Electric Fan Heater: Is 3kW Enough, or Do You Need Three-Phase?

Your workshop is cold and a 3kW fan heater looks like the easy fix, or the plug on your old one already runs hot.

A heater on a 13A plug tops out at about 3kW, enough for a small space; more heat means a bigger supply, such as three-phase, and a hot plug is a warning to act on. PartsForMachines lists 99 products from Baridi, Sealey, SIP and Draper in its electric fan heater range, including more than 30 fan heaters from 2kW plug-in models to 30kW three-phase units.

Is a 3kW Plug-In Fan Heater Enough, or Do I Need Three-Phase?

A 2kW or 3kW plug-in heater suits a small workshop or garage; a large or draughty building may need more. About 3kW is the most a 13A socket can supply, and none of our single-phase fan heaters goes above it.

Beyond that, ours need three-phase power. The 04568 5kW three-phase fan heater comes with a fitted 16A plug, and larger models run up to 30kW. Without a three-phase supply, heat the area where you work rather than the whole building. Adding a supply is a job for a qualified electrician.

Why Does the Plug on My 3kW Fan Heater Get Hot?

A 3kW heater draws about 13A, the full rating of a 13A plug and socket, often for hours, so any weak connection shows up as heat. Hot plugs and sockets are a warning sign of loose wiring, such as a loose terminal in the plug or socket.

If the plug or socket feels hot or shows scorch marks, stop using both and have a qualified electrician check them. The half setting roughly halves the current, but does not fix a fault. Our 3kW models are specified for a 16A supply, so ask the electrician about one; the FH3000 3kW fan heater also comes without a plug.

Same kW, Same Heat? Is a Dearer Industrial Fan Heater Better?

For the same kW, the heat is the same: an electric heater turns practically all the power it draws into heat, so 3kW is 3kW whatever the price. The extra money buys the fan, the build and the controls: a steel or tough composite case, a tilting frame, a thermostat and safety cut-outs.

Airflow varies a lot. The 04744 2.8kW steel fan heater moves 312m³/h, while the 04566 moves 514m³/h from the same 2.8kW. The 04744 also has thermal overload protection and a fan-only setting.

What Does an Electric Fan Heater Cost to Run?

It depends on three things: the heater’s power, how long it runs and what you pay per kWh. As an example, a 2kW heater on full uses 2kWh an hour, and a 3kW heater running flat out for four hours uses 12kWh. Multiply the kWh by the unit price on your own bill.

A thermostat brings the cost down once the space is warm. On the 09128 2kW fan heater the element switches off at the set temperature while the fan runs on, and a 1kW setting halves the draw. Draught-proofing doors and windows also cuts the heat you lose.

What Should I Check Before I Buy?

• your supply: a 13A socket, a 16A supply or three-phase, and whether a plug is fitted
• the output in kW, plus a lower heat setting for milder days
• a thermostat, and a fan-only setting if you want air movement in summer
• safety cut-outs: overheat protection and a tip-over switch
• a steel or tough composite case, a tilting frame or carry handle, and enough cable

Not sure which suits your supply? Contact the PartsForMachines team by WhatsApp, telephone or email with the size of the space and the sockets you have, or browse the electric fan heater range.

Product options, delivery options and returns terms are shown on each product page. A 30-day return policy applies to eligible items.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many fan heaters can my garage supply take?

Add up everything that runs at once. At 230V each kilowatt draws about 4.3A, so a 3kW heater takes about 13A and leaves little of a 20A garage supply for lights and tools. Have a qualified electrician check the circuit before adding heaters.

Can I run a fan heater from an extension lead?

Avoid it if you can: plug straight into a wall socket. A 3kW heater draws close to the 13A most leads are rated for, so never share the lead with another appliance, and fully unwind a cable reel, as a coiled one can overheat.

Is a fan heater safe in a dusty woodworking shop?

It can be, with care. Keep it well away from sawdust, shavings and anything else that burns, never cover it or block its grilles, and vacuum dust out of it regularly while it is unplugged and cool.

What does PTC mean on a fan heater?

It stands for positive temperature coefficient: a ceramic element whose resistance rises as it heats up, so it limits its own temperature. The CH28 2.8kW ceramic fan heater uses PTC elements and adds overheating protection and a fan-only setting.

Why does my fan heater keep switching off?

Often it is doing its job. The thermostat turns the element off at the set temperature, sometimes leaving the fan running. An overheat cut-out trips if it runs too hot, so keep the grilles clear; a tip-over switch cuts power if it falls over.

Will an electric fan heater cause condensation?

Not from the heater itself: it heats with electricity rather than by burning fuel. Sealey calls the heat from models such as the EH2001 totally dry, with no condensation, gas or fumes.

What plug does a three-phase fan heater need?

Most of our 5kW and 9kW models come with a 16A three-phase plug, while bigger ones need a 32A or 63A supply. Some, such as the 09298 15kW fan heater, come without a plug, so have a qualified electrician fit one.

Why does one 2kW heater claim twice the heated area of another?

Heated-area figures vary between makers. The 04742 2kW fan heater is rated for 20m³, while the EH2001 claims 40m³ from the same 2kW. Treat these figures as a rough guide, compare kW first, and allow extra for a draughty building.

Can I use a fan heater as a fan in summer?

Most can. Nearly all the fan heaters in our range have a fan-only setting, and the FH3000’s fan doubles as a cool air blower in summer.