Vornado TVH500 with Remote

Bottom line

The Vornado TVH500 with Remote is an all-metal, modernly styled space heater that can warm large or small rooms, according to reviewers. It's not as effective as a personal heater or for warming a smaller space within a room, and it doesn't always distribute heat evenly. Users praise the remote, thermostat and timer and, for the most part, say they work very effectively. However, the Vornado TVH500 is pricey for its unreliability; owners say it can break easily, but it is replaceable under Vornado's 5-year warranty.

Performance

Warms quickly but doesn't distribute heat as efficiently. The Vornado TVH500 heats well, according to professional testers and owners alike. Good Housekeeping found that the heater got very warm, very quickly--but doesn't distribute that heat very well. On the other hand, one Amazon.com reviewer reports that while it might be effective at warming a room, it's not very good for warming a select area of a room or one person because the heater blows the warm air away and into the rest of the room. There are some reports of this heater breaking easily, but one Amazon.com reviewer says Vornado covered the problem under its five-year warranty.

Ease of use

Uncomplicated. Good Housekeeping editors call the Vornado TVH500 "fairly easy to use" but don't specify why it earns the "fairly" qualifier. They also conclude that it's relatively lightweight and very easy to set up. Amazon.com reviewers don't specify whether this unit is easy to use. One owner did complain that the remote was difficult to use. (For example, you can't tell what "mode" you're in from the remote, so trying to adjust the mode from the remote is futile.)

Safety

Inconsistent but helpful safety features. The Vornado TVH500 offers automatic shut-off when tipped over or when airflow is obstructed. However, in Good Housekeeping's testing, the tip-over switch didn't work consistently. Editors do point out that the unit is difficult to accidentally flip. There are no other reports of safety concerns.

Noise

A quiet heater. According to Good Housekeeping editors, the Vornado TVH500 is "fairly quiet." In general, Amazon.com users agree, saying the heater warms an entire room quietly.