This was our first heater of this brand. It is small, light weight, and powerful. This one is very easy to travel with as it snugly fits right into the suitcase. If you do not need it for heating, it has a fan only option. As I have written in previous reviews on portable heaters, my home has several different brands and we have 3 models of the Lasko brand.

My husband is on medications that makes him feel very cold all the time, so I not only prepare with 14 cords of wood for the fall through winter, but also keep portable heaters around to warm him quickly and directly. Unfortunately part of being a family caregiver sooner or later will take its toll on your own health as I am now on the same "makes you cold" meds as he is except 4 times more.

After using the brands that we have such as Delonghi Fan Heater, Honeywell Ceramic, Lakewood Quartz, and Lasko Oscillating Digital, I have found my favorite brand to be the Lasko while my husband's favorite is the Lakewood Quartz Heater QTV-22. We own 3 models of the Lasko brand and all are of the styles are "ceramic". This review is on the Lasko Model 5400. This model is the least expensive from the Lasko lineup as it is the no frills, non-oscillating, non-digital temperature model.

Types of Electrical Portable Heaters

I always like to let the consumer know a little bit about the types of heaters that are out there on the market to choose from. There are radiant, quartz, ceramic, fan, and oil-filled.

Radiant Heater: Has a flat "ribbon" element to emit heat and glows red.

Quartz Heater: Has a coiled wire-heating element in a glass tube to emit radiated heat

Ceramic Heater: Non-glow nichrome ribbon, stays cool to the touch

Fan Forced: A fan used to force the air over the element for rapid heat distribution

Oil-Filled: Tubular steel element heats factory-sealed mineral oil, which warms the exterior of the heater and emits heat by natural convection.

The maximum wattage of heat allowed by the Underwriters Laboratories is 1500.

Having tried many makes and models and types, I have found to definitely get a "fan-type" which is offered in the ceramic, quartz and fan heaters. The fan will force the heat around the area thus making it warmer quicker.

The Lasko 5400 Product

• Ceramic stay cool to the touch

• 2 settings: High (1500w/ 5118 current room temperature BTU) and Low (900w/ 3070 BTU)

• Carry handle

• Automatic overheat protection

• Dimensions: 9.1 inches in height; 6.2 inches in depth; 7.2 inches wide

Performance

Before my daughter took this to her apartment, I had this one sitting behind me at my computer desk since my desk is located next to a big picture window which the cold air seems to seep thru the baseboards making it drafty cold when temps dip below 20 in the winter.

I normally just had to use this on the low setting. It kept the cold draft around the floor area toasty warm.
I also have used this in our bedroom and it only required the low setting even with temperatures outside of below 10 degrees.

We will swap heaters with our daughter if we have to take a trip and take this one due to its compact size. It has been around and is still going strong.

The ceramic heaters do not glow. They blow heat and stay cool to the touch. I would find these to be the safest around children and if one should tip over.

The controls are located on the top of the heater and are simple. One control is a choice of "fan", "low", or "high". The other control is the temperature, which just shows as lines and not digital or numbers of any sorts.

Since we started using portable heaters, we have been saving on our electric bill. Our bills before the portable heaters were running cIose to $300 a month in the dead of winter. Now, they are running less than $200 a month. Now with energy costs at an all time high, these heaters will really pay off to have.

As far as noise level is concerned, you can hear it but it is not very loud. It is soothing if you are trying to sleep since it will block out some unwanted noises.

Faults

This heater does offer an over heat cutoff switch but does not have a safety switch to shut off if it tipped over. Consumers need to keep this in mind to your own living situation if this would be a problem to you.

Final Thoughts

Ceramic heaters seem to be the most wanted heaters by consumers and I have tried several brands now. The Lasko brand is the most reliable one that I have bought and the best heating. If your household can go without the safety shutoff tip over feature, I would recommend the Lasko heater lineup. If you want one that is approximately the same compact size but oscillates and has a digital temp that makes the heater come on and off, we also own the Lasko MaxEndurance Model 5435 .

This offers a 3-year warranty.
















Recommended: Yes