A fan that heats and cools

• Manufactured by R.E. Williams Inc.
• 888-845-6597; www.fanheatlight.com
• Cost: From about $339 to $369, depending on finish

You’ve finished your attic remodel or garage-to-office conversion and are really enjoying your newly appointed space. There’s only one problem: It’s cold in winter! You could use a space heater, but that heats only a small portion of the room and is probably not the safest solution when the room is occupied by kids or pets.

The Reiker Room Conditioner could be the answer. This combination ceiling fan/heater is a ductless system designed to heat a 20-ft. by 20-ft. room efficiently. The unit’s power, heating, temperature setting, and lighting are operated by a handheld remote control. As warm air is pumped out by the ceiling-mounted heater, it’s circulated around the room by the fan blades.

The fan’s remote control and receiver work together to sense the ambient air temperature. Once the room is at the temperature level set on the remote’s thermostat, the unit reduces power consumption but still maintains the preset temperature level throughout the room. Manual units without a remote control are also available ($269), but their temperature settings are limited to high, medium, or low.

During warmer months, the Reiker unit functions as a fan for cooling. The unit can be mounted with a 6-in., 12-in., 18-in., or 24-in. down rod, or it can be attached flush to the ceiling.

Reiker Room Conditioners can be ordered via the company’s Web site. You also can find them at home centers such as Lowe’s and The Home Depot (where they’re sold under the Hampton Bay name).