What is it?

A futuristic-looking heater and fan combination.

How will it change my life? A couple of winters back, the Dimmock household's boiler conked out in the middle of a cold snap. A few days without heating or hot water soon turned into the best part of a fortnight as the repair necessitated a specialist part to be shipped from Italy.

The only respite from the biting chill came from the warm glow of the electric oven as dinner was cooked, causing a stampede to the kitchen.

A trawl of the major supermarkets and several branches of a well-known catalogue store made me realise how lacking the market is in decent electric heaters.

The first model I tried was about as useful as a chocolate teapot, heating no further than a couple of feet in front of it before ceasing as if stopped by an invisible force field. The second, which came with oscillating mode, was little better. Any enjoyment from watching Top Gear or Coronation Street was thwarted by your brain constantly jabbering in the background: "I'm hot, I'm cold, I'm hot, I'm cold," as the heater swung back and forth in pendulum-like motion.

Ever since, I've been on the lookout for a decent electric heater that can be stored for any such future emergencies.

Good points? The Dyson Hot+Cool AM05 Fan Heater has the look of a space-age periscope. Breaking it down into its two primary functions, you can see the thought processes that must have occurred in the design room.

First came the holy grail of developing powerful airflow with the use of bladeless technology, which creates the blast of warmth you would expect from a hairdryer which can be felt several feet away from the unit.

Secondly, the airflow is even and seems to radiate through the room without the choppiness of regular fans which blast the senses as if they were slapping you in the face one finger at a time.

The number of power-intensity modes is impressive: there is one for every mood, whether you are in need of an Arctic breeze when working out, or comforting heat when feeling a bit under the weather. It even comes with a remote control so you don't have to budge from the sofa to alter the temperature.

Bad points? None that has any major impact on performance or functionality.

Best for … Anyone whose room is minus a good old-fashioned fire in winter. It is equally well suited to stuffy Scottish rooms in summer. Home fitness enthusiasts will find the cool current a godsend during those high-intensity sessions.

Avoid if … You are already lucky enough to have air-conditioning.

Score: 9/10.

l Dyson Hot+Cool AM05 Fan Heater, £389.99 (dyson.co.uk)