A Portable Heater Even A Fire Fighter Approves Of!

Author's Rating:

Pros: Temperature Control; Safety Features Galore; Fun Style

Cons: None that I can think of!

The Bottom Line: 
It's not easy to find a heater that satisfies my husband's safety requirements and my heating needs, but this one did!

Author's Review
I’m cold…all the time. It’s not unusual at all for me to have a heater under my desk both at work and home. Finding a heater that’s safe and one that will heat the area around me without heating up the place isn’t easy. I also like a small heater, one that is quiet, just sits there, and sends out wonderful heat without any need for me to interfere--a thermostat (that works well) is a must.

I found this little heater at Costco (for $38!). They had it plugged in so I got to check it out before buying it. The heat it put out was amazing, and I liked the oscillation feature, so I bought it. Not home for more than five minutes I had it plugged in and on high. I LOVE it! It’s as quiet as any forced-air heater I’ve had and it can heat the whole room or just the area under my desk—my choice.

It comes with a remote control although I can’t imagine why you’d need one. The remote takes 2 AAA batteries and allows you to set the temperature and adjust the heat up and down. You can also switch modes with the remote

The thermostat works wonderfully, maintaining my chosen temperature. It’s digital so you can set the exact temperature (not like lower end models that just have low-high settings that you have to keep changing to monitor the heat). .

The controls are easy to use and are located on the top of the unit so there’s no worry about touching hot parts while trying to control it. It’s backlit for nighttime use (the firefighter I live with won’t allow me to ever use a portable heater while sleeping or in an unattended room) so this feature is only good for me if I’m using it when the room lights are off or dimmed, which is really quite often as my computer is located in our basement. It also has a timer feature (again, I’m not allowed to use this feature either) that lets you set it to run for a minimum of 1 hour to a maximum of 10 hours and then it shuts itself off.

The LCD screen has enough resolution to be read well and I’ve not had any problems with using it or understanding any of the icons on it. The design is definitely funky—reminds me of something you’d see at NASA. There are two ways to use it—continuous run and temperature. The continuous lets you run it high, medium, or low until you turn it off. The temperature mode regulates the heater and cycles it on and off to maintain the temperature you’ve set. It has a 2 degree setting meaning if it gets 2 degrees above your request heat it will shut off; two degrees below it turns itself back on The oscillation feature works in either mode—it pushes the air (like a fan) making the warmth out faster. It’s like a forced-air furnace rather than a radiant heater.

I like the oscillating feature—you can choose from side-to-side (like a regular fan) or a wave pattern (more of a push/pull motion—hard to describe). The side-to-side motion is more obvious—I like the wave as it’s a gentle pattern and not as noticeable—if you’re sitting very close the side-to-side puts you right into the middle of the heat and then takes it away, I like full-on heat all the time. It does have a fan-only setting which moves the air but isn’t quite the same as a full-on fan. Its actual use is to keep the warm air moving.

SAFETY
The heater draws 12.5 amps while on so be sure not to overload the circuit and never use with an extension cord. It is normal for the plug to feel warm but watch for overheating and remove the plug if you sense a problem. Make sure there is ample clearance (3 ft minimum)—never let anything combustible touch the heater while it’s running and NEVER use it where gasoline, paint, or other flammable liquids are used or stored. NEVER run the cord under rugs and keep away from high traffic areas. Sorry, living with a firefighter for 20-years has me a bit safety-cautious, but it never hurts to be safe, but it definitely hurts not to be!

It has an auto-shutoff feature which monitors the unit and shuts it down should it overheat. Most often overheating is caused by insufficient clearance. Don’t rely on the auto-shutoff feature, keep the area clear.

I chose a ceramic heater because of the added safety features it offers. With a ceramic element, it is able to operate at a temperature below the ignition temperature of most home materials. It also self-regulates the heat output in case the air inlet is blocked. Besides, it’s the only kind my husband would allow in the house—I knew if I brought home a non-ceramic heater it would never be allowed to be turned on. Living with someone who has seen so many fires started by extension cords and portable heaters isn’t easy!

CLEANING
The manufacturer recommends cleaning the unit once a month and before storing, (mine is used all year so I don’t do this). It’s recommended that you use a dry cloth the clean the exterior (more of a dusting really). They stress you’re not to use water, wax, polish, or any chemical solutions. If you insist on cleaning with one of these then please unplug it first.

SPECS
• Wattage: 1500 watts
• Type: Oscillating, ceramic
• Casing: Plastic
• Weight: 5 pounds
• Dimensions: 8.19" w x 8.43" d x 12.09" h
• UL listed

WARRANTY
5 year limited warranty