Lasko FH500: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-18

Summary

The clearest owner complaint is the remote: two verified Walmart purchasers report remotes that work only occasionally or not at all, while the panel controls keep working. The grille runs hot enough that Lasko’s manual warns against touching it, and the intake grilles need vacuuming every two weeks or the unit shuts off repeatedly. There are no consumables beyond two AAA batteries for the remote; electricity is the only running cost, about $1.55 for a full eight-hour workday at average fall 2025 US rates, and at or below about $110 the FH500 is strong value.

Common problems and fixes

Dead or intermittent remote — two verified Walmart purchasers: one remote “didn’t work at all” out of the box and a replacement “works at least part of the time,” while the manual buttons work fine; treat the touch panel as the primary interface and order Lasko’s $12.95 replacement remote instead of claiming warranty, since outbound shipping on a 42-inch tower makes small claims uneconomical. [4][8][2]
Repeated shutdown after a few minutes — Lasko’s troubleshooting says the unit may require cleaning: vacuum the intake grilles every two weeks; after an overheat trip, unplug, wait 10 minutes, then plug back in. [2]
Hot grille — CNN Underscored measured the grille at 212 °F after 60 minutes on high while Tom’s Guide found no burn-hazard surface; Lasko’s manual sides with the hot reading and requires 3 ft of clearance in front and 1 ft at the sides and rear, so with children or pets keep the tower out of reach. [2][3]
Confusing controls — eight discrete buttons, separate heater and fan power (the usual source of “why is only the fan running” confusion), a fan-speed button that steps 1-8 and a heat-mode button that steps H3/H2/H1/HF; Tom’s Guide needed the manual before the controls made sense. [2][3]
Bright display at night — owners report the control lights are bright enough to bother them while sleeping. [4]
Display shows room temperature, not output air — the manual states the display does not indicate the temperature of the heated air; AutoEco is a two-stage thermostat that runs high below the set point, low until the room is 2 °F above it, then cuts the element with the fan running 15 more seconds. [2]
No extension cords and no bathroom use — the manual forbids extension cords, power strips, surge protectors and sharing an outlet, and the unit has no GFCI plug and is not for bathrooms, laundry or damp places. [2]

Parts and consumables

Remote control (Lasko 2033624) — $12.95, in stock at Lasko’s parts channel (Lasko, 2026); the part owners most often need. [8]
Base-front panel (Lasko FH50001) — $10.95, in stock (Lasko, 2026). [8]
Base-rear panel (Lasko FH50002) — $10.95, in stock (Lasko, 2026). [8]
Filter door (Lasko FH50003) — $9.95, in stock (Lasko, 2026). [8]
Hardware bag (Lasko 2055111) — $5.95, in stock (Lasko, 2026). [8]
Intake filter — permanent, clean-in-place; vacuum every two weeks, never replace. [2]
Remote batteries — two AAA, not included; the only consumable. [2]
There is no motor, ceramic element, control board or display in the parts catalog, so electrical failures are replace-not-repair. [8]

Yearly running cost

Electricity only. There is no subscription, no app and no filter to buy; the only consumable is two AAA batteries for the remote. Every US 120 V portable heater is capped at 1,500 W, so wattage is not a reason to choose one heater over another, and Wirecutter’s anchor is that a 1,500 W heater costs just under $1.55 to run for a full eight-hour workday at average fall 2025 US rates. [7]

When it is a good buy

At or below about $110 it is strong value: Lasko’s own store listed the white FH500 at $99.99 against a $149.99 compare-at price, and Walmart listed it at $109.99. [1][5] In the $111-$135 range it is still reasonable — Newegg $128.99, Home Depot $122.99, Walmart $129.99 — but above $140 it loses its edge, with no performance evidence to justify the premium. [2] For a more compact heater, Tom’s Guide points to the Vornado VH200 instead, which Wirecutter lists as its top pick at $80 at Home Depot. [3][7]