Broan-NuTone 6201 Big Heat Heater

Unfortunately, the best way to buy a small heater is to test it in the store. But we can't do that. Stores don't have everything, and they never leave electric cords hanging out.So, I bought this based on the review from LoLoHo ( the Airstream folks.)Years ago I had a ceramic disc heater that was fantastic. It heated a small room NOW!I guess all those companies went overseas and stopped making quality products.The Broan arrived, it's certainly well made, metal cabinet, built like a tank.I started it up and it shook like the fan was way out of balance. Setting it on a countertop it made a lot of noise. I took the side off expecting to see a fan blade hitting the case, or a glob of glue on one blade. Inside is a "squirrel cage" fan. Everything looked okay. The noise was enough to be distracting at 10'.Looking at the bottom the front feet are rubber, but the back feet are smaller plastic pieces. They all just push into holes, no screws. I may try larger rubber feet, but my hopes are dimming. It may go back.BTW, there was no smell, as others reported. That's the good news. The fan has one speed. It's on or off. The low heat just uses fewer heating elements. The thermostat works well, but only cycles the unit on or off.

I tried using the "Handy Heater" in my 21.5 foot travel trailer but that fell short, this was its replacement. I saw this reviewed on a Youtube Channel I follow and it got high marks so I bought it. I set it up in the living room of my Salem 196BH travel trailer while it was 30 degrees F outside. It took it 6 hours to heat the unit up, but it did eventually reach 65 degrees inside and kept it there. I felt comfortable in just sweatpants and a t-shirt.It does take forever to heat up, but once it does heat up the area, it has no problem keeping it warm. One thing to note in my application is I have a "Cruise Lite" trailer, to make my unit light weight they don't insulate it very well. I'm sure if you use this in a insulated area, it will heat up the space much faster and probably heat it much more than in my application.

I have two complaints1) When I first bought it, the thing would rattle from time to time. Sometimes giving it a nudge would stop the noise. But after a few months use, it rattles all of the time and the noise can only be stopped by shutting it off.2) The thermostat has a very narrow differential and it is not consistent. In fact, the thermostat is surprisingly crude. On/Off cycles are very short but not consistent.On the good side, the heater appears to be very well made. It feels solid. I suspect it will last for many years, but it would be annoying the whole time.I would not buy it again.

Negatives: As others have noted is smells, stinks toxic electronics smell for HOURS. Mine has run for probably 6 hours and it still stinks up the room. It's nasty and cannot be good to breath this stuff.Positives: It's small, mostly metal instead of plastic, doesn't get warm on any surface and does put-out heat.

The cord on this unit is really too small. It gets very hot under extended use on the high setting and has no ground. Mine served me through a cold winter and worked well for 6 months.... Then one night it melted the heavy gauge surge protector outlet it was plugged into. Luckily safeties on both the surge protector and the heater work and now neither work. I can't help but think if the cord wasn't getting so hot this wouldn't have happened.

I have two of these. One I bought for a boat 4yrs ago and another one for an RV recently. My review of at least the 4yr old one, is a testimony to how this heater held up in an extreme condition. I was shocked to find out that I had accidentally left this heater on, on max heat in a tiny boat cabin for 5 weeks. I walked in to see it running and the fan blowing, in an ultra warm cabin. Turned it off immediately in amazement, but could not turn it back on assuming the heater was too hot. Once it cooled down, turned in on again and worked like a charm. Glad it worked and glad it did not burn down my boat. WOW

It heats well, but as others have said, it is NOISY! Also, in the first two days of running it, it has put off an odor that gives me a headache - if this doesn't clear up soon, I will have to return it.UPDATE: OK, I'm keeping it - it stopped stinking after a couple of days of "burn in". Still amazed that a squirrel cage fan is that noisy, but as someone else mentioned, it will work as a white noise generator in my RV...

Even though I've only been working with this heater for a few months I give it an excellent rating.For a little machine the blower is very powerful. The controls are, as advertisied, easy access anddo what they are designed to do. No down side so far. Worked with a number of other heaterswith this basic configuraturation and have been dissappointed. We'll see...

It is a great little heater but should not be sold as a big heat heater to heat a garage. The size shown in the picture is deceptive. It is ok for a small room or a travel trailer which I would use it for in the future. I would have to purchase another one to heat my garage.

Might not heat my garage but sitting next to my wife over the winter is a yes. Warm wife happy life .I do have a 220 V Broan heater that does heat my double garage. Great product

Works great, nice and small with big heat.

Compact, easy to use, has thermostat.

Heating garage 1 1/2 and no usulat. Sometimes -30c but average -10c. Garage could be at 14c in but set thermostat to keep it at 5c. Set a 1500w when coldest and 750w daily. This little heat box do the job and you can filling the heat 6ft in front of it. Try order kind of electric heater before and this one is the best way ahead. If this product doesn't work for you as 110v well you will need to change category such as 220v or fuel heater.