Showing posts with label online thermostat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label online thermostat. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Review of Honeywell FocusPRO 6000 Programmable Thermostat

Honeywell FocusPRO 6000 Programmable Thermostat
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $113.33
Sale Price: $51.80
Today's Bonus: 54% Off
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Did lots of research before buying 2 of these. Was about to buy the near equivalent from my local hardware store, but it was about $35 more expensive and didn't have Auto Changeover (ability to change from heating to cooling automatically). The big local stores don't sell Honeywell's 'Pro' line only the DIY variety.

I have disabled the AIR (Adaptive Intelligent Recovery) feature that brings the HVAC on early to achieve the set temperature when I set the timer to come on at 06:30, I don't want to be woken up at 05:45 by the sound of my heating system burning money.

Very simple to wire up. Did the two thermostats within 1 hour. This was made easy mainly because my house is relatively new, and the builders used the right color codes on the wiring. Also, I only have a single-stage, 'standard' HVAC system no heat pump.

The green LED backlighting is really nice I hated having to grub about in the dark, trying to read the controls on the old mechanical thermostats. Display is crystal clear and the user interface is very intuitive.

The only things missing (IMHO) are:

* Ability to automatically run the fan for ventilation. You have to set this ON/OFF manually. There is one manufacturer that makes home thermostats that do this, but they're square and ugly, and have clunky slide switches to control the fan and heat/cool settings, rather than the groovy electronic interface.

* Filter change reminder I can set a ToDo in my Palm Pilot to remind me of this, so it's no big deal.

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My teenage son can't believe I installed this and programmed it myself. It was very easy. Just write down on a piece of paper the letters for where the wires go in your old thermostat and put them in the corresponding places in this one. As soon as I powered up this unit it worked, and I had all the wires in place. Directions are in plain English (and Spanish) and easy to understand.

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Installation was very straightforward and easy. Programming was a snap. The large display is easy to read and simple to understand. My last programmable thermostat had extra buttons under a swinging panel and the whole unit swung out to replace the batteries. The latch broke and both pieces swung freely. Not a problem with this unit no extra moving "doors" or latches to break all functions are accessible from the large buttons on the front of the unit. And the batteries can be changed without losing your program! This is a nice unit and I'd definitely recommend it.

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I am satisfied with the TH6110 thermostat. I chose 4 star because this leaves room for possible future problems. It installed well and the features are ideal for me. It operates on current from the furnace so I don't need to change batteries often. I've read that it clicks when controlling. It does, but it is inaudible a few feet distant. I had an older HW programmable. This one seems to have smoother regulation. I had a question that was quickly answered by Plumbing Planet. One side comment, if you need a cover plate to to conceal old mounting holes, you will find that the HW piece for this is very pricey. I made one myself. Overall rating is: Very Good Value.

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If you are replacing another system thromostat, this is an excellent choice. Installation is a snap (simply attach the base to the wall in the appropriate place and connect existing color-coded wires to the poles designated in the instructions); programming in intuitive once you're familiar with the display indications; and manual control is simple and clear. If you are replacing an older Honeywell programmable, the old base plate might even fit this new thermostat, saving additional drilling and mounting chores. Lots of good features, too (see product discription): smart recovery, smart learning, 5+1+1 programming, etc. And a great price: all the features needed for controlling one of our two heating zones at much lower cost than other models.

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Friday, January 30, 2015

Buy Delonghi TRH0715 Radiator Heater 7 Fin Oil-Filled Thermostat

Delonghi TRH0715 Radiator Heater 7 Fin Oil-Filled Thermostat
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
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I've had this model (and two other similar DeLonghi heaters) for several years now. First one purchased in 1993. Still use it every season (though it's had a couple of switches and AC plugs replaced). Still puts out lots of heat. Very safe and quiet (only noise is a slight "cracking" sound as the oil inside warms-up). On low heat it can be left on all day and keeps a decent-sized insulated-room comfy in near-zero weather. Should the first one ever quit, I'd gladly purchase another.

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I bought this heater several years ago. If the quality is the same, this is an outstanding and safe heater. My house has limited heat and I have used this heater to heat from one to three rooms. I just love it.

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overall good product have had it for a few months now and had no problems works great puts out some good heat for a small unit u cant even touch it its that hot !!! great 5*

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Warms up a cold room quickly. Very simple to move, operate, and store. Truly functional, very portable.

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Friday, January 9, 2015

Stiebel Eltron DHCE 10 Tankless Electric Water Heater Reviews

Stiebel Eltron DHCE 10 Tankless Electric Water Heater With ScaldGuard Thermostat
Customer Ratings: 5 stars
List Price: $382.99
Sale Price: Price Unavailable
Today's Bonus: 17% Off
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I've put up for years with having to run the hot water at my kitchen sink for 3 minutes before I got hot water, which was actually only warm. I live in a house where the water heater, powered by propane, is about 40 feet from the kitchen. I installed the DHCE-10 in a weekend myself, it fit on the back wall right under the sink. The hardest part was running the 40 amp circuit over a 60 foot run for the power. Plumbing wasn't bad, this unit uses the cold water for the inlet, I turned off the hot water valve under the sink and capped it off and teed into the cold water line. The outlet side of the heater is teed, one to the hot water inlet on the faucet, one to the dishwasher.

Before having the DHCE-10 I would have to keep the propane heater turned almost as high as it would go so the water would be hot at the kitchen sink. There was a fair amount of temperature drop over a 40 foot run in a slab foundation. After powering up the DHCE-10, I had 120 degree water at my kitchen sink in 3 seconds, amazing. The first thing I did was turn my propane heater down to low, just warm enough for showers in the baths, which are in close proximity to the propane heater. Another benefit is my dishwasher is now cleaning the dishes more effectively with 120 degree water which is what is recommended.

As for the heater itself, it is well constructed, compact, simple and easy to set. There is a dial on the front which adjusts the water temperature from off to 125 degrees. The unit is self limiting to a max of 125. The ambient temperature of the water going into the unit is 50 degrees, (I live in the South, test done in winter), my flow rate is 1.3 gallons per minute at my sink. The unit heats the water instantly to 120 degrees. The unit only consumes power when the water is turned on, there is a flow detection switch that powers up the unit when water flows through it. It turns off instantly when the water flow stops. Can't get any more efficient than that. If you live in an area where you're ambient water temperature is lower, it may be necessary to reduce the flow at the faucet to achieve the desired outlet temperature, or install one of Stiebel Eltron's larger or smaller units, they have a variety of sizes depending on your needs. The hot water temperature is relative to your flow rate and the ambient temperature of your cold water. The Stiebel Eltron web site has graphs and recommendations for your area.

I've been using the unit for three months now, I've monitored my propane usage, it has dropped dramatically. Prior to installing the unit we would turn on the hot water at the sink for washing hands and rinsing dishes, it usually didn't run long enough to actually get any hot water but it did run long enough to cause the propane heater to cycle on to reheat the water in the tank. I've seen no appreciable rise in my electric bill so far. I would expect the unit to pay for itself over it's lifespan.

I highly recommend this unit, I chose it over competitive units for it's warranty, quality and reputation. All copper internal components, quality switches and connectors. If I were to ever build a house I would install these units in each bath and the kitchen sink instead of having a tank style heater that cycles on and off whether or not you use any hot water. I would prefer this style unit over a whole house tankless heater also, as these install right at or near the the point of use eliminating the long runs resulting in temperature drops.

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Ordered this heater to supply a laundry and kitchen sink. Turns out that it's way overpowerd for two sinks. It's more amenable for a bathrooms I believe. If you only need to supply a sink, look for one of the Stiebel Eltron Minis, e.g. Stiebel Eltron Mini 3 Electric Tankless Water Heater, 110-120 Volt, 3.0 kW. They run on 110V and can be mounted right under the sink.

A general caveat if you are planning to put in an on demand water heater: put it as close to the point of use as possible. Our plumber mounted the heater way too far from the sinks, and in combination with a low flow faucet, it takes on the order of minutes for hot water to appear. In addition, the hot water pipes run through a crawl space, which means that a cold pipe will extract heat from the water, until it's in equilibrium. Make sure to insulate exposed hot water pipe with foam insulation (same as used for A/C lines); it will also serve as a reservoir for heated water.

Also, make sure to get this professionally installed, as you will need a high amperage line to the unit (40 Amps). Some of the above mentioned Minis work with 110V.

A nice side effect of going on demand is regained space where the tank water heater used to be.

So with the above in mind, the heater works well, is small and both plumber and electrician had no problems with the installation (apart from the above design issue).

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Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Sure Heat Gas Space Heater with Thermostat and Blower Reviews

Sure Heat WGSH30BFNG Sure Heat 30,000 BTU Blue Flame Gas Space Heater with Thermostat and Blower, Natural Gas
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $319.00
Sale Price: $240.25
Today's Bonus: 25% Off
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After days of searching the web ,places like eBay ,Harbor frieght and many,many others i found this heater here on Amazon, the price was much better than the other sites for a btu rating of 30,000 and having a blower all ready installed , the heater was a little bigger than i thought it would be, but not a problem ,i purchased it for my 12x16 ft work shop,it was actually an over kill, even though my work shop is not insulated this heater will roast you out if turn up on high, i only have to set it at about the number 2 setting to make my shop nice and comfertable, the heater shipped reasonably quick, it did arrive with a small dent in the left front corner due to rough handling by ups, but was a minor fix bending it back to shape, the instalation was easy and the blu flame looks awsome burning, it is quite quiet when on and the blower is nice and quiet to, i had it hooked up to a 50lb tank and it has barely used any propane, this would be a very nice heater for in the home too as a back up or to help warm up a house on a chilly morning, im having a new house built this spring and you can bet that there will be one of these in it, i am very pleased with this hearter and i highly recommend it. i live in NE Pennsylvannia, and we get some very cold winters here, with this heater going i love to do my tinkering in my shop now on a cold winter's day, my buddies come over to hang in my shop now in the winter to shoot the bs and my girlfriend loves that theres no tracking up her floors now because us guys are all out in the shop, if your looking to save on your home heating bill this heater is the ticket, if you have a hunting cabin and need something better than a wood stove this heater is your ticket, although it does have a blower you do not need electric to use this stove. it also is versable in the means of it can be use with natural gas to, a very simple little change to convert it over from propane if you desire, all changes are in the hearter its self no going to the store to buy this and that, i give this heater both thumbs up, a very satisfied customer here Sure Heat 30,000 BTU Blue Flame Dual Fuel Gas Space Heater with Thermostat and Blower

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The heater works great, I have no problems with it at all, I really love it, the blower when set on automatic starts up and then stays on for a short while after the heater goes off, but it is kind of loud. It was very easy to hook up, we had no problems with that, even came with the hook up line to hook it, it's a flexible line, (we replaced a old one that was broken). The only problem I had with this has nothing to do with the workings the heater itself, it's grill that goes on the front of it that was broken when we got it, it doesn't effect the heater any at all, just a little safety feature. I contacted the company and after several emails back and forth, they sent me out a replacement, or so I thought! The grill was way too small, so I sent off another email to the company and have not heard a word from them about it. I told them that if they sent me out the shipping label I would send one the 'new one' that is way too small back to them, like I said, I have not heard a word from them and that was on Oct., 23, 2012, probably won't hear back at them if it's taken this long! I love the heater, but would like the company even more if they would just either read their emails and replace the wire screen for the heater or just tell me that I'm not getting one to replace it, that the warranty doesn't cover it, (which it should!), it's suppose to come with a one year warranty I believe. I ordered the heater on the 24th. of Sept., and it came shortly after that, but like I said, after receiving the wrong replacement part, I contacted Sure Heat again and have not heard a word from them at all, I would recommend the heater, it does heat very well and works really great, but if I'm having this kind of problem with the company, I think I would order from another company if I'm wanting to ever replace it. ***I just wanted to update everyone about the company, I DID finally get email from them today, 11/12/12 and they said they never got my email I sent on the 23rd. of Oct., and asked if I still wanted a replacement, I replied to them that yes I still would like a replacement and if they sent a shipping label I would send the smaller one back we had received. This was just a little while again and I will keep updating as progress is being made. I did tell the gentleman that had wrote to me that I would correct this review, (I had sent them a copy with the link for this review), and as promised I am keeping my word on that. So, let's see what happens.***//****UPDATE-12/15/12****I received the new replacement today as promised, since that was the only problem I had with this heater, I have upgraded the stars to a 5 star rating! This heater is better at heating then I expected! It's not been down below zero here yet, but so far on the lower 20 degrees outside, the highest number we turn up to on the knob is around the number 2! I would certainly recommend this heater if you're looking for a great heater with a blower included that really warms the place up! And I want to say a personal thank you to 'JR' for handling the email part of the messages to straighten this up.

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Purchase this heater for our sun room. We had some chilly days and it worked fine, waiting for the really cold weather but I'm sure it will meet or exceed my expectations.

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Just installed and works great. Heats my basement and I don't have to turn it on high. Very easy to install and automatic blower is a plus.

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The heater is good enough, and puts out adequate heat. Not real stable on its legs and would probably be better if mounted on the wall, but that does not fit my space. The first heater I received had some cosmetic issues, but Amazon quickly sent me a replacement, so overall I'm satisfied.

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Saturday, December 6, 2014

Buy New LifeSmart LS-18XST-6 6 Element Infrared Heater Heats Up To 1500

New LifeSmart LS-18XST-6 6 Element Infrared Heater Heats Up To 1500 Sq Ft
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
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We absolutely love this heater. It does not take up a lot of room and heats up our entire apartment. I also like the fact that it is built within a wooden case and is not too much of an eye sore in the living room. Saves us a ton on our utility bill and I also love the digital display. For the price, you cant find a better heater.

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I bought this for two main reasons, the first to save energy and the second because the infrared technology is supposed to not dry out/dehydrate the room. It's too early to comment on lower energy bills but the room heats faster than it did with my smaller ceramic heater so Im guessing it's costing less. As for the room not being dried out with infrared heating that seems to be a mostly bogus claim, at least with this model.

PROSs:

*Real wood, solid build and looks very nice for a space heater.

*Comes with a remote control and that is very nice for control from across the room.

*Heats the room (15' x 18') fast even on lower setting.

*Has a safety feature that turns if off if tipped.

CONS:

*Fan is not quiet as it should be for sleep.

*Infrared heater will still dry out the room, despite the claims otherwise.

*Requires a dedicated plug and no extension cords allowed, (safety issue) yet power cord is only 6' long.

*Temp sensor seems to be off as I can set it for 69 F and it's still blowing heat after I'm too hot as if it thinks the room is still cold.

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I receive my LifeSmart Heater today and I already love it ! What a great price and unbelievable heat that come's out if this product.

I am very happy with the LifeSmart Infrared heater. Thank you : )

Honest reviews on New LifeSmart LS-18XST-6 6 Element Infrared Heater Heats Up To 1500

Quiet, efficient, I use 2 of these to supplement my undersized central heat and air, thay cut my electric bill 40 dollars a month.

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I'm still amazed at how fast this little guy heats up my office area (10x24), it's quiet and does what they told me it would do.

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Thursday, November 20, 2014

Best PRO1 IAQ T771 Touchscreen Non-Programmable Electronic Thermostat Deals

PRO1 IAQ T771 Touchscreen Non-Programmable Electronic Thermostat
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $61.68
Sale Price: $50.88
Today's Bonus: 18% Off
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I was looking for a manual thermostat that went down to 34 degrees but didn't have much luck finding one. I have only used this one for about three weeks and it Seems to be working fine so far. We will see if the batteries hold up in the colder weather.

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was not sure how to wire at first, but got it working and i like it. much better than my last one that would not work in my garage

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Install design a bit awkward with set up of screw holes and initially not clear, but worked well.

Good for garage

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Thursday, September 11, 2014

Amba / Jeeves Amba Towel Warmer- H Curved, Oil Rubbed Bronze Review

Amba / Jeeves Amba Towel Warmer- H Curved, Oil Rubbed Bronze
Customer Ratings: 3 stars
List Price: $410.00
Sale Price: $282.35
Today's Bonus: 31% Off
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The towel warmer installed easily and is very solid. It isn't cheap looking or feeling. It actually looks very nice. BUT I am disappointed at the warming ability. I expected the towels to be nice and toasty when I get out of the shower. But they are just slightly warm and really only right in the center where the towel folds over the bar. I put the towel on the bar the night before and have tried snaking it through the warming bars every way I can but the towel is still only marginally warm. So while it is nice to have and looks great in the bathroom I renovated, I am disappointed in the performance. If I had it to do over, I guess I would spend a little more and get a bigger towel warmer that would warm the towels up better.

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Thursday, April 24, 2014

Buy DeLonghi EW7707CB Safeheat 1500W ComforTemp Portable Oil-Filled

DeLonghi EW7707CB Safeheat 1500W ComforTemp Portable Oil-Filled Radiator - Black
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $84.00
Sale Price: $74.99
Today's Bonus: 11% Off
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This is my first oil heater, I have used spot heaters in the past. This oil heater is great because once it warms up (just a few minutes), it puts out a nice amout of radiant heat on high setting. You can feel the heat from the top of the unit when you put your hand over the top.

I feel safe leaving it on at night unlike the spot heaters. I didn't notice the strong odor on like others have posted.

Pros:

-Well built

-Seems safe to leave on at night

-Black color looks nice

-Has Low, Med, High and a maintain comfort setting

Cons:

-Thermostat goes from 1 to 6 instead of actual temperature.

-Wheels don't roll well on carpet

-Handle is only on one side, so have to wait until total cool to carry it upstairs.

-Wasn't the best packaging to ship with

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I purchased the DeLonghi heater instead of another brand because I have for many years associated that name with the oil radiator type of heater. The one I purchased, the EW7707CB works well but has a couple of what I would call "design flaws" that would prevent me from purchasing another one. One of the flaws is that if you press the energy-saver button while the heater is hot, it is natural to use your free hand to hold the back end of the heater as you press the button on the front end. Well, the back end of the heater is hot at some points during use. The other feature that I have found not so helpful, is that when you turn the dial from * to 1 to 2, etc., to set the heat level, it is not easy to see the number. I have to put on glasses and use a flashlight in order to see what number I am turning to. This is not a big deal, but it is enough to keep me from ordering another one. I wanted a second heater, so I just bought another brand at my local hardware store. Other than the above feedback, the heater does seem to work well. It has two settings one for 700 watts and one for 800 watts, or you can combine them and run it at 1500 watts. I have been using the 700 watt setting in an insulated garage with a concrete floor, and I set the dial around 1 or 2 for the heat setting. With nighttime temperatures outside of around 15 or 20 degrees, it keeps the garage at 48 degrees and uses around 2 to 3 KW of energy per 24 hours.

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UPDATE to my original review:

=============================

Even though I did not keep this particular heater, I still use an older DeLonghi oil-filled radiator and have been keeping records about electricity usage. The results should be helpful to anyone considering an oil-filled radiator electric heater.

I've tested electrical consumption both using a Kill-A-Watt meter and by comparing my electricity bills over time. The results show that oil-filled radiator electric heaters can be extremely efficient *IF USED CORRECTLY*, but that if not used correctly can actually be less efficient than other types of electric heaters.

The most efficient way to use them is to turn them on before you start feeling cold and leave them on low, avoiding if possible turning on both power switches. I live in a moderate climate where nighttime winter temperatures rarely go much below the high twenties Fahrenheit, so this is easier for me than for people in colder areas. I have an oil-filled radiator heater in my bedroom and have found that my electric bills are actually higher when I turn if off the DeLonghi while I'm asleep than when I leave it on low all night. This is because when it's off all night, in the morning I turn it up high, with both power switches, to heat up my room. However when it's on all night at a very low heat setting, in the morning I just turn up the thermostat but don't turn on the second power switch. Instead I use a Lasko 100 My Heat to heat my immediate area. It uses only 200 watts, rather than the 800 watts that the second power switch on the DeLonghi would use, and it heats my immediate area very quickly. The difference in my actual electricity bills were dramatic. Last winter I turned off the DeLonghi before going to bed and this winter I left it on low all night. My electricity bills for the same periods are dramatically lower this year with the DeLonghi on low all night.

I was disappointed that the particular DeLonghi I wrote the original review about did not work out for me, but if I were buying a new heater today, it would probably be another DeLonghi oil-filled radiator. When used correctly, they can be really efficient.

ORIGINAL REVIEW:

I filed for a return on a Friday and UPS wouldn't be able to pick up the unit until Monday, so over the weekend I decided to test it some more. I didn't want to return it unless it really was defective. After about 16 hours of operation at high heat, the odor was finally mostly (but not entirely) gone, but now there was a new problem: the heater wasn't outputting as much heat as when I first had it. Initially, it became so hot that I could barely touch it with my bare hand, but on my last day of testing, I was able to lay my bare hand on top for prolonged periods without feeling any risk of being burned. In contrast, my much older DeLonghi EW0507 Safeheat still gets too hot to touch.

I have two other DeLonghi oil-filled radiators and I love both of them. After returning this heater, I considered ordering the same model as a replacement and decided first to contact DeLonghi and find out their reaction to my experience. I immediately received an automated reply that promised a personal reply would follow, but after four business days I still have not received the reply. I've now decided to stick with my old DeLonghi's for a while longer. When I buy another heater, it will probably be this model, but I'll do more research first to confirm that my experience isn't common.

There is one problem that seems to be common to DeLonghi oil-filled radiator heaters. It's the low quality electrical plug. It's true of both my DeLonghi's, it appeared to be true of this one, and I've read other owners complain about it, so it seems to be a widespread problem. I no longer use my oldest DeLonghi on high heat because the plug shows signs of melting, and my newer DeLonghi's plug also shows signs of melting, though not as advanced. This is the most disappointing thing about DeLonghi oil-fllled radiators. The heaters themselves will last decades, but if you operate them at high heat, the plugs won't last as long as the heaters. I don't know yet how hard it would be to replace the power cord.

In addition to my problems with this heater, I unhappy with the condition in which it was shipped to me. It was obviously a heater that a previous customer had returned. It was disappointing that either Amazon or DeLonghi (I don't know which) didn't even make an attempt to make it look new the box was taped amateurishly, the power cord was unwrapped, the user manual was dog-eared, and the two power buttons and ComforTemp buttons were all turned on. Additionally, when I first turned it on, I didn't smell the intense odor that I expected, which indicated that it had previously been used, but what odor there was never ended, even after ten hours at high heat. I was not happy that no attempt appears to have been made to check out the unit after the previous customer returned it or to ship it in new condition. However I don't know whether the fault was DeLonghi's or Amazon's.

My other experiences with DeLonghi oil-filled radiators have been excellent, aside from my gripe with their electrical plugs. I love the steady heat they produce. I've owned one of my DeLonghi's for 23 years and it's still working, though because of the electrical plug's signs of deterioration, I no longer use it at high heat.

I checked the claimed and actual wattages of the EW7707CB using my Kill-A-Watt meter. It showed that this 700/800/1500 watt DeLonghi's actual wattages are 700, 750, and 1350. Discrepancies like this are common in electric space heaters, and in fact these readings are nearly identical to the readings I got for my older DeLonghi EW0507 oil-filled radiator, which is also rated at 700/800/1500 watts.

There was one more problem when I submitted my request to return this heater: Amazon gave me instructions to give it to my letter carrier for pickup! I can just imagine the expression on my mailman's face if I asked him to put a very large, 25 pound box in his mailbag! I had to contact Amazon via chat to straighten it out and schedule a UPS pickup. Amazon made that part of it quite easy.

General information about buying electric space heaters:

=============================================

I've owned and used electric space heaters since 1988, mostly DeLonghi oil filled radiators. When I recently began looking for a heater that would warm up a room faster, I was frustrated at the lack of hard, objective, facts about electric space heaters. Even the manufacturer websites often fail to mention or makes it hard to learn the most basic information you need to know, such as wattage ratings and warranty lengths. Not even Consumer Reports has enough information to really inform a consumer. Therefore it's up to us as consumers to share what we know. The rest of this review shares some of what I've learned.

In case you're wondering what heater I decided on to replace my DeLonghi, I didn't. I tried a Vornado PVH and a Bionaire BH1331-U, but I ended up returning both heaters. I finally decided to stick with oil-filled radiators and to replace my 23 year old DeLonghi with one of the new black ones, but it was defective so I returned it and am sticking with my old DeLonghi's for the time being.

Basic electric space heater facts:

1. All electric space heaters are equally efficient. All heaters rated at 1500 watts output the same amount of heat, but may do it very differently. You have to choose the one that heats the way you need it.

2. Power consumption is determined by two things: the power setting you're using and how long the heater is actually on. Turning up the thermostat setting doesn't increase the heat or power consumption; it just lengthens the time that your heater will be running.

3. To reduce power consumption, use the lowest power setting on your heater that produces the heat you need.

4. An electric space heater will save you money only if you turn your central heating down or off and use space heaters to heat only the rooms where you need heat.

5. The only kind of electric space heater that's likely to provide adequate heat in a large or draft space is a radiant heater (not to be confused with a radiator heater, which is very different), but radiant heaters pose a fire hazard.

Don't take manufacturer wattage claims too seriously. When I used my Kill-A-Watt meter on six space heaters, I found variations of up to 200 watts between the claimed and actual wattage for each space heater. In most cases the actual watts were less than the claimed watts, but one of my DeLonghi's 1500 watt heaters turned out actually to be a 1600 watt heater.

Two crucial steps in finding the electric space heater that's right for you:

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1. Learn which heater is right for your needs. A huge percentage of complaints by reviewers about space heaters are due to reviewers buying the wrong type of heater for their needs. Your first step should be to decide between the basic types: Ceramic heaters with a fan, oil-filled radiator, micathermic, and radiant. First learn the conditions in which each one works best and works best and then select the type that will work best for your needs. There is no one single "best" heater for all situations. Each one has conditions in which it works well and conditions in which it's terrible.

2. Look at the warranties. Warranties on space heaters range from one year to five years. Delonghi and Soleus heaters that I've checked have one year warranties. Other companies, such as Bionaire, Honeywell, Lasko, and Vornado offer three year and five year warranties on many but not all of their models. If a company offers only a one year warranty on some models but a five year warranty on others (such as Bionaire), it raises question about the durability of the heater with the shorter warranty. However a long warranty is only as good as the company offering it. Read reviews to learn what experiences people have when their heaters die while still under warranty.

In most cases, you'll have to download the manual from the manufacturer's website to get the length of the warranty. It's a nuisance, but it's worth taking the time to do.

Don't let anyone tell you that any particular type of heater is "the best". The best type is the one that best suits YOUR needs. The best heater for me might be the worst heater for you. Some heaters heat up a cold room faster, some keep a room at a steady temperature, and some will work better in a large space.

Some questions you need to ask yourself before deciding which type of heater to buyWill it be keeping a room at a steady temperature? (oil-filled radiator or micathermics heaters might be best)

Will it be heating up a cold room? (a heater with a fan or a radiant heater might be best)

Are there children or pets who might be injured by touching a hot surface? (oil-filled radiator and radiant heater might be a problem)

Do you want to heat just a particular spot rather than the whole room? (radiant heaters might be best

Are you concerned about fire risks? (oil-filled radiator or micathermic heaters might be best, though no space heater is completely safe)

Oil-filled radiators:

These are my favorite heaters. These are the heaters that look like old-fashioned steam radiators. The oil retains its warmth after the thermostat cycles off, which is important if you want to keep a room at a steady temperature. The downside is that the oil takes longer to heat initially, which is why these heaters take so long to warm up.

I have two DeLonghi oil-filled radiators; I've been using one of them for 23 years, and the other is about eight years old. I love the heat they provide. It's steady, warm, with no noise and no drying out of the air like with some other types of heaters. They are ideal for maintaining a steady temperature in an enclosed room.

Oil filled heaters have a huge drawback, however: they are terrible at heating up a cold room quickly. It can take an oil-filled heater hours longer to heat up a cold room than other types of heaters.

The US Department of Energy recommends oil-filled heaters as the most efficient, because the fins generate warmth even when the heater's thermostat cycles off. However this efficiency is only when the heater is continually on, keeping a room at a constant temperature. If you turn the heater on and off frequently, you'll lose most of the efficiency that's inherent in these heaters.

If you have children or pets, look into one of the shielded radiator heaters. I prefer the unshielded ones because they radiate more heat laterally, but the surface can get very hot and be a hazard if touched. DeLonghi claims that their shielded radiator heaters circulate heated air more quickly. Both of mine are unshielded, so I have no way of confirming that. My concern about the shielded radiators is that they would direct more hot air up rather than to the side, where I need it.

If your electric rates are different for different times of the day, you can use this to your advantage in setting your radiator heater toswitch on and warm the room from cold when rates are low, then let it provide steady heat when rates are higher.

A word of warning about oil-filled radiators: if one is poorly made or damaged, it can leak oil and permanently damage rugs and floors or even start a fire. Only buy from a reputable manufacturer and don't accept one that has any visible damage.

Ceramic fan heaters:

These are great at heating a room quickly, however many people including myself don't like the heat they blow. I don't mind it in my Vornado Personal Heater (375/700watt), which is located under my desk, but I thoroughly dislike it in the old Honeywell ceramic oscillating heater that came with my house. I much prefer the warmth that comes from an oil-filled radiator. Ceramic heaters can be most effective at quickly warming up a cold room.

Radiant heaters

Radiant heaters (don't confuse them with radiator heaters!) work by heating whatever they are pointed at rather than heating the air in the room. If you have a large, drafty space, a radiant heater might be your best choice, because it doesn't heat the air, only the objects and people it's directed at.

Micathermic heaters

Micathermic heaters work similarly to oil-filled radiators, except that instead of heavy metal fins filled with hot oil, micathermic heaters have thin sheets of mica that heat up. I've only had experience with one micathermic, a Bionaire BH1331-U, and found that it's exterior surface remained very cool except for a few very warm spots on top. There would be less risk of young children being burned by touching a micathermic heater than an oil-filled radiator. Micathermic heaters are slower heating than ceramic fan heaters, but are faster then oil-filled radiators..

Baseboard heaters

I have a Lakewood oil-filled baseboard heater I bought five years ago that has many of the advantages of a micathermic heater. It heats faster than an oil-filled radiator but has no hot surfaces and low fire risk. My Lakewood does an excellent job of heating my 12x15 bedroom.

However I have not researched baseboard heaters and only have experience with this Lakewood, so I don't know whether others are as good as this one. I was impressed that when I measured the actual wattages of my various space heaters, the Lakewood's actual wattages came closest to its claimed wattages of all the other heaters I tested. Lakewood unfortunately went out of business in 2009 and had a major problem with oil leaking from its heaters a few years earlier. Despite this, it's in many ways my best heater and has the lowest cost of operation.

Honest reviews on DeLonghi EW7707CB Safeheat 1500W ComforTemp Portable Oil-Filled

Heater is being used as a supplementary heater in a finished/insulated basement about 1000 sq/ft. Have only had the heater for a week and a half and the "comfort temp" is at least 70*. I have a thermometer on order to place in the basement to see how warm it is, but it keeps the entire finished area in my basement warm. Winter has not come yet, so we will see once it gets cold out, like highs in the single digits and sub zero temps. I'm in WI, so its only gotten down to 30* or so at night and close to 50* during the days. Have not had to turn on furnace yet, temps have gone down outside and with heater in the basement the upstairs has not dropped below 68* yet (1800 sq/ft).

Heater is silent, stink from being new took about 3 days of consistent running to wear off. Even if I have to run this unit on high it will be worth it. with the kwh charges for electricity by me if I run it on high, 1500w, and using the peak kwh rate it will cost me $63 to run it 24 hrs a day for 5 months. Plus, all the heat will just go upstairs, none wasted.

I opted for the radiant style heater for constant output without a fan to dry or force the air and the silent operation. I don't think there is anyway this would heat 1000 sq ft by itself in WI temps, but we will see. I also have furnace piped into basement as well, but haven't used it yet. Keep in mind the finished area in the basement is fully insulated and the house was built in 2006 and it cost me less money to heat this house as compared to my old 1000 sq/ft house that was re-insulated and built in the 1940's.

UPdate: My math was off, cost me almost $60 to run this heater 24hrs a day for 30 days on the comfort temp setting. I have since moved out of this house so the heater is now unused.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for DeLonghi EW7707CB Safeheat 1500W ComforTemp Portable Oil-Filled

I received this in a great amount of time. I had actually expected it to come later than when it did. I've had it for a few weeks/months (not sure exactly) but it works great. In the instructions it tells you to leave it in a well ventilated area for the first 2 hours so the smell can go away. It had something to do with traveling, I'm not really sure. But I didn't really smell anything. I put it in my room after that, as I'm usually the coldest person in the house and it works great. It heats up my room quickly and when I reach a temperature I like, I move the nob so it clicks so it can keep that temperature. I've never really tried the ComforTemp button, but after reading the instructions about it, I wasn't sure I was going to like it. I like it really warm as, I have pretty crappy circulation and I'm always cold. There's no real temperature setting on this thing, because it's based on what you feel is comfortable for you. So make it go on the max to first get the room to the ideal temperature and then adjust it so it keeps that temp. This was TOTALLY worth every penny. It also looks really cute and chic so it'll fit any modern room like a glove! And it's great because you never have to re-fill the oil! Score!!!

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Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Review of Honeywell CG512A1009 Large Thermostat Guard with Inner Shelf

Honeywell CG512A1009 Large Thermostat Guard with  Inner Shelf to Prevent Tampering
Customer Ratings: 4 stars
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $16.10
Today's Bonus: 19% Off
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I bought this to keep people from turning the heat up. I thought it was working well until I noticed it was getting warmer! I checked the thermostat and to my suprise it was turned UP!! I asked around and found out that someone had simply "popped off" the lid! The lid is NOT fastened to the back part of the box! It comes apart in two pieces and the person popped off the cover at the top where it's not fastened together! I am not happy at all! I did not buy this from amazon but wanted to warn everyone! I paid $19 for this piece of junk and am taking it back to the store where I bought it! My advice is to look for one that is one whole piece-so the lid does not come off from the back!

IT'S A PIECE OF JUNK... unless you're using it to guard against children since they're not strong enough to pop off the top!

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This cover is constructed very well and definitely serves its purpose. So far, no problems with it. Looks nice and keeps people from tampering with the thermostat. I would recommend.

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The item is advertised to be much bigger than it is. Here are the REAL dimensions (OD), which as it turned out were too small for my need, thank you very much: 9.75"L x 7.25"W x 3.25"D.

What a royal waste of my time. Hopefully it won't be of yours also.

Honest reviews on Honeywell CG512A1009 Large Thermostat Guard with Inner Shelf

The Thermostat-Guard is exactly what i needed to keep people from reaching up & adjusting the air temp during our classes.

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I bought several of these for work (too many people thinking the temperature needed adjusting). They were easily installed and covered the 5 different types of thermostats more than adequately. I'd read a review that said the locks are shoddy, but did not find this true with my purchase. The way they are made prevents paperclips or nail files from being used to circumvent the cover. Exactly what was needed!

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Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Buy Frigidaire FRA054XT7 5,000 BTU Window-Mounted Mini Room Air

Frigidaire FRA054XT7 5,000 BTU Window-Mounted Mini Room Air Conditioner
Customer Ratings: 4.5 stars
List Price: $189.99
Sale Price: $159.00
Today's Bonus: 16% Off
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My sister lives down south and the AC unit in her living room finally checked out. I was planning on getting her a really cool Christmas present, but, instead, decided to stick to being the practical guy that I am. That's right, I sent her this window unit as an early xmas present. When she recently called me, I was expecting to hear moaning and groaning about what a boring gift I sent. Turns out, the AC was a great gift. My sister said she can now actually hear the TV when the AC is running because it's so quiet and the motor turns itself on and off to keep the room at a constant temperature. She even said it was easy to install, which was one of my biggest concerns. Overall, I'd say best bang for your buck!

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My parents own a home in Florida and they recently turned the walk-in attic into a fourth bedroom/guest quarters. Seemed like a fabulous idea until you are the one sleeping up there, in the HEAT! Since I have been spending so much time in the new bedroom, I knew I had to do something........ buy a window AC!!! I didn't want to spend a lot of money since it's not my permanent residence, so this AC was perfect. I wasn't expecting any miracles since it's a small unit attempting to cool a large open space, but I was more than pleasantly surprised. The converted bedroom turns comfortably cool shortly after turning on the AC and it's sooooo quiet. So long sleepless nights!

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Very quiet. I can easily sleep with this in a window about 4 feet from the bed. Cools a room with 9' ceilings and a skylight very quickly.

Honest reviews on Frigidaire FRA054XT7 5,000 BTU Window-Mounted Mini Room Air

This unit replaced a recently-non-functioning 15-year-old GE mechanical thermostat 5000 btu window a/c. (We have to lock up our barn cats in the 8x12x10h tack room at night to protect them from the local nocturnal predators (foxes, bobcat, coyote)). This new unit is smaller and a bit more-efficient than the one it replaced, which was a primary concern because of the very limited wattage available in the barn. It's great you can adjust both the auto cool fan speed and auto cool (on/off cycle) settings. So far, in the first week, it's working great. The most difficult thing about the installation was teaching the cats how to use a remote control.

Update 08/30/2012: Completing our second cooling season, and this unit is still working well. Cats have learned how to use the remote control!

Update 05/31/2013: Unfortunately, this unit doesn't cool on its own, now in its third season. As usual, it spent the winter out of the window, protected/covered in an outdoor shed. No external signs of a problem, but the compressor doesn't want to kick in. Have to lower the thermostat to the 60s and give the cabinet a fist-bump, and then it'll cool until it reaches the indicated temp, then the compressor won't come back on again.

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I am very satisfied with this a/c. It is light, cools well, easy to install, and quiet. I would recommend it to anyone in need of an a/c for a small room. One thing, though, the filter comes out on the right side, so your installation must be on the left of the window to accommodate this.

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Friday, December 6, 2013

Review of Holmes HFH105-UM Compact Heater Fan with Adjustable Thermostat

Holmes HFH105-UM Compact Heater Fan with Adjustable Thermostat
Customer Ratings: 3.5 stars
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I keep it in my bathroom; well away from water of course. It heats up the space when I shower in the morning during the cooler months. It does not use very much electricity, heats up a small room quickly and prevents me from turning up the heat for the entire house! Well worth the price, keep the dust cleaned off of the back of the heater.

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The heaters are relatively inexpensive and very compact. Overall, I think they are worth the money. The only complaint with the unit is that, unlike a lot of others I've had, it doesn't automatically shut off upon tipping. The manual says it will shut off if tipped, but it isn't immediate. Would prefer to see that safety feature improved, however I may be missing something. The unit remains cool on the outside and presents less hazard in a lot of ways to others, so a plus there.

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The heater pictured is different from one I ordered and recieved. I think I got a newer model, I had the one pictured for several years and it worked fine. The one I recieved does not work on all settings, only low. It worked fine when I first got it and now after a few weeks it does not. I use it in my office and it is quite and would be fine if it worked and didnt shut off on some settings. Not sure if I just dot a defective heater.

Honest reviews on Holmes HFH105-UM Compact Heater Fan with Adjustable Thermostat

This little, inexpensive heater puts out a fair amount of heat for its size. I used mine to heat my motorcoach (about the size of a small apartment) and it performed really well. The fan was quiet (like white noise) which, at bedtime, was quite soothing. Unfortunately, the pedestal base is inadequate for this fan. Mine tipped over too many times to count, and was very unstable (tipping over at the slightest vibration). To make matters worse, there was no safety cutoff. If the fan tipped over, I had to be Mr. Johnny-on-the-spot and right it before it burned a hole in my carpet. The last time it tipped over, it took me about 10 seconds to get to it. By the time I righted the unit, the motor had burned out and died. No smoke, just dead. I took it apart to fix it, but it is unfixable. It's a powerful, efficient heater, but the design sucks. I will be buying another one of these (assuming the company doesn't swap it out for a different model, like one commenter stated), and I will be reinforcing the pedestal so the dumb thing doesn't tip over. I've tried a lot of heaters, and for the low price, this thing is a gem -just be sure to nail it to the floor!

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It doesn't have a thermostat. I don't know where they got that idea from. I only needed a heater for a couple of months and this was on clearance at Target for $3.50 so I thought I'd give it a try. It'll heat up a room....eventually. And it's very loud, even though it's so small. I have to turn my tv up two times as high as usual when the heater's on.

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