Electric heater

A portable electric heater for providing a heated exhaust air stream at an elevation above a support surface is provided. The heater comprises an elongate housing having a sidewall, a top end, a bottom end, and a longitudinal length extending substantially upward from the bottom end to the top end, and a horizontal cross sectional area. A base supports the elongate housing in a vertical and upright position on the support surface. There is at least one inlet opening in the housing allowing inlet air to enter the interior of the housing. An air blower assembly is disposed within the housing interior for receiving the inlet air. At least one outlet opening in the elongate housing allows the exhaust air stream to exit the interior space. At least one electric heating element is disposed within the interior space between the air blower assembly and the outlet opening. A substantial portion of the exhaust air stream passes through the at least one electric heating element and thermal energy is transferred from the at least one electric heating element to the exhaust air stream. The heated exhaust air stream exits the elongate housing at an elevation above the support surface, the elevation being defined by a distance from where the base contacts the support surface to a highest vertical exit point of the heated exhaust air stream from the housing interior.