Feed: Portable Heater Store - AggScore: 46.2

Coleman SportCat PerfecTemp Catalytic Heater with InstaStart Technology

Coleman SportCat PerfecTemp Catalytic Heater with InstaStart Technology: Click for more reviews and to buy

Review By: Michmoog

I read the information completely before ordering this item and also did research from other sites. It was as it said- easy to set up,easy to carry,and heated the space as stated. Correct that it will not warm up huge tent or space but does the job in a 10×10 at 7am in morning while setting up for a outside craft show. We had the sides closed and we were toasty as we worked.

Once the day began we moved the heater to our chair area and kept our hands warm in between sales. It lasted with the tank just over 6 hours as stated. As suggested in the instructions with the heater you should turn it on for at least 1/2 hour before taking it anywhere to burn off the funny smell it gives off and after that we had no problem with it.

We did order it because of the screen on the top so children could not get their little hands down inside when near it. The top does stay very hot so you still would need to keep it away from them or even from material getting to close to it. All in all it worked well for us in the 3 shows we used it at.

A little large if you wanted to set it up on a table at a show but would be great on a picnic table or near a table on your deck to just keep you warm. At the time we purchased this Amazon had the best deal and nowhere in our hometown area were they selling anything this size.

Coleman 5053A751 ProCat Perfectemp Catalytic Propane Heater with Instastart Technology

Coleman 5053A751 ProCat Perfectemp Catalytic Propane Heater with Instastart Technology: Click for more reviews and to buy

Review By: Paul Cochran

I purchased this catalytic propane heater to heat my tent for winter camping with my son for his Cub Scout winter camps. I tried the heater out on a three night camp out the last week of October, 2006 at 7,000 feet in the San Bernardino Mountains. Those nights dipped in the high 20′s. The heater worked very well with only a few concerns, which were easily overcome. I placed the lit heater in my tent well in advance of retiring for the evening and 6 hours later replaced the emptied propane cylinder right away and re-started the heater for the remainder of the morning. My son and I were nice and warm when we went to bed and stayed warm all the night through. Sure is nice to be able to stand up and dress in a warm tent in the morning. Next we will be trying the heater out at a snow camp in February with temps expected to be in the low teens.

Reading the directions dismissed any apprehensions of opertion. And yes, as another reviewer commented… the unit does throw out a small fire ball when first lit. YIKES! However, should you read the instructions BEFORE USE… you are forewarned about this and the reader is instructed NOT to light the heater facing anyone/pets/tent or indoors because of this issue. Instructions are not placed with the item for looks you know, you have to read them! OK, it spits out a small fire ball at first. Big deal… nothing too intense that an average human can not adapt to.

As for the “hot oil smell,” noted by another reviewer… yes, there is a “smell,” that emits from the operating unit. How one describes that smell will vary. Each individual person’s sensitivity to that smell will also vary. To me the “smell” was simply like sightly hot metal, as with any other heater, and faint enough that it did not bother me at all. However, should one be rather sensitive to the “smell” it may prove uncomfortable.

The battery operated fan that blows the heated air away from the unit is awesome. The fan does not blow the volume of air like a fan on your desk or counter top might. The fan is much smaller, yet it does greatly aid in the ciculation of the heat. Without the fan on, the heat is simply radiated out and the heat is not evenly distributed throughout the tent. One huge issue with the fan… it eats batteries like a child eats candy. Two “D” batteries will run the fan for one full night. That’s it, no more. Recharable batteries are strongly recommended to keep the battery budget in check, because the fan really needs to be used.

Some advise… 1.) Light the heater OUTSIDE of your tent (remember there will be small fire ball emiting from the heater when it is lit). 2.) Start the unit and place in your tent at least one full hour before going to bed. That way your tent will be nice and warm when you go to bed. 3.) Keep a replacement propane cylinder close by for replacement in the early morning hours. Should you allow the tent to cool before replacing the propane cylinder and re-igniting the heater it will take a very, very long time to warm the tent up. Remeber… nights are coldest the hours just before dawn (usally) which is much colder than when you started to warm your tent up the previous evening. Also, the larger the tent (or area being heated) the longer it will take to bring up and maintain the temp. I am going to buy a second heater for my large three room tent. This way I can start one heater well before going to bed to heat the tent, and then 6 hours before I plan to wake up I can start the second heater. With two heaters operating at the same time in my large tent the heat will be easily maintained (hopfully even with winds) but also the first heater will will run out of fuel and shut off in the night and the second heater will continue heating maintaining the temp without me getting up to change out the propane cylinder. 4.) Place the heater in an area of your tent in which nothing will come in contact with it. The heater grid gets very hot and will burn you or any other item that contacts it.

All in all, this ProCat Catalytic Propane Heater is a great heater. It is larger than others on the market (the heating head is larger in diameter), including other Coleman brand heaters. It appears to be the only one with a fan to assist in heat distribution. It puts out a good amount of heart. The only serious failing on this ProCat heater is that the output can not be regulated. The heater is either on full blast or completly off.

Please note though, the more ventilated your tent the less effective any heater will be in heating such a tent, let alone this particular heater. Thus, should you have a “summer family camping tent” that is very well ventilated either consider purchasing two heaters to heat your tent, or in addition to this heater purchase a tent that is designed for cold weather (which is less vented than summer family tents).

Coleman BlackCat PerfecTemp Catalytic Heater with InstaStart Technology

Coleman BlackCat PerfecTemp Catalytic Heater with InstaStart Technology: Click for more reviews and to buy

Review By: A. Steckel

I took this heater camping in Delaware on Columbus Day weekend (October). I used it in a well-ventilated 4-person (medium-sized) tent. The first 2 days were cold and rainy, and I was VERY glad to have brought it.

Now, this heater is not going to make your tent into a sauna on a very cold day, so don’t expect to get in the tent and lounge in your skivies like you might do at home! But after burning for about 10-15 min, it should raise the temperature in your tent several precious degrees making it bareable; even comfortable. For instance, it did keep me from having to wear my heavy coat while inside the tent, which pleased me.

Since it would certainly heat a smaller, less-vented tent better than a larger, more-vented tent, your results may vary. As for me, the results were not dramatic, but certainly noticable, and well worth the money spent.

Note: This kind of catalytic heater requires those mini propane tanks. It works by a chemical reaction between a meshy platinum filter and the burning propane gas, so while there’s no obvious propane smell and no open flame, there’s still a very hot surface that could catch objects on fire if they are placed directly in front of it for too long. FYI, when you first light it, you may indeed see an igniting flame, but that is just upon start up. Once the starting flame vanishes, put your hand gently over the heater – if you feel it eminating warmth, you’ll know you’ve started it successfully.

Warning: Just as the instructions warn you, I do NOT recommend leaving this heater on through the night when you and your family are asleep. It is both a breathing hazard, and an obvious fire hazard. But warning stated, I did just that and I didn’t have a problem. I slept very comfortably on a couple cold nights and I didn’t die in my sleep. Again, your results may vary.

However, I should note that my own tent is extreamly well ventilated, with the entire ceiling being mesh under the rain fly. In addition, the night was windy, and I could actually feel a breeze of air circulating in my tent. In truth, if I had brought a less-ventilated, cold-weather tent with me that weekend, the heater may not have been needed at night, but since I was stuck with a drafty tent, I took the calculated risk that this would also lessen the threat. In addition, I took every possible precaution to ensure that nothing was near the heater before going to sleep. Even so, it’s a risk that I could not blame anyone for not wanting to take. Also, if you do this, expect the propane tank to be empty by morning.

All in all, other than the obvious handle-with-care factors, I could not find a downside to this product. In fact, I could not imagine cold-weather camping without it. P.S. They also sell a slightly cheaper version, which is the same in every way, except it does not have the self-starting switch, and you start it manually with a lit match.

Honeywell HZ519 Digital Low Profile Silent Comfort Heater

Honeywell HZ519 Digital Low Profile Silent Comfort Heater: Click for more reviews and to buy

Review By: K. Levin

We needed a supplemental electric space heater for an unheated bedroom in our home that is occasionally used by guests. I selected this model over the Honeywell HZ515 because it has a screen to display the temperature instead of just a selector dial. We own one other electric heater that has a thermostat without a display, and it is much harder on that Delonghi unit for someone to set the temperature without consulting the manual. This heater is quite straightforward to operate in comparison.

If you simply push the power button, the unit will come on at full power and keep heating at full power until you turn it off again.

If you push the power button and then use the up- and down-arrow buttons, you can select a temperature (in Fahrenheit or Celsius) that the unit will attempt to maintain (up to its 1500 W capacity) until you turn it off.

If you push power, then use the arrows to select a temperature, and then push the timer button (and use the arrows to increase/decrease the amount of time), the heater will run as much as needed to keep the heat to the pre-selected temperature for the amount of time you’ve selected. I believe the maximum is 10 hours–enough for overnight use.

For me, this offers some extra peace of mind. I can set this heater for a guest (or tell them how to do it) and not feel the need to check up on them in the morning to be sure the heater has been turned off.

Two other features on this heater are superior to those on my Delonghi Mica Panel heater:
* the Honeywell HZ519 has a 5 year warranty (vs. Delonghi’s 1 year)
* the Honeywell HZ519 has a three prong power cord (vs. Delonghi’s 2 prong plug)

Cyclonic Ceramic Room Heater

Cyclonic Ceramic Room Heater: Click for more reviews and to buy

Review By: Kathy M. Ferguson “Wayne and Kathy”

We’ve shopped and shopped and bought several types of electric room heaters (panel heaters, oil filled baseboard and radiator styles, etc.), and we haven’t been happy with any of them. This Lasko heater has ended our search! It pumps out lots of heat and the louvered adjuster lets you direct the heat straight into the room, straight up, or anywhere in between. The fan is not silent, but it also isn’t obnoxious!

We have it in our bedroom and we sleep fine with it running. Probably the best feature is the very accurate thermostat control that lets you set a digital temperature. It brings the room up to that temperature and shuts down when not needed. That saves energy. The remote control is a really convenient addition. The one possible down side is its size.

The heater is large, but it is designed so that you can put it right up against a wall with no concern for safety. So you should be able to find a convenient location in any room. Like all space heaters, it works best in a closed room, but we’ve used it in our large open family room, kitchen, dining room with good results compared to other room heaters. We like it so much we are ordering another!

Delonghi TRD0715T Safe Heat Oil-Filled Radiator

Delonghi TRD0715T Safe Heat Oil-Filled Radiator: Click for more reviews and to buy

Review By: SoCalReviews

I have tried the quartz and ceramic heaters which often require a small fan to circulate air past the elements to heat the air. I have also been in homes that use natural gas for gravity heat, central air, built in electric ceiling heat, and a natural gas wall heater. Most of the gas or electric element heaters that I mentioned tend to dry out and remove some of the oxygen from the air which can cause that uncomfortable “soar throat and headache” feeling. These DeLonghi oil-filled radiators don’t seem to negatively effect the air since they use clean electricity and simply heat up the air through efficient convection and radiation. This model TRD0715T has side metal tubing that creates more of a vacuum effect which seems to make the hot air blow out of the top of the unit without the use of a fan. DeLonghi rightfully nicknames this as a “Dragon model” since has the effect of a forced air heater without the noise or extra electricity requirements. On low 700W, medium 900W, or high 1500W settings you can feel the hot air at least two feet above the top of the heater. A simple analog thermostat dial enables you to choose your desired temperature level for the unit to operate at. Other nice features include a 96 position, 24 hour timer that allows you to customize when the heater turns on or off throughout the day. There are also some nice safety features such as an automatic shut-off if the unit is tipped over or if the temperature of the unit gets too high. Although the sides and top of the device get hot it does not burn you if you happen to accidently touch it. These devices are very efficient compared to the other electric heaters and many people use them as very efficient room space heaters and they are able to turn down their central air systems to save on gas or electricity.

PROS: This oil filled heater is clean, energy efficient, safe, and works well at heating small to medium sized rooms. The clever design allows for a hot air vacuum effect which heats a room faster, this model includes a 24 hour programmable timer. Retractable wheels allow you to easily move or store the device. The sealed oil-filled unit with auto shut off features makes it one of the safest electric heater designs.

CONS: Not as effective at heating large rooms that have poor insulation or large open areas. Energy efficiency is limited to use as a space heater in smaller to medium sized rooms or very well insulated larger rooms. The heated air is very non-directional compared to forced air or reflective quartz or ceramic electric space heaters. Similar to other types of large electric space heaters it requires a very high (up to 1500W) electrical current from a single outlet which can cause problems in homes or buildings with very old or poorly designed electrical systems. It does not have a digital LCD temperature display which is a common feature on many other space heater models.

SUGGESTIONS: On their high setting most electrical space heaters can draw as much electrical current as a big hair drier. Make a plan as to which room outlet you are going to plug this high current heater into since it is recommended that you do not have any other high current devices plugged into the same outlet or on the same circuit as this heater. If you have any of the previously mentioned issues with your electrical system consider using the low 700W or medium 900W settings to help prevent any problems with overloading the electrical circuit. If you are on a very tight budget and you don’t need a programable timer take a look at the very low cost model EW0507W (I also own one of these) which has less features and no metal side tubing but uses the same basic oil-filled radiator technology. When brand new all models of these heaters give off a “wet paint” odor which in fact from an anti-corrosion chemical used to protect the unit during shipping. Simply keep the heater in a well ventilated area when you use it the very first time and the odor will go away for good after running it at the high temperature setting for a few hours.

THE BOTTOM LINE: This “Dragon model” TRD0715T safe heat oil filled heat radiator is the best room space heater I have ever used. I am so impressed with this heater that I have purchased two of them. I give it the highest rating of FIVE out of FIVE STARS.

DeLonghi TRN0812T Portable Oil-Filled Radiator with Programmable Timer

DeLonghi TRN0812T Portable Oil-Filled Radiator with Programmable Timer: Click for more reviews and to buy

Review By: M. Dilger “tools rool”

This is the second Delonghi oil heater that I purchased through Amazon & I am completely satisfied with both of them. (I also purchased the Delonghi HM25E Dragon Ultimate Oil Filled Radiator Heater purchased in 2005, twice the cost, twice the heater.)
I like the size of this smaller one a little more — it fits better into the small space where I am using it. We use it in a 10′ x 10′ main bathroom. The room is not insulated (85 year old home) and gets almost no heat from the home’s central heating system (radiated water heat).
I have used it every day this winter and found that it is more than adequate for this room, even on the coldest winter days. The temperature recently has dropped to -5 F overnight (Chicago) and I have the heater set on high to turn on 60-90 minutes before I get up. The bathroom is always nice and toasty in the AM, even though the exterior wall is cold to the touch.
I was concerned about the safety of using an electric heater in the bathroom because of electric shock and fire risk. No problem on either account. I recommend using a GFCI electric outlet to reduce the risk of electric shock; also, the oil-filled radiator does not build up an excessive amount of heat (as long as you don’t cover it – keep it open so heat can radiate away from it).
The heater has on/off switches (one for high, one for low) and a electro-mechanical timer. You set the current time with the dial, then set the timer to turn on & off as much as you wish during the day. You can be accurate to within about 15-30 minutes. The unit must stay plugged in for it to keep accurate time. Electronic LED timers (like on the Delonghi Dragon) can be set more accurately, but usually have a limited number of on/off automatic settings (Dragon has a limit of 2).
This heater also has a “thermostat” of sorts. It doesn’t give a temperature, just gives a min/max range of 1-6 (my other one goes to 11). A 6 setting for about an hour is necessary for a toasty 10×10 bathroom at 0 degrees F, while setting at 3 for an hour is sufficient at 32 degrees.
Energy consumption – my electric bill increased only about $8-10/mo from fall to winter, a small price to pay.
The heater is short (about 16-18 inches)& very stable, fits under my pedestal sink between the sink & tub – perfect spot. It gets hot to the touch, but not so that you (or a child) might burn yourself.

DeLonghi EW7707CM Oil-filled Radiator with ComforTemp Technology

DeLonghi EW7707CM Oil-filled Radiator with ComforTemp Technology: Click for more reviews and to buy

Review By: Pawan Murthy

After reading many of the reviews on Amazon, I purchased this delonghi heater. I can’t be happier with its performance. I believe the more positive reviews are a result of using this heater as it was designed – to gradually maintain a slow heat in a small-mid sized enclosed room (say, 20×20 with 9′ ceilings). If you want to quickly heat a large room with a blast of hot air, get something with a fan or turn up the thermostat.

We use this heater at night. It does such an effective job of keeping our room at a comfortable 70F (even at lower settings), that we have programmed our central heat thermostat to go down to 60F at night. Of course, the effectiveness of the heater is also dependent on how well your house is insulated.

There were some comments about the heater getting hot to the touch. Well, yes, of course it does – it’s a heater! But even at it’s highest setting, the metal is not sizzling. It is well insulated enough that you can touch it for a few seconds before it gets uncomfortable – plenty of time for the occasional times you may bump into it. At lower settings – this isn’t even an issue.

Why an oil-filled heater? It produces a very gentle heat without drying the air like a conventional ceramic or electric heater.

Why the delonghi? Gentle heat without any sound. We purchased the Honeywell 7-Fin Oil-Filled Radiator Heater as well (they were out of stock of the delonghi), and while it heats fine, it creaks and cracks when you use it. I’m sure this is due to the metal expanding and contracting as it gets warmer and cooler. It’s not a huge problem, but if you are a light sleeper, it may be an annoyance.

The only downside I can think of is the wheels. Doesn’t roll well on carpet – which is fine, we don’t’ move it much anyway. But overall, love the delonghi. We’ve had it for 2 weeks now and I hope it lasts this way for several years.

Lasko 5367 16-1/2-Inch Oscillating Ceramic Tower Heater

Lasko 5367 16-1/2-Inch Oscillating Ceramic Tower Heater: Click for more reviews and to buy

Review By: Anonymous Reviewer

I purchased two of these heaters this winter. They have worked great. They may not be 100% silent, but they are about as quiet as you can get for a space heater with a fan. I use one on the low setting in my two stall detached garage to keep it at about 45 degrees. I use the other in a 21′ x 11′ room in the house. It easily and quickly warms this room. I only have a couple of little complaints. The oscillating feature is nice for heat distribution, but the arc range that it sweeps could be greater. Also, it doesn’t have tip over safety protection. It only has overheat protection. These cons are not enough to drop it from 5 to 4 stars, though.

I have tried a couple of different space heaters over the years. I had some digital resistive element Vornados. They heated the room and moved the air nice, but they all just up and died. Too bad too, because they were not cheap. I had a digital Holmes that worked like and had all the same features as the Vornados, but it too died. I have a Pelonis Safe-T ceramic heater. It still functions and puts out good heat, but it is pretty loud. When it comes to space heaters, what I have concluded is that digitally controlled heaters are not reliable. I think the circuitry just can’t handle the elevated case temperatures. Since I haven’t had the Laskos very long, I can’t speak for their durability, but I think the manual thermostat will mean longer life. Overall, these Lasko heaters do it all at a good price. And, I won’t feel as sick if they fail as I did with the Vornados.

DeLonghi EW7707CB Oil-Filled Portable Radiator with ComforTemp Technology, Black

DeLonghi EW7707CB Oil-Filled Portable Radiator with ComforTemp Technology, Black: Click for more reviews and to buy

Review By: Joe Blow from Kokomo

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.