A convector heater is a great way to quickly and safely heat a room, perfect for home, office or cottage. Such a device has its pros and cons, but in many characteristics it significantly wins in comparison with other heating devices.
Types
The heater is based on the principle of natural air convection: cold air masses descend and enter the lower grate of the device, pass through the heating element, heat up to the desired temperature, and then freely rise upward, thus spreading throughout the room. Air movement occurs naturally, so a fan is not required.
There are two types of convector heaters. By the type of energy, there are electric and gas. In the first case, the energy source is electricity. This type of heater is the most common and popular due to its ease of installation, high heating speed and silent operation. You can choose a wall or floor option. The wall-mounted one takes up less space, but the floor-mounted one is more mobile and can be moved from room to room when necessary. The disadvantages of electric convectors include significant energy consumption, so they are most often used as an additional, rather than the main, source of heat. Gas convectors are more economical, however, such a design requires a chimney.
Advantages of convectors
To choose the right type of heater and not regret your choice, you should carefully study the characteristics of the device and pay attention to its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of convectors include:
- the ability to set the desired temperature;
- presence of a thermostat: the heater can automatically turn on and off depending on the room temperature;
- the housing is protected from overheating and completely eliminates the possibility of burns;
- The heater mechanism is designed extremely simply, so the device rarely breaks down, and if such a nuisance does occur, repairs will cost very little.
Some advanced models have additional features:
- remote control;
- the presence of a timer that can be set for any time, for example, 20 minutes before the apartment owners arrive from work;
- the ability to capture dust and saturate the air with ions;
- Can be used in damp areas.
Disadvantages of heaters
Despite the obvious advantages, convector heaters also have disadvantages. One of the main disadvantages is the high level of energy consumption, which leads to high electricity bills. It is not economically feasible to use this type of heating as the main heat source; however, a convector is best suited as an additional heating source.
Another significant disadvantage applies only to inexpensive models. Many of them are equipped with weak heating elements and in order to quickly heat the room, a fan is built into the mechanism. As a result, the heater is quite noisy, so it cannot be used in a bedroom or office.
Convectors have no other disadvantages, therefore, with proper operation, they can rightfully be considered one of the best heaters. Such devices are especially popular in city apartments, where it is not possible to regulate the heating mode, as well as in rented offices and dachas, where constant heating is not required. In homes where the only energy source is electricity, a convector heater is the best choice.
Advantages over other types
In addition to convectors, other types of heaters are also popular: oil, infrared, and fan heaters.
Oily
The operation of an oil heater is based on a simple mechanism. The metal sealed case is filled with technical oil, and the heating elements are immersed in the liquid. As the oil heats up, it begins to give off a huge amount of heat and the room warms up quite quickly. Oil radiators are good because they are relatively inexpensive, have low energy consumption and retain heat for a long time, so they continue to heat the air for some time even after being disconnected from the network. Most heaters of this type are made in a floor-standing format, so they are quite compact and mobile and can be used in almost any room.
The only exception is that oil radiators are not recommended for installation in children's rooms: the radiator body has a very high temperature during operation, so there is a risk of getting burned. In addition, nearby objects and surfaces may darken due to high temperature. The device heats the air extremely unevenly; being in the immediate vicinity of it is extremely hot and uncomfortable, and being far away is too cold.
The cost of purchasing and operating oil heaters is slightly lower than that of convector heaters; however, a convector is safer, more environmentally friendly and convenient, as it heats the air more quickly and evenly.
Infrared
An infrared heater is used to heat a specific area in a room. The operation of the device is based on the heating ability of an infrared lamp and a reflective surface that directs heat flow to the desired area.
This type of heater is best suited for offices or other areas where people stay in the same place for a long time. An infrared lamp will quickly warm the workplace and the worker himself, however, the air outside this area will remain quite cold.
This type of device is more effective when you need to quickly and efficiently heat a certain area; in addition, infrared lamps consume a small amount of energy, are durable and do not consume oxygen. They are absolutely safe and do not have any negative effects on the human body. In addition to work areas, they are often used for heating gazebos or balconies, but are extremely inconvenient in apartments and residential buildings.
Fan heaters
Fan heaters are the most budget-friendly option for heating devices. However, it has a fairly high level of energy consumption and uses a significant amount of electricity in a short time. If the heating coil breaks, it is no longer possible to repair it, so you will have to replace the entire device.During operation, the fan heater makes a loud monotonous noise, burns oxygen in the room, and some copies can also emit an unpleasant burnt smell.
Ideal heater for a summer house
The operating features of convector heaters make them ideal for country houses. Depending on the size of the room, you can choose the most suitable device in terms of power and thus reduce energy consumption as much as possible, as well as achieve a comfortable temperature. Thanks to excellent safety, environmental friendliness, heating speed, uniform distribution of air masses, silent operation and other characteristics
A convection heater is a better purchase than most other types of heaters. It is easy to install, safe to use, operates silently and quickly heats the room to the desired temperature.
