Heating element
The type of heating element provided in the device.
- Tubular heater, an element in the form of a tube, inside which there is a heating coil and a filler made of sand, ceramics, oil or other heat-conducting material/liquid. Heating elements do not heat up as quickly as spirals, and are somewhat more expensive; on the other hand, they are more fireproof. Moreover, the relatively low operating temperature prevents (at least partially) the combustion of dust and the appearance of unpleasant odours.
-Spiral — in this case, an open electric spiral is meant. Provides fast heating due to the high operating temperature. However, of all types of heating elements, it is the most fire-hazardous, and dust on the coil causes an unpleasant odor.
- Ceramic. The heating element constructed using ceramic plates. In this case, we are talking about a classic heater, which provides heating mainly due to convection; models with IR heating are placed in a separate category (see below). The main advantage of ceramic heaters over tubular heater and spiral heater is a relatively low operating temperature, which not only prevents the combustion of dust but also reduces the risk of burns (and the likelihood of fires is reduced to almost zero). In addition, ceramic elements are reliable and durable. Their main drawback is their high price.
— Ceramic with IR heating. Ceramic heaters (see above), are capable of providing heating not only due to direct contac...t with air but also due to infrared radiation. They are mainly used in convectors, but can also be installed in infrared heaters. Recall that IR radiation does not heat the air, but directly the objects to which it is directed, while the heat from heating is felt instantly, but only as long as the heater is turned on. Convection, in turn, allows you to warm up the entire volume of air in the room, but this can take quite a long time. The combined heater combines the advantages of these methods of operation and mutually compensates for their shortcomings: with its help, you can quickly heat individual parts of the room and, at the same time, warm the air inside. This can be useful, for example, if you need to heat a cold room and at the same time quickly warm yourself. The main disadvantage of elements of this type can be called a high cost. It is also worth considering that a specialized heater will be more appropriate than a universal one — for example, it is more reasonable to use classic IR heaters outdoors since the heat from the convector in such conditions will “fly away into the atmosphere”. A heating element consisting of a heating element and an IR heater also works on a similar principle. See above for more details on the operation of the heating element.
— Heat exchanger. A heating element found exclusively in gas heaters (see "Power supply"). It has the form of a long curved tube: through it, the products of combustion of gas move from the burner to the chimney, cooling down along the way and giving up their heat to heat the room. For more efficient heat transfer, the surface of the tube can be supplemented with fins, plates and other elements that increase the area of contact with air.
- Stitch heater. At the heart of the stitch heater is a set of thin and long metal protrusions, similar to needles. One of their key advantages is the almost instantaneous heating to operating temperature. On the other hand, this temperature is higher than that of heating elements, which leads to rapid drying of the air and increases the likelihood of unpleasant odours (dust or other contamination that gets on the needles is likely to be burned). Stitch heaters are found exclusively in convectors (see "Type").
Controls
- Rotary knob. Models with such mechanical control are inexpensive, but the possibilities of the control itself are rather limited and usually include only basic functions.
— Push-buttons. This type of control has more heating modes and additionally, there may be a display for showing information.
- Touch controls. It is similar to push-button models but has a more aesthetic appearance. It is found mainly in top models.
Max. power
The maximum power of the heater. The meaning of this parameter depends on the device type and power supply (see above). So, for most types of heaters, we are talking about the highest power output. However, for fan heaters, this parameter also includes the power of the fan motor, and the heating capabilities are somewhat more modest than the claimed maximum power (although not by much). For electric models, the maximum power also corresponds to the maximum power consumption, which determines the connection requirements: for example, for devices of 3.5 kW and more, ordinary sockets are no longer suitable, and some require not 230 V but 400 V.
However, the key point determined by the power of the heater, is the intensity of heating and the ability to effectively heat a particular room. To select the appropriate model, there are special formulas. So, if we are talking about a city apartment or a small office space with a ceiling height of about 2.5 m, then we can assume that a heating power of at least 100 W is required per 1 m² of area. For other situations, more complex methods are used, taking into account the volume of the room, the degree of thermal insulation, climate and solar heating, etc.; they can be found in special sources. Also note that for IR heaters (see "Type"), their own calculation methods are used — this is due to the specific format of work.
Heating area
The area that the device can effectively heat. This parameter directly depends on the maximum power (see above). It should be noted that the actual efficiency of the heater in most cases does not depend on the area but on the volume of the room. Thus, the heating area can only be specified for a certain ceiling height. In most cases, manufacturers mean 2.5 m — this is the standard ceiling height in city apartments. If the ceilings are much higher, the heating area must be recalculated using special formulas. In general, it is worth orienting that 1 kW is enough for 10 m². However, manufacturers may slightly overestimate the heating area data.
Safety system
— Overheat protection. The system of automatic shutdown of the heater when the critical temperature of the heating element is reached (which can happen, for example, if the fan heater motor fails). Ensures the fire safety of the device.
— Frost protection. This function does not protect the heater itself, but the room in which it is installed. When the frost protection is on, the heater automatically maintains the room temperature at 5 °C, turning on and off at the right time. This allows you to protect the walls of the room (for example, a country house) from freezing without the extra cost of electricity or gas.
— Waterproof. The presence of a body protected from water splashes (most often sealed). Such heaters can be used in rooms with high humidity — for example, bathrooms — without the risk of short circuits or electric shock. However, even in such models, it is imperative to clarify the specific degree of water protection and restrictions on use before use; these data can be found in the instructions or other official documents of the manufacturer.
— Child lock. The control lock function prevents playful children or animals from changing the settings. Relevant for advanced devices with extensive management capabilities.
— Tip-over protection. A system that turns off the heater when it tips over to avoid fire or damage to the floor. This feature is especially relevant if there are small children in the house.
—...Motion sensor. The presence of an appropriate sensor allows the device to focus on the presence of people and, by this, warm up the room. So, the absence of any movement in the "field of view" of the heater puts it into sleep mode. And the detection of movement (be it a dog or a person) reactivates it.
— Open window sensor. A special sensor allows the device to automatically recognize when a window is opened for ventilation. In the process of airing the premises, the heater either turns off completely or switches to the most economical operation mode. This function allows you to save energy because, in the process of ventilation, the room heat will still evaporate into the street. Usually, the heating stop time is up to 30 minutes — in some models, the exact ventilation time can be adjusted by the user. The very fact of ventilation is most often fixed by the electronics. To do this, automation can use either traditional magnetic contact sensors or draft sensors (cold air inflow).
