Non-Toxic Space Heaters for All!
Heaters for the Chemically Sensitive and Everyone Else
Updated fall 2024.
Please note that due to the length of this post, I have removed product photos to post this to Substack. To see photos as part of the post, click here to view the original post on the website.
Many individuals with environmental illness struggle with finding safe sources of heat for the winter, myself included! We have tested quite a few space heaters over the years, with some utterly intolerable and others only tolerable for a time. Still others required frequent cleaning to prevent fried dust.
To state that safe heat has been quite an issue for me is an understatement!
This post shares some of our experiences as well as non-toxic electric heaters that other canaries report success in tolerating. Please understand that all of these options utilize plastic to some extent, so none of these are truly non-toxic space heaters. For that, we would need sunshine! (And even that can be questionable these days.)
Note that there simply is not an option that works for everyone. Everyone is different, and in this Brave New World fragrance contamination is a huge issue that can cause one to tolerate a heater from one seller but not from another.
As always, this post is not to be considered to be medical advice. Always consult your physician about everything. This post is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent, mitigate, or otherwise address any symptoms or diagnoses.
Features to Avoid
Even if you are not currently sensitive to nnEMFs to the best of your knowledge, we are all impacted at a cellular level by this harmful radiation. If you have thoughts and a heartbeat, then you are an electrical being and thus are impacted by magnetic fields, electrical fields, dirty electricity, and radio frequencies. Please avoid any electric heaters labelled "smart" or with Bluetooth, cell phone management options, WiFi, or with any ability to connect to the Internet of Things.
Consider checking out the following posts:
Where Should I Start Learning about EMFs?
5 Free Ways to Reduce EMF Exposure at Night
EMFs in Cars (Reducing Exposure)
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As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Recommended for All Non-Toxic Heaters
Regardless of which heater you select, I strongly recommend initially running the heater outside your home in a protected area to encourage at least the initial VOC off-gassing to dissipate outside of your home. Indoor air quality is precious!
To minimize electrical and magnetic EMF exposure, I also strongly advise that you situate chairs, couches, and beds 3 feet away from all heaters. This is generally the point at which magnetic and electrical radiation drops off so that you are not unnecessarily exposing your body to that harm.
Is There Latex in Space Heaters?
Natural rubber latex, present in over 40,000 consumer products as of over a decade ago, is ubiquitous in our world today. What few realize, however, is that natural rubber is, in fact, undeniably toxic, despite the corporate propaganda. The evidence is clear that is a sensitizing toxicant. Simply to transport the latex from the farm to the factory requires the use of preservatives, of which most (if not all) are considered to be toxic. No preservatives? No product.
Certification is meaningless, as discussed in our paint article and video. "Organic natural rubber" is an oxymoron.
However, it is extremely difficult to obtain information from manufacturers regarding the type of rubber used in electrical products, specifically in cords. In regards to space heaters, I find it a fruitless endeavor.
I simply toss any remotes due to the rubber keys, and cover any rubber feet with Reflectix tape. Reflectix tape (this is a brand-specific recommendation) acts as a vapor barrier. Electrical cords are impossible to avoid when it comes to space heaters, so if you choose to, you can cover them as well. Do note that dust bunnies love to cling to the edges of foil tape!
Where Should I Purchase From?
As supply chain madness continues (despite denials from those who apparently are not living in the same reality as I am), the difficulty in sourcing safe products has continued. The best choice for you depends on a number of factors, such as how long you have to off-gas a heater outside first and your level of sensitivity.
We've had quite a bit of luck sourcing other products from stores such as Lowe's and Home Depot, as items generally are less chemically contaminated. This does sounds odd do to the overwhelming toxicity of most modern building products, but our experience is reflected by numerous other individuals who know they are chemically sensitive. Products are typically more latex-contaminated from those stores, which is easily wiped off with a rag/ paper towel and witch hazel or alcohol.
We rarely purchase from Amazon as even though it is noted for my packages to skip the sanitization process, the level of toxicity can be overwhelming, with some products never offgassing. However, some products, such as the Vornados, were just fine for us from Amazon.
When possible we source products directly from the manufacturer, which is what we recommend for those who are extremely chemically sensitive. Thus, if you benefit from this information, consider supporting our efforts by buying us a coffee as a way of saying thanks, or sign up for our members-only content!
Are Oil-Filled Radiators Toxic?
At our first home we had an oil filled radiator in our bedroom and never had any issues with it. It didn't leak but I also was not particularly chemically sensitive at the time. While I am not 100% certain as to the brand, I believe it was a Delonghi.
In October 2016 I purchased a Delonghi oil-filled radiator. Like a good little canary, I plugged it in and turned it on outside to off gas. The next morning when I went out onto the porch I was met with a large puddle of oil. I immediately ran inside, took my mast cell stabilizing herbs, and donned my respirator/ allergy mask.
Unplugging the radiator, I dumped baking soda all over to soak up the oil. I'm grateful that this was a rental and not our healthy home, and that I had the forethought to plug it in outside first!
While this could have been a rare manufacturing flaw, it still happened and it could easily happen to anyone else. As such, if you opt for this type of heater, please run it outside initially and place it over a metal pan when running it inside to catch any oil drips! The last thing any of us needs is a puddle of toxic oil on our floor. A washing machine drip pan might be ideal for this, though it would limit mobility. I would not recommend a plastic drip pan as the heat would cause toxic off-gassing, though that would be the cheaper option. Be sure to confirm the heater you select will fit in the pan before ordering.
While some insist that my experience was a one-off event, simply searching online will find that this is far from the case. Remember, the love of money is a root of all the evils (my translation from the Greek), and companies/corporations have more rights than people do in this world. As such, do keep in mind that the Internet is being scrubbed of fact-based content, so while we always recommend doing your own research on all topics, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to do so using online sources. We are witnessing modern book burning, and PubMed is no exception.
It is incredibly hard to find reliable product information these days.
Many people report tolerating oil-filled radiant heaters, chemically-speaking. The heater itself does not smell of oil- unless of course it leaks! They are also relatively reasonably priced, with the heater I purchased, a Delonghi Comfort Temp 1500 Watt oil-filled radiator, currently listed on Amazon for $99.95 or eBay for $124.24 (less for used heaters).
Wal-Mart has a similar model, the Delonghi Dragon radiant oil-filled heater, for $99.00.
I have not examined this type of heater with an EMF meter, but typically fields have fallen off three feet away from just about any electrical device. These types of heaters seem to be particularly well-tolerated by the EMF-sensitive. However, everyone is different, and you can react to anything under the sun! (Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Let the ignorant be ignorant.)
Presto Heat Dish Parabolic Electric Heater
Our first winter in our non-toxic home, we had an extremely cold snap. Naturally two of our baseboard heaters went out during this time, and this was very concerning as I was still struggling greatly with thermoregulation. The risk of going into anaphylaxis from being cold for me has diminished greatly since I've been healing in our healthy home. Severe Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (a symptom, not a root cause, of course) certainly keeps life interesting.
The Presto Heat Dish is what I ordered as a stopgap measure. I ordered mine from a third-party Amazon seller so it was not exposed to the typical Amazon warehouse stench. I suspect that this would probably pick up odors easily, so it might be worthwhile sourcing this model from third-party sellers if the Amazon contamination is an issue for you as well. If memory serves correctly, it was packaged in a bag inside of a box, and usually I find that sort of double packaging to be pretty effective. Your experience may vary.
The heat from this small heater feels simply amazing. It is designed to offer targeted heat, so aim it where you want the heat. This is not intended to heat a room.
This heater is relatively inefficient compared to other options and therefore more costly to operate. Cleaning is difficult as dust does collect on the dish. If you are a little handy it may be taken apart to wipe off the dish so that dust is not fried.
The plastic itself of this product is rather offensive to me, but only if I sniff it closely. Even though we owned this for about four years, the plastic still stunk to me just before I sold it, when sniffed up close. I am, however, quite sensitive. One might consider covering some of the plastic with aluminum foil and Reflectix to act as a vapor barrier.
EMF-wise, the magnetic field is pretty high for the first foot especially, but drops to nothing 3 feet away, as expected.
This model is available via Wal-Mart for $114.33 courtesy of a third-party seller, or from eBay, with new prices hovering around $85. If you opt for a used model on eBay, you might be able to snap one up for less than $50 if you order before everyone else realizes they need heat for the winter! Via Amazon, this is currently $135.79 via third-party sellers.
If you're open to other brands of parabolic dish heaters, a similar model, the Ontel Handy Heater, is currently available for $74.25 on Amazon. I of course have not tested that brand specifically.
Vornado All Metal Heaters
In our last rental, we had to switch to portable heaters for the last year of our rental as the HVAC became intolerable to me. I later learned that was at the 7 year age mark, which tends to be when HVAC systems become intolerable for me and other canaries. Why? I don't know, but I do know that some (honest) HVAC professionals have stated that all HVAC systems leak refrigerant, so I suspect that is at least part of the issue.
We purchased four Vornado VMH500 heaters, placing one in each bathroom and the other two in the 900 square foot space we used as a kitchen, living room, and bedroom. A Ceramicircuit was also used in this room and these heaters kept it nice and warm all winter.
These Vornados are entirely metal except for a small section of plastic on top for the control buttons. The remote is infrared so it does not emit radio frequencies. These will get dusty and need to be taken outside for cleaning with compressed air or a hair dryer, otherwise you will enjoy the aroma of fried dust.
These were highly tolerable for me, very quickly, with the only issue the fried dust. Last winter we purchased some as well but only used one, and they were just fine after running outside for about a week.
I always trash the remotes for these as remotes often have natural rubber latex and I don't find them worth trying to keep track of when it comes to space heaters anyways. Unless remotes are WiFi-enabled, they typically utilize infrared technology, which I have not heard of bothering anyone who is EMF-sensitive, but anything is possible.
The VMH500 is currently $124.99 on Amazon. On eBay, you can snap up the VMH500 for around $100 new, with some used listings as low as $72.00. Wal-Mart offers this model for $124.99.
The newer VMH600 is $249.99 on Amazon. From Wal-Mart, the VMH600 is $150.00. And, from eBay, the VMH600 is around $120 from reputable sellers.
The VMH300 is $119.90 from Amazon. From Wal-Mart, the VMH300 can be purchased for $119.95. eBay prices start around $65 for some open box heaters, with a reputable seller listing at $119.95 new.
Prices have gone up since we purchased these non-toxic space heaters, but please do note that I have noticed that prices of space heaters typically rise all winter. There doesn't really seem to be a significant functional difference between the models if you don't care about bells and whistles. The VMH600 is stainless steel, and is thus typically more tolerable for the chemically sensitive. As such, I recommend the VMH600 above other Vornado heater models as it is the healthiest option for this type of space heater.
A personal-sized heater, the VMH10, is presently not available on Amazon. From Wal-Mart, the VMH10 is also currently unavailable. Pre-owned on eBay, this is selling for under $40 at the time of this update, with one new model available for $150.
Vornado does offer superb customer service, but in recent years has struggled to keep up with demand during the colder months. Regardless of where their heater is purchased, they do indeed honor their warranty; we had one go out and they were very easy to work with.
Note: some readers have purchased the cute vintage-look models of Vornados from Amazon via our affiliate links, but they have mostly (if not all) been returned. Thus, I recommend against them!
I also recommend against the Vornado VH2 or other plastic Vornado models. The Vornado VH2 specifically has a notation from Amazon that is it is a "frequently returned item!"
I don't recall ever seeing this on an Amazon listing. Reviewers complain of a burning smell or smell of burning plastic.
Stick to the metal Vornado heaters.
The Best Non-Toxic Portable Heater: Ceramicircuit
Important update: These heaters are no longer being manufactured or in stock, and the last one we purchased off-gassed terribly toxic chemicals of unknown origin when first plugged in. In all likelihood, the chemicals were derived from the toxic sanitizers used even more frequently now with the Zombie Apocalypse virus. We returned it. I am leaving this as part of the post in case you can find a used heater and as a demonstration of what I consider to be the ideal space heater.
However, I must add with great emphasis and extreme disappointment that Ceramicircuit customer service has taken a sharp nose dive in recent years. I recommend against purchasing any products from this company due to the terrible experiences I have had. They now ignore any inquiries regarding their previous models and I suspect that they have a new owner/ head.
My absolute favorite pick for non-toxic heaters is the Ceramicircuit. However, most of us don't have $1000 to drop on a portable heater!
These heaters are, of course, expensive, but they are solidly constructed and very well-tolerated by the chemically sensitive. The manufacturer used to stand behind their 10-year warranty, but no longer responds to inquiries in regards to this product or their old metal baseboard heaters. (Additionally, we have only heard negative feedback in regards to their newer heaters as to tolerability for the chemically sensitive. Buyer beware.)
The Ceramicircuit portable heater is impressively efficient, using less electricity than a 5,000 BTU window air conditioner as evidenced by our electric bills in early fall.
Radiant heat feels simply amazing and this heater is surprisingly effective. Magnetic and electrical fields are negligible 3 feet out, which is typical.
This is our go-to heater. We only turn on our baseboard heaters when it gets too cold for this little puppy to keep up.
The Ceramicircuit does not fry dust like most heaters, but it can get dusty in behind the grill. Fortunately the grill can be taken off with a screwdriver for cleaning, but I wouldn't do that too often considering how much these cost, and the fact that they can't be replaced.
These were run for 2 or 3 days before shipping to speed off gassing.
There is a small amount of plastic on this product as the handle on top is plastic, as are the wheels. Neither smells to me and I was immediately able to tolerate this heater, once I asked my husband to figure out how to put it together. I am one of the most acutely chemically sensitive people I am aware of, so for me to state that this was the best heater for anyone with MCS holds a great deal of weight.
Please do not buy the outlet thermostats offered for this or similar products! I tried to off gas one for two years outside and it never did off gas. It absolutely reeked.
Unfortunately this is no longer manufactured due to low demand, and as previously discussed, I have only had terrible experiences with the manufacturer in recent years.
I am exceedingly disappointed in this manufacturer now, but this offers a glimpse into the factors that would make me classify a product as the best non-toxic space heater. To the best of my knowledge, there are no comparable options.
LASKO Ceramic Space Heater
The LASKO Ceramic Space Heater, currently $69.99 on Amazon, is all plastic, so this isn't a heater that one would expect to be safe for those with MCS. However, I have tolerated it wonderfully!
This is the second-most returned heater in this post, with plastic Vornado space heaters most likely to be returned.
I purchased this heater after the oil-filled radiator failed me. While I don't remember how much it smelled out of the box, I did run it on high outside for a month to off-gas on a very generously covered deck. After that I brought it inside and it was just fine.
Our current heater of this model was purchased on December 18, 2020 from Amazon and after running it outside for just under a month, I brought it inside. It is just fine for me to use! We are all, of course different, and Amazon and shipping companies continue to contaminate products.
Fried dust is less of an issue with this model than with the Vornado.
If you have a latex allergy, be sure to trash the remote immediately.
Find it also at Walmart for $73.00. I would not purchase this on eBay as the only listing I could find was a scammer. (Read the reviews.)
Budget Pick: iSiLER Space Heater
The iSiLER space heater functions similarly to the Vornados at a fraction of the price. While I cannot vouch for this product based on personal experience, it seems to be relatively well-tolerated by a number of chemically sensitive individuals. For the price, $35.99 currently on Amazon, it's a much more affordable experiment than many other space heaters. We played roulette with space heaters for a number of years, so I know how expensive it can be!
This is, however, designed to heat a much smaller area than many other "non-toxic" portable heaters. The iSiLER space heater would have the same issue with frying dust as the Vornado space heaters. Also like the Vornado heaters, it is comprised of metal and plastic, though I do believe that it has more plastic than the Vornado. Regardless of your level of chemical sensitivity, I always recommend plugging in a heater in a protected outside area and running it to at least allow for the initial off gassing to occur outside, otherwise you risk a drastic hit to your indoor air quality.
These are also available on eBay for about $30 used and $50+ new. I suspect that the sellers listing this on eBay as of this update are simply buying on Amazon and having it shipped.
It's a terrible business model for those of us who are sensitive, and it is frustrating to me that eBay tolerates those sellers.... though some accounts do get shut down, 10 more pop up an hour later.
Important note: these used to be yellow and now the new model is green with some slight differences, it appears. I do not have much feedback on the green model.
If you're chemically sensitive, it seems to be about a 50/50 shot as to whether you would tolerate these.
Milkhouse Style Heaters
Milkhouse heaters have been around for decades, and my mother had one that she used for at least 20 years. Interestingly enough, I reacted to that heater many years before I even knew it was possible to be chemically sensitive. I'm not sure exactly what aspect of milkhouse heaters trigger MCS for me. It could be the paint, the fried dust, or the wire heating elements. I suspect it to be that I simply do not tolerate wire heating elements in general, but this is only a theory.
Even so, a number of fellow MCS warriors do well with this style of non-toxic space heater. I would recommend avoiding the darker colors of these as that would be more likely to trigger reactions to chemicals as the paint off gasses.
This option is affordable, though they have gone up in price, and these are typically readily available at big box stores. Amazon currently offers the Comfort Glow brand milkhouse style heater for $28.99 while it may be sourced via eBay for $38.00 or Wal-Mart for $43.34 from a third-party seller.
Lasko Ceramic Oscillating Heater
I debated about whether or not to include this heater, as we have not had this heater since early 2013, but with supply chain difficulty coming into play when we least expect it, perhaps this heater could be tolerated by someone.
This ceramic heater oscillates and kept the front room warm in our old house for years. The base is metal but the rest is plastic; please be sure to run this outside first before testing it, as there are multiple reports on Amazon of a plastic smell.
If you are chemically sensitive, this would likely be a last resort.
The Lasko 6405 is currently $59.99 from Amazon, $63.00 from Wal-Mart, and $70.79 from eBay. Preowned on eBay, there are some listed around $45.
Chickie Heaters!
A more creative option for heat (though not a space heater) is the poultry heater. I have owned multiple models of these, using them for baby chicks in the spring or fall.
I'm a big fan of the Cozy Products Cozy Coop Radiant Heater. I can certainly vouch for the heat as it does feel good, and chicks certainly appreciate the heat!
The same brand makes a model designed for people's feet, but it's $1 more for a slightly smaller product....
This isn't going to heat your entire room, but like foot warming heater panels, this will warm you up personally, without reeking of toxins (in my personal experience). If you're looking for a "non-toxic" foot warming heater panel, then consider this option.
Find this model on Amazon for $48.49, or on eBay for $50+.
Cadet Plug-In Baseboard Heater
Please note that this is one space heater in our list that we have not personally tested.
Baseboard heaters aren't my favorite thing due to the floor space they take up, but this Cadet plug-in baseboard heater is pretty nicely tolerated by some fellow canaries.
All metal except for the cord and dial, one client/friend recently reported a high magnetic field farther than three feet away, but has been unable to confirm for certain that it was indeed this heater causing the field. So this is something to factor in and test with an EMF meter.
This model is now available on Amazon for $51.49 (a fantastic price!). This is no longer available from Lowe's but Home Depot is selling them for $171.71. One eBay seller offers these for $132.95 as of this post.
Ballu Infrared Panel Space Heater
I've heard from one chemically sensitive person who raved about the Ballu infrared panel space heater, but I have not tested this model personally.
Apparently it's mostly metal mesh, with plastic feet. This looks like a solid option to me; one that I would try myself in my home if I needed another non-toxic space heater. It's supposed to heat up to 230 square feet.
This is currently available for pre-order on Amazon for $159.99.
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