Anyone have opinions on portable space heaters? I was at Costco last week and people seemed to be snapping up the Presto parabolic dish heater and the Eden Pure quartz heater. Moreover, it seems most were buying them on impulse without really knowing anything about what they were buying. The reviews I have read on them are polarizing. Some say they are good, while others have less than favorable opinions of them.
Portable space heaters
- Thread starter Joe1
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The link above is fairly good.
I have had that parabolic heater from Costco. It works in your home the same way it does in the store. If you are in front of it, you get heat, move out of the dishes 'beam' and you don't. The beam is pretty tight too so if two of you are on a sofa, one may get heat and the other not depending on how far you are away. They are also bright, so if you are watching a movie with the lights out it will be like a light shining in your face.
Fan forced - Are louder, quicker to heat & heat up the entire room and the heat is not directional, usually housed in a child safe cooler touch structure.
Oil filled - Are quiet, slower to heat & heat up the entire room and the heat is not directional, usually not housed in a child safe cooler touch structure.
Wattage...LOL...They are all limited to 1500W, 5120 BTU...So the $200 Quarts dynamic infared wood-like cabinet items that you see still have the same wattage and BTU output as the $20 fan forced cheapies from Walmart, the delivery and packaging is different...I have been in a room with one all night and saw no difference. Here is another link to an overview but with less cussing... http://www.sylvane.com/heater-buying-guide.html
I have had that parabolic heater from Costco. It works in your home the same way it does in the store. If you are in front of it, you get heat, move out of the dishes 'beam' and you don't. The beam is pretty tight too so if two of you are on a sofa, one may get heat and the other not depending on how far you are away. They are also bright, so if you are watching a movie with the lights out it will be like a light shining in your face.
Fan forced - Are louder, quicker to heat & heat up the entire room and the heat is not directional, usually housed in a child safe cooler touch structure.
Oil filled - Are quiet, slower to heat & heat up the entire room and the heat is not directional, usually not housed in a child safe cooler touch structure.
Wattage...LOL...They are all limited to 1500W, 5120 BTU...So the $200 Quarts dynamic infared wood-like cabinet items that you see still have the same wattage and BTU output as the $20 fan forced cheapies from Walmart, the delivery and packaging is different...I have been in a room with one all night and saw no difference. Here is another link to an overview but with less cussing... http://www.sylvane.com/heater-buying-guide.html
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Get a De' Longhi oil filled heater.
A bit slow, but safe.
http://m.lowes.com/pd_-_?productId=3262151
The De' Longhi versions have an anti-freeze setting, "*", which turns on the heat at around 40 degrees, nice if you want backup heat to keep the pipes from freezing...
Fire Departments like these because they do not start fires like other radiant heaters.
My only complaint is that they pull a lot of power on high, so does every other heater type.
Use 900 watts for large spaces, and 600 for small...
A bit slow, but safe.
http://m.lowes.com/pd_-_?productId=3262151
The De' Longhi versions have an anti-freeze setting, "*", which turns on the heat at around 40 degrees, nice if you want backup heat to keep the pipes from freezing...
Fire Departments like these because they do not start fires like other radiant heaters.
My only complaint is that they pull a lot of power on high, so does every other heater type.
Use 900 watts for large spaces, and 600 for small...
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It is my understanding that electric heat is 100% efficient. All heaters are going to output 5120 BTU per 1500 watts. Just the delivery is different. Do you need fan forced? Do you want to "feel" radiant heat? I like oil filled radiator heaters because they are totally silent and will heat the room. Take a few minutes to warm up though. One set on low (500w) will keep a small bedroom warm even in freezing temps. My electric is only 4.5 cents per KWH in the winter so I can run that heater on low for less than 2.5 cents per hour. High (1500w)would be about 7 cents per hour.
So many variables... there is good info online explaining the pros/cons of all the different styles. Reading reviews on Amazon can be a decent source of info.
HTH
EDIT - In the 5 minutes I spent typing my reply, everybody beat me to my points! LOL
So many variables... there is good info online explaining the pros/cons of all the different styles. Reading reviews on Amazon can be a decent source of info.
HTH
EDIT - In the 5 minutes I spent typing my reply, everybody beat me to my points! LOL
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Originally Posted By: mattwithcats
Get a De' Longhi oil filled heater.
A bit slow, but safe.
http://m.lowes.com/pd_-_?productId=3262151
That's a really good price at Lowes on this unit. A lot cheaper than Amazon.
Get a De' Longhi oil filled heater.
A bit slow, but safe.
http://m.lowes.com/pd_-_?productId=3262151
That's a really good price at Lowes on this unit. A lot cheaper than Amazon.
We have an oil filled one. Its good to heat up a room and keep it warm. Its our back up for the woodstove to, on days in that don't need much heat, like +10C.
You might want radiant heater, say to work in your unheated garage on the work bench. Turn it on while you are working and it warms you instantly without needing to heat the whole garage.
You might want radiant heater, say to work in your unheated garage on the work bench. Turn it on while you are working and it warms you instantly without needing to heat the whole garage.
Originally Posted By: AndyinAL
My electric is only 4.5 cents per KWH in the winter
gah.
ours is near 13.3/KWH year-round.... i need to get out of michigan.
My electric is only 4.5 cents per KWH in the winter
gah.
ours is near 13.3/KWH year-round.... i need to get out of michigan.
Are you looking for a room or garage?
For a room to heat the general space, a fan forced one. Just to heat yourself, maybe a quartz.
For your garage you need a large one maybe 220V.
I have a propane torpedo heater to heat the garage fast, its 50K to 85K BTU, like a small jet engine. My garage is unheated so I use it when I want to work in it.
For a room to heat the general space, a fan forced one. Just to heat yourself, maybe a quartz.
For your garage you need a large one maybe 220V.
I have a propane torpedo heater to heat the garage fast, its 50K to 85K BTU, like a small jet engine. My garage is unheated so I use it when I want to work in it.
I prefer heaters that heat the air, whether fan-forced or convective like the oil-filled type. They're slower to be effective, but they heat the ROOM, not your body, so you don't feel cold on one side and hot on the other like with radiant heaters.
A little off-topic: I've got a pair of 1950s vintage Electromode brand fan-forced portable heaters- 4000 watts each. Yes, they plug into a 220V 20 amp outlet. And "portable" is relative... they have a handle, but they each weigh about 30 lbs.
220 outlets used to be much more common than they are now. In the early days (1950s) of window air conditioners, almost all window units required 220. Even 1-ton and less. So they used to make heaters that used the same wall plugs. I use them in my garage and workshop where I have outlets for 220V air compressors.
The old things are great, although I rarely use them anymore. Built like TANKS. Even the cords are still flexible (otherwise I wouldn't use them at all). They literally don't build 'em like that anymore. Although to my surprise, Electromode is still in business (part of Dimplex) and they sell electric shop heaters that hang from the ceiling.
A little off-topic: I've got a pair of 1950s vintage Electromode brand fan-forced portable heaters- 4000 watts each. Yes, they plug into a 220V 20 amp outlet. And "portable" is relative... they have a handle, but they each weigh about 30 lbs.
220 outlets used to be much more common than they are now. In the early days (1950s) of window air conditioners, almost all window units required 220. Even 1-ton and less. So they used to make heaters that used the same wall plugs. I use them in my garage and workshop where I have outlets for 220V air compressors.
The old things are great, although I rarely use them anymore. Built like TANKS. Even the cords are still flexible (otherwise I wouldn't use them at all). They literally don't build 'em like that anymore. Although to my surprise, Electromode is still in business (part of Dimplex) and they sell electric shop heaters that hang from the ceiling.
I bought an Eden Pure a few years ago and it works better than I thought it would. Our Basement is finished but it has 10 foot 5 inch ceilings which looks great but in the Winter it's cold. Obviously heat rises so the high ceiling makes spending time down there kinda unpleasant unless you dress for it. There is also a guest room with an attached full bath, now that area gets into the high 50's in the middle of winter, no joking. Anytime we have family over and they stay down there we pull out the eden pure and run it on about the medium setting and it keeps the bedroom and bath at a nice 70+. When not in use there, we use it in the media room and again it gets toasty warm in no time. As for the larger areas down there it will actually warm those as well but you have to run it for a while (a half hour or more) before you go hang out down there. We had a cheaper electric space heater before and it heated different than the eden pure. The heat would go straight up, with the Eden it does seem to circulate better. It's a good heater but also know it will drive up your electricity bill. I think at max it's 1500 watts. Other thing I like is it's not hot if you touch it.
Originally Posted By: Sonic
I bought an Eden Pure a few years ago and it works better than I thought it would. Our Basement is finished but it has 10 foot 5 inch ceilings which looks great but in the Winter it's cold. Obviously heat rises so the high ceiling makes spending time down there kinda unpleasant unless you dress for it. There is also a guest room with an attached full bath, now that area gets into the high 50's in the middle of winter, no joking. Anytime we have family over and they stay down there we pull out the eden pure and run it on about the medium setting and it keeps the bedroom and bath at a nice 70+. When not in use there, we use it in the media room and again it gets toasty warm in no time. As for the larger areas down there it will actually warm those as well but you have to run it for a while (a half hour or more) before you go hang out down there. We had a cheaper electric space heater before and it heated different than the eden pure. The heat would go straight up, with the Eden it does seem to circulate better. It's a good heater but also know it will drive up your electricity bill. I think at max it's 1500 watts. Other thing I like is it's not hot if you touch it.
My mom bought one of those things too, but I'm still a bit uneasy about it. She talks about it like it's magic. I use one of these guys linked below, and have had no issues with it. Usually have to keep the thermostat below halfway in my bedroom at night when it's below freezing outside, and I have the central heat set down into the 50's. if any higher, I'm sweating.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sunbeam-Electr...M1-115/21668956
I bought an Eden Pure a few years ago and it works better than I thought it would. Our Basement is finished but it has 10 foot 5 inch ceilings which looks great but in the Winter it's cold. Obviously heat rises so the high ceiling makes spending time down there kinda unpleasant unless you dress for it. There is also a guest room with an attached full bath, now that area gets into the high 50's in the middle of winter, no joking. Anytime we have family over and they stay down there we pull out the eden pure and run it on about the medium setting and it keeps the bedroom and bath at a nice 70+. When not in use there, we use it in the media room and again it gets toasty warm in no time. As for the larger areas down there it will actually warm those as well but you have to run it for a while (a half hour or more) before you go hang out down there. We had a cheaper electric space heater before and it heated different than the eden pure. The heat would go straight up, with the Eden it does seem to circulate better. It's a good heater but also know it will drive up your electricity bill. I think at max it's 1500 watts. Other thing I like is it's not hot if you touch it.
My mom bought one of those things too, but I'm still a bit uneasy about it. She talks about it like it's magic. I use one of these guys linked below, and have had no issues with it. Usually have to keep the thermostat below halfway in my bedroom at night when it's below freezing outside, and I have the central heat set down into the 50's. if any higher, I'm sweating.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sunbeam-Electr...M1-115/21668956
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I have a Holmes that I bought from HD a few years ago. I don't think it's a ceramic; it uses a fan, two power levels and some sort of "thermostat" which can be set for temp... but with no numbers on it I find it kinda meaningless. I like it in the basement, put it on low and I can heat only the spot I am in.
Got an Eden pure works well not hot to touch,kids and pets are safe .they are size of an end tableso you can leave anything on top.
Originally Posted By: wog
Got an Eden pure works well not hot to touch,kids and pets are safe .they are size of an end tableso you can leave anything on top.
The owner of that company was recently indicted by the feds. Not that it means the heater is a bad one.
http://www.cantonrep.com/x1837090114/Ben-Suarez-indicted-on-federal-election-fraud-charges
Also horrible BBB rating:
http://www.bbb.org/canton/business-revie...in-canton-oh-55
Got an Eden pure works well not hot to touch,kids and pets are safe .they are size of an end tableso you can leave anything on top.
The owner of that company was recently indicted by the feds. Not that it means the heater is a bad one.
http://www.cantonrep.com/x1837090114/Ben-Suarez-indicted-on-federal-election-fraud-charges
Also horrible BBB rating:
http://www.bbb.org/canton/business-revie...in-canton-oh-55
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I used to use one of the oil-filled ones and it worked fine for a single room, but with CA's electric rates, it's about the same (or cheaper) to run our gas central heat and heat the whole house than a space heater in one room.
IMO, anything with an exposed heating element is a fire hazard.
IMO, anything with an exposed heating element is a fire hazard.
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