Space Heaters Reviews

My favorite is Comfort Zone. I paid $8.95 for it. Two settings: 500/1000 watts. I find little need for a 1500 Watt space heater.

My favorite is Comfort Zone. I paid $8.95 for it. Two settings: 500/1000 watts. I find little need for a 1500 Watt space heater.

[link to www.consumersearch.com]


Space Heaters Reviews


Consumer Reports magazine has the best review of electric space heaters. Editors test 16 different models from eleven different manufacturers. The magazine also keeps readers updated on space heater recalls. Alongside Consumer Reports, owner-written reviews at Amazon.com and other sites are valuable for gauging long-term reliability and durability. We also relied on space heater reviews and information at Good Housekeeping magazine and Popular Mechanics, and a much longer buyer's guide from James Dulley, a syndicated columnist and environmental engineer. Dulley's website is one of the best sources of information on home heating and cooling, including portable electric heaters, but side-by-side comparison testing isn't included.

We found a large number of evaluations for the EdenPURE Quartz Infrared Heater (*est. $400), which is heavily advertised in newspaper circulars and on television. The manufacturer behind the EdenPURE, Bio-Tech Research, claims that his space heater can "cut your heating bill up to 50% while keeping you toasty warm." However, we read dozens of reviews at Amazon.com and InformercialRatings.com from owners who say the EdenPURE did not live up to its end of the bargain. Professional comparison tests also place this electric heater near the bottom. Many owners say their unit failed within a few weeks or simply did not heat a very large area. While some reported a small dip in their utility bills, it would still take several years of use to recoup the high purchase price for the EdenPURE space heater. We found better reviews for units costing far less.

We found some conflicting reviews for Vornado Vortex portable heaters. The Vornado VH2 (*est. $95) and Vornado EH1-0028-06 (also known as the DVH or DVTH) (*est. $115) are very similar. The main difference is that the DVH space heater has push-button controls and temperature readout, while the cheaper VH2 has knob controls. Both have a fan that circulates heated air (this type of heater is called forced convection). The Vornado DVH is a favorite at Good Housekeeping magazine, where editors say it heats a room quickly. However, owners posting comments to Amazon.com say the Vornado space heaters can be fragile. Some report breaking handles and knobs; others indicate that the fan stopped working. Reviews for the more expensive Vornado space heater are better overall.

Convection heaters represent most of the electric heaters available right now. This type of space heater uses either natural air circulation (natural convection) or a fan (forced convection) to raise the air temperature in a room. We found good reviews overall for oil-filled space heaters. Many of these heaters look like an old-fashioned radiator, using oil in a sealed compartment to produce heat. The oil never needs to be refilled. We found excellent reviews for DeLonghi oil-filled space heaters. The Soleus NDY-15 oil-filled radiator (*est. $60) is moderately priced, but gets some mixed reviews from owners, who say it doesn't last very long or simply doesn't put out enough heat.

Be aware that each year there are several electric-heater recalls. This year has so far seen at least seven recalls, including an April recall for Holmes oil-filled space heaters, models HOH2505 and HOH2520 (*est. $50) . There doesn't appear to be any pattern to the recalls -- different brands and types of portable heaters are affected each time. However, the high number of recalls doesn't help improve these appliances' reputations as fire hazards. In fact, the Consumer Products Safety Commission reports that each year about 28,000 house fires are attributed to space heaters, resulting in 300 related deaths. That doesn't mean that space heaters are inherently dangerous, but they should be used wisely. The U.S. Department of Energy, among other sources, outlines some good common-sense safety practices for using space heaters.

Reviews say electric heaters are a great way to help you reduce heating costs, letting you turn the thermostat down so you are not heating rooms no one is using. Space heaters are also very efficient, converting every ounce of electricity into heat.

Most electric heaters provide up to 1500 watts or 5120 BTUs (British Thermal Units) of heat. This is the maximum amount of wattage that can be used safely in a standard household electrical outlet. Many space heaters offer two settings. The low setting of 500 to 750 watts will warm a typical room. For larger rooms of up to 1000 square feet, the higher heat setting of 1500 watts is necessary.

For the best results, you should place an electric heater on a flat surface under a window so the unit can warm the cold air as it enters the room, whether this air is from drafts or the cold glass. If this is not possible, place the space heater in a safe location at least three feet away from all objects. The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) says space heaters should be plugged directly into a wall outlet. If you must use an extension cord, use a heavy duty cord or a good surge protector.

Experts say a bathroom is the wrong place for an electric space heater, because water and electrical devices are usually a bad combination. However, a few models have special shock-resistant features that make them suitable for use in a bathroom.

Only electric heaters should be used inside your home. Unvented heaters -- such as those that use kerosene or propane fuel -- shouldn't be used in interior spaces. That's because these units use a flame to produce heat. The flame consumes oxygen in the room, reducing air quality and introducing flammable elements into the air. They can also be a carbon monoxide risk. Kerosene and propane heaters do produce more heat than electric space heaters, and they are a good choice for heating large areas like a garage or outdoor patio. Kerosene and propane heaters are covered in our Alternative Considerations section below. ... Continued


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Reviews say electric heaters are a great way to help you reduce heating costs, letting you turn the thermostat down so you are not heating rooms no one is using. Space heaters are also very efficient, converting every ounce of electricity into heat.

I use the portable oil heaters. it has oil and the element heats the oil which gives off a nice heat. The oil is in tubes that circulate through the little pipes. No problems and the heat is nice. costs about 39-50 dollars a unit at WalMart or home depot. They also have thermostates where you can set them to go off when the room reaches a certain temperture.

I use the portable oil heaters. it has oil and the element heats the oil which gives off a nice heat. The oil is in tubes that circulate through the little pipes. No problems and the heat is nice. costs about 39-50 dollars a unit at WalMart or home depot. They also have thermostates where you can set them to go off when the room reaches a certain temperture.

I like these to.

I have 5 econo-heaters

[link to www.econo-heat.com]

4 are on now, one is in the guest bedroom

64* and no furnace, the weather in the 20's at night and 30's during the day.

Electric bill is around $80.
Gas bill $30 dryer/hot water heater

Gas bill before econo heaters = $150