With the advent of cold weather, the question arises as to what appliances help to efficiently heat a living room. The choice of a heater for an apartment, house, cottage, as well as the principle of its operation, should be carried out reasonably. This is the only way to choose a device suitable for specific living conditions, which will help to avoid problems during its use in the future.
Heater purpose
In houses and apartments there is not always enough heat to fully heat the room. This is especially true of non-insulated houses or apartments with central heating. Many of us are familiar with the situation when the batteries are hot, but there is no heat in the room.
The cooler it is outside, the colder it will be in the room, because 3/5 of the heat from the inside very quickly disappears through the ceiling, walls and floor. This process is called transmission heat loss. Significant such losses will be in the case of a large number of windows or doors. Corner apartments are considered the coldest. 2/5 of the remaining heat is called ventilation loss. This means the penetration of cold air into the room through cracks in windows, doors, ventilation systems, etc. To avoid this, with the onset of cold weather, windows, entrance doors should be carefully insulated.
In order not to freeze on rainy, chilly autumn days, when the heating is not yet turned on, and to feel comfortable in the winter or during an emergency shutdown of central heating, the modern market offers a wide variety of heaters for a house, cottage, apartment or garage. All of them have features and advantages. In order not to make a mistake and make the right choice, it is necessary to carefully familiarize yourself with heating devices.
Types of heaters for home, cottages, for apartments, their characteristics
Modern manufacturers produce a large number of different heaters. These are heating appliances designed for additional heating of premises, which are used both independently and with central heating. They are connected using an electric cord to the power supply. Therefore, when choosing a device, you need to know which heater is considered more economical and effectively heats the room with a small energy consumption.
Types of heaters
Depending on individual preferences, dimensions of the heated room, other factors, the consumer selects the desired type of heating device. The most common types are as follows.
Convectors
In these heating devices, a heating element acts as a heating element, having the form of a steel curved rod located in a protective tube made of metal, which is located in the housing. Warm air is distributed according to the law of natural convection when heat rises, making room for cold air. Heating devices of this type are equipped with thermostats that can keep the temperature at a set level.
Important! A distinctive feature of convectors from oil-type heaters is that you can touch their surface with your hand and do not burn. Also, they do not create noise, do not require special care and are considered fireproof devices.
Wall convector
Heaters of this kind have different power and sizes, can be wall, floor or built-in. Many models of light colors, which allows them to fit perfectly into any interior. Using wall convectors allows you to save space in the room, but if you buy a set of legs for them, these types can be used as full-fledged floor heaters.
Electroconvectors have a high efficiency. This figure is 95%. The convector belongs to economical heaters, quickly heats the room, has protection against overheating.
Floor convector
The advantage of built-in convectors is that they can be placed on the floor anywhere in the room. Outwardly, they look like a lattice in the floor, through the openings of which warm air enters the room.
Built-in convector
Oil
The oil in the sections acts as a heating element in them. The larger their number, the better the heat transfer. The coolant is heated gradually and over a long period maintains a predetermined temperature, its efficiency is about 50%.
Such heaters are silent, fireproof. If the device is equipped with a thermostat and a timer, it is possible to automatically turn them off when the required degree of heating is reached.
Oil coolers
It must be remembered that the metal surface of oil heaters can heat up to a high temperature, touching which will cause a severe burn. Therefore, it is inappropriate to use such devices to heat a house or apartment where there are small children or pets. It is also necessary to ensure that during operation there are no flammable substances or objects near such a device.
The use of an oil heater in the bathroom or for drying clothes is strictly contraindicated.
Do not use an oil heater to dry clothes.
To repair or turn on the device yourself, you need to know its device. This will help the oil heater circuit.
Oil heater circuit
After studying it, you can learn how to operate the device correctly, as well as get acquainted with thermostats, switches, grounding, etc.
Infrared
Such devices for space heating are among the most advanced devices and have a principle of operation with an efficiency factor of 90% that differs from other heaters.
The principle of operation of IR heaters
Infrared models create local heating zones, because quartz emitters heat objects, not air, which is a plus of devices. This allows you to heat not the entire room and save energy. They can be used not only indoors, but also on open terraces, in arbors with the correct calculation of the power of the device. Devices are well placed on any vertical or horizontal surfaces.
Infrared heaters
The presence of an infrared heater connection scheme will allow you to become more familiar with the device device.
Varieties of infrared heaters include carbon heaters. They differ only in the material of manufacture.
Carbon Heater
Such a device has all the advantages of an infrared heater. Its disadvantage is the impossibility of uniform heating of the entire room area, as well as the visible radiation of red or orange color (inherent in short-wave emitters).
Fan heaters
They blow warm air and are considered simple and affordable for many consumers.The advantage of such devices is the rapid heating of a small room with one hundred percent efficiency. In terms of location, they are universal (can be installed on the floor, placed on a table or attached to a wall), as they are smaller in comparison with other heating devices.
Fan heaters
In such heaters, air is heated by a hot electric spiral, and it is supplied to the room by means of a fan turning in the housing. Disadvantages are noise, the appearance of an unpleasant odor from dust, which, falling on a red-hot spiral, burns out. It is necessary to protect the fan heater from water getting on it (especially on a red-hot spiral), and also make sure that it does not fall.
When tipping over, the air intake closes and the spiral heats up. If the spiral is very hot, a fire may occur. When buying such a model, you must pay attention to the presence of the protective shutdown function when capsizing.
A variety of fan heaters are heat curtains.
Heat curtain
Installing such a device at home will help the main heating system in heating. But as an independent device, it is not effective to use.
Ceramic
Combined convection and infrared heating methods. The design of the device consists of a plate with a large number of ceramic elements that quickly heat up and retain heat for a long time. Heat is distributed throughout the room in the traditional way, as well as with the help of infrared radiation, when objects are heated, not air.
Ceramic heater
Can be floor, wall and table. They are used for heating houses, apartments. The heating process is gradual, and the ceramic elements in the device retain heat for a long time.
Device selection
When choosing a heating device for a house, apartment, cottage or garage, you need to pay special attention to:
- Power.
- Heating element.
- Control.
- The size of the heater.
Taking into account all the necessary characteristics will allow you to choose an effective model that will create the most comfortable conditions for everyday use in any room during the onset of cold weather.
Power
It is a key parameter that you need to pay attention to when buying. The heating rate of a room of a certain size to the required temperature depends on it. For each square meter of a room, according to the rules, there should be 100 watts of power of the heating device, provided that the heated room is not adjacent to an unheated or insulated one.
If the apartment is angular or is located next to a room that is not heated, the power indicator should be at least 150 watts per square meter. It should be remembered that these standards are set for heating appliances operating on an ongoing basis. For temporary heating, indicators are different.
Accordingly, heaters will be effective with this ratio of indicators:
- 500 W for 5-6 m2.
- 750 W - 7–9 m2.
- 1000 W - 10-12 m2.
- 1250 W - 12-14 m2.
- 1500 W - 15-17 m2.
- 1750 W - 18–19 m2.
- 2000 W - 20–23 m2.
- 2500 W - 24–27 m2.
If the purpose of acquiring a heater is short-term heating of the room, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the power of the equipment should be higher than the calculated standards. For premises with an area of 10 m2 the best option would be a fan heater or infrared heater with a power of 1.5 to 2 kW. He will be able to heat objects in a short time, and after shutdown, the heat will remain for another period. The higher the power of the heater, the greater the energy consumption.
The built-in thermostat, located in modern models, allows not only to maintain the required temperature regime, but also to regulate it if necessary. Therefore, it is better to choose models with a thermostat. This will avoid overheating and save energy.
Heating element
Affects speed, safety and providing comfortable conditions for consumers.
To date, the most common types of heating elements are:
- Spiral. Refers to an inexpensive, classic version. It is installed in fan heaters, heat guns, as well as in floor heaters, which are obsolete models.
- The lamp is infrared. Heats not air, but objects and is suitable thanks to a unique technology of work for heating rooms with a large area.
- A common technology in home use is heat-resistant oil with heating elements. It has an increased level of reliability and is often equipped with temperature controllers.
- Inverter technology is widely used heat pump. Today, this technology is gaining popularity and is being developed by leading manufacturers of air conditioners.
Ceramic heating elements are used in convection technology.
Control
It can be mechanical and electronic. The control system allows you to:
- Set the desired temperature mode of heating.
- Set runtime and self-shutdown.
- Configure advanced features.
These parameters depend on the specific model of the heater.
Mechanical control of the heater
Home heaters
The challenge is to choose a heater for the home. Before you buy it, you need to evaluate the safety and energy consumption (the more economical the device, the lower the monthly electricity charge).
The main types of economical heaters for the home:
- Convector.
- Oily with automatic temperature control.
Using these models, the consumer can independently set the desired temperature, which will be automatically controlled by the system. Power must be selected according to the size of the room for which the radiator is intended. In less visited rooms it is advisable to install fan heaters or heaters with a spiral that quickly heat up the temperature.
The modern models used to heat the house include ceramic heaters. Although their price is higher than similar devices, their efficiency and efficiency with a long service life compensate for the high cost.
Heaters for apartments
A classic fan burns oxygen, if dust gets on the heating element, an unpleasant odor may appear, which is unacceptable for a children's room or bedroom. This type of heater is not suitable for stable, continuous heating. If we choose a harmless device, then you need to know which heater will not burn oxygen.
The most acceptable option for heating apartments will be convectors, ceramic or oil heating devices. For studio apartments, the installation of ceiling infrared heaters, which heat all objects if they receive thermal radiation, is an excellent solution. For the bathroom, it is allowed to use heaters with a hidden heater. If moisture gets on it, there will be no short circuit.
Heaters for a summer residence
An urgent problem for many consumers is the choice of an effective heater for a summer residence. Since time is spent on it much less than at home, it is possible to purchase both fan heaters and oil or ceramic heaters for heating. They will save on space heating and make sleep comfortable.
The fan heater dries the air, so its constant use is not allowed. This device can only quickly heat the air in the room at the cottage, avoiding oxygen burnout.
For prolonged use, it is preferable to buy an oil or ceramic model. They will allow you to set the optimum temperature and turn off, which will significantly save electricity consumption.To ensure comfortable conditions in the gazebo or garden, an infrared heater is suitable.
Fan heater for a summer residence
Garage Heaters
Garage owners often wonder how to heat a garage space.
Important! It must be remembered that appliances that have open heating elements must not be used to heat garages.
For him, ceramic or oil heating appliances are suitable. Infrared models do not heat air, but objects, so they are also not recommended for heating garages, because it can be unsafe.
Thermostat and thermal fuse in the heater
By a thermostat is meant a device that controls the operation of a heating device (oil, infrared, electric), helps to establish and regulate the temperature regime in the room. It is very convenient if there are small children.
Thermostat
The design of the thermostat is simple and reliable. It consists of a thermal cylinder with a rod, which is filled with a special substance that is sensitive to heat. When a substance reaches a predetermined temperature, it begins to expand, pushing out the stem, which completely or partially restricts the movement of water in the pipe.
The main purpose of the thermal fuse in the heater is to automatically turn on or off the device. This protects it from overheating and further failure, and also significantly saves energy consumption.
Review of the best heaters
When central heating has not yet been turned on or it is not enough to create comfortable living conditions, the use of heaters will be indispensable. Based on a wide variety of models presented on the modern market, according to consumers, a rating of household heating appliances was compiled, which is popular among consumers in the price / quality ratio
Some of the best models, according to customers, in 2018-2018 are:
- NeoClima TZT-508. Thermal curtain This brand will be effective when installed above window openings or doors, as it prevents heat loss. A special heating mode is set by adjusting the power. The equipment is mounted easily, quickly heats the room, does not allow cold air flows, emits insignificant noise.
- Convector for space heating from StiebelEltron CNS 150 S. Through the bottom grilles, cold air enters the heater heater and, when heated, rises. Thanks to the thermostat, the temperature mode is set, which is set by the controller with an accuracy of one degree. The absence of a fan in the design ensures the device quiet operation. Also, the device is equipped with a protective mechanism against overheating and a housing with moisture protection, which allows it to be used in the bathroom (balcony or loggia). The heater can be used both independently and in addition to the central system.
- The Electrolux EIH / AG2-1500E heating device combines several methods of heating a room: infrared and convective. It is economical because it consumes a small amount of energy for work, but the room heats up quickly. Intended for heating houses, apartments, country cottages, garage premises. The device is placed on the floor or walls. Equipped with a built-in timer and temperature controller.
- The Polaris PRE Q 0615 compact domestic oil heater is safe because it has a fully enclosed heating element. Two regulators allow you to adjust the desired temperature. At night, the use of the device is facilitated by the presence of a light indicator. An oil heater will be an excellent solution when heating a children's room or bedroom. When overheating, it turns off independently.
- Timberk TEC.E0 M 1500 can be installed on the floor or walls of heated rooms.The safety of the compact device is ensured by the built-in rollover protection sensor (it is disabled when dropped). The convector body does not heat up more than 65 degrees, regardless of what temperature is set.
- The oil heating device RESANTA OM-5H is ideally suited for heating rooms of any purpose. Its main advantage is the speed of heating the air without burning oxygen. This is possible thanks to a closed heating element. It is also fireproof, has a temperature regulator for setting the mode and a built-in thermostat to maintain the set temperature mode. Suitable for garages, cottages, bathrooms and other rooms where central heating is not connected.
- AtlanticBonjour CEG 1000W does not dry the air and quickly heats a room with an area of not more than ten square meters. The convector case does not heat up more than 45 degrees, which is safe for children. Using the temperature controller, you can set the temperature.
- The Ballu BIH-AP2-0.8 IR electric heater is a harmless and efficient device. Designed for installation on the ceiling or walls of the room, quickly heats up and is economical. Suitable for heating homes.
Before buying such a necessary device as a household heater, it is necessary to take into account the area of the room in which it will be installed, its purpose, power and other factors. It is also necessary to carefully read the description, weigh all the pros and cons of the heater in order to avoid further problems.
