The Vornado VH10 is a compact space heater designed to take the chill off a room any time of the year. It has two fan speeds and a temperature dial that lets you crank up the heat when you need it most or dial it down when the room starts to warm. The heater is rated for 1,500 watts at its highest setting, but you can conserve energy by turning it down to 750 watts. Once your room is warm, the compact size—12 inches high and 9 inches wide—makes it easy to move the fan to another room. We tested the Vornado VH10 during the waning winter months and were pleasantly surprised by the performance of this small but powerful heater.
Design: Low-profile unit fits anywhere
The VH10 is so small that it can be nestled into any nook or cranny of a room. The black and silver casing has a modern feel that fits with most contemporary decor styles, and there’s a basic but well-thought-out control panel. A single dial offers eight heat settings, and a fan switch allows users to choose between low and high. Accompanying this heating dial and fan switch is a power switch and an LED light that lets you know whether the unit is turned on. We thought the power indicator was extremely useful, as the unit is so quiet we couldn’t tell whether it was off or on. However, we would’ve liked to see the inclusion of a remote control.
Performance: Small but powerful
This electric heater has a blower that pushes the heated air through a swirl-shaped grill for Vornado’s signature “Vortex Action.” We were able to adjust both the temperature and the level (high or low) of the heated air via the control panel. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to “set it and forget it,” though. There is no temperature sensor or automatic temperature setting that heats the room to a set temperature and then regulates the blower to maintain that temperature. It is a stationary fan, and it does not oscillate. We used the VH10 in our unheated home office (measuring 15 x 10 feet), and it provided ample heat even when the outside temperature was 20 degrees. It warmed the immediate area quickly—within five to 10 minutes—and took about 30 minutes to warm the entire room. Though it excels at small rooms, the VH10 struggles with larger rooms. When we moved the heater to our open-concept living room and kitchen (about 15 x 40 feet), the heater struggled to warm the area. We ran it for several hours, and it only raised the temperature of the room by 2 degrees.
Safety: Meets expectations
Like most space heaters, the Vornado VH10 has a safety feature that prevents the unit from overheating and causing a fire. On the bottom of the heater is a small pressure button that turns off when it is not depressed. When the unit is upright and flush on a tablet, the button is depressed and it will operate normally. If the unit falls over, the button will no longer be depressed, and the heater will turn off automatically.
Price: Not too high, not too low
At around $90, the Vornado VH10 is reasonably priced. Most room heaters cost as little as $40 for a basic oil-filled heater and climb over $400 for the top-of-the-line Dyson heaters.
Vornado VH10 Whole Room Heater vs. Dyson Hot + Cool Jet Focus AM09 Fan Heater
The Vornado H10 may be compact, but it is a powerful heater, and its portable size makes it easy to move wherever you need additional heat. Still, it’s pretty basic and lacks some of the advanced controls of its competitors, like the Hot + Cool Jet Focus AM09, which we also tested. Priced around $450, the Dyson model sets the bar high for room heaters. It has an eye-catching bladeless style that is not only safe but also looks stunning in a room. The AM09 has a remote that we used to set our desired room temperature. We were also able to control the fan speed and turn on the oscillation with the remote. In a few short minutes, our room was toasty warm. Both the Vornado VH10 and the Dyson AM09 quickly warm small- to medium-sized rooms, but the Vornado does it affordably, while the Dyson does it with style. The Vornado VH10 Whole Room Heater is ideal for taking the chill off smaller spaces. It earns praises for its affordable price tag, quiet operation, and portability.
