I own 2 and couldn't recommend it more highly. They do just what they claim to. I wouldn't say its totally cool to the touch -- if you laid against it for some time it would probably burn you -- but, no, it won't instantly sear you. I'd say its fairly kid safe. Our cat did spend all day napping directly under it.

We bought them when we were paying out the nose for radiator heat for our apartment. They definitely do the trick for keeping a moderately-sized space warm (we only turned on the real heat for those incredibly cold times). They don't run up your electricity bill exhorbitantly.

A note though if you are considering - its a different kind of heat. Although immediately around them you notice a slightly warmer temperature, its not an intense focused blast like a normal space heater. Kind of a gradual all-over warmth.

Don't do it, I have two of them and they do nothing in the way of heating a 8' x 10' room in my 400sq ft apartment when the temp goes below 50 degrees. You're much better off with a space heater.

We have one, and it is very hot to the touch.

In the Dictionary, under the word "consensus," you will not find a link to the comments thus far on this post ;)

I've been considering the econo-heater as well. Hubby is always cold on the couch and I hate turning on our forced-air heater. Perhaps more folks will chime in with their experiences?

Would it work for a small bathroom? I have been using an infra-red bulb to heat the space for years and want something a bit, ahem, nicer when I renovate.

For a large space, a Vornado heater is great. It warms my 885 sq ft loft with 11 foot ceilings very quickly. Don't know how the energy usage compares, but I'd take a Vornado over a heater that doesn't circulate air any day.

We've used one in each of our last 3 bedrooms, painted 3 times to match!

i think a ceiling fan set to push the warm air down really helps. Although we live in Austin, where it seldom gets below 20, during the colder months we leave the econo-heater on all day in the bedroom with the furnace heating the whole house, then turn the furnace off at night and the heater keeps the bedroom nice and warm. it's also silent, which i love. i couldn't sleep with a space heater blowing. i also feel much safer sleeping with the panel left on than a glowing orange tippy radiant heater (what we replaced).

I have one that I use to heat a small bathroom. It works very well, but I'm not sure I'd want to use it to heat a larger room. As someone else said, it's warm to the touch but you'd have to leave your hand there for some time for it to burn you, and even then I'm not sure it would.
In addition, I have two small children who use that bathroom and perhaps it's because the heater doesn't kick on and off or because it doesn't have any glowing parts, but they never mess with it.