Author: Maurice Savaryego, M.Sc.Eng. (Learn More)
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​Compare Portable Infrared Heaters: Dr Infrared vs.  iLIVING

Dr Infrared HeaterDr Infrared Heater (Photo Credits: Dr Infrared)
There are a number of good arguments for choosing an infrared heater, and a major one is that it is less costly than conventional heating methods. This is mainly because an infrared heater uses less energy than a conventional heater. This type of heater radiates infrared rays that are absorbed by the various objects in the room raising the temperature of the objects. As cooler surfaces gently warm up, the overall ambient temperature of the room is also raised.

On the other hand, conventional heaters work by warming up the air in the room. But warmer air rises to the ceiling at a faster rate than the cooling down rate of infrared warmed up  objects. Therefore, to keep the room comfortably warm, a conventional heater would have to work harder than an infrared heater, using more energy and costing you more.  By heating the objects in the room and not the air, infrared heaters provide maximum warmth and energy efficiency. So, you will not feel cold when you get away from the heater, and you will not have cold pockets of air in different spots of the room.  Anywhere in the space you are heating, you will feel pleasantly and comfortably warm.

The best part is that there is no noisy blowing of hot air from the heating unit, and the temperature increase happens in a quiet, safe and pollution free environment. Infrared heaters do not lower the oxygen levels in the room like gas or other electric heaters can. Also note that, because of their simple design, infrared heaters don't weigh much, often have caster wheels, and are easily portable to where you need it most.

Some of the features you should be looking for in an infrared heater are quartz bulb(s), cool-touch exterior, thermostat, simple controls, adequate heating capacity, quiet fan, caster wheels for easy portability, and attractive design.

Many have been wondering about the exact dollar savings one can realize using infrared heaters. Some manufacturers claim that using their infrared heaters instead of your regular heating system, you could save up to 50% on your electricity bill. Statements such as these need to be qualified as each home has different heating requirements, and the way people use the infrared heaters in conjunction with their home's central heating system comes also into consideration. In general, infrared heaters are amazing for cold snaps and to heat up cold spots and colder rooms in our homes. But unless you have a small home under 1000 sq-ft, they are not  intended to replace your whole home central heating system. They are mostly for supplemental heating needs.   However, because of how infrared heating works, you should definitely see some reduction in your overall electricity use, if you are using an infrared heater to warm a room while turning down  (but not turning off) your more costly home central heating system.

This review will compare the Dr Infrared DR968 and iLIVING ILG-918 portable infrared heaters. At the time this article was written, these heaters were top sellers in the portable infrared heater category among Amazon buyers who had bought them and tested them. Both had received an average rating of 4 stars (out of 5 stars) from Amazon customer reviews. The excellent value they offer at their relatively low price may explain in part their popularity.

You will find below a comparison and detailed descriptions of the selected infrared heaters. If you are in a hurry and prefer to see right-away price information for the selected portable infrared heaters, please click below:
Selected Portable Infrared Heaters on Amazon.



​Comparing the Dr Infrared DR968 and iLIVING ILG-918 Heaters:

Dr Infrared DR968 and iLIVING  ILG-918 heaters are shown below:

Dr Infrared Heater
(Photo Credits: Dr Infrared)
iLiving Heater
(Photo Credits: iLiving)

Important Note: Dr Infrared DR968 and iLIVING ILG-918 heaters are essentially the same product marketed under two different brand names. Therefore, in the rest of this article we will only refer to and describe the Dr Infrared DR968 heater, with the knowledge that everything we say about this heater (except for the price and warranty) applies also to the iLIVING ILG-918 heater.

The following table describes  the features of Dr Infrared DR968 (and as mentioned also the features of iLIVING ILG-918).
Please read the explanations to the table notes that follow for a better understanding of the features.

Explanations to Table Notes 1 - 4:

Note 1: Dr Infrared DR968 uses a dual heating system with both quartz and PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient)  heating elements.
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Note 2:  Dr Infrared has three power settings: Auto, Low (1000W) and High (1500W).  When Auto is selected, you can set the desired temperature to between 50-86F, and the thermostat will make sure that the desired temperature is reached and maintained. You can also manually set the heater to run on High or Low all the time or with the timer. An auto shut off feature prevents overheating.

Note 3: The air purifying filter can be cleaned and do not need to be replaced.
​
Note 4:   The price shown is the Amazon price in effect at the time this article was written and  may have changed.  For exact price information, please click the product image links in the Amazon section below. 

Finally note that this heater has a very low noise level.  

Detailed Description of the Selected Dr. Infrared ( and iLIVING) Heaters:


Dr Infrared DR968  (or  iLIVING ILG-918)

Dr Infrared DR968 Control PanelDr Infrared DR968 Control Panel (Photo Credits: Dr Infrared)
This electric infrared heater is housed in an attractive cherry color wood cabinet that will integrate well into any decor. It is not just lightweight (25lbs), but it is also equipped with four caster wheels, so it can easily be moved around from one room to another as needed.  It has a simple to use LED control panel (shown in the picture). Equipped with a dual heating system (quartz and PTC heating elements) and high a velocity low noise blower, it increases the heat distribution and transfer rate,  and the result is heating your room to a comfortable temperature in a very short time.

It features an electronic thermostat that is used in conjunction with three power settings: Auto, High (1500W) and Low (1000W).  When Auto is selected, you can set the desired temperature to between 50-86F, and the thermostat selects smartly between the Low and High settings until the desired temperature is reached. The thermostat regulates then the heater and causes it to cycle on and off to maintain the set temperature. You can also manually set the heater to run on High or Low all the time or with the timer. An auto shut off feature prevents overheating.

This heater is perfect for warming quietly indoor spaces up to 1,000 square feet.  It's noise level is a very low at 39 dB. It includes a 72 inch electric cord, which allows you a wide range of placement options and a remote control. To maintain this unit, you just need to clean periodically the air filter with warm water or a hand-vacuum.  The lifetime of the infrared heating elements is over 20k hours. Note that the Dr. Infrared Heater is perfectly safe around children and pets and it only gets slightly warm to the touch. It does not have any exposed heating elements that could be a fire hazard. The unit comes with a 3-year manufacturer's warranty.

So, is this infrared heater worth to buy?

When compared with other portable infrared heaters on the market and takeing into consideration heating power, product features, quality and durability, Dr. Infrared DR968 and iLIVING ILG-918 heaters can safely be considered as excellent value for the money, and you would probably be quite satisfied with either one.
The Dr. Infrared DR968 heater was the top selling infrared unit among Amazon customers at the time this article was written. Thousands of satisfied customers have even purchased more than one unit, and many have referred the DR968 to their friends and families.

Selected Portable Infrared Heaters on Amazon:

Please click the infrared heater of your choice below for price information or to purchase.
Note: Amazon often provides a good discount on the List Price of sold products. If a discount is available both the List Price and the actual Amazon Price will be shown when you click the images below.

Dr Infrared

(DR968)

iLIVING

( ILG-918)
Please note: If you would prefer a Dr Infrared heater that also includes a humidifier, please click the image below for moreproduct information and price:
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