Infrared Space Heaters and other space heater questions

[KatieNK]

Today I saw an infomercial for EdenPure Quartz Infrared space heaters.


I have been researching them online and it seems like a good product. Our house gets soooo cold downstairs because the stupid heater is in the attic! So the upstairs is sweltering and the downstairs is freezing. So we need something for downstairs but it is an open floor plan with 4 rooms (large living room, medium dining room, medium family room and large kitchen, small hall/entry way). The large living room is blocked off with curtains since it is just a play rooom. I want something for the family room where we spend our time but I don't think one small space heater would cut it.


I liked the EdenPure heater because it claimed to evenly heat large spaces (up to 1000 square feet) but it is pricey. If it is just the quartz infrafred mechanisms that makes it so great, wouldn't this cheapy quartz infrared heater work just as well?



I want to research space heaters before I buy something. I like the EdenPure because it says it *evenly* heats large areas and also it is cool to the touch, which is important because of pets and kids. I also like it because it says it uses little electricity.

Does anyone have one of these or a similar space heater? If not, do you have a space heater that you can recommend that has the above qualities I am looking for?

Thanks so much for your help!

[vole]

I've been using a Walmart special. Ceramic space heater for $14. Works great. Heats up the area fast. And with the price savings from the fancier heaters I feel free to use it as much as I want.

My strategy is to turn down the thermostat and use "zone" heating to just warm up the room where I am.

The two types of heaters are convection and radiant. The ceramic is the newest type of convection heater that is small, portable, and can heat a small area.

Radiant heaters are some of the most common and include the infrared and it's improvements on older radiant types. With the IR, I think you only feel the heat if it is aimed at you. The air in the room still feels cold. The convection heaters heat up the air.

[arthurb999]

Just becuase your heating system is in the attic, doesn't mean it shouldn't heat the lower levels. What type of system is it, forced hot air, steam, etc.

[disneysteve]

I wouldn't buy anything sold through an infomercial. Of course they make it sound like God's gift to the world. You can buy a perfectly good space heater at WalMart or Target or Home Depot or Lowes probably for a fraction of what that one is selling for. You could buy one for each room and just heat the spaces you need to heat.

[vole]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

You can buy a perfectly good space heater at WalMart or Target or Home Depot or Lowes probably for a fraction of what that one is selling for.

True enough about not believing infomercials, but there is a difference between the IR heaters and convection heaters. And I think the IR heaters cost more.

I think the IR heaters are good for large areas and heat individuals there but they don't heat the environment. Just the people when they are in front of the radiation.

The convection heaters make the room warm. And also the people in the room.

-Dave

[arthurb999]

I would really try to figure out why you're not getting good heat from your main system in the lower levels.

[GREENBACK]

I use oil filled radiant convection heaters in rooms that are usually closed off. Bought them at walmart for about $40 a piece. They work great and I now can keep the thermostat a little lower and still be comfortable in the individual rooms.

[vole]

Originally Posted by GREENBACK

I use oil filled radiant convection heaters in rooms that are usually closed off. Bought them at walmart for about $40 a piece. They work great and I now can keep the thermostat a little lower and still be comfortable in the individual rooms.

I think they are supposed to be the most efficient type of heater.

The little Walmart ceramic heater is not as efficient but it's small and heats up fast. I use it for a quick shot of heat when the Scotch runs low.

-Dave
berkshirecard.com

[Ima saver]

Ok, I just got the heater that the op is talking about. My husband is a builder and always freezes in the winter. I got the one that is supposed to heat 1000 square feet. It was $397. It barely heats at all. We are going to try it a few days, but have already decided to send it back. I am watching the ad on tv right now. Don't waste your money.

[heaterman]

Here are some fact about heaters to help make your selection more educated. Most small heaters are rated in watts, generally they are 1500 watts, which converts to about 5000 btu's. Now if you understand that 5000 btu's does not heat alot of area, and without doing a complete heatloss/gain calculation for area desired to be heated, lets just say 1 -15x20 room. More or less depending on configuration, insulation, air infiltration, and frankly what your tolorance for what you consider warm. Since all electric heaters are 100% efficient at the source of ignition, then all heaters should be equal. Well not all heaters are equal after you purchased the heat from the ignition point. The heater you could buy from Wal-Mart for $40.00 or so basically is a toaster with a fan behind it The air that passes across the element is drawn from the rood as it passes across the heating element it is burned therefor ringing the moisture out of it, it is said it also consumes oxygen as this happens. The heat exchanger is generally a piece of metal that acts as a shield to reflect it in the general direction. Compare this to one of the Infarred quartz heaters. The two that come to mind are Edenpure and Iheater. Both do about the same job, but the Iheater is $279.00 for a supposed 1,000 sq. ft. job. The heaters use a Quartz bulb that reflects on a copper heat exchanger and air pushes, yes i said air, making it convection heat instead of radiant. The result is a warm disharge air temp. that is not burned up. I purchased The Iheater 1500 for $379.99 to try it out. I have propane forced air heat 93% efficient furnace for my central heating system. Let's just say the propane guy fills my tank and I get sticker shock. So i was trying to find something a little safer to run and knock down that propane bill. We have been thru a pretty cold stretch where i live and I just recieved my electric bill after running the Iheater for a full month with additional heaters and a heat lamp running 24/7 outside my monthly bill increased by only $80.00. That is great when you consider propane is running $700.00 per fill and I can say it has kept my furnace from running as much by far. Now remember zone heating will achieve this but when you warm a room that effects the t-stat then when it does not run as much the other rooms will get cold. In other words placing any electric heater in the same room as your t-stat will probably make for a warm room but all of the other rooms will be cold. I would recommend the Iheater1000 It cost only $279.00 and does in my opinion a good job.

[Ima saver]

Well, I got the edenpure heater and it did not even heat one room, much less the 1000 feet it was supposed to heat. we sent it back 2 weeks ago and still have not received a refund. (on our charge card)

[B.J. Johns]

4 a few years now i've been using a ceramic space heater from target ($19) and it works great. they and walmart have a good supply of them in all sizes. no need to pay too much through an infomercial.