Reviews of Air King 9155 Storm Guard Window Fan, 16-Inch

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $162.00
Sale Price: $103.06
Today's Bonus: 36% Off

SUMMARY: 5/5 stars glad I bought it, would enthusiastically recommend it to friends, and would not hesitate to buy one again

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This Lasko model 2155A window fan also sold as the Air King model 9155 is a real blessing for me. I live in the deep South (Georgia) where the oppressive summer heat index (high heat + near-100%-humidity) often reaches into the 130s and above and I don't have air conditioning. For me, a large whole-house window fan like this one makes all the difference between comfort and living hell when July and August roll around (it's July 27th as I write this, and I'm sitting right next to the window with the fan in it).

This is truly a WHOLE-HOUSE window fan, and it costs so much less to operate than an air conditioner. Compared with central A/C, I'm saving over a hundred dollars a month, which is over $600 a year EVERY YEAR. That's money better spent elsewhere! With this high-volume fan, I get my whole house cooled, without the $150+ monthly electricity usage of central A/C. This fan paid for itself in the first month.

Also, I've found that as I've gotten used to not having A/C, I enjoy the summers more and I'm not nearly as lethargic and short-tempered when I'm in a place without air conditioning, anywhere from the supermarket parking lot to a cookout. It all makes me wonder, WHY would I pay $150+ per month and end up so dependent on air conditioning that I can't be happy enjoying the great outdoors in the summer?! It's all a question of what your body gets acclimated to.

For the hottest summer nights, you can run a little window A/C unit in your bedroom, and still save a bundle because you can use this fan for the rest of the house instead of having to pay the skyrocketing electrical cost of central A/C.

PROS:

* Cost-efficient to operate this fan moves 2470 CFM (cubic feet of air per minute) on only 90 watts compare that with the larger 20" model (Air King model #9166) which moves 3560 CFM on 170 watts an 89% power increase for just a 44% airflow increase...makes sense to just buy two of these 16" Lasko 2155A/Air King 9155 units instead...you get twice the airflow, not 44% more and you get it for only ten watts more

* Moves a LOT of air more than a 20" box fan, more than anything sold at Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot, Lowe's, Ace Hardware, True Value, the drugstore, or anywhere else I looked

* Fused 3-prong grounded safety plug

* Versatile installation options

* 3 speeds instead of 2 or just on/off

* Electrically reversible for intake and exhaust a big plus, since I want to be able to exhaust hot air during the day and then reverse it to bring in cool air at night...without having to de-install it and manually flip the whole unit around like you do with some other' brands fans (AHEM!)

* Quieter compared to the old metal-bladed fans from years past, which sounded like airplane propellers

* Made in the USA by our friends and neighbors and fellow countrymen, not in some Chinese sweatshop

NEUTRALS:

* Construction feels a bit flimsy...everything is plastic, except the interior side's safety grille BUT, this is basically irrelevant, because after it's in the window, it just sits there, and plastic does just as good a job of sitting in a window as metal. And, on the bright side, it's more lightweight than a metal fan would be, making it easier to install and to store in the attic or basement at the end of the season

* Don't expect it to be silent on the highest speed, there is some wind noise...but that's not the fault of the fan, and there's nothing anyone can do about it...moving large volumes of air at a high rate of speed DOES entail noise, no matter what, so you can't fault the fan or the manufacturer for that

* Pricey for nearly-all-plastic construction, and only a 50% (maximum) airflow improvement over an $18 Wal-Mart box fan, I felt that the cost of $50-$100 was a bit high...would rather see it around $35-$40 BUT, in the end, it DOES move more air than the $18 box fan, and has some features that make it worth the cost (electrically reversible intake/exhaust, less noise, expanding side panels to give it a perfect fit with any size window, fused safety plug, Storm Guard feature, etc.) and given that there's basically no competition in the field any more due to the prevalence of air conditioning, I can't expect pricing to be at super-low highly-competitive rates

CONS:

* Switch knob kept popping off...had to tighten up the screws under it and then put a dab of Krazy Glue on it (but that solved it)

* Not widely available in stores because air conditioners' prices have come down so much in the last 15-20 years, the demand for genuine whole-house window fans has gone way down, meaning that this fan is usually a special-order or online-only item, either of which generally entail waiting times and shipping costs (though your local Grainger branch may have one of the ones relabeled Air King in stock)

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All in all, I am being really unfairly picky here, and I think this is a fabulous product that I sincerely hope doesn't get discontinued. It's the right unit for the job, it looks good, and it does a better (and quieter) job that the all-metal models from years past. It's also very energy-efficient. Of what's available on the market in 2009, it is the best of the best, hands down, nothing else even comes close. I have ZERO "buyer's remorse" about this purchase, and would champion its virtues to anyone considering buying one. A great product!

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This fan is very similar to the Lasko 16" window fan but with a higher CFM output. I could tell just by standing in the exhaust stream outside the window. I'm just not yet convinced that the considerable difference in price is worth the additional CFM's, but I needed something quick when temps went north of 90 degrees. Note that I was very interested in the Air King model 1966 which is designed more for commercial use. The unit would have barely fit my window and the increased noise would have been an issue in my dining room [I don't have an upstairs or attic window for this purpose].

So, we established that the output is satisfying. That said, this fan as well as every other window fan that I have owned [and I've owned a few] all suffer from the same affliction: THE HOUSING. They're all plastic and all the same. And no matter how you snug it down, no matter how you secure it, sooner or later it is going to rattle. Sometimes it's subtle and sometimes it's not. It is a very annoying aspect of any window fan. Much of it is caused by the slow accumulation of debris on the blades, which causes them to become unbalanced with increased vibration. But still, the housing could be sturdier. Incidentally, the 'Storm Guard Feature' is just a way of allowing the window to be closed with the unit in place. My early 2000's window fan had that same feature, just without the fancy name.

Although the Air King 9155 has a generous output, the standard-issue plastic housing and 200% cost increase over the slightly less potent Lasko model put my product rating dead center. If you need more output that the standard 16" window fan and can spend the money, this will foot the bill. If you need a lot of air moved, look at model 9166. Window fans are a dying breed so we have to take what we can get; plastic housing and all.

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We live in Michigan where for all but a week or two in the summer, even when the days are hot, nights are cool. We didn't want to start tearing out the plaster ceiling of our ca1925 house to put in a whole house fan so when our 30+ year old window fan died, we needed something that would actually move air.

This fan does move a lot of air but it's not perfect. Just almost.

Pros:

Moves a ton of air

Switch between intake and exhaust just by turning the dial

Energy usage is excellent rated 61 watts on the low speed, 90 watts on the high.

It's light (see cons)

Made in the USA

Cons:

It's made of fairly flimsy plastic. When we take this out of the window, unless it's laid flat, when it's put back in the window, a clicking noise will occur for awhile. The plastic is obviously flexing when it's propped up without being supported on both sides by the window. At times, if you don't position it just right, the plastic side panels will vibrate. The knob feels really cheap and I'm always afraid it will just break off one day.

Because of the design, you won't feel a whole lot of air flow if you stand directly in front of the fan. It kicks air out more around the perimeter. Even though turning the fan on creates a huge suction from windows in other parts of the house (when it's in exhaust mode), I get slightly let down every time I'm hot and sticky and turn it on (to intake mode) because there is no instant cool down like other fans.

It's not silent. We can sleep with it on low but it's right at that point where the motor noise is sometimes in my dreams. On high, it's noisy if you're in the same room, but it's not the brain numbing, teeth rattling loud through the entire house our window unit A/C has.

I wish the 6 ft power cord were just a couple of feet longer. Because the cord hangs down from the knob in the middle, the "realistic distance" is under 5ft long.

Unlike the 9166, the motor isn't totally enclosed. We've had this for a little under a year and it's got quite a bit of dust caked on it. If I take the thing apart to clean it, I risk damaging it, but I know a heavy buildup of dust isn't doing it any favors.

Until the 20" Air King with the closed motor and metal fan blades is made with a variable speed motor (if companies could do it decades ago, they certainly should now, especially at the price the Air King goes for) I'll live happily with this one.

Honest reviews on Air King 9155 Storm Guard Window Fan, 16-Inch

The Air King 16" window fan really is a whole house fan. There are heavy smokers next door to my two-story townhouse. The smoke drifts up and collects in my upstairs bedroom. On the other side of the house are acres of orchards and clean country air. I put the fan in my bedroom window then opened three windows on the orchard side: one downstairs and one each in the other two upstairs bedrooms. When I turned the fan on exhaust, the curtains drifted out into the room in all three rooms as it pulled in the fresh air. If I leave it on low at night, there's a lovely cool breeze in my room from the air pulled through from the other side of the house.

I have the fan in a vertical sliding window that is ALMOST EXACTLY 22" wide. When they say it fits a 22" window, they don't mean ALMOST. My slider opening was barely 1/8 inch short of 22" and it DID NOT FIT. Fortunately, there is a very, very slight amout of give on either side due to channels on top and bottom of the fan (which for me are on the left and right, because I have it sideways in the window). I was able to nudge it in, but it stresses the plastic and the plastic will probably crack after a few months in the afternoon sun. If I had a burr, I could grind down the sides a little and make it fit perfectly. The only downside is, as with most window fans, when the exhaust isn't running, the smoke drifts in through the fan as does the hot air. I cover the front of the fan with a towel when I'm not using it.

This fan is intended for horizontal, not vertical, installation and has the "storm guard" feature that allows you to close the window behind the fan. It clearly states that the required window size is 26-1/2-inches to 34-1/2-inches long by 22-inches high. The fan can be set up for permanent installation in a horizontal opening. It can't be permanently installed in a vertical window, nor can the storm guard feature be used the window can't be closed behind the fan. Also, in sideways installation, the extendable panels aren't much use The fan is heavy. It's not overly heavy or unwieldy, but the panels aren't intended to support it. My window is tall; the vertical opening is about 60". This is outside the "required window size". With the fan in, there remained a gap of 21-7/8-inches wide by 31-inches high. I fit it with a piece of white foam core. It looks good.

This is all pretty much as I expected. I knew my window had the wrong kind of frame with the wrong dimensions, and I'd be lucky if I could make it fit and function with what I had to work with, so I didn't have high hopes for the features. You might think that by losing the storm-guard feature and doing such an amateur installation, I'd be reducing it to an ordinary window box fan. Not so. Because this isn't a window fan. It's a whole house fan. I would pay the same as I did and buy it again in a heartbeat. It simply does what it says. I'm giving it five stars because it's the installation, not the product, that's flawed. The fan itself is a winner.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Air King 9155 Storm Guard Window Fan, 16-Inch

This is a good window fan. I'm using it for a 3rd floor apartment and it's perfect.

As the cost reflects, this is way better then any box fan from your local Walmart or department store.

The plastic housing feels a little cheap, but it gets the job done.

Discount Sunbeam BW1210-030-757 Royal Retreat Heated Blanket

Customer Ratings:

I love this blanket! Heats up quickly, very soft and plush, it's so warm I can leave it on it's lowest setting and it's very comfortable.

Highly recommend.

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When this blanket arrived, I opened it with some trepidation. Would it be soft enough (my last electric blanket irritated my face), would it have the control I needed, would it be attractive? Yes, yes, and yes!

This blanket is what ALL blankets, electric or otherwise, should be. Light feel, fits the bed well, and...it works. What more could one ask?

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This blanket is so very soft. It feels like 2 thin blankets with the heating wires between them. It has a lightweight feel, but heats up very quickly and keeps us both warm throughout the night even at a low setting. This replaced a cheap electric blanket that quit working. We really like the dual lighted controllers.

Honest reviews on Sunbeam BW1210-030-757 Royal Retreat Heated Blanket

The Sunbeam BW1213 blanket warms the bed nicely and keeps us warm all night long. But it is the strangest cloth I've ever seen. It looks like this blanket is made out of one of those hand towels that garage mechanics use. And you can see the heating wires clearly. Every time I pull the blanket up when I make the bed I wonder if I'm going to rip the wires out of the cloth. But so far, the blanket holds together so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Sunbeam BW1210-030-757 Royal Retreat Heated Blanket

This item received good reviews on line,and Amazon offered it at a competitive price. I ordered the queen size for a full size bed because I had to have the dual controls. Most of the time my control is set to off, but my wife needs the warmth of an electric blanket much more consistently than I do. This model heats instantly and it provides lots of warmth. If you like your blanket to feel warm, so you do not have to guess whether or not it is working, this is the kind you want. The material is soft and pleasing to the touch. Set to off, the blanket is heavy enough to keep me warm with a room temperature of 65 degrees F, until my biological thermostat drops my body temperature in the early morning. Then I can set the control to low or 2 and go back to sleep. The blanket looks classy when the bed is made up, and it drapes smoothly at the corners. Some of the colors that were available were listed as less expensive than the one I bought. So if you happen to have the right taste in color you can get a bargain. Like most electric blankets you can feel the wires if you try to, but they cause no discomfort when you settle down to sleep.

This purchase allowed me to test Amazon's return policy. The first unit received had a misplaced wire at the edge of one side of the blanket. Replacement was essentially instantaneous and cost free. Excellent response time and absolutely no flack from Amazon.

Review of Honeywell TL7235A1003 Line Volt Pro Non-Programmable Digital

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $99.09
Sale Price: $46.76
Today's Bonus: 53% Off

I have installed several of these thermostats for elderly women who have needed new thermostats for thier 220V heat. They are used to the old bi-metalic rotating dial thermostats. They do not want a thermostat that is difficult to operate. This thermostat is non-programable and easy to use. It has a fairly large backlit digital display and the buttons are large and seperated. I have only heard good comments from the women who have had these thermostats installed. I'm sure they will see lower heating bills as well since these thermostats are much more accurate.

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I bought five of these for my house through Amazon and Drillspot.com. Both gave me expert service and quick delivery. I really liked the thermostats for baseboard heat as they kept the room temperature exact or one degree lower as the heat cycle started. But a year and a half later one of my breakers kicked. After troubleshooting and removing the thermostat the back of it was partially melted and the line wire's insulation partially melted. After inspecting the heater, wiring and connections the thermostat was determined defective. No problem it has a five year warranty. WRONG! After calling the phone number supplied I was directed to email a particular person at Honeywell. He took 2 weeks to reply to my email and was rather rude. The man doesn't belong in customer service. Without even willing to inspect the unit he blamed the thermostat failing on me from a shoddy install and saying the wires were loose. When I replaced the thermostat I cut the bad wire out and they are still connected tight to the wire nuts like the day it was installed. This thermostat was installed to code with all brand new materials and a single 500 watt baseboard heater. The romex and breaker performed as expected and saved a house fire. I could care less about the $35 thermostat but I hate a company that will not stand behind their warranty. I will never buy a Honeywell product again after this ordeal.

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Removed the old Honeywell T498 thremostat, installed the TL7235 (exchanged the wires in a controlled manner), and the new thermostat was in and running in under 30 minutes. Snap to replace. Snap to operate. Really clean looking thermostat.

Honest reviews on Honeywell TL7235A1003 Line Volt Pro Non-Programmable Digital

I don't know why most Digital Thermostats don't have back lighting?

I have electric baseboard heat and are converting/replacing the individual thermostats to digital. No of them have back lighting (can't figure that out) that is until I came across this one. I IIt was installed a week ago and it works great amd when you need to check the temp just a touch of the button lights up the display really bright.

It is also a proportional type just supplies the amount of current needed to heaters not always full on/off.

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Easy to install. So nice to use. I put them all through the house and this is one of the cheapest places to get them.

Discount Mr. Heater MH75KT Forced Air Kerosene Heater

Customer Ratings:

My heater arrived yesterday. One of the warmer days we've had. But I wanted to use it anyway. It works nicely, BUT IT IS LOUD. My air compressor can not even drown out the noise, but I will get used to it as I do wear ear protection when I operate the machines in my shop. The thermostat controlled shutdown and start-up is a plus.

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This is a great heater, puts out alot of heat in a short amount of time . I use it in my garage, it's a little noisey , but most blower heaters are. I had to adjust the air mixture screw just a bit cause I burn diesel, works great. I'd Buy another if I needed one.

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Mr. Heater 75,000 BTU Kerosene Forced-Air Heater #F270275

I use this product in my two car garage when I service my vehicles. It puts out a lot of heat quickly. The only draw backs are it's very loud and when it first starts it will spit out some fuel on to the floor. It works good for me the way I use it. I have had it for over two years now.

Honest reviews on Mr. Heater MH75KT Forced Air Kerosene Heater

I have had this heater for 2 years. The first two winters it worked flawlessly so when I wanted to start using it for this year I figured it would fire right up and keep my garage warm so I could work in there.

Well the fan comes on the spark ignites but no flame. When looking at the fuel lines they were all cracked and almost broken in half. They must have used really crappy fuel lines as I used the correct fuel for the unit Kerosene. Looks like I wil have to take apart the unit and replace all the fuel and air lines. I would figure this would be the least of my problems fuel lines. Hell fuel lines last for decades on automobiles. Seems like they used really cheap materials on this unit. I am holding my breath to see if other parts are as crappy as the fuel/air lines.

Discount 2gig CT100 Z-Wave Programmable Thermostat (White)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $129.99
Sale Price: $83.89
Today's Bonus: 35% Off

The thermostat itself is sleek and nice looking with a clear display.

The ADT Pulse system recognized the thermostat right away. Pulse detected it as GE Security: Basic Thermostat Model IS-ZW-TSTAT-100. The Pulse features work just fine with the thermostat: monitoring temperature, setting temperature, and setting mode (heat/cool/auto/off). Since this is the replacement for the 2Gig Z-Stat CT30 thermostat, I assumed it would have the same features. That is not the case. The CT30 is a 5-1-1 day programmable thermostat, although those features are unnecessary and disabled when you use it with Z-Wave. This thermostat has no programming or set-back controls. That won't matter if you are using it with Z-Wave. However if for any reason you ever wanted to use it without Z-Wave, it just allows 1 constant setting.

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I purchased a Honeywell only to realize it needed a 24v common wire. Before I went about trying to run the wire, I decided to see if there were any Zwave devices that ran on batteries....hence the 2gig CT100.

As the thermostat is more than 6 feet away from the panel I added a GE hand remote to the panel and then added the CT100 to the remote. I already had alarm.com services active, so as soon as the new device was added I checked the empower tab and sure enough, it was there and working.

Now to eBay the Honeywell....!

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The thermostat operates as advertized. The display and touch interface are nice. When I paired it with my z-wave controller, it showed up as 3 devices. I eventually figured out which of the 3 was functional and I have been able to live with it, however it was a bigger headache than expected.

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I wanted to be able to set the temperature at my condo before guests arrived, and set it back again after they left. This product, along with a VeraLite Controller worked perfect for my needs.

Only thing I've noticed: my guests sometimes have difficulty figuring out to tap the up/down arrows on the screen to change temperature. they keep wanting to hit the 'Mode' switch.

Overall the installation went fine, even on my oddly-wired Heating/AC unit. I did have to call the company for assistance on which wire went where. They were helpful.

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I have two of these in my home and love them. Both are part of a larger home automation system, controlled via z-wave and a VeraLite. Both as a standalone thermostat and as a z-wave device, these perform very well.

My house was built in 1999 and had old honeywell thermostats when I bought it in 2006. After a few years, one of those original thermostats went out and I tried to replace it with a newer Honeywell. The first one I bought was the wrong type (apparently) and Honeywell support directed me to a different model. I bought the one they recommended, but it never worked exactly right... which was mostly my fault for not tracing the wires but partially Honeywell's fault for lacking documentation. When I bought these, I traced the wires to be sure I had everything correct, but discovered that I didn't really need to because the CT-100's documentation covered the wiring scheme I have.

Easy to install (much easier than the honeywells because of wire terminal location). This will likely not matter to anyone but me, but the large footprint of this thermostat covered the old, painted-over-poorly many-times spots left by my old thermostats. It's very sleek and slim and the touchscreen menu operation couldn't be easier. Pairing with the VeraLite was also a breeze. The only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is the lack of schedules/programs. That's easily overcome with any intelligent z-wave controller, though. Highly recommend!

SPDT Isolation Relay Reviews

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List Price: $34.93
Sale Price: $24.95
Today's Bonus: 29% Off

If you have a 2 wire hookup to your furnace, you will need this in order to use the wireless thermostat offered by Jackson Systems. That thermostat supplies a 24V signal, whereas a 2 wire thermostat expects a relay or switch to close. This isolation relay provides that function.

This is well made, and comes with a bracket and screws to attach it properly. If you are handy with tools and an ohm meter, you will have no trouble figuring out the necessary wiring.

I recommend the product.

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Review of Haier 5000 BTU Window Air Conditioner

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $169.00
Sale Price: $89.50
Today's Bonus: 47% Off

Pros;

Good output of cold Air

Blows UP

simple controls

low price

Cons;

Very Noisy, nothing "Ultra Quiet" about this AC at all

Lacks a proper drainage hole in the bottom of the housing, can be drilled

Loud

w/o the drainage hole water pools in the bottom of the housing and the fan sounds like a paddle wheel on a steam boat as it spins through the standing water

Strange Sounds; rattles, squeeks, "paddle wheel", scrapes

Noisy

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We have this installed in a fairly large living room where we sleep in the summertime and it cools pretty well. It's not what I'd call quiet, but, it's not what I'd call really noisy either (to me it sounds like a box fan). Though, as another reviewer stated there's no drainage holes, so it does make a little noise when the water pools.

It's easy to install and comes with all the screws, foam strip and little brackets so, if you have a Phillips head screwdriver you should have everything you will need when you get home to install it. It's very easy to use as well.

Overall, a nice little a/c that cools nicely.

UPDATE 6/9/11: This is still working nicely for us, though, we started running a fan about 5 feet from this to "pull" the cool air down (as it blows up) as we have very high ceilings and that really helps it actually not only cool down our living room but, our kitchen as well. We have an open floor plan in our home with high ceilings and so far with the fan set up while this a/c is running has been keeping us more than cool enough.

If you want an a/c that's going to "freeze" you out this little a/c probably isn't for you. If you have a small to mid-size room and you want to be just cool and comfortable, than this will work; at least it has for us.

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I had one of these that lasted 3 years, I noticed that there was no drainage, I looked it up and apparently the water is supposed to keep the motor cool. But if its too humid it spits water and ice. I purchased a new one a few days ago because I know it going to be a brutal summer, and once again. no Drainage hole. So this time I took pliers and bent the lower pan out so water could drain, and it does. I think there is enough water in the bottom to keep the motor cool and with the bottom drain I created it does not spit water and is quieter. Seems to run very well. When they made this they prolly did not count on Ga humidity. It cools my 14x12 Room very well. It can be 100 outside and 65 in my room with the unit running.

Honest reviews on Haier 5000 BTU Window Air Conditioner

I recently moved to Chicago, where it is quite humid in the summer time. If we didn't live in such a humid area, I think this actually might work alright. But that's not the case and we wasted $100 for basically nothing.

The room we were initially planning on using this was a small bedroom, but unfortunately it only extends up to 3 ft or so, which isn't long enough to accommodate our window (poor planning on our part). We instead put it in our living room, which is about 8x10. This manages to cool more than half of the room. If you're standing on the opposite side of the room, you won't feel the cool air at all. We've had this running on full blast for 5 days and it still hasn't gotten the room cooler than 78-80 degrees, but most of the time it's much hotter than that even. It pulls in so much humidity from outside that you're constantly sweating regardless, so that 78 is actually feels like 6-8 degrees warmer. In addition, it's incredibly noisy. We have to listen to TV with the volume on full blast and still have difficulty hearing it sometimes.

Before this I was living in FL where it is comparably humid, and I have used a 5,000 btu frigidaire window ac unit that was much quieter, did not pull in humidity and it easily cooled down an entire 700 sq ft apartment within 2-3 hours. It's maybe $30-40 more than this unit, but it's well worth it, especially if you live in humid climates. Unfortunately for us, the place we bought this at will not return it if the box has been opened, so we'll have to buy a whole new AC once we get the money.

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Please don't buy this thing. I have to call it a thing because it's not an air conditioner. I'm kind of an expert on cheap, little 5000 BTU air conditioners because I have a apartment with old wiring that requires low BTU models and have had to replace my AC twice after construction workers inadvertently damaged them. In the bedroom I have a nice, high-end 8000 BTU model that keeps most of my apartment cool but the air doesn't quite get to the living room on the far side of the apartment. That circuit is wired with old wiring for the half of the apartment that has a lot of high voltage appliances ( the fridge, TV, track lights, toaster oven etc.) so if I put anything more powerful in that window it's too much. So I just use a little one over there and the big AC in the bedroom is doing most of the work. Out of all the little ones I've had over the years the Haier one was the worst. It was so bad I wouldn't even give it to a friend and just threw it out. I don't hate anyone enough to give it away. It slightly dehumidifies the air and blows the air around about as well as a box fan so you won't realize it has no cooling power at first and you might not return it in time to get a refund (and you will want to return it trust me). Once the weather gets over 90 degrees you are better off opening the window because it just will not cool. Even if you tip it downwards properly it spits out lots of water ( most models recycle water and spray it over the parts to keep them cool). Water will also pool up in the bottom. When I threw it out I was amazed how much water was inside. Just do yourself a favor and spend the extra $20 or $30 to get the cheapo Frigidaire 5000 BTU model with rotary control knobs. That one is cheap and a little noisy but at least it will cool the air. Amazon sells both, just compare the reviews.

Reviews of ProCom Radiant Vent-Free Natural Gas Heater - 6000 BTU

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $84.99
Sale Price: $79.99
Today's Bonus: 6% Off

This heater was purchased to replace a ProCom blue flame heater for a very small bathroom in an off-grid cabin. The previous heater did a great job for several years, and when it needed replacement parts, we decided to try the more efficient and safer version. It heats instantly and thoroughly in the 10/10 foot room. The low O2 safety switch works. We plugged the gap under the door, and after about twenty minutes it clicked off on it's own, which is an important factor for me. My only negative comment is that I miss the therostatic control we had on the other one. If that is important to you, I think the next model up has one.

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I had bought a bigger one and had nothing but problems with it! This one worked perfect from the first night, the circulation fans move the warm air around and my greenhouse stayed well above freezing. Very pleased with it!

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We needed something to keep the pipes from freezing in our basement when we went away and temperatures dropped. This was easy to install, is easy to use and the price was right.

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This little heater does a good job of heating our newly renovated bathroom with 12ft.ceiling.. There is no central heating system in this old house in New Orleans, and we rely on gas heaters to warm the house in the cold months. This heater is pretty, easy to light, and warns the space quickly. I am completely satisfied with. this order. I forgot to mention that I found the best price and the color I was looking for on Amazon.com. Local stores were selling 6,000 btu gas heaters for over $100.00 and only in beige.

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I orderede the Natural Gas heater but was sent the propane gas heater of this version. It seemed well constructed. So I ordered the Natural gas version again and I will return the propane version.

Maverick Wireless BBQ Thermometer Set - Maverick ET732 Review

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List Price: $79.99
Sale Price: $59.99
Today's Bonus: 25% Off

Unit worked good for the first two times I used it. I was smoking a chicken and within a couple of minutes the temp went from 140 to 200 degrees same as the other review stated. I took out the probe and left it plugged it for awhile but the temp never went below 95 degrees. It seems to be the probe itself that has the problem as switching it to the barbeque side gives the same results. The probe also seems to have pulled away from the plug a bit which could have contributed to the problem. I've been very careful with this unit since day one so I'm not sure why this happened. I do notice that they have replacement probes available on the instruction sheet for an additional $12.95 but I did not feel I should have to shell out more money just after paying $79.00. Item is one of two I've ever returned to Amazon.

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I purchased the ET-732 to use on my Big Green Egg. Of course, Amazon shipped quickly and I was excited to receive the package, only to discover when I opened the product, the face plate on the transmitter was not attached, but was kinda stuck to a random spot on the front of the unit, as if it had come loose in shipping and found a resting place. The piece i am referring to is the black piece surrounding the LCD on the unit. As far as I can tell, it's cosmetic only, but it is supposed to sit flush in a recessed area on the front of the unit, and is apparently just held on (or not) with a very thin layer of adhesive. I stuck it back on and burnished it with a lint-free cloth, hoping the pressure and friction would stick it permanently. It looked good as new, so I was off and cooking as soon as the weekend rolled around.

The product performed great, and was fairly intuitive to set up. I think the instructions could be a little more helpful about probe placement and such, but I knew what I was doing. A friend of mine just purchased one and I found out he has been using the grill probe incorrectly, so that's a bad sign. There really isn't much in the way of details on how to use the grill probe clip, where to put the probe, etc. I found the clips and stands on the units to be wonderful, with the clip for the transmitter working perfectly to hang the unit on the hinge of the BGE. This puts the unit and all the probe wires completely out of sight and out of the way, with plenty of reach (and not too much slack) to get into the grill and the meat. I had no issues with range at all (though admittedly I didn't try to push it), and always had a signal inside my block home. The stand and backlight on the receiver are nice touches, perfect for the overnight smoke. The alarms are also quite loud.

Truly, I can't imagine owning a Big Green Egg without one of these. Actually, I sort of can, because I cooked a few things in the 4-5 hour range before I got this, and babysitting a grill in the Summer heat is for the birds. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I felt like I had to get up every hour or two to check on things. With this, as long as you set the alarms, you know that if it's not beeping at you, you're good to go.

I am glad that the transmitter unit is waterproof/resistant, so no worries about a little rain. In fact, the only issue I have with the product AT ALL is that, when I woke up from my first long overnight cook, I went outside to check on things, and everything was FANTASTIC...except the face plate from the transmitter was lying on the deck. :( I had been hoping that between my burnishing the plate down and a little heat from the sun and the grill (not excessive heat at all, mind you), the adhesive would get a little stickier and it would permanently stick it down. No such luck. It falls off pretty much every time I use it. The adhesive still seems tacky, and attracts a little lint. I have rinsed it lightly before to get it back nice and tacky and remove any lint, but it's just not going to happen. The plate is not meant to stay put. This cosmetic/build quality/QC issue is the one reason I had to ding the 732 a star and only rate it a 4. I have a feeling this is a design/manufacturing defect, and I would be surprised if I'm the only one with the problem. It would NOT, however, deter me from buying again or recommending to others (as I have many times).

UPDATE 1/2/2012:

I have to adjust my rating downwar to 3 stars because I feel this unit is suffering from some cost-cutting measures by Maverick. I have explained the situation in full in the reply comments below this post, but in short, the probes in this product have a bit of a bad reputation for failing easily/early, and mine died in under 6 months. The solution/workaround that is prevalent in the discussion forums is to seal the probes where the wire goes in with some kind of sealant. There are rubber gaskets in there from the factory, which, while I suppose it better than nothing, doesn't seem to be sufficient to protect the apparently super=sensitive electronics inside the probes. The probes themselves are crimped where the wire enters, and it stands to reason that having a rubber gasket and a crimp in the same location won't make for a very good seal. The look of it never inspired much confidence, but I was willing to let it slide because it worked. Well, that's until it stopped working. It seems my instincts here were right, and the comments online about the probes in this unit being prone to failure are well-founded. Whatever you do, if you still decide to buy one of these (which is GREAT in every other respect), do yourself a favors a BABY the probes. Keep them inside, on a shelf. Never touch them with water. Treat them as if they are going to break or dissolve or explode. In my experience, if you treat them only "well enough," they just might give up on you.

Best Deals on Maverick Wireless BBQ Thermometer Set - Maverick ET732

Works as advertised!

Produces great Ribs, Butts, Roasts, Chicken, really any meat you care to grill.

Use it to calibrate you range oven, and understand what settings on the oven dial are the least accurate.

Carry the remote in your pocket, or place it in the stand where you can check it with a glance.

Works in every room of the house and around my property. Has never lost connection once set.

Alarms work great to alert you when to add charcoal, or let you know if the temp is running contrary to your plan.

Well made, easy to use.

If I could only have one thermometer, this is the one I would choose.

Never have to guess whether it's done. I've used it on ribs, roasts, steaks, salmon, chicken, turkey all with the same great results.

This one tool can take your cooking to the next level!

Honest reviews on Maverick Wireless BBQ Thermometer Set - Maverick ET732

This is the remote combo we've all been waiting for. It turns on and off easily, survives very high heat, gives accurate readings of the grill/oven as well as the meat, and has a decent range so you can keep an eye on the grill even from the other side of the house! The high/low temperature alarm is great for when I am smoking or doing sous vide so that everything stays in range. This is nearly perfect! The only annoyances I have with it are the programming of hi/low temps is tedious, and that the plastic on the back that holds the wire stands in place is pretty flimsy. I don't care much about the stand on the base since I'm mostly using the remote anyways, but changing temperatures is quite pitiful. In the 21st century i don't think it's too much to ask that we be able to adjust a digital number both up and down, rather than having to always go up and just scroll around and hope you don't overshoot. It's just poor UI design. they fixed the on/off switches, so maybe the ET735 will have better programming!

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I use paper towels lightly moistened wrapped around the first foot of the probe wire closost to the probe followed by a layer of foil. This protects it from the heat of the smoker. Also never submerge where cable and probe meet. You can clean the probe without submerging, I've been doing it this way for 10 years and I know it works. I also generally don't put the probe in until meat is almost done, further saving the probe from the fire. I generally get 3 or 4 years from a probe and I cook alot with these. I hope this helps.

White-Rodgers F29-0198 Thermostat Guard Reviews

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List Price: $27.42
Sale Price: $18.13
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The dimensions given for this item led me to believe it was much smaller. I would not purchase this item again.

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I put this over the a/c thermostat at work, and it fits good. A little big, but it does the trick. Had a hard time mounting it on the wall, so we just ended up using double sided tape, and that did the trick and you cant even tell!

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not what I expected. so I returnted. to bulky. Not that easy to mount, All around it just didnt look right

Honest reviews on White-Rodgers F29-0198 Thermostat Guard

It does its job. However, the locking grooves are kind of stiff. Doesn't "roll" off like one would expect like other guards. Also, the key is very cheap takes much fidgeting to enter the lock properly.

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It fits perfect and has lasted with no problem. It's the right size, comes with 2 keys and the plastic is very sturdy. The price was also very reasonable.

Lasko 5521 Ceramic Tower Heater Reviews

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List Price: $61.99
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I had a particular heating problem. I have a spa room built outside the house over an old cement patio about 6 feet from my back door, so it does not have access to the central heat. The room is not insulated, and has about 1/3 glass windows so I can look out into the yard while in the tub. I'm telling you all this so you will understand that the area is not easily heated. It is used for only short periods of time, so I didn't want to heat it 24/7. Without heating, the room is probably only 4 degrees warmer than the outdoor temperature.

In very cold weather, without a supplemental source of heat, I simply cannot abide undressing in 40° or less, even if the spa itself is nice and warm. So I bought a series of inexpensive heaters, none of which would do anything except heat the few feet around the heater. Then I saw the Laslo which said it had a "push" system to get the heat into the room. Having no idea what the "push" entailed, I bought it, knowing I could return this heater, as I'd done with the previous two, if it did not fill my needs. But I did not need to return it. It works for my purpose.

The unit is attractive, is tall and narrow so can fit into a small area, yet throw out heat sufficient to allow me to undress, use the spa, and re-dress in comfort. Then I turn it off. (I preheat the room easily using the digital brightly lit, large LCD thermostat which shows the ambient temperature, and moves up as the room heats. This a.m. the room started at 43° and now, after 15 minutes, it is up to 50° already. If I open the lid of the spa it will heat even more rapidly, of course). The room contains 3 exercise machines, also, so we can now exercise in comfort, as well. I have no need for the remote control which comes with the unit since I'm either in water or on a machine while using it.

I highly recommend this heater.

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The heater work well in that it heats the room by several degrees (starting at 69) in just a few minutes. We used it last night for the first time in our 14'x15'x8' bedroom and after some experimentation put the thermostat at 75 degrees. The instructions say that in the automatic mode the unit will radiate heat until 77 degrees is reached and shut off at 74 degrees. It does shut off when the LED indicates the room temp. at 74 and stays on until 76 degrees (not 77). However, there is a disconnect between the digital thermometer in my room and the one on the heater. My digital thermometer indicates a low of 71.4 F. and a high of 75.4 F. I'm willing to live with that and the trick is to not be concerned about what's on the LED of the heater but what is the actual temperature of your room. I've never seen any heater's temp readout be accurate. Will exchanging it matter? I don't know, but if the room were to become too cold or hot during a given cycle I would exchange it. There seems to be no such thing as a perfect heater, so compromises need to be made. I find it confusing that there are about seven Lasko heaters within the same price range but numbered differently so I was not able to determine which one would best for my needs. I got this one because it was the only Lasko they had at Bed, Bath and Beyond.

I think the heater is worth a try. The fan on high is not very loud, although you can readily hear it. I'm a light sleeper and I had no problem going to sleep with it on. It's a lot less noisy that the top-rated Vornado I own. Heaters with no fans don't distribute the heat very well so that was not an option for me; I knew there would be some noise with any fan. Would I buy this heater again? Yes, knowing what I know now, and I will follow up if my experience changes over the next several days.

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This ceramic space heater has two fan speeds. Both speeds are quiet considering their blowing strength. The heater can oscillate, moving about 45 angle degrees back and forth on its little lower section; this is very smooth, not jumpy like some cheap oscillating fans. The room temperature is displayed normally on a very bright LED readout that shows the set temperature once you go to set the built-in thermostat. All the buttons are easy to access and give a light beep for confirmation. You can turn oscillation on or off, set high or low fan speed, set temperature, or use an automatic shutoff timer up to 8 hours. Looks great, with a great fit and finish.

Honest reviews on Lasko 5521 Ceramic Tower Heater

This will be my 3rd winter with this heater. I live in a cabin, (yes literally a cabin), but it is insulated and is small enough that it doesn't have a furnace. I use this heater in my main living space. It stays on all winter once the temperature begins to drop below freezing and has worked really well.

Efficiency

This heater does a good job of maintaining a comfortable living temperature. I set the temperature as I would a thermostat adjusting it to around 60 when I am going to be gone a long time, and raising it when I am home. I did find that if let the ambient temperature get two low while I am away, it will take the heater a long time to warm up the entire place, so I have a second smaller space heater that I use intermittently just to offset any excessive winter chill.

Thermostat Accuracy:

The digital thermostat is fairly accurate once the heat is circulated throughout the room , however, when it first turns on there may be up to a five degree difference in temperature based on how far away you are from the heater. When I return home I usually se the thermostat a few degrees higher than my target temperature and turn it down after I have been home awhile. I have another thermostat on the opposite side of the room, as well as a ceiling fan and have found that after about 20 minutes or so the ambient temperature evens out.

Cost vs other heat sources

This heater produces a LOT of heat and so will use a lot of electricity if run continuously as I do. For comparison I had been paying hundreds of dollars to heat my apartment when I had gas but running this heater as my sole heat source (on high) will cost me between 40 and $100 per month depending on how cold it is. We had a month last year where it was regularly 14 to 30 degrees below zero for more than two weeks and this heater kept me warm, but it added about $100 to my electric bill. So if you have a primary heat source other than this one, remember to turn it down as low as possible, and to block off unused areas or you will counteract any savings this powerful little heater might provide.

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This unit is used in an uninsulated hallway to take the chill off, thaw out boots and clothes, and keep the cold draft out of the house. The heater has a small remote (line of sight only) and is programble for both high/low, rotation, temp, and timer operation or any combination there of. (yup you can run it on low setting in auto mode with the temp set)

The unit cycles to maintain a temp in auto mode by going 2 degrees over and under your set temp. So if you have it set to say 60 it will turn on at 58 and off at 62. I like this feature as it runs less overall. The rotation feature is smooth and quite, like the fan. The only loud thing on it is the thermostat, it makes an audible click like a bottle cap pop when the unit cycles on and off. Did not bother me but thought I would mention it. This thing puts out a lot of heat for its size and I was really amazed at how small it was, tucks in a corner nicely. Its perfect for an office, small bedroom (10x10), hallway or porch...

I monitored this unit with a Kill-a-watt power meter and @ .22cents per kw this unit is running about $24 per month to heat an uninsulated hallway in in old victorian home. We have it set @ 62 deg and the unit cycles on as needed. TO give you an idea its been about 25-30deg outside and the hallway befor the heater was 44 deg on average, colder overnight. So its raising the temp about 18deg for us ...huge diffrence...and worth it.

Reviews of Duraflame Infared Quartz Electric Portable Heater AirPurifier

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List Price: $249.99
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This heater is very well made and is not made for instant heat, and it takes about an hour and it heats the air and objects. I am heating 2000 square feet with two of these heaters and the weather has gotten down to 20 degrees and heats the house just fine and stays about 72 degrees in the house I am very pleased with the overall way they work. If you are expecting instant heat in a short period this is not the heater for you it takes a little bit.

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In my quest to lower my oil heating bill, @ $4 per gallon, I did an extensive investigation of supplemental space heating solutions.

I bought a DeLonghi TRD0715T oil-filled radiator and a Vornado AVH2 Vortex Whole Room Heater. I also have my 20+ year old Pelonis 4-Disc Furnace--my trusty old Pelonis does not have thermostatic control, only a High/Low switch--I wanted a heater that had automatic control so I could "set and forget.".

The Eden Pure brochure got me interested in Infared Quartz heating. The Eden Pure sounded enticing, but I thought it over-priced, and the extensive research I did indicated there are better and cheaper alternatives in IQ heating.

After checking comments on different brands of IQ heaters, I settled on the Duraflame Colby and decided to buy from a local retailer (Fortunoff Backyard Store) rather than online because if it did not work out, I did not want to pay shipping to return it.

Instead of one unit, I bought two of them since the retailer was liquidating them as end of season merchandise--if I wanted/needed a second one later on, they would be out-of-stock. I have only set up one of them to test. I bought it at a $175 price.

The Duraflame Colby seems well built, with a nice wood cabinet. Sitting 6 feet away, I can feel the warmth, and the unit cycles on and off. However, before it cycles off, it runs to cool itself off internally and is thus blowing cool air. The built-in thermostat is reasonably accurate, when measured against an external thermometer. Whether it can heat 1,000 sq. ft. is still questionable, and perhaps doubtful, and whether it can do so at favorable electric cost is not apparent at present. Since I have only had it for a little over a week, I cannot comment on its durability. It does have a 3-year warranty, and the quality and packaging was good--perhaps an indicator of quality. I am glad I did not buy the Eden Pure--the Colby is so much cheaper.

I am concerned about electricity use since the entire purpose of my experiment is to substitute expensive oil heat with electric heat in the hopes of achieving immediate savings.

These space heaters are considered an investment and need to generate enough savings in one winter, over and above their purchase price, to justify their use. While I may use these heaters for many years to come, I am only considering the investment return horizon as one winter--the space heaters have to generate savings in one winter--my oil usage has to decline dramatically, and my electricity usage should not be tremendously higher in offset. I am investing $600 in heaters and need to recover this cost plus the incremental increase in electricity just to break even. Increasing the time horizon or alternatively figuring in an end-of-horizon salvage value may be reasonable but immediate payback is what I am after.

My plan is to keep my 2 zone thermostats at 60 degrees, and use the space heaters to push the temperatures on both levels of the house above that. I may even lower the house thermostats lower than 60 degrees after I see my electricity bill.

So far, it is still early on in my experiment since I have not received my most recent electricity bill to gauge usage. In addition, it has not been really that cold outside yet. I will update my comments as I gain more experience. In October and December, with mild temperatures, I got two oil fill ups totaling $1,100, so I am super motivated.

So far, these are my findings.

I will need to return the Vornado Whole Room heater, if I can. Judging from the dimming of lights, the Vornado uses a lot of electricity but generates little warmth. My old Pelonis heats up a room much, much quicker. The Vornado is also only suited for a small room, and I think it will use a lot more electricity to heat up the same amount of space that the Duraflame Colby does.

The Delonghi seems to consume less electricity. It generates strong heat off of the top, rising upwards. The lights don't dim as much, and it seems to be able to heat a large area if kept on continuously. I could use it in a smaller area as a continually on device. I may add a fan to circulate the heat. It is a keeper.

The Pelonis is the most efficient--instant and rapid heating. I plan to buy another B-6A1 classic 4 Disc Furnace with thermostatic control, although I am apprehensive that the new ones do not have the same build quality of my original--that original is over 20 years old and still functioning like new. Nothing is built like it used to be. That the warranty now is only 1-year, down from 3-years, which is down from 7-years is an indication of build quality. My original one was made in Taiwan; the new ones are made in China.

If the new Pelonis performs as well as the old one, it will definitely out-perform the Vornado, as it generates more heat in a shorter timeframe thus saving electricity, and with thermostatic control, I would not have to monitor it like I have to do so with my original Pelonis without automatic control. Thus the Vornado definitely has to be replaced.

I will use the Pelonis to rapidly heat a room as needed, and the Durflame Colby to maintain the larger spaces at an even temperature level, and keep the house oil furnace set at a base temperature level.

I will inform later on how this strategy and experiment works out.

UPDATE--OBJECTIVE COMPARISON TEST RESULTS: 1/12/2012

I have had the chance to make an objective comparison, and make further observations about the Colby, along with the other space heaters. I did an objective comparative test of the four space heaters I own, holding as many factors constant as I could.

I used the same room, an enclosed (door closed) 160 sf room, and placed the same thermometer in the same location during each phase of the test. The outside temperature was relatively constant throughout the test periods. I started each phase of the test at the same base level temperature of 60 degrees, and timed the test for 30 minutes for each type of heater. I recorded the increase in temperature achieved by each heater at the end of 30 minutes.

These are the findings:

Duraflame IQ Colby: (60 degrees to) 67 degrees, 7 DEGREE increase (in 30 minutes).

DeLonghi Oil-filled Radiator (pre-heated--non-cold, plus external circulating fan): 66 degrees, 6 DEGREE increase.

Pelonis 4-Disc (20+ year-old unit): 64 degrees, 4 DEGREE increase.

Vornado Whole Room Vortex: 67 degrees, 7 DEGREE increase.

The results were surprising:

Subjectively, I had thought the Pelonis would raise the temperature the most, since its heat is instant, intensely hot at close distance and it just subjective felt warmer. I will repeat the test with the new Pelonis I ordered when it arrives--maybe because it is 20 plus years old, the output is diminished, even though it seems as strong as when new.

I was impressed that the Delongghi achieved a 6 degree increase (I started with a warmed up Delonghi and not from a cold start because the DeLonghi needed time to heat the oil, and I added an external circulating fan since the Delonghi's heat only comes out of the top and hot air rises--thought this would make it more comparable, as the thermometer is resting on a bed and not hanging from the ceiling, and it does not have a fan to circulate).

I was surprised that the Vornado was able to match the 7 degree increase of the Duraflame Colby. The Vornado is not promoted as a large area heater--just as a "whole room heater." The mfg. rated output is 5,118 BTU's. I was going to return it, but based upon the test results, I've changed my mind.

The Duraflame Colby in comparison is somewhat of a disappointment. It is rated at 5,200 BTU's, matching the Vornado, but promoted as a 1,000 sf heater. I would have expected it to be able to raise the temperature the most (fastest) since it is promoted as a large space heater, thus presumably more capable of pushing out more heat--but it just matched the Vornado.

In using the Colby to heat my upstairs area, about 800 sf, I had noted that the temperature did not rise much in spite of continuously running on cycle. Given this objective test, I can only conclude that the Colby would not be able to heat 1,000 sf, and is at best a small/medium room heater. That being the case, I am not going to keep the second unit I purchased to heat large space. I have a call in to Twinstar--the manufacturer--to see what they say--to see if I have a defective unit or whether such performance is what is to be expected.

Given the results, the Colby is not a good value (typical retail at $200 plus shipping, althought I bought it for $175 plus tax=$190), being twice the price of the Vornado at $98--I got the Vornado from Hammacher Schelmmer at $120 plus shipping--one pays more at HS than Amazon. The DeLonghi is the best value--I bought it from Amazon for $68. The new Pelonis (to be received yet) was purchased at a cost of $75.

I hope the above test results will be helpful to prospective purchasers. An objective test certainly changes subjective perceptions--ie, it reversed my opinion of the Vornado's effectiveness, and I am going to keep rather than return it. It makes my decision on keeping the second Colby easier--it will not do what I expected it to do, heat a large space. The DeLonghi is confirmed as a keeper. Too bad about the Duraflame Colby--I like it and had hoped it would heat large space, and wanted to keep both units. Now I will just keep one for small space heating. I lowered my rating from 5 stars to 3 stars, taking off one star for performance and one star for manufacturer's stipulations not met.

FURTHER UPDATE: 01/13/2012

JUST GOT MY NEW PELONIS 4 DISC FURNACE TODAY. DID COMPARATIVE TEST LIKE BEORE. THE NEW PELONIS WAS ABLE TO RAISE THE ROOM TEMPERATURE BY 7 DEGREES FROM 60 DEGREES, AS OPPOSED TO ONLY BY 4 DEGREES WITH THE OLD PELONIS, ALL OTHER THINGS HELD EQUAL. RE-TEST OF THE OLD PELONIS CONFIRMED 4 DEGREE RISE ONLY.

However new Pelonis has awful smell--hope it outgases. Sides of new Pelonis gets warm, unlike the old Pelonis, which stay cool. Case, grill and cord on new Pelonis all inferior to old Pelonis.

In summary:

Duraflame 7 Degrees

Vornado 7 Degrees

DeLonghi 6 Degrees

Pelonis New 7 Degrees

Pelonis Old 4 Degrees

In summary:

Thus all types pretty much comparable in 30 minute test. BTU rating is determinant of heating ability. So beyond hype and claims of marketers and manufacturers, it is a matter of features and value.

Re the Duraflame Colby, it cannot heat 1,000 sf; for about 600 sf open area, it runs non-stop for hours and only manages to raise temp 1 to 2 degrees, when house heating is set at 60 degrees--had to supplement with Vornado and/or Pelonis to further raise temperature, thus running multiple heaters for the same space--defeats the purpose--might as well raise the house thermostat.

The Colby is best used as a small/medium sized enclosed room portable heater--but as such, the other alternatives do equally well.

A call to the manufacturer, Twinstar, to check if I have a defective unit, did not result in a timely response--still waiting. Will definitely return the second unused unit.


The remote failed to work. Changed batteries, still no luck. Contacted Twinstar and the telephone answerer took the model and my personal information and said a technician will contact me about sending out a new remote--strange procedure--I guess they outsource customer support. Will update further when remote received, and if it solves the problem.

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I had this heater for a month now and have used it on and off this fall. I wanted to use it to heat a 825 sq foot area. The heater could not heat this area. I have a seven year old prefab modular home that is very well insulated. I wanted to heat the open floor plan of the first floor which is 825 sq feet. The outside temperature was 50 degrees and I set the heater on 70. The farther away from the heater the less it heated. The manufacturer stated it will heat up to a 1000 sq feet. The heater is made in China. I decided to use it in the master bedroom which includes a walk in closet, and master bathroom. It worked great there and it's about 400 square feet. It's a nice looking heater and I like the remote control. The heater did smell the first couple of days but got better after a while. If you're looking to heat up to 1000 sq. feet you may be disappointed. I like the heater. I purchased this heater at Northen Tool on sale for plus shipping.

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I purchased this heater with the hopes of saving a little money on my oil bill this winter. With 2 little ones and a wife at home all day, heating the whole house when everyone is downstairs in 3 rooms didn't make a lot of sense. After reading a fair number of reviews, I decided to take a chance on this unit. We haven't gotten our 1st electric bill yet, but we've been using it almost every day. This unit takes about 45 60 minutes to reach full heat output, but once it does, boy does this thing cook. I have been able to lower my thermostat 3 degrees and have a warmer downstairs than with the furnace alone. Turned up, the space downstairs becomes uncomfortably hot. Our furnace is cycling on noticeably less than before when this is in use (my thermostat is located about 25 feet away from the heater, on the far side of a wall). The heat is even, the fan noise isn't any louder than our forced-air HVAC, the front grill doesn't get hot to the touch (the heating elements are contained within the body of the unit), the cabinet is very attractive and blends-in well with our furniture. Plus, it is well-made and comes with a remote. So far, I am very happy with this heater.

** update 11/17/2012 **

This unit works so well we're going to buy a 2nd one for another room. Drawing only 1500W also makes this an option when running on generator power, if you don't have a transfer switch installed (we will, but don't yet). This one's a keeper.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Duraflame Infared Quartz Electric Portable Heater Air Purifier

Use in an older home not very well insulated and it gets comfortable within 2 hrs of starting. Works well for the cold basement too! Have it set on 74, hasn't gotten below 30 deg outside yet but have no doubt with a top heat of 97 it will handle below zero weather! Strong smell on 1st startup and a lil noisy for some consumers.