It’s getting chillier out there. But if you’re looking to warm up your place, DO NOT buy an Anko Kmart Heater. It has been rated the worst heater you can get.

The amazing CHOICE team has previously saved us big bucks by exposing Kmart’s biggest duds and best buys. Now they’ve put the Kmart heater through rigorous testing to ensure we don’t waste our cash on under-performing products.

The results are in and if I was the engineer behind the Anko Kmart heater, I would be pink with shame. And I’d probably be shivering too…as it seems that the only warmth given off by the Kmart heater is a whole lot of hot air.

“If you’re counting on a Kmart Anko heater to keep you warm this winter, you might be waiting a while. For the second year running, the brand has performed worst in our independent electric heater lab tests,” said the CHOICE testing team.

Worst Heater

Last year, the $55 oil Kmart heater was ‘awarded’ the dubious title of the worst heater, scoring a frigid CHOICE Expert Rating of just 48%. The HD904-11 unit took almost an hour to heat the test room five degrees and it was dubbed as “a warm doorstop”.

This time the new Anko DL03L convection heater Kmart heater came under the spotlight. This $59 product received an icy CHOICE Expert Rating of just 45%, making it the worst heater CHOICE has tested since 2014.

Frosty

Both this year’s and last year’s model achieved a frosty heating score of 38% – at least the Kmart heater is consistent in one thing.

The CHOICE team did say that the new model was better at heating the room. It took less than 10 minutes to warm up the testing room this year (as opposed to 57 minutes last year!). However, the latest heater, lost points on thermostat performance and ease of use.

“Last year’s heater was one of the poorest-performing electric heaters I’d seen at CHOICE, until I saw this one,” says Matthew Steen, CHOICE director of testing and reviews.

“It’s disappointing. Kmart could have improved their products or at least added a fan to help distribute the heat. Instead, they’ve delivered one that’s more expensive and inferior.”

Cheaper Is Not Better!

The Kmart heater may be the cheapest heater in the testing panel, so it looks like you definitely get what you pay for. For a few extra gold coins, you can still get an affordable heater, but one that actually works.

Mr Steen said a low price should NOT be an excuse for poor performance.

“Several models from other brands cost only a dollar more and scored a lot better in our reviews,” he says. “And Kmart have previously performed well in other categories, such as their cheap coffee machines and frypans.”

However, the Kmart heater was not the only lukewarm performer. Three other models – ranging in price from $99 to a whopping $459 – didn’t rate higher than 50%, and many more struggled to surpass 60%.

Worst Heaters

The worst heaters, according to the CHOICE tests are:

1. Kmart Anko DL03L
CHOICE Expert Rating: 45%
Heating score: 38%
Price: $59

2. Arlec PEH224HA
CHOICE Expert Rating: 47%
Heating score: 40%
Price: $99

3. Noirot 7358-7T
CHOICE Expert Rating: 48%
Heating score: 50%
Price: $459

4. Goldair GGPH205
CHOICE Expert Rating: 50%
Heating score: 46%
Price: $139

These tests show that it’s important to be cautious when buying a heater and don’t be duped by suspiciously glowing reviews you find online.

The CHOICE electric heater tests are carried out by an independent lab team, which assesses heating performance, safety, energy efficiency, and ease of use.

So how should I heat my home instead?

The CHOICE team recommends that a reverse cycle air conditioner is actually the best heating option for most homes.

However, since this is also a costly option, many people turn to portable heaters to warm up their space. But it’s best probably to avoid the Kmart heater this winter.

Do you own a Kmart heater or another heater? Are you happy with its performance? Tell us in the comments below.