Dr Infrared Portable Space Heater
Last updated date: September 10, 2019
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We looked at the top 1 Space Heaters and dug through the reviews from 8 of the most popular review sites including Your Best Picks, New York Times Wirecutter, BestReviews, Tiny House, Huge Ideas, Best of Machinery, The Heater Wiz and more. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Space Heater you should buy.
Overall Take
If you plan to set your space heater in one place and leave it, consider the Dr. Infrared Space Heater. Although it isn't portable, you'll get temperature-based settings, which lets you keep a large area warm throughout the day. It is certified as safe with features that include anti-tip over and automatic shut-off protection. In our analysis of 62 expert reviews, the Dr Infrared Dr Infrared Portable Space Heater placed 1st when we looked at the top 12 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.
Editor's Note September 11, 2019:
Checkout The Best Space Heater for a detailed review of all the top space heaters.
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From The Manufacturer
The Dr. Infrared Heater's Advanced Dual Heating System, combining PTC and Quartz Infrared Element, keeps you warm this winter while saving on heating bills. Equipped with a Dual Heating System and High Velocity Low Noise blower, the Dr. Infrared Heater increases the heat distribution and the result is heating your room to a comfortable temperature, fast. The Dr. Infrared Heater is certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) USA and Canada, ensuring the highest safety standard. The Dr. Infrared Heater is perfectly safe around children and pets and only gets warm to the touch. It does not have exposed heating elements that can cause a fire. The Dr. Infrared Heater comes with Energy saving Auto Mode, high and low setting when the mode is set to Auto, the unit will cycle on and off and switch between high or low setting to maintain the desired temperature setting. All Dr. Infrared heaters are engineered and designed in the USA. How is Dr. Heater Different from Other Heaters? Dr. Heater uses infrared heating, which heats objects in the room, instantly making you feel comfortably warm. By heating only the objects in the space--not the air--Dr. Heater provides maximum warmth and energy efficiency. With its state-of-the-art technology that helps the room retain air moisture, Dr. Heater do not dry out your skin like those convection heaters that blast out hot air, stripping the room of moisture. And the best part? It will save you money. Use Dr. Heater instead of your regular heating system, and you could save up to 50% on your next electricity bill. Plus, with its tip-over protection and auto shut-off overheat protection, you can sleep soundly knowing you have got a heater that is superior in safety. Tests Show Dr. Heater heats Faster and Better than Competing Heaters. In a side-by-side test comparison in airtight chambers with the same starting temperature, Dr. Heater heated the same amount of space much faster than a competing heater that has a price tag more than double that of Dr. Heater. Dr. Heater Delivers 60% more heat than other 1500-watt heaters. No magic trick--we just understand heat transfer better. Just because two heaters have the same wattage does not mean they transfer the same amount of heat. Wattage indicates the amount of electricity needed to power the heater--not the amount of heat it can deliver. Heater is the first to feature a dual heating system for maximum heat transfer rate. It combines the energy efficiency of infrared heat with the comfort of convection heat to heat your room fast and comfortably--without hot spots and cold spots. Dr. Heater uses a state-of-the-art 7-inch blower that generates higher pressure and moves larger air volume at a lower speed, without any of the noise of those other heaters on the market. Dr. Infrared Heater has three power Settings: Auto, Low 1000W and High 1500W. The auto energy saving mode allows you to set your desired temperature from 50-86F. It smartly selects between the two settings depending on your room temperature. The thermostat regulates the heater and causes it to cycle on and off to maintain the set temperature. You can also manually set the heater to run on High or Low all the time or with a timer. The heater has to be turned on first in order to use the remote. This a safety provision mandated by the Underwriters Laboratory. So, in order to use the remote, the first step for the user is to press the POWER button on the heater itself. This turns the heater on STANDBY. Then, pressing the POWER button on the remote will turn the heater on. The heater can't be turned on if the unit is not on STANDBY.
An Overview On Space Heaters
Being cold is no fun. Whether it’s a spot in your home that the heat just doesn’t reach or an office that stays chilly year-round, sometimes a steady blast of warm air is exactly what you need to be comfortable. Space heaters are great for fulfilling that demand. Simply set one on the floor next to you and enjoy the warmth.
But there are many factors to consider when you’re picking out a space heater. The majority of house fires start because of portable space heaters, so it’s important to choose one with built-in safety features. Look for heaters with auto shut-off and tip protection, especially if you have small children or pets in the house. You should also place your heater away from flammable objects, like drapes and bedding.
Once you’ve squared away safety, you’ll want to look for a space heater that provides the level of warmth you need. Some space heaters are designed to be directional in nature, primarily heating the area where they’re pointed. However, many newer space heaters are less directional, warming an entire area and all the objects within it. If you’re in a cubicle at work, you’ll likely be more interested in heating yourself, whereas at home you may prefer to warm up an entire room.
Portability and size are also important things to consider, especially if you won’t be using your heater in the same space. Some heaters are small and portable, even coming equipped with carrying handles to make them easy to move around. These heaters are also usually smaller in size, making them handy for slipping under your desk to keep your feet warm while you work. Much larger units typically fit better if you’re heating a whole room in your home rather than carrying them back and forth to the office every day.
DYWM Fun Fact
If you’re using a space heater to make up for a chilly office or a part of your home that’s colder than the rest, you probably have no other choice. However, if you’re using a space heater to save money on your utility bill, that may not be such a good idea. Even the most efficient space heater can’t do as well as your central heating when it comes to warming large spaces. According to the U.S. Energy Department, gas furnaces cost 43 percent of what you’d spend to heat the same space with an electric space heater. Dressing in layers or buying an electric blanket could be more affordable alternatives.
The Space Heater Buying Guide
- If you’re looking for a whole room heater, make sure you get one with a temperature-based thermostat. The Lasko space heater has a setting-based thermostats, which means an adjustment from low to high. With the Dr. Infrared heater, you can set a desired temperature, such as 65 or 70 degrees. The units will run until the area achieves that level of warmth, at which point they will shut off.
- The Andily Electric Space Heater does a better job at heating an individual sitting in front of it than similar heaters that are designed for whole-room heating.
- Although you’ll always need to exercise caution when operating a space heater, many of today’s models have safety features built in. The Dr. Infrared Heater is certified as safe by the Underwriters Laboratories, with both automatic shut-off and anti-tip over protection. The Lasko Space Heater automatically shuts off if the unit gets too hot, although there is no anti-tip over switch. The Andily Electric Space Heater has an anti-tip over feature and the Lasko Ceramic Tower Heater includes a non-slip base.
- Noise can be a concern, especially if you plan to operate your space heater in the workplace. The Dr. Infrared heater is notably quiet, using its own technology to provide heat at a low speed, which makes it less noisy than comparable space heaters.
- Size can be an issue, especially if you’re tucking your heater discreetly under a desk. The Andily and the Lasko heater are lightweight and portable. The Lasko heater has a handle to make it easy to carry from one space to another. If you plan to mount your space heater on a wall, the Lasko is also a good choice.
- It’s important to note that the Dr. Infrared heater has been known for thermal fuse failures. However, investing in a high-quality extension cord can keep that from happening, and if it does, the company will ship a new fuse upon request.