Lasko Ellipse 18" Ceramic Tower Heater (CT18950) Review

Our long-standing knock on Lasko's 755320 tower is that it has no tip-over switch — fine for a living-room corner nobody touches, not fine for a room with a toddler or a big dog. The Ellipse is Lasko's answer. It keeps the ceramic element, the 1,500-watt ceiling, the oscillation, the remote, and the 3-year warranty, and adds a tip-over sensor, a child lock on the touch panel, and a ceramic insert plug that's designed not to overheat at the outlet. Those three things move it from 'adults only' to 'anywhere in the house.'

The curved 18-inch grille sweeps through 120°, wider than the older tower's arc, so in a 12×12 bedroom or office it evens the room out well. Three heat levels and two fan speeds run from a touch panel or a 7-function remote that stows on the back of the unit; AutoEco holds a comfortable temperature by cycling between low and off, which is the mode most people should leave it in. The 12-hour timer counts in 30-minute steps for the first two hours and hourly after that, and the display dims itself, so it works as a bedroom heater. Lasko rates the fan under 40 dB, and on low it's easy to sleep near.

Where the 755320 still wins is reach: it's five inches taller and Lasko positions it for larger rooms, while the Ellipse is rated for about 200 sq ft. For a big living room, buy the older tower and keep it out of traffic; for every other room — and every room with children — the Ellipse is the better Lasko, and the Dreo Atom One is the only thing in its price range with a comparable safety package. Plug it straight into the wall, give it three feet of clearance, and keep the oscillation path clear of curtains.