A
home should be inviting and cozy. With the use of carpet warmers,
consumers can add extra coziness to the home in key rooms and areas.
This product is useful for just about any home but there is some
confusion about the available options on the market for carpet
warmers. A quick comparison of two top choices on the market, Hot
Carpet by Woowarmer
vs. RugHeat™
by CozyWinters, can help remove confusion.
Hot
Carpet by Woowarmer vs. RugHeat™
by CozyWinters
- GFCI and plug
Woowarmer:
Employs a two prong plug and is not GFCI protected, making it
hazardous and not within suggested electrical code.
CozyWinters:
Employs a three prong plug that is GFCI protected and is the only CE
listed heating product for use under rugs.
- Sizing
Woowarmer:
Offered in limited options in terms of size and incapable of properly
fitting most rugs sold on the U.S. market.
CozyWinters:
Offered in several sizes based on popular rug sizes sold in stores on
the U.S. market.
22"
x 34" (Fits under a 2' x 3' Rug)
22"
x 89" Runner (Fits under a 2' x 7.5' Runner)
34"
x 58" (Fits under a 3' x 5' Rug)
58"
x 81" (Fits under a 5' x 7' Rug)
63"
x 93" (Fits under a 5.5' x 8' Rug)
- Temperature
Woowarmer:
UL standards recommend a temperature below 104 degrees Fahrenheit for
safety reasons since temperatures at or above this figure can result
in skin burns and dehydration. This product operates at 115 degrees
Fahrenheit on high or 95 degrees Fahrenheit on medium.
CozyWinters:
Runs at a safer temperature of 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit to remove the
safety concern.
- Safe power density
Woowarmer:
Power density is not within a safe range per UL standards and the
product actually exceeds the limit of 12 watts/sf as denoted by UL
standards.
CozyWinters:
Remains safely within the range of appropriate watts because it has
the required amps and voltage.
- Control unit
Woowarmer:
The control unit is bulky and may pose as a trip hazard due to where
it is in the design. It is also covered in a thermally insulated
material which poses its own concerns.
CozyWinters:
The control unit is contained in a flame retardant ABS block to avoid
danger and it exits the heating panel in the corner to avoid being a
trip hazard.
- Cord length
Woowarmer:
Offering only 6 feet in cord length, this option is too short for the
average size of rooms found in most American homes.
CozyWinters:
Offering 8 feet in cord length, this product is better suited to
average room sizes in America.
- Furniture
Woowarmer:
It can only be positioned under the legs of furniture and includes
limits on the types of furniture that can be positioned on top of it.
CozyWinters:
It can be utilized with pretty much all types of furniture without
worry as long as the recommended spacing guidelines of the product
are followed.
- Waterproofing
Woowarmer:
It isn’t waterproof which means it should not be used in areas such
as bathrooms or kitchens. It isn’t GFCI protected which is also a
concern since spilling liquid on it will cause damages to the
product.
CozyWinters:
It can be used in wet areas such as the bathroom or kitchen without
worry since it is waterproof and has GFCI
protection.
- Unpleasant Odor
Woowarmer:
The carpet warmer may have an adhesive odor to it the first time the
consumer uses it. This smell should go away over time and use, but it
can be unpleasant and take longer to dissipate in smaller rooms
without enough ventilation.
CozyWinters:
The product is free from odor from the very first use provided the
consumer follows suggested guidelines and avoids putting foam under
the warmer.
- Warranty
Woowarmer:
The product comes with a 1-year warranty which is pretty standard.
CozyWinters:
The product offers a 5-year warranty for increased peace of mind for
the consumer.
- Unclear Messages on Usage
Woowarmer:
The product is often advertised with many contradictions that the
consumer should be aware of such as the company claiming it is ideal
for use under bathmats when it isn’t waterproof in the first place.
The manufacturer also claims the product is ideal for use with
sleeping bags to stay warm, but it also has a notice not to use the
product while sleeping. They also say the product is ideal for use
under a pet bed, but this would cause it to overheat and shut off in
the process, to say nothing of the possible fire hazard created if
the pet damages the unit.
CozyWinters:
This product offers clearly defined safety and usage parameters so
there is no confusion for the consumer.
- Bug Concerns
Woowarmer:
Since the heating element is encased in a carpet-like material, there
is the concern of bug infestations. In fact, it is so common with
this product that the owner’s manual offers a few tips on how to
get rid of pests such as ticks and mites often found in the material.
CozyWinters:
The product doesn’t use the same design with the carpet-like
material so the bug issue is eliminated altogether.
Posts
This is pretty clever. Not needed where I live but I can see where this would be nice to have in states where it gets really cold.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's a good idea isn't it? Thanks for visiting Says Me Says Mom and your comment.
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