Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Mid-century modern houses are designed for California springs and summers. But the floor to ceiling single paned glass windows let the cold right in. I borrowed a friend's Dyson Hot heater. Being a designer, I loved the design of it--you can't get more elegant than that. But--what I didn't like was the sound of it--like a tiny Pratt and Whitney Turbo Jet engine--loud--and to me not a "white noise" kind of sound, but actual noise. Even once I got used to the sound of it (and you do), it didn't put out a ton of heat, so it could be on for hours and the room was still cold. I then got a Lasko Digital Ceramic Tower Heater to try. You have to assemble the base (snap it together, two screws), then four screws to attach the heater to the base. It took about five minutes--but you do need a philips screw driver. You also need two AAA batteries, something that the box mentions in small type, but if you get home without it, you won't be able to use the remote control. I used to think a remote control on a room heater was a silly thing, but once you have it, it becomes as vital as one for a television, because it lets you adjust the temperature at a distance. The first thing you notice about this heater is how QUIET it is. Really just a whisper. And the sound it makes is a low tone that doesn't interfere with listening to music or the TV. Even on "Hi" mode, it's still much quieter than the Dyson. You can set it to run continuously on "Lo" or "Hi" or set the thermostat to the temperature you want, and it will turn on and off automatically to keep it there. Because it's so quiet, you can leave it on at night when you sleep. And, if you want it to shut off during the night to save power, it has an 8 hour timer that will automatically shut it off after the amount of time you specify. The Dyson had no timer. The oscillation is wide and silent. While the unit is tall, it has a reason--as the entire length emits hot air, which warms the room faster. As much as I like Dyson design, this heater costs 1/4 the price of a Dyson, makes 1/4 the sound, and seems to heat the room about 2 times as well. Do the math--this heater is an excellent value.