Benefits

Using a portable heater has many advantages:

• A portable electric heater provides a perfect way to add heat to areas which are not adequately heated. In some cases, this could be areas which are not connected to a central heating system. In other cases, a portable electric heater can act as supplemental heat when the existing central heating system does not provide enough heat.
• Portable electric heaters add convenience and efficiency to your heating needs. The portable nature allows for flexibility in where the heater may be used. Most heaters are relatively small and can be moved around a house or to specific areas which require additional heat.
• Portable electric heaters also provide an efficient way to save energy. You can use a heater to concentrate heat in those more commonly lived areas of your home. By doing so, you will be able to turn down your central heating thermostat and save on heating costs.
• Bionaire® heaters that come with the Heat and Save Technology will run at a fraction of the standard 1500 watt energy consumption. The heater will automatically cycle between 1500 and 1000 watts over the course of a 4-hour period. The cycling is time-based; when turned on, the heater runs at powerful 1500 watts for 10 minutes before cutting back to 1000 watts for 30 minutes. After the 30 minute period the heater will return to 1500 watts for 10 minutes and so on. The heater shuts off after the 4-hour cycle is complete.

Types of Heaters

Fan Forced Fan forced heaters quickly and effectively heat large or small rooms, so you can keep the thermostat lower. They have a resistive coil element that heats up as electricity passes through it. A fan blows air across the heated element and into the room and usually have plastic housings, including the grill, which means surfaces are cool to the touch. Ceramic Powerful and portable, Bionaire® ceramic heaters are energy-efficient and provide instant warmth. They have a heating element with PTC (positive temperature coefficient) ceramic plates and aluminum baffles. Electricity passes through the ceramic plates to heat the baffles. The heat is absorbed by the aluminum baffle and a fan blows the air across the heated aluminum and into the room. Ceramic heaters offer the added safety benefit that if it gets too hot, electricity won't pass through it. Radiant/Quartz They use glowing elements that emit infrared light. Like the sun, these heaters will warm the object in front of it, not the entire room. Many radiant heaters include a fan to help push the heat into the room. Convection/Micathermic/Panel Ultra quiet and safe, convection heaters provide steady, long-term heating solutions for medium to large rooms. They use a heating element to warm a large surface around the element. As the surface warms, heat rises into the room. This drives cooler air down toward the heating element where it is warmed, and the cycle continues. These heaters are quiet because they don't use a fan to push the hot air into the room. They circulate even, consistent heat. Oil-filled These column-type heaters are safe, effective, and efficient, offering a low-cost heating option for homeowners. Utility heaters They are heater fans, usually constructed with metal housing, which are ideal for rugged environments like workshops, garages and basements. Standard features include a thermostat, overheat protection and tip-over protection for added safety.

How to Choose the Right Heater

Choose Your Room Size

• 
  small room up to 155 sq.ft
• 
  Medium room up to 300 sq.ft
• 
  large room up to 500 sq.ft

Care and Cleaning

During season care:

• Always unplug the heater before cleaning.
• Clean the unit with a soft cloth moistened in a mild soap solution.
• NEVER use abrasive or flammable solvents to clean the unit. Please be cautious near the heating elements.
• After cleaning, be sure to completely dry the unit with a cloth or towel.
• TIP: Over time, dust may accumulate on the grills. This can be removed by wiping the unit with a damp cloth.
• Always unplug unit and allow cooling prior to cleaning.

After season care:

• Store heater in a cool, dry location.
• Bionaire® brand experts recommend that you store the unit in its original carton.

Glossary

Manual Thermostat

A manual thermostat allows a consumer to set a general range of desired temperatures. While the accuracy may not be as precise as some electronic/digital thermostats, the consumer can receive the same benefits at lower price points.

Digital Thermostat

A digital thermostat allows a consumer to temperature, timer, and oscillation features.

1Touch Electronic Thermostat

1Touch allows a consumer to operate the heater by pressing a single button. The button controls high and low settings as well as temperature setting. Temperatures may be set in 5 degree increments

Control Panel

This interface is used to turn the heater on and to change modes. The modes include a fan only mode and 2 wattage settings of low and high.

Oscillation

When turned on it automatically turns the head of the heater from left to right at either a 90 or 180-degree angle (depending on model), which will disperse the heat output over a larger area.

Tilt/Swivel Base

A base that allows you to manually adjust the heater from side to side or up and down to position the heat output in a particular direction.

Remote Control

Select heaters come with a remote control which can control various functions from a distance.

Temperature Light

This feature is used with a thermostat. It is a light that will turn on when the desired set temperature has been reached causing the heater to shut off.

Washable Dust Filter

A filter on the back of some heaters, which can be removed and cleaned. It helps inhibit dust from entering the heater and motor.

Auto Off timer

Adjustable auto off feature that works on a timer.

Pre-Heat Timer

This offers the ability for consumers to pre heat rooms before they want to be in that room by pushing a button.

P.T.C. Shutdown

P.T.C. = Positive Temperature Coefficient. It is used in this safety system to measure the air temperature in the heater. It refers to a small ceramic element that is used in conjunction with a thermal over-temperature sensor. The PTC element design requires that the heater be manually reset instead of cycling on and off if an overheat situation occurs. The PTC auto shut-off temperature is between 165 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Tip-Over Protection

Consists of a switch that interrupts power to the heating element, and fan motor as well. The switch is activated when the heater is tilted to a certain angle that causes a mechanical switch to move. Power will not be restored until it has been placed back in the upright position.

Caution Light Indicator

This is a light that turns on to visually show the heater is in an overheat situation.

Audible Alarm

This is an audible buzzer that is activated when an overheat situation occurs, or in some models, if the heater is tipped over. To stop the alarm from buzzing, the heater must be in an upright position and/or reset depending on the situation.

Thermal Back-Up Fuse

The overheat back-up fuse is an added safety device which acts as additional back-up protection. It is usually used in conjunction with the above safety features. If the heater is in an overheat situation, a heat activated fuse opens, which stops power from going to the heating element and fan motor. This fuse cannot be reset or replaced and the heater will not function again, even after the heater has cooled down. If the thermal back-up fuse is activated, the heater must be replaced.

ALCI Plug

To pass UL requirements for use in the bathroom, a heater must have an ALCI plug. This plug senses a ground fault and will shut power off at the plug. If the current leaving the appliance doesn't equal the current entering, the power is shut off within milliseconds.