The media could not be loaded. I got this to use on our back deck, but when I received it, the temperatures were below zero and beyond what a heater could handle. So for the moment this is set up in my basement since I'm doing construction in a back cold room. This puts off immediate, safe heat. When I turn this on, I have about a minute before I need to step back because it starts warming so quickly. This will be perfect for a patio on cold (but not freezing) nights. We're also excited to use this in our garage. I have this plugged into a grounded 15 amp outlet and it's getting all the power it needs. UPDATE: you will need a 20 amp outlet. This worked for a while on my 15 amp, but it shared with the sump pump and there were issues with the shared amperage. So have a dedicated 15, or be ready with a 20 amp available outlet. END UPDATE Assembly was fairly straightforward. But you will need a socket to help get on the lock nut on the back. It's in a tight spot and your fingers can't reach it. I want to say I used a metric 5, but it might have been a six. Just have your set ready to go when you assemble. The tripod on this is incredibly sturdy. I did not expect such a well-built metal base. It does not wobble at all. I feel 100% confident having a heater mounted on it. This also comes with an outdoor bolt kit so if you have a brick or concrete wall you can drill in and mount it directly on your wall. It also came with a remote. I'm not using that at the moment since I'm in close contact with the heater. But it's a nice addition if you're going to be mounting it on a wall or want to start it going outside without going outside. It's not too heavy. I wouldn't want to move it around everyday, but it's not too much of a problem getting it up and down the stairs. It came securely boxed up with no issues when I opened it. Each piece was in its own box and is properly cushioned. It's almost overkill for my basement space. I only need to run it for about 15 minutes to knock the chill out of the area so I can work comfortably. If you're going to use this in a larger outdoor space I bet this will have no problem keeping everyone toasty on a winter night. And with a simple operation, this is so much easier to use than a kerosene heater. I feel safe turning this on and walking away for a while. I would definitely put this up there with the output and quality of commercial heaters that I see at restaurants and outdoor events. Read more
REMOVE THE TWO BLACK & RED FOAM BLOCKS IN THE FRONT OF THE GRILL! The instructions never mention them, they look like they're supposed to be permanent, and I didn't notice the tiny, nearly illegible instructions printed on their labels. I turned on the unit and shut it off when I almost immediately saw them smoking and melting. Aside from that? Amazingly sturdy tripod, looks like it would support 100 pounds. Instant and very comfortable radiant heat. Assembly was only a little fussy, with tiny screws and nuts. You'll need an 8 mm or 5/16" nut driver. Read more
The media could not be loaded. Rating: 5 out of 5 Price: about $140 I’m reviewing this RealSmart outdoor patio heater from my garage in northern Indiana, because that’s where it’s been doing the most work. This is a 1,500W heater on the high setting, and I left it running overnight. Even in a garage with very little insulation, the difference was immediately noticeable. I used a thermal imaging camera to sanity-check what I was feeling. Outside was reading around 13°F. Inside the garage, the heater itself was reading roughly 170°F, and the space was far more tolerable overall, which is the whole point. We’re renting an older lake house right now with poor insulation, and I’m using this in the garage to help warm the interior room on the other side of the wall where my son sleeps. I kept it aimed toward that wall for that reason. One standout feature is the included tripod. Honestly, it’s stout enough that it feels like a product by itself. It’s stable, overbuilt in a good way, and it holds the heater securely without wobble. You get three heat settings (low, medium, high), and it has a safety shutoff if it gets knocked over. The surface gets very hot, so you definitely treat it like a real heater, not a toy. It also includes a wall-mount kit, and I appreciated that they include proper anchors for masonry or concrete, so you are not making a separate hardware run. For my use case, this is a great alternative to running propane heat all night. I have a propane “salamander” style heater, but I don’t want to deal with propane overnight, and this solved that. Pros • Strong 1,500W directional heat, noticeable results even in a cold garage • Very sturdy included tripod (stable, heavy-duty feel) • 3 heat settings + tip-over safety shutoff • Wall-mount option with included anchors (nice attention to detail) Cons • Surface gets very hot (normal for this type of heater, but worth noting) • Like any 1,500W unit, it will draw real power on high Bottom line If you want an outdoor patio heater that can also pull duty in a garage or workshop for targeted warmth, this one earns a 5 out of 5 from me. It made a meaningful difference overnight in a poorly insulated space, and the tripod plus mounting hardware are legitimately well done. Read more
The unit does work quite well and puts out good heat. It comes with a remote which is very nice. I am downgrading it a star though because the mounting nuts and screws that hold parts of it together are VERY small, and somewhat difficult to tighten down without the correct tools, that everyone may not have. I needed a drill with a bit extender and a socket to get the back brace cinched down all the way. Other than that it was worked well and is very warm. Read more
