a radiant heater if you: 

• Want efficient spot heating in large and open spaces. 
• Need a user-friendly and lightweight heating unit. 

Radiant heaters are not made for large or multiple rooms. Their surface temperature might get high when in use. 

Examples of home renovations: kitchen painting, plaster drying in hallways, tiling projects, small conservatory repairs, and DIY furniture restoration. 

Which Temporary Heaters Should You Choose During Home Improvements? 

Choosing the right heater for home renovations is important, as there are too many options out there. Each one of them has its own benefits and drawbacks. This section will compare and point out the most suitable model according to your needs. 

Features	Infrared Heaters	Propane Forced Air Heaters	Fan Heaters	Oil-filled Radiators	Radiant Heaters
Heating Speed	Heats up quickly and directly warms people and surfaces	Extremely fast, powerful heat output	Heats small areas quickly	Slower to heat up but retains warmth longer	Provides quick, focused heat
Energy Efficiency	Very efficient, low energy waste	Moderate to high fuel use	Low to moderate	Efficient and cost-effective	Efficient
Portability	Easy to move	Portable but might be bulky	Lightweight and easy to move	Easy to move	Portable and simple to use
Safety Level	Safe for indoor use with proper distance	Must be used with care and ventilation	Safe for short-term use	Very safe for indoor use	Safe
Suitable for	Dusty, finished or semi-finished rooms	Large, dusty, or open renovation spaces	Small rooms or use as supplemental heating	Small/medium closed rooms	Heating specific work areas or drying dusty environments
NOT Suitable for	Enclosed rooms with no ventilation or blocked line of sight	Small, enclosed, or poorly ventilated rooms	Dusty or large areas	Cold, open, or uninsulated work zones	Whole-room or large rooms
Recommended products	Rhino TQ3 2.8kW Infrared Heater 240v	Master BLP53 53kW Propane Forced Air Heater 110v	Elite FH3 3kW Fan Heater 240v	Rhino H02241 2kW Oil Filled Radiator 240v	Ceramic Heater 2.8kW 240v

Choosing the right type of heaters suitable for your needs depends on the renovation project, working conditions, room size and condition, and many other factors. If you’re still unsure, contact our experts for more information! 

Heater Safety And Maintenance in Renovation Environments 

Renovation spaces can make risks more difficult to control when using a heater. Speedy has portable heater safety instructions made for home improvements. A well-maintained system and proper use are key to ensuring a comfortable and hazard-free environment. 

Proper ventilation is a must when using heating, especially with fuel-based models, such as propane or diesel heaters. You should always check the models and follow the suppliers’ instructions to avoid harmful air pollutants.  

Keep heaters away from flammable materials and objects. At least one metre needs to be maintained between any objects and the heater. When doing home improvements, take extra care with combustible materials such as paint tins, fuels, wood, or fabrics.

Ensure electrical safety with electric models. This includes checking extension leads, sockets, cables, and components. Never use damaged devices and unplugging them when not in use. 

Dust can build up quickly in renovation environments, which reduces the performance and increases fire risks. Check the surface of heaters, air vents, and filters, and dust them off if needed.  

Hire Temporary Heaters for Home Improvements Now! 

Winter has arrived, but don’t let the cold get in the way of upgrading your home. Hire temporary heaters from Speedy for the best performance without spending tons of money on a unit that you will leave in storage for months. 

Our products are serviced and maintained regularly by our experts, so you always receive them in the best condition. We have suitable heating for home renovations, from small oil heater units to heavy-duty propane heaters. Start ordering now to get 4-hour delivery or same-day collection from our depots!