Infrared home heaters

The use of long-wave devices to create an optimal microclimate in a room is one of the most common ways of heating a room. However, the attitude towards infrared heaters, to put it mildly, is ambiguous. Some - do not really represent their advantages, others - doubt their safety. Shatter these doubts and determine how to properly organize the heating of the room using an infrared heater. To effectively heat a room, it is not enough just to purchase infrared heaters for the home. It is equally important to determine the location of the device and the mode of its use. All these nuances will be discussed in this article.

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How does an infrared heater work?

As the name implies, the principle of operation of an infrared heating device is to emit and propagate infrared waves. If a certain body or substance is heated to a predetermined temperature, then they become sources of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared range.

Important! The length of electromagnetic waves depends on the surface temperature. The higher it is, the shorter the wavelength.

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Classification of infrared heaters

Heaters, depending on the range of emitted waves, are divided into the following groups:

• Shortwave radiation.
• Medium wave radiation.
• Long wave radiation.

Important! Over 90% of the radiation from infrared devices is spent on heating the room itself, and only 8% - on heating the air. This device differs from conventional fireplaces and stoves, for which air is the main heat carrier. This feature of infrared heating devices will create the most comfortable heating mode, which is best perceived by both people and animals.

According to the temperature values ​​of the radiating surface, heating appliances are divided into 3 groups:

• Low temperature (from 100 to 600 degrees).
• Medium temperature (from 600 to 1000 degrees).
• High temperature (more than 1000 degrees).

Important! If you need infrared heaters for your home, most preferably low-temperature devices with long-wave radiation. Medium and high temperature type appliances for domestic use are not recommended.

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Benefits:

• Profitability. Infrared heaters for home have a higher heat transfer than other heat sources. In addition, there is no need for laborious heating of the room with solid fuel. Compared to an electric radiator, an infrared source consumes less electricity.
• Ease of use. They can be used all year round without waiting for the start of the official heating season. The heater is mobile, it can be easily transferred from one room to another, transported from a city apartment to a country house.
• Comfort when using. Unlike convectors, infrared heaters do not dry air, do not burn oxygen, and do not create vortex streams that raise dust. For this reason, the use of these devices is possible in families where there are allergies and people suffering from bronchial asthma.In addition, people feel more comfortable in such a room.
• Easy installation, the ability to independently install the device. Some professional skills when installing heaters are not needed.
• Rational use of space. Wall and floor units can be installed even in the smallest room.
• Silent work.
• Fire safety.
• Quick heating of the room (on average 20 minutes is enough for this).

Important! There is no negative effect of magnetic waves on the body, moreover, the health benefits of infrared magnetic radiation have been proved:

1. Infrared electromagnetic waves help reduce joint pain.
2. The general state of health improves, metabolic processes normalize.
3. The immunity is strengthened, the body's resistance to infectious diseases is increased.

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Minuses

Not without infrared heaters for the home and certain disadvantages. As a rule, they are connected with the fact that the device is selected incorrectly:

• If you choose a device that is too powerful, you risk burns. Negative consequences can occur if you purchased low-quality products from dubious manufacturers. For this reason, products of well-known brands should be preferred.
• A small drawback is the fact that the lamp is constantly on. Glow is present constantly, even at night. Some of such a "night light" annoying. Therefore, consider whether you will install the unit in the bedroom.

In all other respects, appliances are impeccable.

Important! If you need a heater for a summer residence, it may not make sense to spend a lot of money on buying an expensive appliance. Browse our workshops to help you do economicaldo-it-yourself heater.

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Application area

As already mentioned, infrared heaters are great for heating permanent or temporary housing throughout the year. But in fact, the scope of use of the device is much wider.

Important! You can use the heater on a glazed cold loggia, in a greenhouse, conservatory, rooms for pets. At the same time, there will be no prohibitive electricity costs.

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How to choose an infrared heater? - Main criteria

When choosing infrared home heaters, pay attention to 3 main factors:

• A kind of heater.
• Power.
• Location and mode of use.

Variety:

• Long-wave heaters are equipped with a heating element. The heating temperature of the metal plate does not exceed 230 degrees. Such devices are the safest in relation to fire. The minimum safe distance between the device and other objects is 0.5 m.
• The heating element for the short-wave device is a spiral, which is placed in a glass tube. The tube heats up quite strongly (up to 600 degrees). For this reason, infrared heaters for the home of this type are much less safe than the long-wave option. The minimum distance from the device to other objects is 3 meters, and for a living room this is quite difficult.

Important! For home use, a longer wavelength device is preferred.

Power

Experts advise choosing a device for heating according to this principle:

• 0.1 kW of power per square meter of floor space;
• if you decide how to choose an infrared heater for a summer residence, 0.13 kW of device power is taken for one “square” of area.

Important! The power of the domestic heater does not exceed 1.5 kW. For this reason, to heat a room of 25-30 squares, you will have to purchase 3 devices of 1.0 kW each and evenly distribute them around the perimeter.

When choosing a device of insufficient power, it will not be possible to warm up the room, and the savings are dubious.The faster the heater creates the desired microclimate, the sooner it turns off and does not spend extra energy.

Ceiling, floor or wall option?

There are four types of infrared heating devices:

• Floor standing.
• Wall mounted.
• Ceiling.
• Skirting boards.

First you need to find out how the heater will be operated: as a stationary device or will move from one room to another.

Based on this, we decide which infrared home heaters are best suited:

• The most convenient are ceiling type heaters. They do not take up much space, have an extensive range of radiation. Ceiling models can be built-in or mounted on brackets. In the latter case, the distance from the heater to the ceiling plane is about 50 mm.
• Wall heaters need to be fixed from the floor at a distance inaccessible to children and pets.
• If you plan to place the device under the window, a skirting type heater is perfect for you.
• Mobile heaters are smaller and more powerful.

Important! Alternatively, considerIR floor heating installations.

Infrared home heaters: types of heating elements

The type of heating element is determined by the material of which the shell protecting the emitter is made. The shell may be metal, ceramic or quartz.

Halogen heating element

This is a halogen lamp that produces infrared radiation. Inside the lamp is a thread made of carbon fiber or tungsten.

Important! The main disadvantage of this type of lamp is the short-wave radiation, which can be harmful to health.

Carbon heater

It is made in the form of a quartz tube. Inside the tube is a vacuum in which there is a spiral made of carbon material. The advantage of the carbon element is its quick heating. In addition, the carbon element has a higher efficiency than a metal plate.

However, there are disadvantages:

• service life is about two years;
• Carbon power consumption is quite large: 1.2-2.5 kW.
• glow - red, may irritate the eyes.

Important! Carbon heating element is not recommended for people suffering from allergic reactions and bronchial asthma.

Ceramic heating element

It is well protected, so it does not glow when working. The working life of the device is 3 years or more. Compared to quartz, ceramics are more expensive. The advantage of the ceramic element is also its economical energy consumption (from 50 W to 2 kW). The disadvantage is slow heating.

Mycothermal element

It is a tubular metal element. It features stable operation, convenience and reliability of use.

Disadvantages:

• high price;
• quiet crackling at work.

Type of insulator

The insulator is designed so that the case does not heat up to a temperature exceeding 95 degrees. The best is a basalt insulator. Ideal if it does not contain any impurities. It is worthwhile to ask for a hygienic certificate.

Important points when choosing an infrared heater for the home

• The highest efficiency for ceiling models. Floor and wall options have a lower efficiency, therefore, in their operational qualities, they are close to conventional convector-type heaters.
• The operation of the device with full efficiency is possible only if there is a voltage in the network of 120-230 V. If these indicators are significantly reduced, then the efficiency of the device decreases significantly. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase a voltage stabilizer together with a heater.
• For economical energy consumption, a device equipped with a thermostat is beneficial.
• If the building is poorly insulated, the use of an infrared device is useless.If the heat leaves, then heating the room will turn out to be ineffective. Therefore, care must be taken to insulate walls, floors, ceilings, and seal windows.
• The thickness of the anodizing layer on the plate, which is the source of radiation. If the layer thickness is 25 microns or more, the device will last at least 20 years. If the layer is thin, then the infrared heater for the home will fail for several years. Unfortunately, checking the thickness of the layer will fail. We have to rely solely on the integrity of the seller.
• The material of the heating element. If the heating element is made of ferrous metal, then it will not be possible to use it in a room with high humidity (for example, in the bathroom). Stainless steel is much more practical.
• Emitter foil thickness. It must be no less than 120 microns. If the foil is thinner, heating the room will be ineffective.
• Remember that any heater dries the air. Therefore, in order not to feel discomfort in the room and feel good, experts advise using humidifier with ionizer.

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Stock footage

Infrared heaters for the home - this is the best option. With minimal flaws, these devices have a lot of advantages. But in order to maximize the effect of the application, it is necessary to choose the right model and take into account all the features of the operation of the device.