Why is Electric Blankets Better?

When I volunteered to test the Beautyrest blanket for Wirecutter’s guide to electric blankets and heated mattress pads, I didn’t have high expectations. I just saw it as a low-stakes way to try to solve a common problem: My husband sleeps hotter than I do.

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We keep our bedroom quite chilly (and we have little choice, since the radiators in our pre-war building are either off or sauna-level hot). But my husband nonetheless finds comforters suffocating, and he struggles to sleep under more than a cotton quilt. For years, I’d bundle up or stick a little heating pad underneath myself, and I’d spent the first hour or so in bed waiting for our body heat to warm things up.

So I figured it was worth adding a twin-size electric blanket to my side of the bed, underneath our cotton quilt. But there were many reasons I thought this might not work out. What if the wires zigzagging through the blanket felt stiff and unpleasant? What if it got way too hot? And, frankly, the blanket looked kind of cheap. But if it didn’t work out, at least I could offer some good testing notes for the guide.

Reader, it did work out. In fact, beyond solving the metabolic mismatch in my marriage, the Beautyrest blanket has become a highlight of my dark winter evenings. Every night, I crawl into bed, crack open a book, and let the warmth settle over me like a weighted blanket, melting the day’s tension and quieting my mind. To me, the effect is a near-spa-like level of relaxation (granted, with a 3-year-old at home, my standards may be low).

For the most part, my concerns about the blanket have dissolved right alongside my stress. While I can easily feel the wires in the blanket when I run my hands over it, they’re lightweight and flexible enough that I don’t notice them when the blanket is on top of me. There is a big plastic connector where the power cord plugs in, but that’s at the foot of the blanket, and it ends up draped over the foot of the bed, where it doesn’t bother me.

You adjust the temperature with a controller (or, on the queen and king sizes, with two controllers, one for each side of the bed), and it’s attached to the blanket by a cord. And the level of adjustability is impressive: All of Beautyrest’s bed-size blankets have 20 temperature settings (the throw sizes have just three), and I’ve found there really are subtle differences between each setting.

It also helps that you can set an automatic shut-off timer for anywhere from one to 10 hours. For safety, the blanket will always shut off after 10, but it’s fine to use for that long, provided you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines (don’t run the cord under your mattress, don’t cover the controller, and don’t leave the blanket on while it’s folded or all bunched up).

Most of the time, I keep my blanket set pretty low, between a 5 and a 7, depending on the night, and it provides just enough gentle heat to soothe without bothering my husband or causing me to wake up sweating. But I have cranked it up above 10 on a few occasions—most notably, this blanket got me through a couple of miserable sick days when I couldn’t shake a chill.

The controller does present some minor annoyances. The long cord it’s attached to is an eyesore that stretches from the foot of my bed to the nightstand next to my head. Plus, it’s lightweight enough that it can easily topple from the nightstand if I accidentally kick the cord. Also, the buttons don’t light up, so there’s some fumbling around if I want to turn on or adjust the blanket in the middle of the night. But I’d rather fumble and feel for the slightly raised buttons than have them glowing in my face all night.

Also, to be honest, it’s not just the cord—the whole blanket is kind of an eyesore. This is the one suspicion I had that did prove true: This blanket looks kind of cheap. To be clear, it’s not shoddy-construction, possible-fire-hazard cheap. The cord and controls feel sturdy, the blanket is UL-certified, and, according to the manufacturer, “each product undergoes 78 independent safety tests.” You can even safely throw it in the washing machine, after you unplug it.

But the polyester material itself, though soft and cozy enough, looks low-quality. The plush side has a plasticky sheen, and the sherpa side quickly becomes pilled and matted. There are at least some decent, neutral colors to choose from, and Beautyrest also makes a version that’s plush on both sides, if you don’t like the sherpa look. But it’s still not the kind of thing I’d leave out in my living room when guests come over or even on top of my bed, rather than hidden underneath the quilt.

Style, however, is not what this blanket is for. This blanket is for staying warm on frigid nights (and mildly chilly nights, for that matter). It’s for burrowing under after a long, hard day (or in the middle of one). It’s for melting away my cares and giving me something to look forward to at the end of every too-short, too-dark, too-cold winter day.

This article was edited by Megan Beauchamp and Daniela Gorny.

When temperatures drop, staying warm and cozy becomes a priority. Many households face the decision of whether to invest in an electric blanket or a heater. This article compares the two, looking at aspects like cost-effectiveness, energy consumption, and suitability for different types of households.

Heater vs Electric Blanket

When it comes to staying warm during the colder months, choosing between a heater and an electric blanket involves understanding their distinct advantages and how they fit into your daily life. Let’s delve deeper into the differences between these two popular heating options.

Heater: Warming Your Entire Space

Heaters are designed to increase the ambient temperature of an entire room or area. They come in various types, including space heaters, central heating units, and portable heaters, each suited to different needs and spaces.

Types of Heaters:

• Space Heaters: Ideal for heating small to medium-sized rooms. They are portable and can be moved from room to room.
• Central Heating: Best for heating multiple rooms or the entire house. This system is more of a long-term investment and requires installation.
• Infrared Heaters: Provide direct, radiant heat to objects and people in the room without warming the air, making them efficient for open or poorly insulated spaces.

Pros:

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• Effective for warming large spaces or multiple people simultaneously.
• Can maintain a consistent temperature over long periods.
• Diverse models available to suit different room sizes and specifications.

Cons:

• Higher energy consumption, which can lead to increased utility bills.
• Potential safety risks such as fires, especially with space heaters if left unattended near flammable materials.

Electric Blanket: Personalized Warmth

Electric blankets are essentially blankets with integrated heating elements. They are perfect for individual use, providing direct warmth to the user without significantly increasing the room temperature.

Types of Electric Blankets:

• Overblankets: Draped over the body or used on top of bed sheets.
• Underblankets: Placed directly on the mattress, warming the bed from below.
• Throws: Smaller and more versatile, suitable for use on the couch or chair.

Pros:

• Targeted heating that can be adjusted to personal comfort levels.
• More energy-efficient than most heaters, as they use less electricity.
• Safer for overnight use with features like auto-shutoff and adjustable heat settings.

Cons:

• Only provides warmth for one person, not suitable for heating larger spaces.
• Requires regular maintenance and care to ensure safety and longevity, such as checking for damaged wires and laundering according to manufacturer instructions.

Combining a Puffy Lux Mattress with an electric blanket can provide ultimate comfort by enhancing the mattress’s heat retention capabilities, offering a snug, warm bed during cold nights.

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Electric Blanket vs Heater Cost: Analyzing Long-Term Savings

When considering the cost implications of an electric blanket versus a heater, it’s essential to evaluate both the initial purchase price and the ongoing operational costs.

Initial Purchase Cost

• Electric Blankets: Typically range from $30 to $150, depending on features such as fabric quality, size, and temperature settings.
• Heaters: The price can vary widely, from about $25 for basic compact models to $200 or more for advanced systems like oil-filled radiators or infrared heaters.

Operational Costs

The ongoing cost to operate these devices is a critical factor, especially during the cold months when they may be used extensively.

• Electric Blankets: Generally consume between 50 to 200 watts per hour, depending on the settings used. This low power usage translates to lower electricity costs.
• Heaters: Can use significantly more power, from about 750 watts for a small personal heater to 1,500 watts or more for larger room heaters. This higher wattage results in greater energy consumption and increased utility bills.

Electric Blanket vs Heater Electricity Consumption

Electricity consumption is a crucial aspect to consider for anyone looking to manage their energy usage effectively.

Efficiency and Energy Use

• Electric Blankets: Are highly energy-efficient. By directly heating the individual rather than the air, they reduce the need for higher power consumption.
• Heaters: Because they need to heat a larger space, even small heaters consume more energy compared to electric blankets. The type of heater (convection, radiant, oil-filled) also affects its energy efficiency.

Electricity Consumption Insights:

• Duration of Use: Using an electric blanket for an entire night (approximately 8 hours) typically uses less energy than running a space heater for just a couple of hours.
• Zonal Heating vs Whole Room: Heaters are less efficient when used for heating entire rooms or spaces compared to the targeted approach of electric blankets.

Electric Blanket or Heater: Tailoring to Your Lifestyle

Choosing between an electric blanket and a heater should align with your energy consumption goals:

• If reducing your carbon footprint and lowering energy bills is a priority, electric blankets are the preferable choice.
• Heaters may be necessary when warmth needs to be provided to multiple people or throughout larger spaces, but they should be selected and used with efficiency in mind.

Practical Tips:

• Use thermostats and timers on heaters to minimize unnecessary operation.
• Consider supplementing central heating with an electric blanket to reduce overall home heating requirements.

Using a heater in conjunction with a Puffy Lux Mattress in your living areas can help maintain a comfortable ambient temperature, enhancing the comfort provided by the mattress throughout your home.

In my home, the electric blanket has become essential for cold nights, providing localized warmth that doesn’t dry out the air or escalate the heating bill. It’s particularly useful for pre-warming the bed.

For family gatherings in our living room, a space heater proves indispensable, offering quick warmth for everyone present.

Conclusion

Choosing between an electric blanket and a heater largely depends on your specific needs. For individual warmth, especially in bed, an electric blanket is unmatched for efficiency and cost.

For heating communal spaces or entire rooms, a heater is more suitable. Consider your personal and household needs to select the option that will keep you comfortably warm throughout the winter.