| Dr Heater is the most recent entrant in the field | | | | blower is the complete assembly of a fan including |
| of the infrared heaters. Much like the EdenPure, | | | | the housing to contain and direct the flow of air. |
| CZ, and the iHeater for example, the heat source | | | | This translates to more direct heat at a faster |
| is an infrared tube or bulb. Infrared heat, by its | | | | rate for quick room heat up and quiet operation. |
| nature, does not reduce humidity or deplete | | | | 3. The final and most important difference |
| oxygen from the air. | | | | between Dr Heater and the others is price. While |
| Another similarity among infrared heaters is an | | | | everyone else is charging as much as $589 for |
| excellent safety record. Safety features such as | | | | their 1,500 watt quartz heater, Dr Heater can be |
| overheat cut off and tip over protection, standard | | | | purchased for as little as $204. As matter of fact, |
| on Dr Heater, make it safe for kids and pets to | | | | I just checked the prices again and, with the |
| be around. | | | | heating season drawing to close, Dr Heater is now |
| Remote control, digital display, and thermostatically | | | | available for only $189.99. |
| controlled temperature control are also standard | | | | When you're comparison shopping make sure you |
| features on the Dr Heater. | | | | compare apples to apples. Most heater brands use |
| Not all infrared heaters are carbon copies of each | | | | a numerical designation for each model such as |
| other. | | | | 500, 1000, or 1500. These numbers indicate the |
| 1. The first notable difference between Dr Heater | | | | wattage of the appliance. If you're not aware of |
| and the others is the components of the heating | | | | this fact you could easily assume you're getting a |
| system. In addition to quartz tubes, most infrared | | | | great deal on a 1500 watt heater when in fact |
| heaters incorporate a copper tube heat | | | | you would have spent a fortune for a far less |
| exchanger. Although copper is an efficient | | | | powerful 500 watt model. |
| conductor of heat, it adds substantially to the | | | | This is an easy mistake to make since all of the |
| cost of the finished product. | | | | models under any given brand name look basically |
| In place of the copper tube heat exchanger Dr | | | | the same. |
| Heater uses PTC technology. Positive | | | | I do have one pet peeve with Dr Heater and it |
| temperature coefficient (PTC) is explained like this: | | | | has to do with the way it is pictured in their ads. |
| "A positive temperature coefficient (PTC) refers | | | | They never show the casters. This omission has |
| to materials that experience an increase in | | | | no bearing on performance, but one would think |
| electrical resistance when their temperature is | | | | having a set of wheels would be a big selling point |
| raised and show a relatively rapid increase with | | | | to folks unable or unwilling to cart around a 20 |
| temperature, i.e. a higher coefficient." | | | | pound heater from room to room for zone |
| In other words, a heater with PTC technology will | | | | heating. |
| heat up faster than one without. | | | | Heck, you could even take it outside in the |
| 2. Another major difference as explained to me | | | | summertime and let the kids hold on to it while |
| by a customer service rep at Dr Heater is the | | | | they teach themselves to rollerblade. But you'd |
| use of a blower to distribute the heat rather than | | | | probably have a tough time explaining your |
| just a fan. | | | | warranty claim in the event this novel use had |
| Although every blower has a fan of some type, a | | | | unintended consequences. |