Cheap TPI Corporation 198TMC Fan Forced Portable Heater, Radiant

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List Price: $116.29
Sale Price: $81.05
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I have owned 10-12 of these Markel heaters over the last 40 years. The earliest were blue, then brown then white. The blue and brown work for years and years with only an occasional dust cleaning. The white models are China made and are OK except for one fatal flaw: the wire connections to the elements burn out and thus no heat is produced. Markel was good enough to replace my two heaters, but they too burned out. So I bought some good high heat wire connectors and a crimping tool, and replace/recrimp them as needed. (the old connectors fall apart like carbon.) Otherwise the heaters seem fine for my home and summer cabin. I realize this type of repair isn't for everybody but it works for me. Mind you I bought my last two heaters about 5 years ago so hopefully Markel has improved their Chinese connectors.

I do like the heat settings for these including the no fan lower setting.

PS (march 2011) I purchased two more of these heaters in January 2011. One element has just quit in the same fashion as before. I must now get out my repair kit.

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After reading a couple of the favorable reviews I purchased this heater for my 80 year old mother. The heater broke within 45 days. I contacted TPI and they told me I had to go through the seller Antonline. Antonline told me they only had a 30 day return policy and after that it was not their responsibility. After numerous phone calls to TPI (the manufacturer) they said they were not going to honor the warranty because I had purchased it from an unauthorized retailer. They said that they had received a number of complaints from customers about the heater and unless the heaters came from one of their authorized dealers they we not going to replace them. I told them as a consumer I should not have to be responsible for verifying who is authorized to sell a company's products.

They responded that my complaint along with the others had been discussed at the highest levels in the company and that the decision to not honor the warranty was final. I filed a complaint with the Tennessee consumer affairs division. I not only found it deplorable that they would not even consider that they may have had a manufacturing flaw, but to also just neglect your own warranty was too much.

Not only will I not recommend this heater, but I would not recommend purchasing any product made by TPI.

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We have purchased a large quantity of these fans for use at mountain-top communications sites that can get pretty chilly in the winter months. Over the years, these have proven to be very robust, dependable heaters. They are also great camping heaters in that, on the LOW setting, the fan does not kick on and off, or run at all. If you're a light sleeper, this allows you to sleep, while still getting plenty of radiant heat with a thermostat setting. The LOW setting is enough to keep a 24-foot trailer nice and warm inside while outside temperatures are in the 40's. The low setting is also nice since it is not drawing much current through your trailer's electrical wiring. These are sturdy heaters and I can't recommend them highly enough.

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I have two of these. They send out wonderful heat, much more then the ceramic type heaters that are so popular. I've used these for the past 4 years with no issues. They provide enough heat to warm my office and living room during extreme cold weather. They are built pretty heavy duty and very solid. I would recommend these heaters

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I bought two of these heaters within a month of each other.

The first one works fine while heating a 12x12 room.

The second one broke down after three weeks of light usage. It was heating a small, 60-degree bathroom up to 72-degrees , which means it wasn't being overused or taxed in any way. At first it began emitting a strange odor a burning smell than it stopped heating, even though the unit was still running. Pushing the Reset Button does nothing. I suspect that the element burned out. A label on the outside of the unit warns that there are no user replaceable parts inside. The heater is worthless.

Despite the fact that the first heater is still working nicely, I cannot recommend the product.