Tower Heater 718 (formerly Solaris 718)

Who it fits

The Dreo Tower Heater 718 is worth considering if you spend winter evenings in one room and want to move warm air toward different seating areas. Rather than keeping heat concentrated around a fixed radiator, its ceramic heating element and fan push warmed air outward. The tall body can oscillate, so you can change where that airflow goes without relocating the heater every time somebody changes seats.

This is a particularly sensible style of heater for a home office that becomes a family room later in the day, or for a living room where you want heat directed toward the occupied area. It is supplemental electric heating, not a replacement for a properly sized central system. Your actual experience will depend on drafts, insulation, placement, and how much of the room you expect to warm.

Dreo previously sold this heater as the Solaris 718. The company says the updated Tower Heater 718 name is a naming change, not a new heating design. That distinction matters when you compare a retailer listing or read a manual with the earlier name. Do not confuse it with the smaller Solaris or Ceramic Heater models: the physical design and airflow controls are part of the buying decision here.

What changes the decision

Will the oscillation actually help where people sit?

Dreo describes customizable oscillation up to 120 degrees, with smaller selectable angles. This is the 718's most useful difference from a stationary oil-filled radiator. If you alternate between a desk and a couch, or if two people sit in different directions, the changing airflow direction may be more convenient than moving a hot appliance.

It is not evidence that the 718 heats every corner equally. Oscillation changes which direction the warm-air stream faces; furniture, doorways, and distance still affect comfort. You may prefer a narrower swing when you are sitting alone and a wider one when several people are in the room. The remote makes those changes easier from your seat.

If warm moving air irritates you, or if you want a more passive form of heating, the Dreo Oil-filled Radiator 310 is a more relevant alternative than another oscillating tower. It does not need a fan to distribute heat, but it will also feel different when you first turn it on.

Do you want precise temperature controls or just an on/off switch?

The 718 has a digital thermostat spanning 41°F to 95°F, according to Dreo, along with adjustable heat and fan settings. That gives you an alternative to repeatedly switching the appliance on at full output and then shutting it down once you feel warm.

A thermostat is useful only when you understand what it measures. The number on the heater represents its target or sensed temperature, not a guarantee that every seat or corner of your room has reached that figure. A draft near a doorway may leave you feeling cooler than the display suggests. The appropriate setting is the one that feels comfortable without excessive heat, not automatically the highest number.

The available controls can also be more than some shoppers want. If you prefer turning a dial and forgetting it, a straightforward Vornado or Lasko model may suit you better. If you often adjust temperature and airflow from the couch, the Tower Heater 718 earns its more detailed control panel.

Is this the right shape for your floor space?

Dreo lists the 718 at approximately 29.7 inches high on a base roughly 7.9 inches by 7.9 inches. The footprint looks relatively compact, but it still belongs on a stable, level floor with ample clearance. It is not a shelf heater, and a narrow footprint should never encourage squeezing it between curtains, upholstered furniture, or a crowded desk.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission advises at least three feet between a portable heater and materials that can catch fire, and says electric space heaters must plug directly into a wall outlet rather than an extension cord or power strip. Follow any stricter placement instructions in Dreo's manual. If the outlet is behind a couch or the only free spot is in a busy walkway, reconsider the location before buying.

A tall heater may also be inconvenient in a home where children or pets frequently cross the same floor area. Dreo describes tip-over and overheating protection, but these features cannot make a poor placement safe. A stable location, clear cord route, and supervised operation remain essential.

How much heat and electricity should you expect?

Dreo specifies a 1,500-watt maximum for this US heater. At that input, one hour of uninterrupted full-power operation uses approximately 1.5 kilowatt-hours of electricity. At an illustrative electricity price of $0.20 per kWh, that would cost about $0.30 for the hour. Your utility tariff, lower power settings, and thermostat cycling will change the actual amount.

There is no good basis to promise that the 718 costs less to generate the same heat than another conventional 1,500-watt resistance heater. The fan and oscillation may make that warmth feel more useful in a particular seat, but that is a comfort and distribution question, not proof of an efficiency percentage. Similarly, the manufacturer's room-size language should not be read as a measured guarantee in every home.

If your main objective is simply to warm your own hands or feet at a desk, a lower-watt personal heater may be a better match for that job. The Tower Heater 718 makes more sense when you actually value its greater input capability and directional airflow.

What about sound, the timer, and everyday use?

If you find a fan distracting while reading or watching TV, factor that into your choice. The Tower Heater 718 blows warm air, so you'll hear some airflow. Dreo promotes quiet operation, but we don't have comparable independent sound tests to show it beats the Oil-filled Radiator 310 or other heaters. The radiator avoids a continuous fan stream, though neither model can be called the quietest on this evidence.

Dreo also describes a 24-hour automatic-off function and an ECO mode that cycles according to the temperature setting. These are convenience controls, not permission to let a space heater run when nobody is supervising it. Turn the heater off before going to sleep or leaving the room. If the heater shuts off unexpectedly, Dreo recommends checking the temperature setting, level placement, and protection or timer behavior rather than assuming it is faulty.

For cleaning, switch off, unplug, and allow it to cool. Use the manufacturer's guidance to remove dust around the vents without letting water reach the heating element or controls. Keeping the air path clear matters more than adding scented products or improvised accessories.

Who should choose something else

Choose the Dreo Oil-filled Radiator 310 if you would rather have fanless, more gradual warmth and don't need the heat to sweep across the room. Its wheels and digital settings make it a genuine alternative for an occupied living space, although its fins require their own placement precautions.

Consider the Vornado VH240 if you prefer whole-room circulation with more straightforward mechanical controls rather than a tall oscillating display. This is a different circulation approach, not a claim that either model wins a measured room-heating test.

A lower-watt personal heater makes more sense if you want warmth at one seat and do not need a 1,500-watt device with wide oscillation. Choose no portable heater if your available outlet or floor space cannot accommodate safe operation.

PIQSY conclusion

Choose the Dreo Tower Heater 718 when adjustable warm airflow is the feature you will genuinely use. Its tall fan-driven design, wide selectable oscillation, and thermostat are most valuable when the occupied part of the room changes through the day.

Skip it if you prioritize fanless comfort, lack clear placement space, or want to keep a heater operating while you sleep. You are buying a more flexible way to direct supplemental warmth, not a proven shortcut to lower electricity bills or a guarantee of whole-room temperature.