Convection heater with heating elements arranged in a stair step configuration

An electric convection space heater for placement adjacent to a wall includes a plurality of elongated electric heating elements positioned in an elongated housing having a front panel having an elongated cold air inlet, a back panel for placement adjacent to a wall and a top portion with a plurality of elongated heated air outlet slots. The heating elements are arranged to extend longitudinally in the housing below the outlet slots with the heating elements horizontally disposed in spaced apart stair-step configuration with each heating element being located at progressively lower elevations from the front panel to the rear panel. The outlet slots occupy a front to back dimension on the housing top portion which exceeds the distance between the front and back elements. The heated air rising above each element induces the heated air rising above the immediately rearward element to flow outwardly through the slots in a direction away from the wall thus counteracting the normal wall hugging effect of the heated air and preventing wall streaking and damage to wall coverings.