 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Alternative-Heating-Info.com
Micathermic Flat Panel Heaters: Too Hot To Handle?
When micathermic heaters
first arrived on the heating
scene a few years ago they
created quite a stir.
An article I wrote about this
sleek, modern looking heater
still gets around 20,000
views a year mirroring
continued consumer interest.
But after observing 3 heating
seasons of consumer use
and their personal reviews
I'm no longer the fan I once
was of this lightweight, slim
profile heater.
first arrived on the heating
scene a few years ago they
created quite a stir.
An article I wrote about this
sleek, modern looking heater
still gets around 20,000
views a year mirroring
continued consumer interest.
But after observing 3 heating
seasons of consumer use
and their personal reviews
I'm no longer the fan I once
was of this lightweight, slim
profile heater.
The concept behind micathermic heaters promised a solution to many common space
heater complaints such as noise, slow heat-up, high energy costs, and poor
aesthetics. For the most part it delivers on these promises, but the delivery isn't
consistent.
Just like so many other consumer products these days, whether they are cameras or
ice cream makers, micathermic heaters either thrill their users or severely disappoint.
Some complaints against the heater can be dismissed as nit picking. Other
complaints can't be ignored.
The complaints I'm referring to are those relating to potential fire hazards created by
melting wires and shooting sparks. Ordinarily, the occurrence of a rare, single
complaint of this type is usually the result of owner misuse or an over loaded circuit.
But multiple complaints regarding heaters manufactured by different companies
signals a much deeper problem.
The specific micathermic heaters mentioned are the Bionaire BH3950-U
Micathermic Console Heater manufactured by the Holmes Group and the DeLonghi
HHP1500 Mica Panel Radiator from DeLonghi America.
Reviewed first is the DeLonghi HHP1500. I've edited (......) the reviews to save space
but you can read them in their entirety here.
Flamed out after five months April 7, 2009
By R. Stanley
…….I bought this heater because it was a Consumer Reports top pick. And I loved it --
effective, quiet, easy to use -- until it flamed out five months after I bought it………One
day I noticed my cat staring at it; curious, I looked, too, and suddenly a bright orange
spot the size of a nickel appeared near where the power cord entered the unit, and there
was a burning smell. I quickly turned it off and unplugged it. There was a scorch mark
where the flare up had been. After letting it cool, I plugged it back in and tried to turn it
on, but it was (and is) permanently dead.
Needless to say I am……… feeling rather lucky that I happened to be close by, and able to
unplug it quickly, when it decided to have its fatal meltdown. Who know what damage it
might have caused if I'd been out of the room.
It's true. It shoots sparks April 1, 2009
By melogirl (Seattle)
………….During it's decline, it increased the popping noises during heating and eventually
created a glowing lava-like hole about 1 1/2" in diameter. I thought I saw sparks from
that spot -- probably should have retired it at that point. It was confirmed a few days
later when my husband and I both wheeled around and caught it shooting sparks about
two feet from the unit.
Next are two reviews are for the Bionaire BH3950-U.
Fire Hazard! January 2, 2008
By "AGD" (Northern NJ)
I was ecstatic with this heater for the first two months that I had it. It was quiet and
indeed could heat my whole 11 by 17 foot bedroom. However, this morning I smelled
smoke. I unplugged the heater and found that the plug and my electrical outlet were
charred and melted. Thankfully I caught it in time.
Beware FIRE, January 7, 2008
By Homebrewer
Same problem as other reviewer...
Smoke!! I have 3 kids and this thing scared the heck out of me!!! I don't think I will
buy another Bionaire product!!
HEATER AND SMOKER October 7, 2008
By M. McNally
Mine started to smoke. I took it apart and found melted wires. I was able to rewire it to
run on low only and have since had no trouble. NEVER RUN THIS HEATER ON HIGH. IT IS
AN EXTREME FIRE HAZZARD. Good for smoking meat and game, too! (continued here)
This review might be funny if the consequences weren't potentially fatal. As vexing
as customer service can be these days (another frequent complaint in general), It's
still wiser to return a faulty product rather than attempting to fix it yourself; that's
what warranties are for.
A recent search on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website
revealed no complaints or recalls for either of the heaters mentioned in this article.
I can't say if this is good because there weren't enough verifiable complaints to
warrant a recall, or if this is bad because the CPSC missed an opportunity.
Either way, when I want relevant information on the performance of an individual
product I tend to value the reviews of a couple hundred actual consumers more than
a single, albeit well intentioned, report from a bunch of guys in a lab.
heater complaints such as noise, slow heat-up, high energy costs, and poor
aesthetics. For the most part it delivers on these promises, but the delivery isn't
consistent.
Just like so many other consumer products these days, whether they are cameras or
ice cream makers, micathermic heaters either thrill their users or severely disappoint.
Some complaints against the heater can be dismissed as nit picking. Other
complaints can't be ignored.
The complaints I'm referring to are those relating to potential fire hazards created by
melting wires and shooting sparks. Ordinarily, the occurrence of a rare, single
complaint of this type is usually the result of owner misuse or an over loaded circuit.
But multiple complaints regarding heaters manufactured by different companies
signals a much deeper problem.
The specific micathermic heaters mentioned are the Bionaire BH3950-U
Micathermic Console Heater manufactured by the Holmes Group and the DeLonghi
HHP1500 Mica Panel Radiator from DeLonghi America.
Reviewed first is the DeLonghi HHP1500. I've edited (......) the reviews to save space
but you can read them in their entirety here.
Flamed out after five months April 7, 2009
By R. Stanley
…….I bought this heater because it was a Consumer Reports top pick. And I loved it --
effective, quiet, easy to use -- until it flamed out five months after I bought it………One
day I noticed my cat staring at it; curious, I looked, too, and suddenly a bright orange
spot the size of a nickel appeared near where the power cord entered the unit, and there
was a burning smell. I quickly turned it off and unplugged it. There was a scorch mark
where the flare up had been. After letting it cool, I plugged it back in and tried to turn it
on, but it was (and is) permanently dead.
Needless to say I am……… feeling rather lucky that I happened to be close by, and able to
unplug it quickly, when it decided to have its fatal meltdown. Who know what damage it
might have caused if I'd been out of the room.
It's true. It shoots sparks April 1, 2009
By melogirl (Seattle)
………….During it's decline, it increased the popping noises during heating and eventually
created a glowing lava-like hole about 1 1/2" in diameter. I thought I saw sparks from
that spot -- probably should have retired it at that point. It was confirmed a few days
later when my husband and I both wheeled around and caught it shooting sparks about
two feet from the unit.
Next are two reviews are for the Bionaire BH3950-U.
Fire Hazard! January 2, 2008
By "AGD" (Northern NJ)
I was ecstatic with this heater for the first two months that I had it. It was quiet and
indeed could heat my whole 11 by 17 foot bedroom. However, this morning I smelled
smoke. I unplugged the heater and found that the plug and my electrical outlet were
charred and melted. Thankfully I caught it in time.
Beware FIRE, January 7, 2008
By Homebrewer
Same problem as other reviewer...
Smoke!! I have 3 kids and this thing scared the heck out of me!!! I don't think I will
buy another Bionaire product!!
HEATER AND SMOKER October 7, 2008
By M. McNally
Mine started to smoke. I took it apart and found melted wires. I was able to rewire it to
run on low only and have since had no trouble. NEVER RUN THIS HEATER ON HIGH. IT IS
AN EXTREME FIRE HAZZARD. Good for smoking meat and game, too! (continued here)
This review might be funny if the consequences weren't potentially fatal. As vexing
as customer service can be these days (another frequent complaint in general), It's
still wiser to return a faulty product rather than attempting to fix it yourself; that's
what warranties are for.
A recent search on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website
revealed no complaints or recalls for either of the heaters mentioned in this article.
I can't say if this is good because there weren't enough verifiable complaints to
warrant a recall, or if this is bad because the CPSC missed an opportunity.
Either way, when I want relevant information on the performance of an individual
product I tend to value the reviews of a couple hundred actual consumers more than
a single, albeit well intentioned, report from a bunch of guys in a lab.
