At the heart of all infrared heaters are the quartz bulbs which are formed by enclosing a tungsten resistance wire within a high purity quartz sheath. They provide even, non drying floor to ceiling heat and, according to the manufacturer, reduce positive ions in the atmosphere responsible for many respiratory problems. The bulbs are rated to last 5,000-7,000 hours and cost around $15 each to replace.

The EdenPure/SunTwin heaters are offered in 3 sizes: 500, 1,000, and 1,500 watt and the unit model numbers coincide with the heat output in watts. So a Suntwin 1500 Elite produces 1,500 watts. The heaters are thermostatically controlled, equipped with a circuit breaker, and have a 1 year warranty.

It has a cool to the touch exterior and, unlike some other heaters, doesn’t have glowing red wires or an exposed fan. This is a big plus if you have kids and/or pets. Despite the complaints some consumers have with it, I haven’t found one that is health or safety related.

The #1 complaint of consumers who have actually purchased the heater comes down to this: Too little heat for too much money. Putting aside the cost factor for a moment, I’ll address the “too little heat” complaint first.

The results you get from a 1,500 watt heater, EdenPure or otherwise, depends on how it’s being used. Bear in mind, a 1,500 watt heater is the equivalent of only 5,000 Btus. This is minuscule compared to a typical 65,000 btu oil or gas fired furnace.

If you’re depending on a 1,500 watt heater as your only heat source, it will heat only 150 – 200 square feet depending on how well your home is insulated, obstructions to the flow of heat, such as walls, and the outside temperature.

Here’s the basic “rule of thumb” formula for calculating space heater capacity:
Watts/10 = heated space in square feet. Or: 1,500/10 = 150.

However, if you use a space heater to supplement your existing heating system by turning back the thermostat and letting the space heater pick up the slack, you could increase the effective heating range of a 1,500 watt heater to 600 square feet.

I chalk this up to what I call the “furniture factor.” You can either buy a space heater that looks like a space heater, or one that complements your decor and doubles as an end table.

An even better example of the “furniture factor” is the electric fireplace. No matter which electric fireplace you look at, they all have the same 1,500 watt heater. Yet, depending on the design of the mantel piece, you could easily spend 2 or 3 times more on an electric fireplace than an EdenPure quartz infrared heater.

The difference is this: Most people who buy an electric fireplace are looking for furniture, but everyone who buys an EdenPure portable heater is looking for heat.

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