Smart heaters are electric heaters you can control remotely using an app on your phone or tablet or with a smart home device like Amazon Alexa or Google Home. By integrating these heaters with your smart home devices you can also operate them with voice control. Smart electric heaters can be an intelligent addition to your heating system, giving you precise control over temperature, allowing you to heat specific rooms and even switch them off when you’re away from home.
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Smart heaters connect to smart devices, such as your smartphone or tablet, using a wifi connection or Bluetooth so that you can control them remotely.
Smart heaters have a built-in thermostat that allows you to set a target temperature for the room so it turns off once it gets hot enough. Many smart heaters also allow you to programme a schedule, so you can come home to a room that's already warm. With some smart heaters, you can set a schedule over seven days, which is helpful if you’re at home more at the weekends than on weekdays, for example. Having remote control means you can easily override the schedule if your plans – or the weather - change while you're out.
As with non-smart electric radiators, the benefits of smart heaters include:
Being easy to maintain as they don't need to be bled to keep running efficiently.
Being easy to install without an engineer or electrician (unless you're going to use it in a bathroom.)
Providing extra heating to specific rooms during the winter months.
Having the choice of freestanding and portable or wall-mounted.
Unlike a smart thermostat which connects to your central heating and must be installed by a qualified professional, an individual smart heater gives you control of the temperature in a specific room. If you use more than one, you can tailor the temperature in each room with a smart heater without needing to install a smart thermostat. Another cheaper alternative is a wifi radiator valve.
The rising cost of home heating is a concern for everyone. Electric radiators are generally more expensive to run than gas central heating, even now. However, there may be a useful role for a smart heater, for example, to heat just one room such as a home office. Many factors affect the running cost of a smart heater, including the size and insulation of the room it's in. Some of the ways to keep the cost of running a smart heater down include:
Smart technology can make it easier for you to be independent at home. Along with the other benefits of smart heaters, integration with smart home devices can give you hands-free voice control. This means you don't have to fiddle with control panels which often aren't always easy to use for people with sight loss. It also means you can switch the heater on or off or adjust the temperature setting without having to move around, find the heater, or even get up from your chair!
Make sure you research the smart heaters you’re interested in before you buy. Check whether the heater is controlled by an app compatible with the accessibility features on your device. To get the most out of your heater, check if it’s compatible with any smart home devices you already use. You may want the support of a friend or family member to get your smart heater up and running if you’re new to smart home technology.
Some features of smart heaters will be particularly important if you have a vision impairment such as an easy-to-use control panel and integration with your existing smart home device. You'll still want a heater that suits your other needs, including size and additional features.
All the smart heaters we've included here have curved rather than sharp, angular edges, so for someone with sight loss, accidentally bumping into them shouldn’t be too painful.
Here are some facts about the best smart heaters available:
People who've used the Princess Smart Glass Panel Heater (priced from around £100) say they like its' smart and stylish slimline design and rate the app as easy to use. Some people felt the thermostat temperature sensor wasn't as reliable as they expected.
Features include:

This Mylek panel heater is available from £115 for the 600-watt model to £160 for the 2000-watt model. People who've bought this heater found it easy to install, cost-effective and feel that even the lower wattage model produces a good heat output. Features include:
Some people who've used this heater found the programming screen small and the process of programming a heating schedule complicated. Therefore, someone with severe vision impairment will probably need to rely on the app.
The Igenix smart heater is available from around £100 for the 1500-watt model. People who've used this heater rate its modern appearance and the fact it can be used with the Tuya Smart app or Amazon Alexa. Features of this heater include:
Some people have reported issues connecting it to their wifi and highlighted the need to connect to wifi on 2.4 gigahertz, not five gigahertz. This is the radio wavelength your router uses to transmit wifi around your home. Most wifi routers use five gigahertz for a faster connection speed. Several smart heatersrequire you to use 2.4 gigahertz to set them up, after which you can revert to the usual five gigahertz. Check your router settings or ask your router provider for instructions on how to switch to 2.4 gigahertz during set up.

Priced from around £150, the Berg Smart Electric Glass Panel Heater is compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. People rate this heater for its smart slimline design and powerful heat output. Features include:
Buyers have commented that the user manual is tricky to follow.
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Instead of using a standalone heater, you could try adding a wifi valve to the radiators already in your home. Just like thermostatic radiator valves, these allow you to set the temperature, but with the benefit of controlling them remotely using a smartphone or tablet with wifi connection. Other benefits include:
A wifi radiator valve is a cheaper option than buying a smart radiator valve, the full benefits of which you only get if you also have a smart thermostat for your home heating system.