The infrared is instant when you turn it on. I am very happy with it, I would recommend it to anyone who wants a heater for a similar use. This is a direct heat, the closer you are the hotter it is. Adjust where you want it in relation to your seating area. At night it actually provides light as well, much like a campfire. The rollers on the base are so useful, we move ours often. The outdoor space we have is long and each seating area is different. This is a very sturdy product and you can tell it is quality materials. Since I read the reviews about the assembly, I was extra careful. It wasn't hard to put together, but the pictures do not help. I actually assembled it without tightening the screws fully, actually had to undo one step and then it was back on track. Take your time when putting it together. 25 minutes is what it took. I am prepared to order an infrared bulb if needed, since that is a consumable item. But hopefully it last for a while. We have used this since July about 10 times. So far so good. BTW it also comes with a dust cover for the head of the unit. Nice!
I did a lot of research on patio heaters before ordering the Fire Sense electric model. I was concerned about the cost to operate and air pollution of the more common propane models. We knew we would only be using it to take the chill off as the weather changed this Fall - not to warm a large area. Given COVID will be with us for a while, we also knew we needed to figure out a way to visit with friends and family outside. We were pleasantly surprised at how sturdy it is and how much warmth it projects. We do have an open deck, not a covered area, so our expectation was not to keep us completely warm, but just to take the chill off. Living in Maine, it was unusually warm this summer, but we were not fooled - we knew we had to plan for the Fall and Winter. We are SO glad we did! It turned chilly at night WAY earlier than usual. I suspect these heaters will be difficult to get soon, and we have probably sold the idea to a number of neighbors!
This was a great choice for us, and except for a little challenge putting it toge (instructions weren't always very clear) it definitely exceeded our expectations!
Nice addition to our covered deck. We will be able to enjoy many evenings outside even when it is cool. Assembly was not that difficult an took about hour.
The box looked intimidating at first, but assembly was easy, good directions and holes actually lined up. Too warm to use it yet. Not loving the look of it, but if it does the job and I don't have to deal with propane, I'll be happy.
Ok, I love this product. However there are a few things I would like to vent on. First the instructions are not great. The photos need to be taken a little farther from the pieces so you can tell what it is you’re looking at. Second, the design of the plug that connect the heater to base was extremely frustrating to set up. If the cord from the heater was 3inches longer it would have been easy. Last, the base was scarred and dented. I will talk to the seller about this. Buuuut... after it was all set up and I turned it on, I fell in love with it. Works great and look awesome. Would recommend it no problem, just be prepared for a little frustration, lol.