Abstract: A heater includes a housing having an outer surface and sidewalls defining an interior space that holds a heating element. The heater further includes a heating element having a lower portion and an upper portion, where the heating element has differing power densities from the lower portion to the upper portion. The heating element includes a heat shield positioned in substantially parallel relation to the heating element to create a duct where air may travel through. The heater is provided with an air displacement device positioned adjacent to the heating element to create a planar flow of air through the duct. The heater may be controlled by a control circuit having a circuit board, which controls the power supplied to the heating element and the air displacement device.