As winter comes upon us once again, thoughts turn to ways to heat the house and ourselves without turning up the cost of the electricity bill. Accordingly, portable heaters are a good way to augment any central heating system, adding extra layers of warmth to bedrooms and out-posts while using relatively little juice.
Consumers should spend serious time researching their choices before plugging in any electrical device, since safety and cost are paramount concerns when using any secondary heating appliance. In light of this, the review which follows marks our top choice for portable heaters – bluntly, folks in traditionally cold states will likely find that buying one of these products could help dull the impact of rising energy costs while still allowing you to ‘weather the storm’ in comfort:
A summary of the best in portable heaters is led by Honeywell’s Energy Smart Cool Touch Heater (Model HZ-7200 Series). This item, which retails for around $ 40.00, is notable for many reasons, including its size and light-weight design.
Honeywell’s Cool Touch is a real step beyond those cumbersome old dinosaurs we used to call ‘space heaters.’ TheCool Touch is truly portable and can be carried from room-to-room effortlessly (as it weighs less than 5 pounds). However, its sleek face and compact design should not perceived as weaknesses; instead, they are true examples of the manufacturing advancements that have taken place with regard to these money-saving heating alternatives.
Who might benefit from a portable heater the most? Anyone living in cold-weather territory who need short-term heat added to a corner of the house. And if your need is indeed short-term, why jack up the knob on your thermostat or oil monitor and pay for more energy than is actually necessary?
Again, the Cool Touch offers the answer to these pertinent questions.
Even though the Cool Touch is light, its heating power is quite effective. Yet, power in a portable heater is not the sole objective – in addition, consumers must consider the safety question. And the Cool Touch rates high in terms of safety.
Honeywell has armed the Cool Touch with an anti-tip-over feature which automatically shuts the machine down if it falls over. This is quite an important advancement in portable heater design – since in the past many a fire sparked after a top-heavy space heater fell across flammable materials and set the room ablaze. In addition, the Cool Touch is equipped with both a high temperature safety control and a thermal circuit breaker – two more features which help prevent the unit from overheating into a fire danger.
However, these safety features are but an aspect of the Cool Touch’s preeminent value. Additionally, the unit’s name is derived from the fact that it has been constructed with high-grade plastic to allow it to stay relatively cool (thus, if the heater’s grille is contacted briefly, it will not sear away skin).
Insofar as its heating capabilities, the Cool Touch oscillates across a wide expanse, ensuring that large swatches of the surface area are warmed in a quick and efficient manner. Meanwhile, the controls are easy to use and offer variable settings for pin-point-precise heating (keeping the amount of electricity that’s being burned to a minimum).
Given the sum total of these features and its bargain price, Honeywell’s Cool Touch presents as a great option for everyone from students in studio apartments to elderly folks amid the snowy landscape – this option for anyone looking for a complimentary heating source that won’t devour the monthly budget.
Rating: The Cool Touch is rated at 12.5 AMPS (1500 Watts) at 120V, 60 Hz.
Availability: It is available across the United States at Wal-Mart stores.
Cost: $40.00
Weight: The Cool Touch weighs just under 5 pounds; it boasts a built-in handle for easy transport.
Warranty: Three-year limited warranty.
Special Considerations: The manufacturer recommends that consumers read the operating instructions before using the Cool Touch, further recommending that users follow all instructions precisely as to avoid accidental fire or injury.