Model comparison
DREO wall heaters 517S vs 711S: fan heat or fanless convection?
DREO’s two reviewed wall heaters solve different comfort problems. The Smart Wall-mounted Heater 517S is a fan heater with a separate fan-only mode; the Convection Heater 711S is a fanless panel. Neither can be rolled between rooms, and each manual expects a specific wall installation. Choose by how the heat moves and what the exact manual permits—not by the shared wall-mounted label.
Air movement: the first real difference
The 517S has three power-heat levels (900, 1,300 and 1,500 watts), ECO control from 41°F to 95°F, and a separate Fan Only mode. That makes sense if you want a fan stream while the heating element is off as well as fan-forced heat. The inspected manual does not specify how many speeds are available in Fan Only, so do not buy it expecting a documented speed count. Its fan is also a source of operating sound; the maker’s quietness claim is not an independent measurement.
The 711S uses fanless convection: it heats without an air stream and has no separate fan-only mode. It has three heat steps and an ECO thermostat too, but the difference is not just a softer fan setting. If moving air without heat is essential, the 711S cannot meet that need. If avoiding a fan stream during heating matters more, the 517S is the wrong one. Neither model has a manual-supported two-axis oscillation plan in these assessments.
Mounting and wall space
The 517S manual says it must be mounted on a wall, not propped up or operated with the grille vertical. Its installation drawing calls for more than one foot above and below the heater and more than 0.65 foot at each side; the safety pages also say to keep combustibles three feet from the front and away from the sides and rear. It marks the drywall-anchor steps as “only for drywall.” DREO’s inspected listing and manual do not establish body dimensions or weight, so this is not a useful model if you need a strict body-size limit without further manufacturer confirmation.
The 711S also needs fixed mounting, but its exact manual describes a different installation system and a substantially larger overhead clearance. Its manual gives the panel’s body size as about 30.9 inches wide by 17.5 inches high and shows 3.6 feet above, 0.8 foot on each side and 0.8 foot below. The documents do not establish a body depth or weight. Do not transfer the 517S clearances to the 711S—or the 711S’s dimensions to the 517S. Measure wall space against the precise manual for the model you are buying.
Room restrictions can matter more than an extra feature
The WH517S manual specifically rules out bathrooms, laundry areas and similar locations. That remains true even though DREO separately lists a 517AS product with an ALCI plug; the 517AS is a different product row, not a color variant of the 517S, and its own manual must be checked. Do not assume an outlet feature makes every heater acceptable around water. The 711S manual also requires exact clearance and location checks; if bathroom use is essential, require a model-specific instruction that permits it instead of relying on the shared brand or mounting category.
App control and timer behavior
Both wall models offer app functions, but the source documents do not make them interchangeable. The 517S manual describes a one-to-24-hour on-unit countdown that shuts off a running heater. It also mentions an app schedule without enough detail to promise that the countdown will start the unit from off. The 711S manual separately describes its timer turning the heater on or off and supports a schedule in the app. If a scheduled start is non-negotiable, prefer the exact behavior documented for the 711S rather than treating every 24-hour timer as the same feature. The 711S’s fanless heating and explicit start behavior are often more decisive than its smart label.
Outlet direction is not a safe tie-breaker
DREO’s 517S page advertises a 30-degree “manual” outlet tilt, but the exact manual warns users not to move the outlet fin by hand and directs them to change the blowing angle through the panel, remote or app. That leaves the mechanism unclear, so this guide does not count the 517S as a hand-set vertical tilt or as oscillating. The 711S likewise should not be credited with a sweep unless its exact manual specifies it. If upward/downward aiming is important, look for an unambiguous control description and do not infer motion from an image or angle number.
How to use this comparison
In the finder, the wall-mount choice can retain both models, while a Fan Only need retains the 517S and rejects the fanless 711S. A fanless-heat need does the reverse. A later-start requirement fits the 711S’s manual-documented timer behavior but does not pass for the 517S. A bathroom requirement excludes the WH517S; missing exact location approval should not be treated as permission. For either product, preserve the full wall clearances, verify the actual outlet and mounting material, and follow the exact manual after delivery.
These documents describe features, not comparative lab tests. There is no controlled room trial here, and neither maker’s coverage or sound claim guarantees the result in a particular room. The 517S is the fan-forced option with fan-only airflow; the 711S is the fanless panel. Let that real operating difference—and the exact installation limits—decide which one belongs on your shortlist.