In such systems Heat is transferred by heated water. It is heated in a boiler room, in a furnace or boiler. From here it goes into pipes and radiators, which heat up and radiate heat into the rooms.
It is possible to heat a house without radiators. A similar method is used in small private houses. In this case The pipes play the role of the emitter.
Another option for water heating without batteries is water heated floor. In this system, water pipes are concreted into the floor. The heat from their radiation is accumulated in the concrete screed, which radiates it into the surrounding space.
In a heated floor system, water does not move well on its own, which is due to the horizontal arrangement of the pipes. Therefore, they build into the system circulation pump.
Important! Water heating can be highly efficient or uneven. It depends on the pipe laying pattern. Uniform heating of all rooms is achieved with a collector circuit. Less uniform heating occurs with single-pipe and two-pipe schemes, when water moves from one room to another sequentially.
System advantages water heating:
- The heating device can operate on any energy carrier: wood, coal, gas, electricity or accumulated solar energy. You can install several different boilers in the system, operating on different types of fuel.
- With the correct arrangement of the heating system, the coolant (water) moves on its own. The exceptions are water-heated floors and oil-based liquid systems. In oil systems, the coolant has low fluidity rates, so it moves slowly and also requires the operation of a circulation pump.
If there is no heating, the water in the pipes may get cold and freeze. This will require further dismantling, disassembling pipes and batteries. If the house is not intended for permanent residence, it is necessary to drain the water or fill the system with a special antifreeze liquid, technical oil.
Air
This is one of the old ways of heating a house in which heat from the heated oven is used. The walls and air ducts of the furnace heat up when wood and coal burn inside. After which the heat enters the surrounding space.
The main heating is carried out through furnace air passages - air ducts. They are laid in the central internal wall of the room.
When laying a chimney in the floor of the room and placing the stove in the basement, you can get heated floor construction using coal or wood. Another option is to build into the oven to heat the walls and air ducts. gas injectors. Thus, air heating can also operate on various energy sources, solid and gaseous fuels.
Advantages of air heating:
- Various types of energy carriers are used: firewood, coal, pellets, lumber waste.
- The oven can be made of clay and bricks. Thus, air heating is the most inexpensive home heating solution.
- This type of heating is suitable for heating systems in seasonal homes: at dachas, in country cottages.
Flaws:
- You must be able to “heat” the stove, do not close the chimney damper until the firewood is completely burned out, so as not to cause carbon monoxide accumulation and poisoning.
- The stove must be lit, cleared of ash, and loaded with firewood.- this is required daily from 1-2 hours. An exception to the rule is long-burning solid fuel boilers; a lot of firewood is placed in their loading chamber. They also have higher operating efficiency due to complete combustion of fuel.
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Gas
This is home heating using energy from gas combustion. The device in which gas burns is called a gas boiler.
Advantages:
- Possibility of automatic operation- the house will be heated without spending time on cleaning the stove every day.
- Relative accessibility— gas is cheaper than electricity.
Flaws:
- To connect gas supply required.
- For installation of a gas boiler you need a separate room.
- Periodic system checks are required to detect possible gas leaks.
Electrical
One of the most expensive options for heating a home. In him metal heating energy is used, which is formed in wires when electric current passes through them. The generated heat can be accumulated by a concrete screed, such a heating system is called electric heated floors, or accumulated by a liquid coolant, such heating is called electric water heating.
Another option - installation of electric heaters. These are devices that generate heat.
Photo 1. Electric heater installed on the wall. The device is connected to the outlet.
Advantages of electric heating:
- Possibility of periodic operation and use in seasonal homes. At the same time, the electric floors quickly warm up, the room becomes warmer in 1-2 hours.
Flaws:
- Expensive.
- To connect an electric boiler at home it is necessary to make a new power supply project, sometimes - replace the wires along the street.
- In many villages and multi-storey buildings electrical wires are not designed for heavy loads. Therefore, with a large number of connections, the power supply system fails.
Infrared film floor
Infrared floor - one of the electric heating options. It works from a wall outlet. Film flooring is produced in the form of laminated panels, inside of which heater strips are built. Carbon plates are soldered inside the strips, which emit an infrared spectrum when electricity passes through. Radiation from carbon elements heats objects indoors.
Photo 2. The process of installing an infrared floor. Laminate, parquet or linoleum is laid on top of it.
Advantages of film flooring:
- Convenience and ease of installation.
- No floor level rise, as when installing water or electric heated floors inside a concrete screed.
- Fast heating.
- If necessary The heating system can be dismantled and install it in another room.
Gas, air, water and even electric heating have long become the norm. However, there are innovative methods that few in Russia have heard of. This heat pumps and solar collectors.
Heat pump and geothermal installations - the best in terms of environmental friendliness
Heat pumps are one of the most environmentally friendly types of heating systems. They are used to heat houses use the energy of natural reservoirs, lowering their temperature by several degrees and at the same time taking away some heat. This is how heat pumps accumulate thermal energy, which they then use to heat the house.
Heat pumps are divided into:
- To geothermal— work on the energy of groundwater or take heat from the ground.
- By air- take heat from the atmosphere.
- For secondary heat pumps- treat sewage.
The main advantage of heat pumps is their environmental friendliness. They do not create smoke, soot, do not emit carbon monoxide, and do not harm nature or humans. Their disadvantage is high price.
Solar collectors - a modern heating option
Another type of heating that could be considered environmentally friendly if not for the batteries used with lead and electrolyte. Here is the energy to heat the house obtained through solar panels. These elements are installed on the roofs of buildings. When illuminated, they generate electrical energy, which is fed into the heating system. In essence, the solar collector is one of the types of electric heating at home.
One of the main advantages of solar heating was considered to be heating a home without the cost. However, this is not entirely true. During operation, there is no need to spend money on gas, firewood, or electricity. But the system itself and its installation require significant financial investments.
Photo 3. Solar collectors installed on the roof of the house. The devices should be at an angle to best catch the sun's rays.
In addition, solar collectors and heating system elements are not eternal. They require periodic replacement and costs comparable to paying for electric heating at home.
Combined heating: advantages and disadvantages, is it effective?
Combined heating means use of several heating boilers and different types of energy carriers in one circuit. Thus, the water in water heating radiators can be heated by a gas, coal or electric boiler.
The electric heating circuit of the house can be connected to a common system and additionally fed by solar collectors. This combination of different heat sources allows you to make autonomous heating of a private home uninterrupted
What types of heating systems are better?
To choose the right heating for a private residential building, various factors must be taken into account: the cost of its arrangement, the reliability of operation of a particular heating system.
The best choice is a combined system, capable of heating a house from several different heat sources.
Selecting a heating system determined by the availability of energy resources. Any system can be installed in a private home. In multi-storey buildings, a central heating system is often used, and, if necessary, additional electrical appliances are installed.
A household heater for an apartment or country house, as a rule, is a fairly simple device. Of course, sometimes you can find high-tech heaters with remote control from a smartphone, but in most cases there is nothing complicated in such devices.
Accordingly, choosing a suitable heater will not be too difficult. The main thing is to decide on the basic parameters. First of all, this is the type of heater and its power, and secondly, additional features and options.
Heater type
There are several differently designed heaters on the modern market, which differ not only in type, but also in their qualities - some of them are better suited for a city apartment, others for a country house, and others for heating technical premises. Let's figure out what types of heaters there are and how they differ.
On store shelves you can find oil radiators, fan heaters, heat guns, convectors, infrared heaters, infrared film, infrared convective heaters and thermal curtains. Let's look at them, starting with the simplest models.
Oil radiators
An oil radiator is familiar to everyone: this is the type of heater that can most often be found in a country house (especially if it was built more than twenty years ago). The oil radiator is a sealed metal housing, inside of which a special mineral oil is filled. The heating element (electric coil) is also located inside the housing. Thus, the spiral heats the oil, the oil heats the body, and the heater body heats the surrounding air.
Visually, an oil radiator is similar to a central heating battery: it often has similar compartments. As a rule, such a heater does not have a fan.
Like a central heating radiator, an oil radiator is best suited for use in areas where constant air heating is required. It takes a long time to warm up and does not immediately begin heating the air. On the other hand, the temperature of the radiator itself is not so high as to burn dust particles that fall on it (and therefore, there will be no foreign smell in the room). Oil heaters operate almost silently, retain heat for a long time after being turned off and are considered environmentally friendly. Among the minuses, it is worth noting their rather large size and low mobility (even despite the presence of special wheeled legs).
It’s easy to imagine that if you take two heaters of equal power, the more compact one will have a higher temperature. Therefore, it is better to choose a larger model (if space allows), which will reduce the likelihood of accidental burns.
Fan heaters
A fan heater is a combination of a heating element (we'll talk about their types later) and a fan that circulates air in the room. Many of these devices can work as a regular fan, but they cannot heat the air with the fan turned off - accordingly, there are no silent fan heaters. However, we would not seriously recommend using such a device in the “without heating” mode as a regular fan: they usually blow rather weakly, and in order to create the effect of a “cooling breeze”, you will have to place it directly opposite you at a distance of no more than a meter.
The main task of a fan heater is to quickly heat the air in a cold room. Indeed, the effect of such a heater becomes noticeable in just a few minutes. Well, if you need to heat a construction site or a large room, then a heat gun is suitable for solving this problem - essentially the same heat fan, characterized by increased power and the ability to operate for a long time without pauses. The “payback” for fast and powerful heating will be a high noise level and corresponding electricity consumption: many owners of country houses, especially those built quite a long time ago, are faced with the fact that it is not possible to heat more than two rooms with fan heaters, since they are simply “eat up” all the power supplied to the house.
Also, do not forget that heat guns come in very high power - for example, 5 kW, and even more. Not every outlet and not every wiring can withstand such energy consumption.
Many expensive fan heaters have a built-in motor, which ensures rotation of the device in a horizontal plane and, as a result, improved air circulation and more uniform heating of the room.
Also worth mentioning are the so-called “ceramic” fan heaters - their metal spiral is not blown directly with air, but serves to heat the ceramic heating element, which, in turn, heats the air. Ceramic fan heaters are practically free of the main drawback of a conventional fan heater - the characteristic smell of “burnt dust”, which arises from the combustion of dust particles falling directly on the hot wire.
Convectors
A convection heater works in a similar way. The difference from a fan heater here is the absence of a fan itself: the air in a convector heater passes through the heating element, after which it naturally rises, making room for colder layers of air that rise from the floor. As a result, the size of the heating element of such a heater will be significantly larger (in terms of dimensions it can be compared with a “flat” central heating battery).
Convector heaters are suitable for wall mounting and usually look quite stylish. True, they do not heat the air as quickly as heat fans.
Note that convectors are ideal for combining into a single network, which allows centralized control of the heating of one or several rooms.
Infrared heaters
Infrared heaters are designed in a fundamentally different way: they heat not the air, but the surrounding objects (primarily the floor or walls) using infrared radiation. The air in the room is already heated by them. The heating element of such heaters are quartz tubes or lamps.
Infrared heaters operate silently and can be used where heating of surrounding objects rather than air is required - for example, outdoors (for heating gazebos and verandas). They are also often used in bathrooms. They are also ideal for working in rooms where it is necessary to maintain a certain low temperature, and it seems impractical to heat the entire volume of air. But for heating rooms where there are many rooms and/or partitions, they are not very suitable: infrared rays will not be able to go around multiple obstacles.
It should be mentioned that since IR radiation heats the objects it hits, one of these objects is a person in the room. Therefore, the “feeling of warmth” from the IR heater appears almost immediately after it is turned on. However, there are a few things to consider here:
- the sensation has appeared - but the ambient temperature has not yet changed;
- heat only to those parts of the body that are exposed to radiation;
- Depending on the distance to the IR heater, you can either feel the heat or not feel anything at all.
It is worth highlighting such types of infrared heaters as “infrared-convective” and “infrared film”. The first of them combine the advantages of convective and infrared models. Heating is provided both by a heating element located inside the heater and by heat transfer from the front surface of the heater. According to the developers, this “combined” heating method allows you to create a comfortable microclimate in the room without unnecessary energy costs.
As for infrared film heaters, they are a thin heating element made of film and foil. Such heaters are often made in the form of rugs or wall paintings (the design of such paintings, however, is questionable). They were also used as “warm floors”. The power of infrared film heaters usually does not exceed 400-500 W.
Thermal curtains
Thermal curtains are a separate category of devices that also act as a heater. Thermal curtains are installed in door (or window) openings and create a flow of warm air that blocks drafts. Thermal curtains are usually used in rooms where doors are often opened (for example, in offices), or where there is a danger of drafts and an additional warm zone needs to be created.
They can also cope with heating small rooms, but a thermal curtain cannot cope with complex heating tasks. It is worth noting that the power of the thermal curtain must be selected in accordance with the size of the door or window on which it will be installed.
Efficiency and performance
For each heater, the manufacturer indicates the comfortable and maximum area of the room for which a particular device is intended. Thanks to these parameters, it is easiest to understand what power device you will need. In most cases, the dependence here will turn out to be strictly linear: if the heater’s power is twice as high, then it will produce approximately twice as much heat per unit time.
The type of heater in this case does not matter: if two heaters spent the same amount of energy, then they heated the room equally (but not necessarily in the same time!).
Control and display
Simple heaters have a mechanical control system, which looks like a set of temperature-regulating knobs and on/off buttons. Such heaters can operate in full or partial load mode and switch off on their own when a certain temperature is reached, but, as a rule, they are not capable of more.
It should also be taken into account that the temperature control will be quite rough, and, as a rule, not in degrees, but in the form of a rotating knob with the values “minimum”, “maximum” and several intermediate nameless gradations. Thus, you will be faced with a rather long procedure for selecting the optimal position of this knob in accordance with your own feelings about the temperature in the room.
Mechanical heater control system
Modern models are increasingly equipped with an electronic control system, including a set of mechanical or touch buttons and a digital display. The capabilities of such heaters are much wider: they can turn on and off according to a schedule, maintain a set temperature (in degrees) in the room, display the temperature and current time on the display, and much more. Such heaters often come with a remote control.
Finally, the most “advanced” heaters have the ability to be remotely controlled. Such devices have a built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth transmitter, so you can control the device from your smartphone using a special application.
Features and functions
Depending on the complexity, the heater may have a different set of capabilities and functions. The simplest heaters (for example, many oil heaters) heat up to a certain temperature, after which they turn off for a while. More advanced devices are able to control the temperature in the room and turn on and off depending on environmental conditions.
Heaters with an electronic control system can be equipped with a delayed start and end time, turn on and off according to a schedule, and often have a set of programs for various use scenarios.
Heaters with remote control via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi allow the user to control their operation remotely. Thanks to this solution, the heater can be turned on or off remotely. For example, it will be useful to turn on the heater before going to the countryside so that you arrive at a house that has already been warmed up.
Noise level
For most heaters, the documentation indicates the maximum noise level. You need to look at this parameter if the heater is installed in the bedroom, in the nursery or in the study - in general, where silence is required. The quietest heaters are infrared. They are followed by oil heaters, convector type heaters, and then fan heaters and heat guns.
It is worth considering that sometimes noise can be made by a temperature relay or a speaker that notifies the user of a change in operating mode (or is triggered when buttons are pressed). Since such sounds can be quite annoying, it is better to make sure in advance that there are no such effects. By the way, it doesn’t hurt to check the brightness of the display so that it doesn’t suddenly turn out that the heater that is supposed to be installed in the bedroom is shining too brightly.
Protection
Almost all heaters have a safety system that turns them off if they overheat. A built-in fuse or overheat sensor located at the air outlet will avoid fire and unnecessary load on the electrical network.
Many heaters also have a system that turns off the unit if it is dropped. Provided that safety precautions are observed (the heater is installed correctly and is not covered with rags or foreign objects), such systems guarantee that the device will not cause a fire.
However, you can still get burned on many heaters. Therefore, if there are children and elderly people in the house, it is better to think about buying the safest possible heater that will be difficult to snag or drop (such as wall heaters).
If the heater is intended to be installed in the bathroom, you should pay attention to models with a waterproof housing. This will allow you not to worry about water getting into the device body and a possible short circuit. Using a heater in the bathroom will not only achieve a comfortable temperature, but also prevent the appearance of fungus on the walls.
Installation type
Different heaters allow different installation methods. Many of them are simply placed on the floor (oil heaters) and have special wheels for moving. Others allow installation on any flat surface, such as a table or window sill (many fan heaters include these). Such heaters do not require special installation efforts. At the most, the user will have to assemble the legs with wheels themselves.
Also, many heaters have several installation options for the user to choose from: wall, floor, ceiling or suspended ceiling. Moreover, the same model can allow several installation options at once (for example, wall or ceiling). In this case, the installation will require a drill or hammer drill and other related tools with which to install the fasteners.
Let's sum it up
Household electric heaters come in four main types:
- oil radiator
- fan heater or heat gun
- convector
- infrared heater
The main distinctive properties of the heater, critical for the user, are:
- room heating rate
- noisiness
- mobility, i.e. ease of moving the heater from place to place
- negative impact on the air
A table in which we have evaluated each parameter for each type of heater will help you make your final choice.
| Room heating speed | Noisiness | Mobility | Air exposure | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil radiator | low | low | average | No |
| Fan heater | high | high | high | smell of "burnt dust" |
| Heat gun | very high | very high | high | smell of "burnt dust" |
| Ceramic fan heater | average | high | high | almost odorless |
| Convector | low | silent | average | No |
| Infrared heater | low | silent | low | No |
The cold season may begin much earlier than the heating season, so you should think about purchasing an additional heat source. An electric heater can not only heat a room in the fall, when central heating has not yet been turned on, it can also become a design element of the interior. Manufacturers produce five types of electric heaters:
- Oil radiators.
- Convectors.
- Infrared radiators.
- Thermal curtains and fan heaters.
- Electric fireplaces.
Let's look at each of them in more detail.
Oil radiators
It takes time to warm up. The heating element heats up and transfers heat to the oil poured into the housing. Next, the thermal energy is transferred to the radiator body, and only then the room begins to heat up. Manufacturers produce devices with different numbers of sections. The lowest-power radiators consist of five sections, their advantage is the rapid heating of the case. You can buy a radiator made of 13 sections; such devices cool down more slowly, which means they give off heat longer.
Convectors
Unlike oil radiators, convectors begin to heat the room immediately after switching on. Electricity consumption is on average 25% lower than that of oil radiators. Convectors are also equipped with thermostats that allow you to regulate the heating power.
Infrared radiators
The operating principle of an infrared radiator is radically different from the previous two. Such a heater does not dissipate heat throughout the room, but has a directional effect. Objects accumulate infrared radiation and heat up. At the same time, only 5% of the accumulated thermal energy is spent on heating the air. An infrared radiator is perfect for heating the work area.
The disadvantage of such a heater is the high operating temperature. For safety reasons, infrared radiators cannot be placed at a distance closer than one meter from synthetic surfaces and PVC, as there is a high risk of fire.
Thermal curtains and fan heaters
Such devices are used to combat drafts. They are placed above a door or large window. Thermal curtains are equipped with fans and can operate in a no-heat mode, which is very helpful in hot weather.
When choosing a thermal curtain, pay attention to the width of the device. For normal operation, the heater should be slightly wider than the window or door opening.
Heat fans work on the same principle. Their main advantage is portability.
Electric fireplaces
Electric fireplaces, in addition to their main function, also perform a decorative one. In addition, unlike a conventional fireplace, this heater is safe. It can become the “highlight” of your interior.
Winter in our country sometimes throws up surprises in the form of abnormally cold weather. Yes, such that even normally working central heating cannot cope and the apartment becomes cold. And in some cities it cannot cope even with relatively mild frosts. At dachas the situation is usually different - there you need to “catch up” to a comfortable temperature for the duration of your stay. In any case, you can't do without a heater. We’ll talk further about what they are, how to choose, how to decide which heater is better.
Types of heaters
In apartments, heaters are most often used as an additional source of heat at times when the main heating cannot cope and the room is chilly. At dachas, heaters are most often needed in the autumn-spring period, but there is rarely another source of heat, so the approach to choosing is a little different.
In general, there are four types of heaters:
Heaters for apartments and cottages must meet several requirements. First, they must be safe. This is perhaps the main selection criterion, especially if there are small children in the family. One of the key safety points is the presence of overheating protection - the equipment should automatically turn off when a critical temperature is reached. Secondly, the heater must be efficient and, it is very desirable that it has the function of maintaining a given temperature regime. In addition to being convenient, it also saves electricity - the heater turns on and off rather than running constantly. When deciding which heater is best for you, these points need to be monitored. They are really important. It is from these points of view, as well as their efficiency, that we will consider all types of heaters.
Fan heaters
Electric fan heaters. This device has a heating element and a fan. The fan drives air through the heating element, it heats up and carries heat into the room.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantage of this type of heater is its almost instantaneous start. After switching on, less than a minute passes and it begins to “drive” warm air. The second positive point is its small size and weight, hence high mobility. And the third plus is the low price. If you are deciding which heater is best to choose for quickly heating the air in a small room, a fan heater is probably beyond competition. These devices have quite serious disadvantages:
Despite all these disadvantages, if you need to quickly warm the air (you will be warming up the walls this way for a very long time), there is no better way out.
Types and features
Fan heaters are available in different designs:
- tabletop - very compact, low power, suitable for local heating;
- floor - larger, often look like a column, can have a moving part, distributing hot air throughout the room;
- wall-mounted - more expensive models, often have a control panel;
- ceiling - productive installations with a fairly large range of service functions.
| Name | Type | Power consumption | Heating power | Heating element type/quantity | Number of operating modes/additional functions | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polaris PCDH 2515 | Desktop | 1500 W | 1.0/1.5 kW | ceramic / 1 piece | 3 | 13$ |
| Scarlett SC - FH53K06 | Desktop | 1800 W | 0.8/1.6 kW | ceramic / 1 piece | 3 / thermostat, rotation, shutdown when overheating | 17$ |
| De Longhi HVA3220 | Desktop | 2000 W | 1.0/2.0 kW | Heating element / 1 piece | 2 / ventilation without heating | 28$ |
| VITEK VT-1750 BK | Floor-standing vertical | 2000 W | 1.0/2.0 kW | ceramic / 1 piece | 3/thermostat | 24$ |
| Supra TVS-18РW | Floor vertical | 2000 W | 1.3/2.0 kW | ceramic / 1 piece | electronic control, rotation, temperature maintenance, economy mode | 83$ |
| Tefal SE9040F0 | Floor vertical | 2000 W | 1.0/2.0 kW | ceramic / 1 piece | 2 /electronic control, rotation, sleep timer, remote control | 140$ |
| Scarlett SC - FH53006 | Desktop | 2000 W | 1.0/2.0 kW | spiral | 3 / ventilation without heating, shutdown when overheating | 13$ |
| Electrolux EFH/W - 7020 | Wall | 2000 W | 1.0/2.0 kW | ceramic / 1 piece | 3 /electronic control, temperature control, for wet rooms | 65$ |
| Polaris PCWH 2074D | Wall | 2000 W | 1.0/2.0 kW | ceramic / 1 piece | 3 /electronic control, shutdown timer, smooth temperature control | 49$ |
| Timberk TFH W200.NN | Wall | 2000 W | 1.0/2.0 kW | ceramic / 1 piece | 3/remote control, overheat protection | 42$ |
As you can see, there are different fan heaters, for different needs and for every budget. In this segment there is a very significant price difference between famous brands and lesser-known ones, and the choice is very large. Moreover, there are even different stylistic solutions - from classics to high-tech and other newfangled trends.
Convectors
Electric convectors have a similar operating principle to fan heaters - air passes through a heating element, heats up and spreads heat throughout the room. The difference is that the movement of air in convectors occurs due to the natural process of convection - the property of warm air to rise to the top and, in principle, fans are not needed for its movement. But the air movement in such heaters is slow, and a cold room will take a long time to warm up. To correct this drawback, fans are also built into convectors, which activate heating if necessary. Nevertheless, the main difference between convectors and fan heaters is that they can operate without a fan, that is, completely silently. At night, a very important quality.
Electric convector heaters are usually flat panels with grilles in appearance
Types of heating elements and thermostats
The heating element in convectors can be of different types:
- The well-known dry fuel cells are a proven option, not very expensive. Aluminum plates are attached to the heating element tube to improve heat transfer.
- Needle type is inexpensive, but has a short service life. It heats up almost instantly, but burns out very quickly.
- Monolithic is the most expensive, but also the most durable. Its ribs are part of the body; when heated, they expand in proportion to the body, which extends the service life.
If we talk about which type of convector is better, then definitely with a monolithic heating element. Although it costs a lot, it will serve for a long time.
Any electric convector has a thermostat. They are two types of thermostats - mechanical and electronic. Mechanical ones are much cheaper, but they have higher energy consumption, have a significant error in maintaining temperature, and click during operation, which can be very annoying. There are also very simple mechanical thermostats. They do not maintain temperature, but have two (sometimes more) operating modes at different powers. They are switched manually - usually by turning the control knob. Convector heaters of this type are the cheapest.
Electronic ones are accurate, silent, and require very little electricity. In addition, such models can be controlled from a remote control.
Design features
By design, electric convectors are mainly hung on the wall - maybe under a window instead of a traditional radiator, or in the place where you need it. Most models provide the possibility of installation on legs. They can come complete with the heater, or they can be sold separately.
Electric convectors are shaped like parallelepipeds with different proportions. There are low and long ones - a good option for panoramic windows, if high and narrow - they can be placed in the wall, there are such sizes as heating radiators - they are traditionally placed under the windows - to cut off the cold air from the windows.
There are waterproof housings (IP24 splash protection), which allows them to be used for heating bathrooms.
| Name | Power consumption | Heated area | Thermostat type | Heating element type | Installation method | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrolux ECH/AG 500 PE | 500 W | 5 sq. m | electronic, with LED display, shutdown timer | monolithic | wall-mounted, low (plinth version) | 93$ |
| Electrolux ECH/AG 1000 MF | 1000 W | 5-10 sq. m | mechanical, two power modes, air purification | wall-mounted/with legs | 53$ | |
| Electrolux ECH/AG2 - 1000 EF | 1000 W | 10-15 sq.m | electronic, thermal protection, air filter | ceramic monolithic | wall-mounted/with legs | 70$ |
| Aeg WKL 503 S | 500 W | 5 sq. m | electronic, overheat protection | 93$ | ||
| Aeg WKL 1503 S S | 1500 W | up to 15 sq. m | Stainless steel heating element with copper heat exchanger | wall-mounted, can be used in the bathroom (splash-proof) | 117$ | |
| Aeg WKL 3003 S | 3000 W | up to 30 sq. m | mechanical, overheat protection | Stainless steel heating element with copper heat exchanger | wall-mounted, can be used in the bathroom (splash-proof) | 187$ |
| Ballu BEC/EZER-1000 | 1000 W | up to 15 sq. m. | electronic, rollover shutdown, overheat protection | wall, floor | 50$ | |
| Ballu BEC/EM-1500 | 1500 W | up to 20 sq. m | mechanical | monolithic | wall/floor | 44$ |
| Ballu BEC/EVE - 2000 | 2000 W | up to 25 sq. m | electronic, LED display, ionizer, timer | monolithic | wall/floor | 80 $ |
| Hyundai H-HV5-10-UI609 | 1000 W | up to 16 sq. m | mechanical, two powers | needle | wall/floor | 44 $ |
| Hyundai H-HV1-10-UI562 | 1000 W | up to 13 sq. m | mechanical, temperature maintenance | monolithic | wall/floor | 65$ |
| Hyundai H-HV3-10-UI568 | 1000 W | up to 14 sq. m | electronic, LCD display, humidifier | monolithic | wall/floor | 80$ |
This type of heater may have the following useful options:
If we talk about which heater is better in this group, then of course - with a monolithic heater and an electronic thermostat. These models ensure maintaining the set temperature with high accuracy.
Oil radiators
This type of heaters has been known for a long time. It has a sealed housing filled with technical oil. A heating element, a heating element, is immersed in the oil. There can be several of them; they are usually turned on/off manually by turning a knob/switch.
Advantages and disadvantages
These heaters are good for both home and garden. They are very reliable, rarely break down, have a safe design and relatively low prices.
Many people prefer this type of heater, as they distribute soft heat, and there is no discomfort even when standing next to them. Such heaters are also preferred by families with children - the design is safe, the body heats up to no more than 60°C, which is unpleasant when touched, but absolutely safe. What is not very good is that it is very heavy, so if it falls on a child, it can injure him. Another advantage is the quiet operation.
The main disadvantage of oil radiators is the low rate of heating of the room. While the oil heats up and the body warms up, a considerable period of time passes. Only after this does the air begin to heat up. And then the process goes slowly - only due to natural convection, which usually leads to the fact that it is warm near the heater, and cold a little further.
Design features
Oil radiators are usually made in a floor-standing design; wall-mounted models are much less common. The weight of these devices is quite substantial, so they have wheels for easy movement.
External design can be of three types. Most often there are radiators that are somewhat reminiscent of old cast iron batteries - an accordion. They also consist of sections welded together. The second type is one, two or three almost flat panels installed in parallel. Today, this type of oil radiator is not common, but it can be hung on the wall without legs.
Another option for wall-mounted oil radiators is very similar in shape to modern aluminum radiators. They can also be used as wall-mounted ones or stand on legs with wheels.
| Name | Power consumption / heating area | Number of heating modes | Additional functions | Installation type | overheat protection | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrolux EOH/M-5157 | 2000 W / 10 sq.m | 3 | Rollover shutdown | floor | There is | 60$ |
| Electrolux EOH M-6221 620x475 | 2000 W / 27 sq.m | 3 | floor | There is | 65$ | |
| Scarlett SC-OH67B01-5 | 3000 W / 15 sq. m | 3 | floor | There is | 30$ | |
| Scarlett SC-OH67B01-9 | 1000 W / 25 sq. m | 3 | floor | There is | 52$ | |
| BALLU BOH/CL-07 | 1000 W / 20 sq.m | 3 | floor | There is | 50$ | |
| DeLonghi TRRS 0920 | 2000 W / 60 sq.m | 3 | floor | There is | 85$ | |
| Polaris PREM0715 | 2000 W / 15 m | 3 | floor | There is | 55$ | |
| VITEK VT-1704 W | 2000 W / 15 m | 2 | 2 heating elements | floor | There is | 43$ |
| LVI Yali 05 130 | 1250 W / 12.5 m | 5 | energy saving, air ionizer | wall | There is | 514$ |
| Caliber EMR-2015 | 2000 W / 15 sq.m. | 3 | floor/flat | There is | 60$ |
Heaters for home and garden of this type are mostly simple and do not have a large range of additional functions. What is always present in a normal oil cooler is protection against overheating. This is critical for heating elements and for safety, so this function cannot be avoided. Occasionally, in more expensive models, there is a rollover shutdown function. This may be important if there are children in the family.
Deciding which oil heater is better is not at all easy. There are no other criteria except suitable power and good user reviews.
Infrared heaters
Infrared heaters appeared relatively recently and caused a wave of controversy. Some say they are useful, others say they are harmful. It is difficult to decide which of them is right - the arguments of both sides seem convincing. Everyone, as usual, decides for himself which camp he belongs to.
How it works and what are the differences
The basis of an infrared heater is a long-wave emitter that produces electromagnetic waves in the same range as the sun - infrared. Such heat is perceived by our body as more pleasant - our body emits similar waves, therefore it is comfortable to be near such devices. To focus radiation, there is a reflector in the body of the infrared heater - it increases the efficiency of heating a certain area.
The main difference between this type of equipment is that it does not heat the air, but the objects at which the rays are directed. And from their warm surface the air is already heating up. If you find yourself in the area of the rays, your body will heat up. On the one hand, this is good, but on the other, it’s not very good: it’s warm in the zone of action of the rays, and cold outside it. But you can focus the heat well into the desired area. To the point where you can take the device outside/veranda and create an island of comfortable temperature in the cold.
In general, it has been noticed that when using infrared radiation, we feel comfortable at lower temperatures - 2-3 degrees lower than when heating with any other devices. This means less electricity is wasted.
Installation methods
In this category there are a variety of heaters, both in shape and installation method. In addition, different radiation sources are used - tubular emitters, infrared lamps, plates, carbon paste and much more. They can be mounted on the ceiling, walls, or stand on the floor. In general, the choice is really wide. Moreover, there are both models that can be used for full heating - stationary lamps, and for creating more comfortable conditions in a separate area. These are portable radiators and heaters in the form of mats. Mats are definitely a local device, no matter what the sellers say. They are convenient for warming your feet (there are floor mats) and some areas of the room are wall-mounted. You can hang them near your workplace or bed and enjoy the warmth.
| Name | Installation method | Power consumption | Heating area | Additional functions | Manufacturer | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEPLOFON ERGNA-0.7/220 | wall | thermostat | 10-17 sq. m | overheat protection | Russia Teplofon | 50$ |
| TEMPHONE GLASSAR ERGN 0.4 | wall-mounted flat | 400 W | overheat protection | Russia Teplofon | 55$ | |
| MISTER HIT THERMAL S-0.5 | wall-mounted flat | 500 W | 7-10 sq. m. | overheat protection | Russia Mister Hit | 30$ |
| MISTER HIT THERMAL S-1,2 | wall-mounted flat | 1200 W | 20-25 sq. m. | overheat protection, infrared + convection | Russia Mister Hit | 40$ |
| NOIROT CAMPAVER CMEP 09 H | wall-mounted flat | 900 W | digital control system | France | 940$ | |
| FRICO COMFORT ECV | wall-mounted cassette, above the window | 300 W | 120$ | |||
| BALLU INFRARED FAR BIHP/F-1000 | floor, wall | 600/1000 W | up to 15 sq. m. | overheat protection | 45$ | |
| BALLU INFRARED FAR BIHP/F-1500 | floor, wall | 800/1500 W | up to 20 sq. m. | overheat protection | 52$ | |
| ALMAK IK-5 | ceiling | 500 W | 5-6 sq. m. | with external thermostat | Russia | 46$ |
| ALMAK IK-16 | ceiling | 1500 W | up to 15 sq. m. | with external thermostat | Russia | 74$ |
| PION LUX 04 | ceiling | 400 W | 4-8 sq. m. | operation indicator light | 42$ | |
| PION LUX 13 | ceiling | 1300 W | 13-26 sq. m. | operation indicator light | 62$ | |
| MISTER HIT IR-0.7 | ceiling | 700 W | 8-10 sq. m | with external thermostat | Russia | 34$ |
Choosing which heater is better from this group is no easier. It is necessary to focus on the tasks that he must perform. If you need to heat a specific area, a floor-mounted model or a wall-mounted model will be your best option. If the heating zone needs to be very small, a rug will do. To solve serious problems - as the main heating or additional, but for the entire room it is worth considering wall or ceiling options.
Please note that some models are paired with external thermostats, but they are selected separately and their price is not included in the price of the heater.
Which heater is better for the home, which one is better for the cottage?
The choice of heater depends on the tasks it must perform. For example, in a country house it is usually necessary to quickly heat the air to a comfortable temperature. Moreover, the device should not be heavy, small-sized and mobile - so that it can be taken away for the winter without any problems. Fan heaters, convectors and infrared heaters meet these requirements. Oil-based ones are not the best choice in this case - they take a long time to heat up and are heavy.
For an apartment or a house in general, any of the described options is suitable. Choose the one that you like more than others or the one that best solves the tasks assigned to it. For example, if there is an allergy sufferer in the family, it is better to exclude active air movement (convection) in this case. Infrared emitters and oil radiators hardly stimulate convection.
If there are small children in the house, air parameters are very important for them - there must be normal humidity, there must be enough oxygen. To solve this problem, models with ionizers and humidifiers are suitable, and you choose the type yourself.
Convectors and infrared heaters can solve the heating problem in general (serve as the main source of heat). You can create a system of oil heaters, but it will turn out to be inert, and it will be difficult to regulate the temperature. Fan heaters are not suitable for constant use, although there are models for long-term operation - with monolithic heating elements and electronic control.
When you work or are simply at home, when you are planning a trip or are on vacation at the countryside, moments almost always arise when you have to look for safe sources of heat. How to choose the right heater this year? Therefore, a conventional heater is considered easy to use and very affordable these days. After all, today, with a large assortment, absolutely any of us can buy a heater for an apartment.
This is where the question arises of how to choose the best oil heater that will ideally meet the needs of any person.
Let's try to conduct an analysis and comparative review of the types of heaters. Let's also consider their advantages and disadvantages, the capabilities of any of the presented types of heaters. After reading this article, you can confidently choose the most necessary and optimal option for yourself. However, before you start choosing a heater of one type or another for a room, it is advisable to have an idea of its area. Or rather about volume. After all, these indicators will tell you what power the heater should be purchased for. It is also advisable to decide on the type of room that needs heating. Do you need some kind of fireplace for such a room (if, for example, it is a living room) or choose an economy option (for example, a bathroom or kitchen).
Types
Whether we are visiting just one more electronics supermarket or are already planning to buy some kind of heater, we usually always have to think about how to choose the right inexpensive heater and how not to make a mistake. Here, of course, we never have a clear answer. Each of the heaters has its advantages and disadvantages. Let's look at the types and types of heaters.
Probably the most common and popular type today is the oil heater. Some 20 years ago this type of heater was considered almost a scarce commodity, but today it is very popular, but confidence in it has been slightly undermined. What is the reason? The answer is quite simple - its efficiency is too low. In other words - the optimal use of electricity in comparison with its efficiency. Moreover, even with such negative reviews, such a heater will remain a long-liver, since it has proven itself practically on the positive side. It is not expensive, which is the most important factor for buyers. After all, not every one of us can purchase a heating device or fireplace with a unique design and the best technical capabilities.
The principle of the oil heater of such a heater is quite simple. Its design is also just as simple. It is almost always done in a ribbed design. This is necessary to increase the area of contact with air. An oil heater may also have a fan to improve the heating itself, and, importantly, a thermostat to maintain the set temperature. The metal base of the case contains mineral oil inside and an electric coil is installed to heat this oil. In turn, the coil heats the oil. And it heats the heater itself and, in the end, the latter heats the room itself. A lot of action, isn't it? This is the first advantage.
After all, you can warm up one room an hour after turning on the heater. What if guests suddenly come and you need to warm up the room quickly? In this case, it is better to buy an electric fireplace just in case. Another drawback is its size and weight. Naturally, it should only work in a vertical position, otherwise the spirals may burn out. Its only advantage, which concerns the technical composition of the heater, is its safety. Since the spirals are located in a closed housing, and the oil, which takes heat from the spiral, practically does not harm it, which allows it to be used for a very long time. Although it is not recommended to do this, some people manage to dry clothes on it.
The main thing is that there is an open surface, because the heating temperature can significantly exceed the maximum mark, which is approximately 60 degrees. However, if you still decide to dry your laundry on it, then this heater provides for the installation of some additional option - special shelves. Even heating it up for too long can be regarded as an advantage - this is the same long cooling. It is easy to maintain and practically does not dry out the air, there is no odor from it and there is no need to additionally moisten it. And most importantly, the oil heater is durable.
Summarize. An oil heater for an apartment or house is very affordable and reliable. It is suitable for those for whom size and appearance do not play a special role.
Electric fireplace
It is also simply called a fireplace. Surely any reader associates it with a Soviet spiral fireplace. In fact, it is, but only the principle of its operation is similar to a classic fireplace with wood. A fireplace has always been and will be in demand, as it can create a unique atmosphere and, as it were, emphasize the wealth of the owner of the house. Soft warmth, comfort of the room, flickering fire. Romantic... Perhaps the older generation still remembers that fireplace, which looked like a stove, there was even a picture with wood or fire. Such a fireplace looked more like smoldering coals, or even just ordinary spirals in glass flasks. Now a similar heater with spirals is called infrared. But this is not because they are similar to each other, but because of their operating principle.
We'll talk about this later. Let's return to the electric fireplace. Why a fireplace, you ask? This is because here the fire can be said to be almost natural, it can quickly flare up or fade away, there are no spirals. But some models also have fans installed that were not there before. Whether or not to buy such a heater is up to you to decide. After all, current electric fireplaces are not economical and expensive. Naturally, an electric fireplace will fit much more harmoniously into your interior. However, if you are thinking of placing it in a non-visible place, for example in the bathroom or behind the toilet, then why overpay for beauty alone. It is better to buy a regular heater.
Floor and wall convector
The converter is a very popular and completely new type of heater. But, not taking into account its relative novelty, floor and wall convectors have already become very popular among heaters. And if you analyze the statistical data, it is likely that it will be able to replace oil analogues in the future. After all, there are many advantages here. These are both good characteristics and cheap production. This is exactly the option when the affordable price does not in any way affect insufficient quality or poor performance. They are usually made in two versions - floor-mounted or wall-mounted. This is very practical for modern homes and apartments.
If there is no space on the floor, you can almost always hang it on the wall.
Now let's look at the basis of their work and the design itself. The convector consists of a housing or, as it is otherwise called, a convection chamber, inside of which there is a heating element. There are holes at the top and bottom for air circulation. What are they there for? - you ask. Remember the word “convection” - this is when, due to its density, heated air displaces cold air downwards. This is how air circulates. The conclusion suggests itself: the convector, during its operation, is not only capable of heating the air in the room, but also significantly improving its circulation. And no matter how trivial it may sound, the effectiveness of this convection has been proven for a very long time.
After all, the operation of a convector is similar to the simple principle of a heating battery. Its efficiency level is almost 99%. But what is most interesting if you compare it with the same oil one is that it heats the air immediately, this can take about 5 minutes. This is very practical for those who often leave home. Agree that you don’t want to return to an unheated house. And here I immediately turned on the heater, and by the time you took off your boots and outerwear, it had already heated the apartment
We can summarize and point out the advantages of a convector for such a heating system. Firstly, it is an affordable price, secondly, it is small in size, and thirdly, it has a real opportunity to be placed on the wall, because it is light and mobile. No fragile elements. Very quiet. Can work constantly. And, of course, it is reliable. It is safe, because its heating temperature does not exceed 60 degrees. It has a beautiful design and can harmoniously fit into almost any interior. The optimal choice for a family.
Infrared
Infrared heater This is a completely new type of heater. It is somewhat similar to the sun. A special quartz lamp emits infrared rays, thermal energy, which is safe for humans. This is the undeniable advantage of this heater. After all, it does not heat the air, but objects, and only then heat transfer from the heated object to the air begins. This allows you to place the infrared heater almost anywhere, even outdoors. Also, an infrared heater has the advantage of being economical. Compared to the same oil type, they consume several times less electricity. An infrared heater also has its disadvantages.
He is quite fragile. When heated, the lamp is very hot, about 200 degrees, and it glows in the dark. However, the advantages still outweigh the disadvantages, so, for sure, a similar option for heaters can be considered. The infrared heater comes in three versions: short-wave, medium-wave and long-wave. Depending on the type of source, there are infrared heaters, gas and electric.
Fan heater
Perhaps the cheapest of all those discussed above. The operating principle of a fan heater is similar to that of a hair dryer. Usually its body is made of plastic. There is a fan installed inside, which blows on heated coils or ceramic elements, which are still preferable (there is no combustion of oxygen, and the service life is longer). Its advantage is that it heats up the room very quickly, and it can be used for the same purpose as drying the room.
5 minutes is enough to warm up the entire room. And it’s okay if it’s too big. True, the fan heater also has its drawbacks: its efficiency indicator is very low, it is not designed for long-term operation and is very noisy. Therefore, in practice, as a rule, it is taken as an addition to another type of heater. There is also a large fan heater or, as it is also called, a heat gun. But it is already designed to heat a very large room.
Floor carbon heater
The floor carbon heater is a new product among other heaters. The operating principle of a carbon heater is the same as that of an infrared heater. Instead of a lamp, it has carbon fiber installed, which is located in a glass tube with a vacuum. The difference from the previously discussed heaters is in efficiency and power, but in all other respects the pros and cons are absolutely similar. The carbon spiral is very powerful, however, it consumes much less electricity than the same infrared heater.
The cost of a carbon heater is not high. It is also important that the carbon element has an unlimited service life. The heating capacity of such a heater is about 3-4 meters. They say that a carbon heater is capable of warming up to several centimeters deep into the human body. Can create a healing effect. It does not dry out the air and cools instantly.
As a result, we looked at the types of heaters. You already know how to choose the right heater in the new year. Choose based on your needs, capabilities, etc.