wilkes

Make that 3000 watts in the "two plugged in on high" comment. Just a typo, I actually can add.

I researched those Eden Pures last year and got the same info as Satan. Sounds like a huge scam. I froze so bad the last couple of years that I'm breaking down for a heat pump this year, but I will say that, as long as you have your space heaters plugged into outlets on different breakers, you can keep warm with them. One per room.

The oil-filled radiators are great and don't dry out the air as much as the ones with a fan, but they also take longer to take the chill out. WalMart used to always carry the ones that look like small wood stove with fake flames and such, and those work really well, but I would recommend a humidifier to go with it or you will wake up feeling like you have smoker's cough.

They usually have a way to set them to L-M-H and draw 600, 900 or 1500 watts. If you try to run too many on one breaker, you will pop it constantly, so especially if your house is older, see what it can handle. Myine were good for 1500 but would blow if I went over that (two plugged in on high, 2000 watts, for example). I figured out which parts of the house blew out and moved the heaters accordingly. Sometimes I would have to have one on 600 and one on 900 in another room if they were on the same breaker.

In any case, the electricity will be cheaper than fuel oil for sure. Good luck.

copy n pasted from http://www.hvac-talk.com/vb...
I did a little checking on Edenpure. Found a few things.

Let�s start with their claims:

1) �Reduced heating bills.� This claim is not qualified. Naturally you assume these savings are vs. comparable electric heat (1500W). Simple math will point out that if one is generating heat from electricity, you can not get above 100% efficiency. This claim is VERY misleading!

2) �60 Day Guarantee / 1 Year Manufacturer Warranty.� According to the BBB and related web sites, there is a 15% fee on all returns.

3) �Made in factories throughout Asia.� I have no problem with imported products. But the return policy requires that the unit be returned to the factory. Because the factories are in Asia, there will be additional costs and time required for any return.

4) �Heats up to 1000 square feet.� �Rated at approximately 5000 BTU.�
Ok, according to my �old-school� BTuH/square feet chart, 1500W = 150-200 square feet. I performed a Manual J Heat load assuming an EXTREMELY insulated 1000 sq. ft. room with no windows or doors, and got a heating requirement of about 7000 BTU. In my book (and according to Manaul J) their claim is false.

5) �Conserves energy compared to most heaters.� They do not qualify the term �most.� This statement can not be used in comparison to electric resistance heat, since all resistance heat works at the same efficiency. This makes the claim very misleading.

6) �Uses 6 commercial infrared quartz tubes.� �Average element life is 5000+ hours or approximately 3 to 5 years.� With 6 tubes, averaging about 4 years of life each, it is highly probable that in less than 4 years at least one of the tubes will burn out. At an average life of 4 years with six tubes, one can expect to have to replace a tube at least once a year over the life of the unit. Although replacement tubes are not terribly expensive, all service (including bulb replacement) must be done �by an authorized service center.� This will greatly increase the cost of the unit over time.

7) �When heating larger areas, place the heater in a central location. If a ceiling fan is nearby, try using it at the same time to help distribute the heat evenly.� In essence, in order to gain the actual advertised heating capability, a ceiling fan is required.

8) �Keep combustible materials, such as furniture, pillows, bedding, papers, clothes, and curtains at least three feet from the front of the heater and keep them away from the sides and rear.� The advertising strongly suggests that placing objects, even people, close to or on the unit is permitted. Not according to the manual. The advertised pictures and tv spots showing the unit flush with a chair or couch is false advertising.

9) �Extreme caution is necessary when any heater is used by or near children or invalids and whenever the heater is left operating and unattended.� Again, the advertised claim that the unit is safe around children is not supported by the user�s manual.

10) �Generally, it takes less than an hour� to heat a room. According to my Manual J calculations, even in an ideal environment, this unit will not be able to heat the room to 70f. The claims of less than an hour are qualified by the term �generally.� It can only be assumed that this claim is true when another heating system is doing most of the work, and has brought the room temperature up to close to where the customer wants it.

11) �Can I use the heater if I have vaulted or cathedral ceilings? Yes, but it will take a little longer to heat the room initially. Once the room has reached the desired temperature it will cycle on and off accordingly.� My Manual J calculations took into account a room 31�x31�x8�. The unit will not be able to cope with the additional heat requirements of a vaulted ceiling. This claim is false.

What do other people have to say about it?

1) Consumer reports gave it a bad grade, ranking it the lowest in its class. The price for the Edenpure unit was over 4 times as much as the Consumer Reports higher ranking units.

2) The BBB noted numerous complaints, most having to do with the advertising.

3) InfomercialRatings.com provides a wealth of user complaints, the majority having to do with the unit not performing as advertised. A large number of people complained about difficulties with returns, repairs, and replacements. Several people noted fire hazards (melting screens).

The conclusion?

1) Costs way too much.

2) Claims to reduce heating bills are at best misleading.

3) Claims to heat up to 1000 square feet an outright exaggeration.

4) Difficult and expensive to have serviced when the six bulbs start to go out.

5) Not as safe as advertised.

Not a good buy.

These heaters have been discussed on a couple of threads here, and most everyone agreed the ones at Walmart or Lowes for less than $100 are just as good. The $300 you save will buy a lot of electricity.

Those oil filled radiator electric heaters (i.e. Honeywell) are safe, inexpensive and do a credible job of heating for one or two rooms. I have no idea what they do to the energy bill, afraid to check.

Has anyone ever used one of these heaters? What is the best and most safest electric heater to use in a home??