If you’re always cold, then the Vornado space heater is about to become your new best friend. This portable space heater is simple to use and lightweight enough to move from your bedroom to the office to the living room and back again. In other words, it is ideal for almost any space.
“When shopping for a space heater, you’ll want a model that is appropriately sized for the room,” advises Bill Taylor, HVAC contractor Manager at South Jersey Gas and Elizabethtown Gas. “A heater that is too large may waste energy and cause safety concerns, while one that is too small will not heat the space effectively.”
If you’ve determined that the Vornado space heater is the right size for your intended space, read on for an in-depth look at this small but mighty unit.
We Tried It
Vornado MVH Whole Room Heater
The Vornado space heater is quiet, simple to use and has excellent tip-over protection.
What is the Vornado MVH Whole Room Heater?
The Vornado space heater is a corded, portable space heater capable of heating up to 256 square feet. It measures 10.6 by 9.2 by 10.4 and weighs just over 4 pounds, making it easy to move from room to room.
This space heater is simply designed with just a power button, three heat settings and a temperature dial. Safety features include tip-over protection, overheat shutoff, a cool-touch case and flame-retardant materials. It also has cord management in the form of notches on the underside, around which you can wrap the power cord.
Unlike some other models we tested, this space heater does not oscillate, have a fan-only setting or include a remote.
How We Tested It
Our product testing team ran a total of 12 space heaters in rooms ranging from 169 to 196 square feet. They paid special attention to each unit’s safety features, size and price point. Product tester Annamarie Higley used the Vornado space heater in her 189-square-foot bedroom for three hours at a time.
Initially, Annamarie wasn’t thrilled by the heater’s aesthetics. She referred to it as “industrial looking” and didn’t love the pops of red. However, she was quick to overlook its appearance given the heater’s quality. “Of the three I tested, this is seemed like the highest quality unit,” she says. “It’s substantial in size and weight, and the controls are all worthy.”
During testing, Annamarie ran this space heater on low and high settings. She was impressed by how quiet it was but found that while it didn’t generate a ton of heat. “Temps didn’t even reach 80 degrees Fahrenheit. That said, no one would want a room to be much hotter than 80 degrees Fahrenheit at the absolute max so I don’t think this is a huge issue,” she explains. “Plus, the corners and center of the room read the same temps at almost every checkpoint.”
Another huge plus was the fact that it never got too hot. “I was actually able to touch the grates, the emblem on the front, and the sides of the unit while it was still blowing hot air. Though the grates were a little warm, it was nothing dangerous or concerning,” she says.
Once she had the Vornado space heater up and running, Annamarie wanted to test its safety features. Specifically, she wanted to evaluate its tip-over protection. Per the instruction manual, the unit will automatically turn off if it tips more than 10%. According to Annamarie, it’s actually more sensitive than that. “If it’s even almost imperceptibly tipped, you can hear the shutoff feature click,” she says. It’s no wonder this unit made the cut as one of the safest space heaters you can buy.
Annamarie’s only complaint about this unit is the lack of temperature labels. She also cautions that those with long nails or large hands may have trouble turning the temperature dial. That’s because it’s flush with the control panel and only has a slight depression where you’re supposed to place your finger and turn. That said, she herself didn’t have any trouble operating this space heater.
Pros
- Compact design
- Onboard cord management
- Intuitive controls
- Quality construction
- Ultra-quiet
- Heats evenly
- Long warranty
Cons:
- No fan function
Product Comparison: Vornado vs. Dreo
In addition to the Vornado MVH Whole Room Heater, we also tested the Dreo Atom One. Both models are portable, simple to use and heated our testers’ rooms evenly. They’re also relatively quiet and well constructed.
While Annamarie describes the Vornado as “industrial looking,” product tester Sydney Manning describes the Dreo as cute, sleek and modern. The Dreo’s modern features include an LED touchscreen control panel, oscillation and a remote control. It also costs about $20 less than the Vornado. While this might sound enticing, we found the Vornado to be the safer option.
Though both heaters are equipped with plenty of safety features, the Vornado has better tip-over protection. As mentioned above, the Vornado immediately shut off when slightly tipped. The Dreo, on the other hand, took two to three minutes to shut off after being tipped on its side.
If you plan on using this space heater in a tight space then the Vornado is the better option.
Final Verdict
It’s not the prettiest unit we tested, but the Vornado space heater will keep your room nice and toasty. It has tip-over protection, overheat shutoff, a cool-touch case, and is flame-retardant so you can rest assured you’ll have one of the safest space heaters on the market. And at under $100, you can’t go wrong.
Where to Buy the Vornado MVH Whole Room Heater
We Tried It
Vornado MVH Whole Room Heater
During testing, the Vornado heated evenly and was cool to the touch after use.
The Vornado space heater is currently available on Amazon.
FAQ
How do you clean a Vornado space heater?
Vornado recommends cleaning your unit on a weekly basis. To do so, begin by unplugging the heater. Once it’s unplugged, use the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to suck up any dust that may have accumulated in the open grilles on the front, back and the sides of heater. Then wipe down the entire heater with a soft, dry cloth.
Vornado also recommends periodically blowing out the heater with pressurized air. According to the brand’s website, this helps keep the heat element and motor clear of dust, hair and debris that can build up inside the heater as it moves air during use.
Where is Vornado made?
Vornado is based in Andover, Kansas which is where products are designed and engineered. While many Vornado products are made in the USA, some are made overseas. If you prefer to buy American made products, the Vornado website has a filter that allows you to shop products that are made in the USA.
Why You Should Trust Us
Our product testing team at Family Handyman, spearheaded by Sheri Kaz, Dylan Fischer and Sydney Manning, put 12 space heaters through our fine-tuned testing process. During testing, they analyzed the specs, performance and features of each model and only recommended those that met or exceeded their expectations.
Higley, who tested multiple space heaters, has tested hundreds of products across various brands, including Family Handyman, Taste of Home and Reader’s Digest, and has built sets to simulate true-to-life scenarios for product testing.
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