What You'll Find Here

If you're managing purchasing for heating, cooling, or dehumidification equipment, you've probably come across Dimplex. But with so many product lines—ceramic tower heaters, panel heaters, storage heaters, infrared units, dehumidifiers, cooling fans—it's easy to get lost. This FAQ covers the questions I've fielded most often since I started managing equipment procurement in 2022.

1. Is Dimplex a good fit for my facility?

Depends on what you need. I manage orders for a mid-sized company with about 400 employees across three locations. We use Dimplex for:

  • Supplemental heating in individual offices and meeting rooms
  • Dehumidification in basements and storage areas
  • Cooling fans for open-plan areas (tower fans, specifically)

Where they shine is targeted zone control—not whole-building HVAC. For a single room or a small zone, a Dimplex panel heater or ceramic tower is solid. But if you're replacing a central furnace or heat pump, that's not their wheelhouse. The vendor who told me 'this isn't our strength—here's who does it better' earned my trust for everything else.

2. Dimplex ceramic tower heater vs. panel heater: which one?

I've used both. Here's the breakdown from my experience (60-80 equipment orders annually):

  • Ceramic tower heaters (like the Dimplex DCHT series): Great for spot-heating a desk area or small office. They're portable, oscillate, and heat up fast—within seconds. But they're noisy (fan-based), and they dry out the air.
  • Panel heaters (like the Dimplex WSeries): Quieter, more energy-efficient for continuous use, and better for maintaining a consistent temperature. But they take longer to heat up initially, and they're fixed to the wall.

My rule of thumb: If it's a temporary setup or a spot-heat need, go ceramic tower. If it's a semi-permanent installation for a room that's occupied daily, panel heater. I learned this the hard way after ordering 12 ceramic towers for a new office wing—they worked, but the noise complaints started within a week. Switched to panels for that space. No regrets.

3. Does Dimplex make outdoor heaters?

Yes—but with limits. Dimplex has a line of infrared patio heaters that work well for covered outdoor areas like break patios, smoking shelters, or loading docks. I've specified these for a warehouse break area, and they're effective: people actually use the space in winter now.

But they're not designed for exposed, windy, or open-air environments. If you need to heat an open field or a construction site, look elsewhere—Dimplex's outdoor heating is for sheltered, defined zones. The marketing materials say 'outdoor,' but what they mean is 'covered outdoor.'

4. What about Dimplex thermostats? Do they work with Honeywell?

This one trips people up. Dimplex offers their own programmable thermostats for their storage and panel heaters. They're decent—basic scheduling, simple interface. But they are not compatible with standard HVAC thermostats like Honeywell's home line. Different voltage and control protocols.

If you're trying to integrate a Dimplex heater into a central smart-home system using a Honeywell thermostat, it won't work directly. You'd need a relay or a standalone solution. For most of our installations, we just use Dimplex's wall-mounted thermostat (manual or digital, depending on the zone). It's fine for what it does, but don't expect Nest-level intelligence.

5. What's a radiator got to do with any of this?

Good question. 'Radiator' in heating refers to any device that transfers heat via radiation (infrared) or convection. Many of Dimplex's products—especially the panel heaters and infrared units—are radiators in the technical sense. But when most people say 'radiator,' they mean a hydronic (water-based) system with metal fins.

Dimplex doesn't make hydronic radiators. Their products are electric resistance heaters (ceramic, oil-filled, infrared) and dehumidifiers/cooling fans. If your building has a hot water loop, Dimplex isn't the answer. But if you're adding electric zone heating to a space that doesn't have hydronic infrastructure, their electric radiators (panel heaters) are a practical solution.

6. Dimplex dehumidifiers: worth it?

Yes, for specific use cases. I've used their DH series for basement and storage areas. They're reliable, energy-efficient, and quieter than most budget brands. But they're not industrial-grade; think of them as semi-commercial. For a 1,000 sq. ft. basement with moisture issues, a Dimplex dehumidifier works. For a warehouse or production floor, you'd need something larger (and more expensive).

One thing I learned: check the drainage options. Some units have continuous drain ports; others rely on a bucket. For unattended operation, continuous drain is essential—or you'll find a full bucket and a floor puddle. That's a mistake I made once and won't repeat.

7. Dimplex vs. Dewalt/Honeywell/Vornado?

I get why people ask this—those are strong brands in specific niches. But they're not direct competitors to Dimplex in most cases.

  • Dewalt focuses on job-site and industrial tools. Their fans and heaters are rugged for construction sites. Dimplex is more about comfort and energy efficiency for occupied spaces.
  • Honeywell dominates HVAC controls and home thermostats. They do make heaters, but their strength is in whole-home systems—not zone-specific electric heaters.
  • Vornado is strong in air circulation and circulation heaters. Dimplex has broader product range (heating, cooling, dehumidification), but Vornado's vortex heaters are excellent for a specific use case: moving air.

Bottom line: Each brand has its strengths. Dimplex wins on product range (one supplier for heating, cooling, and dehumidification) and energy-efficient options. But if your need is highly specific—like a rugged job-site heater or a whole-home thermostat—the specialist might be better. I'd rather buy from a specialist who knows their limits than a generalist who overpromises.

8. What about the Dimplex storage heaters? Are they still relevant?

Yes, though less common in the US. Storage heaters (like the Dimplex XLE series) are designed for time-of-use electricity pricing: they heat during off-peak hours (cheaper rates), store the heat in ceramic bricks, and release it during the day. If your facility has a time-of-use tariff, they can be cost-effective. I've specified them for a facility with overnight cheap rates—saved about 15-20% on heating costs compared to running standard heaters during the day.

But they're heavy (the bricks are dense), take up floor space, and require planning (you need to schedule the charge cycle). For most facilities, a standard panel heater or heat pump is more practical. Storage heaters are a niche solution for a specific rate structure.