Which heater can be installed on the balcony

Small apartment owners often complain about the lack of free space. When overhauling the question arises: where to find these missing meters for the office or recreation area? Today, this problem is solved quite simply - the effective area of ​​an apartment is increased by arranging a loggia or a balcony. However, in order to turn the loggia into a residential area, you need to worry about its warming. To do this, it is necessary not only to provide high-quality double-glazed windows and provide complete thermal insulation, but also to install an additional heat source, i.e. heater on the balcony.

Radiator or heater?

Glazing, thermal insulation, laying of a heat-insulated floor - all these ways of warming carry out function of preservation of heat. However, heating on the balcony in winter should occur with the help of an additional heat source, which can be radiator or heater.

It may seem that taking the radiator to the balcony is the easiest way to solve the problem. But it is not. There are reasons why it is prohibited to provide central heating on the loggia:

1. In winter, the water in the radiator may freeze, resulting in blockage of pipes and their rupture.
2. A radiator placed on the balcony will create an additional load in the heating system of an apartment building. As a result, the water pressure will weaken, and all apartments will receive significantly less heat.
3. Removal of the radiator to the balcony is prohibited in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 25 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation.

If you are not ready for unnecessary financial costs and the possible consequences of central heating on the balcony, the installation of a heater will be the most appropriate solution.

Types of electrical appliances

The use of electrical appliances is the best way to heat a loggia or balcony in winter. There are 3 types of devices that can be used as a source of heat: a fan heater, a convector device and an oil heater. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Fan heater

Fan heater - a compact device designed for rapid heating of the room. Such a heater consists of a plastic case, a fan and a heating element. During operation, the fan moves the cold air to the heater. After that, the already warm air enters the room.

Fan heaters very quickly heat the room. And this is the only advantage of their use for heating the balcony. The fact is that such devices are not designed for long-term operation, and can only be used as additional sources of heat.

After turning on the fan heater, the air heats up quickly, but with constant operation it becomes dry.

Convector heater

Job convector heaters based on the principle of air convection. Such devices very quickly and evenly heat the room due to the constant stream of warm air.

Convector heaters have a number of advantages over other electric heaters:

1. Quickly warm the room.
2. Do not make noise at work.
3. Equipped with special sensors that constantly maintain the required temperature in the room.
4. Almost all devices have the function of protection against overheating.
5. Rather mobile, easy to install.

However, convectors have drawbacks. They are strong dry the airtherefore, for a long stay in such a room, headaches and dry eyes may appear. In addition, convector heaters consume a lot of electricity.

Oil heater

Oil heaters designed for heating small rooms (up to 25 m²), i.e. one such device is enough to heat a balcony. Devices have metal caseIn which there is mineral oil. During operation, the heating element transfers its energy to the oil. Oil, in turn, heats the metal ribs of the device, thereby heating the room.

Unlike fan heaters and convectors, the oil heater heats the room for a long time,but it remains hot for a long time and retains heat.

Such devices are absolutely safe. When the oil is heated to a temperature of 70-80 degrees, the device turns off.

However, such electric heaters have their drawbacks:

• First, the devices consume a lot of electricity.
• Secondly, for the normal operation of the device on the balcony should be high-quality insulation, otherwise the room due to drafts just will not have time to warm up.

Infrared heaters

The principle of operation of infrared heaters radically different from electric heaters. They are small hanging panelsthat are mounted on the ceiling or walls.

The panels radiate heat in the infrared and heat not the air, but the objects in the room.

Infrared devices have a number of tangible benefits:

1. They distribute the warm air in the room evenly, thereby heating all the elements of the interior.
2. Such devices do not require a lot of space (which is already missing on a small balcony) and are installed directly on the walls or ceiling.
3. Infrared heaters look quite stylish and modern.
4. The efficiency of such a device is much higher than that of electric heaters. This means that more than 90% of the electricity consumed by the device is converted to heat.

However, such a device has its weaknesses. Infrared radiation gives a lot of lightthat can interfere with night sleep, if the balcony is located in the bedroom. In addition, devices of this type, as a rule, do not have built-in thermal sensors, which complicates their use.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that whichever heater you choose for a balcony, it will only become an additional source of heat. If you want to use your loggia as a living room, you should take care of high-quality insulation.