Lasko 5165: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-08

Summary

The Lasko 5165 is a 1500 W ceramic tower heater (22.75 in tall, 6.0 lb) with a remote, 1–8 hour timer and oscillation, listed at $79.99 by Lasko and Home Depot (both read 2026-10-08). The catch is the thermostat: automatic temperature control works only on High, so in Low mode the unit runs continuously with no automatic shutoff. Running costs are consumables only — two AAA batteries and vacuum cleaning — and a dollar-per-year electricity total is not enough data because Low’s wattage is not published.

Common problems and fixes

Thermostat regulates only on High — the manual states plainly that you cannot set the temperature automatically in Low mode, and in Low the unit simply runs continuously. If you plan to run it in Low most of the time, treat it as a heater with a remote and timer, not a true thermostat. [1][2]
Coarse cycling band — the heater shuts off 2 degrees above the set point and restarts 1 degree below, so it cycles within roughly a 3-degree band instead of holding the target tightly. [2]
Display shows room temperature, not the air coming out — the manual says so explicitly, while seller copy sometimes implies the opposite; do not read it as output temperature. [2]
No documented tip-over switch — no page read for this model documents one, and the manual is revision Rev. C 5/13. The documented protections are overheat auto-shutoff with a reset and a cool-touch housing. [2]
Button beep is too loud — a Best Buy Q&A customer for model 5165 says the beeps “are way too loud” and asks how to disable them; no way to disable it is documented. [11]
Phone-only support and replacement remote — there is no user-serviceable parts channel; service and replacement remotes go through Lasko customer service at 800-233-0268, Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm ET. [2]
Vibration from lint on the fan blade — Lasko’s support article attributes excessive heater vibration to lint and debris on the fan blade or shaft and says slight vibration is normal; vacuum the intake grills every two weeks. [4][2]
Family-level heater faults, not 5165-specific — Lasko support articles across its heater line cover a flashing “88” display, not reaching set temperature, blowing cold air, and shutting off after a short period, with a 15-minute unplug reset or cleaning; brand-level ConsumerAffairs comments mention thermostats running past set point and a plug that sparked after about a year, but none of that is tied to the 5165. [3][4][12]

Parts and consumables

Two AAA batteries for the remote — the manual says they are not included, so budget for a pair; Lasko told a ConsumerAffairs caller the heater has no filter to replace. [2][12]
No replaceable parts or consumables reported for the heater itself: the unit is sealed, the manual forbids disassembly, and there are no user-serviceable parts or filters.

Yearly running cost

Recurring cost is consumables only: two AAA batteries for the remote and vacuum cleaning of the intake grills; Lasko says the heater has no filter, and there is no scheduled replacement part. For electricity, only High is documented at 1500 W and Low’s wattage is not published on any page read, so a per-hour or dollar-per-year figure is not enough data. High mode is thermostat-cycled (2 degrees above set point, 1 degree below), so it uses less energy than a fixed continuous run in the same room. [1][2]

When it is a good buy

At $79.99 (Lasko direct and Home Depot, both read 2026-10-08) — a reasonable supplemental heater: small footprint, simple controls and a three-year manual-stated warranty. [1][2][7]
$80–100 — still defensible, especially if you specifically want a tall slim tower with an on-board remote storage slot. [2]
$100–130 — weak to fair; at this range you are paying a premium for an aging design with no documented tip-over protection, no independent test data and a thermostat that only regulates on High. [2]
Above $130 — poor value without a specific reason to prefer this chassis. [2]
Walmart last showed $67.47 on an out-of-stock listing, so treat that as a last-observed online price rather than a live buying price. [9]
Alternatives: the Lasko 5775 is a similar 23-inch tower with no remote and 6.08 lb, the better pick if you do not need the remote; the Lasko 751320 is a 23-inch tower with a 7-hour timer and 5.6 lb, better if a lighter tower and a longer timer matter; newer Lasko towers document a tip-over switch, the better pick if safety is the priority. [10][11]