A mixed review
Pros:
attractive, light weight and portable, quiet
Cons:
NO numeric thermostat (major bummer), does it work well???
The Bottom Line:
Without a numeric (readout) thermostat, I would defer a recommendation for the HGW-308. Conceptually a good idea, but I don't know if the product actually delivers the goods.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
I have mixed feelings about the Soleus HGW-308:
On the positive side, I definitely like the aesthetics of the unit. It is very light weight, making it easy to move from one part of the house to another. It feels very stable when sitting on the casters (no worries about it falling over). It has a microchip which will turn it off if something (like a towel) is placed over it, accidentally (a nice safety feature). It feels safe to use because there are no exposed elements, no flames and it never gets hot to the touch. It is thin (not taking up much floor space) and I plan to mount mine on a brick wall in my entryway. Also, it is very quiet (just making a few noises, like sheet metal warping, as described by another reviewer) when it heats up. And it doesn't produce any odors (like my old ceramic heater did). It should be energy efficient, too.
So, what's not to like?
The lack of a numeric temperature dial (thermostat) is an egregious omission. There is absolutely no way of telling what temperature you are setting it to (short of buying an external thermostat and keeping it in the same room, and constantly checking the temp). I first used the HGW-308 in my bedroom (13.5' x 18'), while dropping the house temp down to 64 degrees, at night. I honestly could not tell any difference, in the temp of my BR, from the rest of the house (even though the unit appears to be working: it produces some heat and the power switch does light up). I then placed it in an 11' x 11' room and still could not tell a difference, in the temp in that room, from the ambient house temp. I know that it is working, I just can't tell how well. I do plan on buying an inexpensive thermometer for the room it is going in.
I do not regret the purchase but would not feel good about recommending the unit without a numeric temperature thermostat. (It has a rotary dial which increases heat output as you rotate clockwise).