update: March 2008: It's now been a year since we bought this and every time we turn it on I feel a little guilty about this review. Yes, assembly was a pain, but once we got it together, it's worked flawlessly since and puts out great heat. Amazon won't let me upgrade this to 3 or 4 stars, but I did want to add that this has been a good unit.
Update: April 2013... NOW I FEEL REALLY GUILTY!!! This little unit has put up with a lot of abuse (besides my original review)... it's always outside in the rain and the wind... it's gotten banged up by contractors...dropped... you name it... and it just keeps going. I fired it up tonight for the first time in a year... and it instantly lit, after about 3 minutes of bleeding the pilot... amazing!!!
I definitely take back my prior review... 5 stars....it's lasted 5 years, taken a lot of abuse, and still works like a champ.
Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>
These outdoor heaters are amazing. I ordered three of these from Amazon to heat a large patio with outdoor seating area and dining area and they do a fantastic job. I read the reviews here and noted the assembly warnings but these units were not difficult to put together and I didn't encounter any of the frustrations of the earlier reviewers and based on what they were saying in their reviews it looks like the manufacturer read the reviews and changed the assembly requirements.The first unit took about two hours to unpack and assemble but I was taking my time and making sure I did everything right the first time. The second unit took about an hour and the third about 45 minutes. I have a decent tool set but am only average on the assembly skills and so I expect others will be able to put these together faster.
The units put out a really good amount of heat and once they have been on for 5 to 10 minutes we have to turn them down because they are just too hot which is an outstanding result. My in laws were visiting and after experiencing an outdoor dinner and breakfast they were hooked and planning on ordering one of the these for themselves.
We had dinner at a local restaurant later in the week we got these and we ate outdoors under their heatlamps and ... you guessed it they had the same exact heat lamps as these. Since then I have seen these same units in a number of restaurants around town that have outdoor dining. You know if the local restaurants are using them then they must be sturdy and longlasting.
I highly recommend these units to anyone that wants to heat their patios and are looking for a high quality unit that puts out a good amount of heat.
Best Deals on Endless Summer Model GWU9209SP Stainless Steel Deluxe Residential
After reading mixed reviews, I took a leap of faith on this patio heater. Unfortunately, that leap fell a bit short. Upon receiving the heater, I noticed that the box was double-taped. This usually indicates either a) the manufacturer is taking an extra step to ensure secure packaging; or b) the product was opened, re-taped, and returned. There were no other shipping labels or evidence of label removal, so I assumed it was double-taped from the factory.I opened the box and removed all of the pieces; when I got to the bottom I realized that all of the assembly hardware was strewn about, but the package the hardware was supposed to be in was there (albeit empty) along with the instructions. It appeared as though everything was present.
Hoping for the best, I began assembly and soon realized what I was up against. The instructions are horrible and could easily be re-written, as several of the individual steps are actually multiple procedures that must be done sequentially (you'll figure it out as you go, make sure your ratchet set is reversible). These steps are demonstrated by archaic line drawings that have no orienting details whatsoever, and I estimate a good half hour of my two-hour assembly was wasted due to this oversight. In hindsight, one could probably complete the entire assembly of this product in 30-45 minutes with accurate instructions. After a lot of head-scratching, I finally reached the last few steps, which involve assembling the dome at the top. This was when the Chinese engineering really came to light. Nothing lined up, nothing fit, and I almost sent this flimsy piece of trash Frisbee-like into the recycling bin. Some of the hardware for the dome assembly is supposed to be pre-attached, and at this point I realized that a few of the screws required for assembly were missing. After a trip to the hardware store, a bit of drilling, a bit of bending, a lot of twisting, and the creation of a few new curse words, I was finally able to complete this fine modern marvel.
I am still unsure if this was a returned item or not, but unless you have a lot of patience, are moderately handy, and enjoy a challenge created by a complete dearth of quality control and engineering, I suggest looking at another heater. On a positive note, it does work reasonably well when it lights (often requires the use of a lighter to get the pilot going). We'll see how long it lasts, but I would happily spend double the price for a quality unit with respectable fit and finish.
Honest reviews on Endless Summer Model GWU9209SP Stainless Steel Deluxe Residential
Overall good product. The assembly is fairly easy but will take a couple of hours. The one difficult part is connecting the gas line nozzle tip to the heating element portion (the "engine"). It does not want to click easily. You will need a strong person and a helper. Use a little 3-in-1 oil to make the job easier, twist gently, and don't give up. After that it works fine.I have had other patio heaters at this price point and this is one of the better ones.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Endless Summer Model GWU9209SP Stainless Steel Deluxe Residential
The Good:I love the natuaral gas option no worries about running out of gas!
Heavy base mitigates wind-storm tip overs
When it works, it really puts out the heat!
The Bad:
Assembly is non-trivial
The unit is somewhat unsturdy (wobly) once completed
Hard to tell when the pilot light is lit unless it's dark out
The Ugly:
I have had this heater for three years now and every year I have to replace the ignition and valve module. This is a big "heart transplant" kind of operation. The first two were free, but now they want me to pay... I will be finding a new heater.
No comments:
Post a Comment