I was seriously impressed with this Dreo electric heater — I think it’s the best value for money on the market right now

As winter is finally turning a corner into spring, I’m using the heating less and less. Plus, while it is just me and my dog for a few weeks, warming radiators in rooms we’re not in or heating a whole house seems incredibly wasteful.

For me, this is the perfect time to be testing an electric heater to see if it’s more cost efficient, energy efficient and convenient than using our central heating system.

At a mid-price-point, the Dreo Atom 316 fan heater I used definitely looked like it would do the job keeping my bedroom at a comfortable temperature, but I also put it to the test warming up my open plan kitchen, living, dining area to see what it could really do and if it competes with the best electric heaters on the market.

In a nutshell

The Dreo Atom 316 electric fan heater is a super convenient size and has a far more modern design than the traditional flat and low space heaters I’m used to.

The heat output even on the lowest setting is more than enough to heat a 20m2 room within half an hour and on its higher settings, even faster. Exactly what you need when you’re braving leaving the central heating off for longer.

The cylindrical design means the heat is evenly dispersed around the room, and the recessed carry handle on the back of the surprisingly light heater meant I could easily unplug it and move it around the house.

Using the heater was pleasingly simple; it has an LED display to show the mode and good quality touch buttons to change settings the the timer. Three heat settings is more than enough, but the heater also comes with an eco mode that will automatically select the optimal power setting based on the desired ambient temperature.

While it's undoubtedly effective, I wonder how much more effective it would be if it had an oscillating function.

Amy Reeves

I'm an experienced homes journalist working for magazine and websites such as Homebuilding & Renovating, Federation of Master Builders, Homes and Gardens and 25 Beautiful Homes. I tested the Dreo Atom 316 fan heater in my house, which is half stone cottage, half 70s extension, for two weeks.

Specifications

• Type of heater: Ceramic fan heater
• RRP: £49.99
• Weight: 1.25kg
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 15.29 x 24.51 x 15.29cm
• Wattage: 1000W, 1300W and 1500W
• Running costs per hour (based on current energy price cap): 28p, 36p and 42p per hour
• Room size suitability: 20m2
• Smart features: None
• Dual functionality: Fan
• Oscillation: None

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

The Dreo Atom 316 arrived in a plastic protective bag, secured by polystyrene ends in a cardboard box - a fairly simple set-up that can only partially be recycled kerb-side. The remote also comes in a plastic bag and after a simple pull tab is removed is ready to use. A handy quick start guide provides the highlights of the heater without the overwhelming information that is included in the separate manual.

The heater itself is a pleasing design that wouldn’t look out of place in a living room. Its discreet black plastic and cylindrical style could be tucked away out of the way on the floor or at counter-level. Light but sturdy, I wasn’t concerned that the heater would be knocked over by me or my dog throughout the testing period.

After plugging in, the heater was ready-to go and the LED display lights up and warming begins as soon as the power button is touched. This could be problematic for households with curious small children, but fortunately there is a child lock mode that can be set using the timer and lower temperature buttons for three seconds.

What’s it like to use?

I found the Atom 316 incredibly easy to use right from the start. To begin with I used it manually to understand the different settings better and the I noticed I didn't really use the second heat mode that much. When I was in control I would either have it at H3 to heat the room and H1 to keep it at an ambient temperature.

Manually switching between the modes may seem like a hassle, but fortunately this heater has an eco mode, which allows you to set a preferred temperature and the heater will automatically adjust the settings accordingly.

I initially used it to heat a 17m2 bedroom, and was so impressed by how quickly it heated the room, I tried it out in my open plan kitchen, dining and living room. I like a moderately warm house so I set it to 19°C when the room temperature was at 15.9°C. It took 30 minutes to reach the temperature before turning to a lower power setting.

The touch buttons are responsive, but unfortunately don’t illuminate, so it can be hard to see what’s a power button and what’s the heat mode/timer.

That's where the remote control can come in handy. However, I found it that it wasn't very sensitive and that I had to be directly facing the LED display and within about 4m of the heater for it to work effectively.

Using the remote you can also turn the display off and mute the affirming beeps that accompany changing the temperature or settings. Strangely, the child-lock setting can’t be controlled via remote and only on the heater itself. A timer setting also serves to power down the heater once lapsed.

The noise levels of the Atom 316 were pleasingly quiet, with a high of 36 decibels on the maximum setting. However, this is still higher than the advertised 34 (which is more likely on the lowest setting).

Running costs

The Dreo Atom 316 has three different heat modes — 1000W, 1300W and 1500W, which would cost around 28p, 36p and 42p per hour respectively, based on current energy price cap of 27.67p per kWh for electricity.

Considering how quick it was to heat the room using the highest setting, I would say it’s really reasonably priced way to initially heat the room and then you can use the lower setting to keep it comfortable.

Cleaning and maintenance

During the initial testing period, there was no cleaning or maintenance required, so it's definitely not something you are going to have to address on a daily or even weekly basis.

However, for the longer term efficiency of the heater, it's advisable to keep it clean and prevent dust from building up.

As with all heaters, make sure it's cool and unplugged before you give it a clean. Dreo advises using a soft, dry cloth to wipe the exterior of the heater and the rear air inlet (a cotton tipped swap can also be used on the latter to remove fine dust particles).

What do other online reviews say?

The Dreo Atom 316 is extremely well-reviewed, with many picking it to be the best fan heater on the market. It generally receives between 4.5 and 5 stars, depending on the website and I would wholeheartedly agree that this product packs a huge punch and for not a great sum of money.

Who should buy this electric heater?

I would hugely recommend this heater to anyone who wants to invest in a good quality small appliance that is well-made with decent heat options and safety modes. It offers great value for money, and it's space-saving design means it's ideal for those who want something discreet.

However if you want something similar that oscillates, then the Morphy Richards HeatFlux Ultra Thin 2kW ceramic fan tower heater could be a good alternative, thanks to its slimline design.

If smart features are more your bag, then investing a little more in a model like the Mill WiFi Max 1.5kW portable heater will get you the additional functionality you're after.