What are the criteria to choose infrared heaters

It took only a few years for infrared heaters to become the most popular and sought-after type of heating. However, when buying, the question often arises how to choose an infrared heater for the house, so that the room is always warm, the devices do not break, and serve their owners for a long time. In order to determine which infrared heaters are better, one must first become familiar with the basic principles of their operation and the necessary criteria for the correct choice.

Principle of operation

This type of electric heater is completely different from convector the fact that it warms up not the air of an apartment or house, but the objects in it that are: floors, walls, furniture. IR radiation is comparable to sunlight: passing through the air, they do not heat it, but they warm up the objects to which they fall (for more details see the article principle of operation of the heater with infrared radiation). These rays are not visible to the human eye, but tangible to the body.

None of the convector heater is able to instantly warm up the room, unlike infrared devices. Their heat is felt instantly, though, precisely in the zone where the rays are directed.

The difference of models by type of heating

The models of infrared electric heaters and their design features often depend on the type of heating element used in them:

1. Halogen lamps with tungsten filament or special carbon fiber. Such heaters emit a golden annoying light and have a short-wave radiation is not always favorable to humans.
2. Carbon fiber, made with a tubular vacuum quartz heater. Inside it is a carbon carbon helix, which contributes to the rapid heating of the device. They emit red light (acting irritating to the human eye) and consume a lot of electricity.These models are not very preferable for long work, but they have a high efficiency.
3. Ceramic models with a heating element in the form of a ceramic protective sheath that delays unpleasant radiation to the eye. This type of electric heaters is distinguished by its efficiency and durability. They can be used even in moisture-containing rooms - saunas, bathrooms. But we must bear in mind that they can heat up for a long time, but at the same time they keep the heat for a long time after turning it off, which allows to refer them to cost-effective devices. Not recommended in the ceiling and wall version, the most successful use of floor or baseboard models.
4. Tubular heating elements(tenovy or mikatermicheskie), sometimes crackling at work. When buying these heaters, it is necessary to pay attention to the material of the heating elements (preferably a stainless steel) and the insulator body (one of the best is considered basalt without admixture of any additives). This type of heaters is considered the most successful for long-term use, if you do not take into account the crackle, which usually occurs during heating and cooling of the heating element.

The difference between IR devices by type of accommodation

All models of IR heating devices contain thermostat for temperature control and instantaneous shutdown sensor when overheating. In the floor-standing versions of such devices, additional sensors are integrated that respond to the device tipping over (they include emergency shutdown of the heater).

In addition to the floor (least used) version of the heaters, there are wall and ceiling IR devices.

Which model of infrared heaters for an apartment to give preference, each decides, based on their needs:

1. Mobile or floor models usually small in size, it is possible to move them from room to room. But they usually have little power. In addition, their rays meet at the bottom of the room more obstacles in their path. When choosing floor devices, it is best to give preference to options with a tubular (heater) or carbonic heating element. They are able to effectively warm up local zones in different rooms.
2. Stationaryelectric heaters (wall, plinth and ceiling models) can be suspended, with the usual attachment to the surface and embedded.In any case, they do not occupy much space. When choosing wall options, they should be fixed at a height inaccessible to children. Skirting models should be installed under the windows. It is better to give preference to stationary heating installations if constant heating of one room is assumed, and the ceiling option can warm up all the places of the room in the best way.

Ceiling devices can not only be hung using overhead mounting, but also build in suspended ceilingsthat makes it possible to make them invisible in terms of the overall interior of the room.

If there are animals or small children in the apartment, it is better to give priority to ceiling models, especially those that have remote control.

What else you need to pay attention to when buying

To determine best infrared heater for your home, it is not enough to pay attention to the heating elements, you need to decide:

1. With the desired power device, remembering that for every 10 m2 of heated area must be at least 1 kW. If you need to heat a small room quickly and for a short time, you can purchase heaters with a power of about 300 watts.For summer houses, it is also possible to install low power heaters (approximately 60-80 W per 1 m2). For heating of residential premises in the city or in country houses, appliances with greater power are needed.
2. WITH by the manufacturer these devices. European brands are very profitable, but they can cost much more expensive, for example, the same Chinese models. Although the quality they are no worse. It is easy to use cheaper labor at Chinese factories, but all components are mostly made in European factories and are of high quality.

Choosing IR heating for your home, you should also carefully consider the presence in them:

1. Thermostatmaintaining the necessary constant temperature.
2. Sensorwhich can protect the device from overturning.
3. Remote control (more common with ceiling models).
4. Sensorprotecting the device from overheating.

If you want to completely duplicate the main heating (in case of its absence), it is best to use several IR heaters of different types (for example, so that the ceiling beams intersect with the beams of wall or baseboard models).

When choosing suitable infrared heaters for their apartments, it is important to understand the dependence of the heating temperature on the length of the waves used, namely:

1. Short waves (in the range up to 2.5 microns), are emitted by heaters having a heating temperature in excess of 100 degrees. They are considered not very favorable for the human body. In this case, it is desirable that the height of the ceilings be from 5 to 7 meters, which is not always acceptable for residential premises. Such heaters are best used in workshops, various industrial premises.
2. Medium waves (range 2.5-5.7 microns), usually can emit devices having a heating temperature from 600 to 1 thousand degrees. It is better to use them in rooms with a ceiling height of at least 3 meters. They are great for country houses, offices or administrative premises.
3. Long waves (with a range of 5.6-100 microns) have a working temperature of about 600 degrees. They can be safely used in any residential premises (with a ceiling height no higher than 3 meters), offices and work spaces. For living rooms enough infrared heater, having a working temperature of heating up to 120 degrees.

So, how to choose the right infrared heater? Given all the above, we can distinguish certain criteria:

1. Decide for what purpose the heater is purchased.
2. To decide on the type of heating element and the type of placement of the heating installation.
3. Calculate the power of the heater for heating a specific room.
4. Consider the price of the device, depending, as a rule, on the type of heating elements used.
5. Choose an electric heater that best meets all these requirements.

Conclusion

When using these heaters at home, it is best to use electric models: they are the most efficient, safe and durable. By the way, when buying a device, its appearance is also important. And this is a good, trustworthy case of the device, high-quality plug, thick cable. Properly selected infrared heater will give living rooms coziness, comfort, warm everything around with its warmth.