Sunbeam Space Heaters Are Great Heaters for Small Budgets
Gather 'round, fellow cold-natured people. I'm about to talk about one of my favorite appliances!
Last month we had one of those dreadful Unexpected Expenses. We had to buy a new space heater for our bedroom. Our old heater finally blew its last warm breath. Naturally, it did this during the coldest of week of winter so far.
We needed a replacement, so we bought this Sunbeam Electric Heater. I rarely replace a broken item with the exact same brand/model. So why did I choose to do so this time?
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Let me just say that I do not like being cold. At all. Not even if it means saving a few pennies. I just can't do it. (But I save a ton on air conditioning in the summer, coz 95 degrees is okay with me!)
The heater had to be replaced, but I sure dreaded the idea. I liked how budget-friendly our old heater was!
Sunbeam Space Heater--You Definitely Get Your Money's Worth!
My first reaction when anything breaks is to get all disgusted and swear I will never buy that piece of crap again (even if the poor thing is decades old and run to the bone. How dare it break?)
Sometimes I am totally justified.
This time, I had to sheepishly admit that our old Sunbeam heater was not a piece of crap at all. We realized we had been using it for nearly six years, and it wasn't new when we got it!
It belonged to my sister first, then my parents. The poor thing was nearly ten years old, and had been used just about every winter day (read any day where the inside temp fell below 80) for a decade!
Its safe to say that in six years, I've gotten to know this heater pretty well. Here is what I like and don't like about it:
Pros and Cons of the Sunbeam Electric Tower Heater
Not Great
Lemme start with the not-so-awesome stuff. Here is what could be better:
- Hand grip on back
- Needs a sturdier base
- Longer cord would be nice.
Cord:
Okay. The longer cord is not THAT Important. I just happen to love long cords on all of my appliances.
I like to set space heaters up off the floor, and having a longer cord makes it more convenient to reach the outlets.
Base:
The heater is pretty sturdy and tip-proof, but just a bit wider on the bottom would be nice. Even if doesn't tip, it wobbles some, which can trigger the safety shut off. (more on that in a bit.)
Handle:
The back handle is the worst feature, and its not a deal breaker. There is a hole to slide your hand into so you can pick the heater up without getting burned.
However, the heater is heavy and it tends to just tip forward out of your hand while you are trying to lift it.
Even so, do not give in to the temptation to grab that amazing handle-looking thingy in the front. It's actually not a handle, and it gets hot. Trust me.
The Good Stuff
Now I can tell you why I bought this heater a second time. (Besides that longevity thing.)
Dials!
We have a tower heater with a digital temperature setting. You have to hit the button repeatedly to get where you want to be, and it beeps loudly each time. I love these no-fuss, no-beep dials!
Safety:
The safety shut-off is awesome. If the heater tips, wobbles, or falls over--it automatically shuts off.
It will not turn back on either until you hit the reset button. Although the heater is out of reach, its nice to have this feature when you have children, just in case. And we grown-ups have been clumsy enough to knock it over a few times too.
Temperature Shut-Off:
Works very well on this heater. I think it is a standard feature on all heaters, but I like that this one is super-sensitive. We don't waste a lot of electricity because if the room heats up just a tad (like if someone takes a shower) the heater shuts off immediately.
Heated Area:
Our bedroom is about 12'x12', and if the door is closed, this heater will make that room way too hot really fast. That includes heating up the "master bath", (which is a sprawling 7'x10' room.)
Since the rest of house depends on heat solely from a wall-mounted propane heater in the living room, we tend to leave our door open so the space heater can balance out some of the heat.
Last year when our propane heater decided to not work (during an ice storm) we used our previous Sunbeam heater to heat the main living area.
Even though it was sooooo cold outside and our leaky old house has NO insulation, this heater was able to heat up our mostly open floor plan to comfortable. (Given, that is only about 1000 square feet, but it kept the whole space evenly heated despite drafts from our yet un-caulked windows.)
So the amount of heat it puts out is above average for a heater of its size!)
Electricity Usage:
Because we have to use space heaters to survive the winter, we always worry about our electric bill. Heat is one thing we will not get skimpy with. Luckily, this little dude uses very little electricity.
In fact, even though we've been running all three of our space heaters, (not all three are this model) pretty much 24/7 for two months, our bill has only gone up about $15 from usual.
Low Cost:
And lastly, its pretty cheap to buy. We spent much more last year to get a "sexier" looking tower heater (it was all they had when the propane heater died), and it has fewer functions than this Sunbeam. It also doesn't heat as well.
We also have a little box-shaped Sunbeam heater that has been going for years. (My little office buddy!)
It also heats a lot more than you would expect from something the size of a toaster.
Great Space Heater for Small Homes and Tiny Budgets
I'm totally impressed with Sunbeam heaters. They last a long time, they use very little power, and they heat a room like a boss.
Sunbeam heaters also have either glowing heating elements or a light on the device so that you can see the heater in the dark. (important if you don't want to try fumbling for the dial and burn yourself)
I know there is tons of frugal living advice that says you should turn your heat off or down (to some barbarically freezing temperature) to save money.
But if you are like me, and you would give up a meal rather than have to use a cold bathroom, then this is the space heater for you. Safe, affordable, and cozy!
It's not sexy though. But you can't have everything.
*not a sponsored post. Just a happy ramble from a warm, comfy person!*
Now I can tell you why I bought this heater a second time. (Besides that longevity thing.)
- Mulitple settings for that "just-right" temperature
- Dials, not digital
- Safety shut-off
- Temperature shut-off
- Heats pretty big rooms
- Low electricity usage
- Reasonably Priced
- I like having range of temp settings. This heater has a LOT. You can choose between low and high setting, then set the second dial to choose your temperature range.
Dials!
We have a tower heater with a digital temperature setting. You have to hit the button repeatedly to get where you want to be, and it beeps loudly each time. I love these no-fuss, no-beep dials!
Safety:
The safety shut-off is awesome. If the heater tips, wobbles, or falls over--it automatically shuts off.
It will not turn back on either until you hit the reset button. Although the heater is out of reach, its nice to have this feature when you have children, just in case. And we grown-ups have been clumsy enough to knock it over a few times too.
Temperature Shut-Off:
Works very well on this heater. I think it is a standard feature on all heaters, but I like that this one is super-sensitive. We don't waste a lot of electricity because if the room heats up just a tad (like if someone takes a shower) the heater shuts off immediately.
Heated Area:
Our bedroom is about 12'x12', and if the door is closed, this heater will make that room way too hot really fast. That includes heating up the "master bath", (which is a sprawling 7'x10' room.)
Since the rest of house depends on heat solely from a wall-mounted propane heater in the living room, we tend to leave our door open so the space heater can balance out some of the heat.
Last year when our propane heater decided to not work (during an ice storm) we used our previous Sunbeam heater to heat the main living area.
Even though it was sooooo cold outside and our leaky old house has NO insulation, this heater was able to heat up our mostly open floor plan to comfortable. (Given, that is only about 1000 square feet, but it kept the whole space evenly heated despite drafts from our yet un-caulked windows.)
So the amount of heat it puts out is above average for a heater of its size!)
Electricity Usage:
Because we have to use space heaters to survive the winter, we always worry about our electric bill. Heat is one thing we will not get skimpy with. Luckily, this little dude uses very little electricity.
In fact, even though we've been running all three of our space heaters, (not all three are this model) pretty much 24/7 for two months, our bill has only gone up about $15 from usual.
Low Cost:
And lastly, its pretty cheap to buy. We spent much more last year to get a "sexier" looking tower heater (it was all they had when the propane heater died), and it has fewer functions than this Sunbeam. It also doesn't heat as well.
We also have a little box-shaped Sunbeam heater that has been going for years. (My little office buddy!)
It also heats a lot more than you would expect from something the size of a toaster.
Great Space Heater for Small Homes and Tiny Budgets
I'm totally impressed with Sunbeam heaters. They last a long time, they use very little power, and they heat a room like a boss.
Sunbeam heaters also have either glowing heating elements or a light on the device so that you can see the heater in the dark. (important if you don't want to try fumbling for the dial and burn yourself)
I know there is tons of frugal living advice that says you should turn your heat off or down (to some barbarically freezing temperature) to save money.
But if you are like me, and you would give up a meal rather than have to use a cold bathroom, then this is the space heater for you. Safe, affordable, and cozy!
It's not sexy though. But you can't have everything.
*not a sponsored post. Just a happy ramble from a warm, comfy person!*
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