Dyson AM09 Hot + Cool Review: Ultimate All-Season Comfort Tool

Searching for the perfect space heater often feels like a chore. Most options are bulky. They have noisy fans. They have glowing orange coils that feel like a fire hazard. Then there is the Dyson AM09. It looks like a piece of modern art. It has no visible moving parts.

It promises to keep you toasty in December and cool in July. But the price tag is high. You might wonder if you are paying for the name or the performance. This review takes a long look at how this machine handles real life. We put it through its paces in bedrooms, offices, and living rooms.

We looked at how it handles dust. We tracked how it affects the electric bill. This report gives you the honest truth about the Dyson AM09. It covers everything from the clever remote to the dreaded H2 error code.

Quick Verdict Box

Product Overview and Technical Specifications

The Dyson AM09 belongs to the Air Multiplier family. It is a dual-purpose machine. It acts as a ceramic heater and a high-velocity fan. It stands just under two feet tall. It has a small footprint. This makes it easy to place on a desk or a floor. The build quality feels premium. It uses high-grade plastics that stay cool to the touch even when the heater is on full blast. The machine comes in several color schemes. The white and silver look is classic. The black and nickel version is more industrial.

The dimensions are compact for a tower design. It is 595 mm tall. The base is 204 mm wide. It weighs 2.68 kilograms. This makes it very portable. You can move it from your home office to your bedroom with one hand. The cord is 1.8 meters long. It is thick and feels durable.

The core of the machine is the Air Multiplier technology. It draws in air from the base. It accelerates that air through a narrow slit in the loop. This creates a powerful stream of air. It pulls in the air behind it and around it. This is why it moves so much air without visible blades. It uses ceramic plates to heat that air. These plates are hidden inside. You never have to worry about hair or dust touching a hot wire.

Key Features and Performance Analysis

Testing the AM09 reveals its strengths and its quirks. The most famous feature is Jet Focus. This was the big upgrade from the older AM05 model. It gives the user control over how the air spreads.

Jet Focus and Diffused Modes

There are two modes for airflow. You can switch between them using the remote. Focused mode is great for one person. It sends a narrow beam of air across the room. It can reach you from several feet away. This is perfect if you are working at a desk and want to stay warm. Diffused mode is for the whole room. It widens the angle of the air. It mixes with the air in the room more effectively. This mode is better if you have a couple of people on a sofa.

In real-world testing, Focused mode feels very direct. It can almost feel too strong if you sit too close. Diffused mode feels more like a gentle, enveloping warmth. The transition between these modes is smooth. You can hear a physical change inside the machine as the apertures shift.

Acoustic Engineering

Dyson puts a lot of work into noise reduction. They used a Helmholtz silencer in the base. This is designed to catch sound waves from the motor. It makes the machine much quieter than older versions. At speed levels 1 through 3, it is nearly silent. You can sleep with it right next to your bed.

When you crank it to speed 10, the noise is obvious. It is a clean sound without any rattling or high-pitched whining. If you are watching TV, you might need to turn up the volume a bit. But for a space heater, it is still on the quieter side of the market.

The Thermostat and Sleep Timer

The intelligent thermostat is a major plus. You set your target temperature. The machine works until the room hits that mark. Then it shuts off. This saves money. It stops the room from getting stuffy. The sensor is accurate. We compared it to a separate thermometer and the readings were very close.

The sleep timer is another smart addition. You can set it to run for 15 minutes or up to 9 hours. It is very easy to use. This is a must-have for people who worry about leaving a heater on overnight.

Real-World Performance: Winter and Summer

A space heater is only as good as its performance on a freezing morning. The AM09 heats up quickly. Within seconds of turning it on, the air coming out is hot.

Heating Efficiency

In a standard bedroom, the AM09 can raise the temperature by several degrees in about 15 minutes. It does not just heat the air right in front of it. It pushes the heat into the corners. This is thanks to the Air Multiplier tech. It moves a lot of air volume.

One detail to watch is the oscillation. It moves in a 70-degree arc. This is not a full 360-degree rotation like some newer models. But for most rooms, 70 degrees is plenty to distribute the heat. The tilt feature is also helpful. You can pivot the machine on its base. This lets you aim the air up toward your body or down toward your cold feet.

Summer Cooling

It is important to manage expectations for summer. This is a fan. It is a very good fan. It creates a smooth and powerful breeze. It does not chill the air like an air conditioner. If the room is 90 degrees, the air coming out will be 90 degrees. But the wind-chill effect makes it feel much cooler.

The benefit here is that you do not need to pack the heater away in March. It stays on your desk or floor all year. It handles the transition between seasons better than almost any other appliance.

Maintenance and the H2 Error Code

Every product has a weakness. For the Dyson AM09, that weakness is dust. The machine does not have a filter. This is different from the Dyson Purifier models. Because there is no filter, the internal parts can get dusty over time.

Understanding the H2 Code

Many users report seeing an “H2” error on the display after a year or two of use. This usually means the heater has detected an issue with airflow or overheating. Most of the time, this is caused by dust buildup on the internal ceramic plates.

Dyson support often tells users it is a voltage issue. But many owners have found that a good cleaning fixes it. You should use a can of compressed air. Blow it into the intake holes at the base. You might see clouds of dust come out. Doing this every few months can prevent the H2 error from ever happening.

Cleaning Routine

Taking care of the remote is also part of maintenance. The remote is small. It is easy to lose in a couch. Always snap it back to the magnetic top when you are done. If you lose it, you lose control over many features.

Economic Impact and Energy Use

Is the Dyson AM09 energy efficient? All electric space heaters use roughly the same amount of power to create heat. This is usually 1500 Watts. The Dyson is not “magically” more efficient at creating heat. But it is more efficient at managing it.

The thermostat ensures the machine only runs when needed. It does not stay on full power all night if the room is already warm. Some users have seen a 20% drop in their heating bills when they use the Dyson for spot heating instead of turning up the central heat for the whole house.

If you use it in a small office for 8 hours a day, it might cost about $2 per day. This is a reasonable price for comfort. But it is not a “budget” way to heat a whole home. It works best as a secondary heat source.

Real World Pros and Cons

After months of testing and reading hundreds of buyer stories, we can summarize the experience. This machine is a luxury item. It performs like one. But it has its frustrations.

The Pros

• Top-Level Safety: This is the biggest selling point. There are no spinning blades for small fingers or pet tails. There are no red-hot coils to catch a curtain on fire.
• Rapid Room Heating: It does not just warm your shins. It circulates hot air throughout the space. It can take a room from freezing to comfortable in minutes.
• True Year-Round Use: Most heaters spend six months in a dusty closet. The AM09 stays out. It is a powerful fan in the summer and a heater in the winter.
• Easy to Clean Surface: Unlike traditional heaters with metal grilles, there is nowhere for dust to hide on the outside. You just wipe the smooth plastic loop.
• Quiet Sleep Mode: At speed settings 1 to 3, you can barely hear it. It is one of the few heaters that will not wake up a light sleeper.
• Stunning Design: It looks like it belongs in a high-end office or a modern living room. It is a conversation piece.

The Cons

• The Price Tag: It is very expensive compared to a standard $30 ceramic heater. You are paying for the tech and the brand.
• No Internal Filter: Because it lacks a filter, it can suck in dust that eventually causes mechanical issues like the H2 error.
• Remote Dependency: If you lose the remote, you can only turn the power on or off and adjust the temperature with a long press. You lose oscillation and the sleep timer.
• Not a Whole-House Solution: It is designed for rooms up to about 300-400 square feet. It will struggle in large open-plan living areas or rooms with high ceilings.
• Short Power Cord: At 1.8 meters, it can be hard to place in older rooms without many outlets. And Dyson says you should never use an extension cord.

Who Should Buy This Heater?

The Dyson AM09 is a specific tool for specific people. It is not for everyone.

Parents and Pet Owners If you have a toddler who loves to touch things, this is the heater for you. There are no blades. There is no hot metal grille. If it gets knocked over, it turns off instantly. It is the safest choice on the market.

Home Office Workers If you spend eight hours a day in a small room, you want something that looks good and stays quiet. The AM09 fits perfectly under or on a desk. The Jet Focus mode keeps you warm without heating the entire house.

Apartment Dwellers When space is tight, you do not want to store extra appliances. Having one machine that handles both summer and winter is a huge space-saver.

Light Sleepers If you need a bit of warmth but hate the clatter of a cheap fan, the AM09 is a dream. The low settings are practically silent.

Who Should Avoid It?

Budget-First Shoppers If you just want to get warm and do not care about design or bladeless tech, you can find a heater that performs similarly for $50. The Dyson is a luxury purchase.

People with Severe Allergies The AM09 does not purify the air. It just moves it. If you need clean air, you should spend a bit more and get the Dyson Purifier Hot + Cool (HP models) which include HEPA filters.

Those Heating Huge Spaces If you have a massive living room with 15-foot ceilings, this machine will not be enough. You would be better off with a large oil-filled radiator that provides more radiant heat over a long period.

Comparison Section: Dyson AM09 vs. The Competition

To understand if the AM09 is right for you, we need to see how it stacks up against other popular models.

Dyson AM09 vs. Dyson HP07 (Purifier Hot + Cool)

The HP07 is the bigger brother. It adds air purification. It has a sealed HEPA filter. This filter protects the motor from dust, which might prevent the H2 error. The HP07 also has Wi-Fi. You can control it from your phone. The AM09 is simpler. It is more compact. It is also usually $200 cheaper. If you do not care about air quality data, the AM09 is the better value.

Dyson AM09 vs. Vornado AVH10

Vornado heaters use “Vortex” technology. They are great at moving air throughout a whole room. In some tests, the Vornado provides more consistent whole-room warmth than the Dyson. However, the Vornado has blades. It has a grille that can get hot. It does not have a “cooling” fan mode for summer. The Dyson is much more versatile and safer for kids.

Dyson AM09 vs. Lasko 754200

The Lasko is a tiny, cheap ceramic heater. It is very popular. It puts out a lot of heat for its size. In a direct heat test, the Lasko can feel hotter than the Dyson if you are sitting right next to it. But the Lasko is loud. It looks like a plastic box. It lacks the tip-over safety features of the Dyson. The Lasko is for a college dorm; the Dyson is for a professional home.

Final Verdict

The Dyson AM09 Hot + Cool is an impressive piece of engineering. It successfully combines two appliances into one beautiful package. The heating performance is rapid and effective for bedrooms and offices. The safety features are second to none, making it our top recommendation for homes with small children or pets.

However, you must be prepared for the price and the maintenance. You are paying a premium for the design and the bladeless technology. To make this investment last, you cannot just set it and forget it. You need to keep the base clean and blow it out with compressed air occasionally to avoid the H2 error.

If you want a machine that works all year, looks fantastic, and keeps your family safe, the Dyson AM09 is worth every penny. It is a high-end solution for a high-end home. If you just want to stop shivering and do not mind a noisy fan or a clunky design, there are cheaper ways to get warm. But for the “best in class” experience, Dyson still holds the crown.

FAQ Section

Can I leave the Dyson AM09 on all night while I sleep? Yes, you can. The machine has an automatic shutoff feature. It also has a sleep timer that you can set for up to 9 hours. The thermostat will cycle the heat on and off to keep the room at your set temperature, which is safer than a heater that stays on full power constantly.

Does it really cool the air like an AC unit? No. This is a common point of confusion. The AM09 is a high-velocity fan. It moves air quickly to create a cooling effect on your skin. It does not use refrigerant or a compressor to lower the room’s actual temperature.

How do I fix the H2 error code? First, try a hard reset. Unplug the unit for at least 60 seconds and plug it back in. If that does not work, it is likely a dust issue. Use a can of compressed air to blow out the intake holes at the base of the machine. This usually clears the blockage and restores function.

Why does the remote have a magnet? The remote is curved and magnetized so it can sit securely on top of the loop amplifier. This is designed to help you not lose it, as the remote is very small and the machine depends on it for most features.

Can I use the Dyson AM09 in a bathroom? It is not recommended. The AM09 is an indoor electrical appliance. Using it in high-humidity areas like a bathroom can damage the internal components or create a safety risk. It is best suited for dry living spaces like bedrooms and offices.

Is it loud? At low speeds (1-4), it is very quiet and suitable for a nursery or bedroom. At high speeds (8-10), you will definitely hear the rushing air. It is a smooth “whoosh” sound rather than a mechanical rattle, but it can be distracting if you are trying to hear a quiet conversation.