An electric heater is a great way to keep warm in an apartment or house, wait until the heating season starts. To make an informed choice, you need to first learn about the advantages and disadvantages of different models of this type of household appliances.
Types of electric heaters
Portable heating devices differ depending on the method of heating the air in the room. An electrical appliance for a home, as a rule, belongs to one of the following types:
- wall;
- floor;
- plinth;
- fireplace;
- fan heater;
- infrared;
- mat-heater;
- water;
- oil;
- air.
Wall-mounted electric heater
A compact analogue floor heater is useful for owners of small apartments, because it does not take up much space and is easily moved when such a need arises. The suspended electric heater is available in the following formats:
- Oil radiator. The minus of this device is the difficulty in mounting due to the heavy weight of the structure.
- Convector. Cold air is drawn into the lower part of the device, and hot air is drawn from the upper part. Any electric heater in the form of a convector is equipped with a waterproof housing.
- Ceramic system. It is equipped with a remote control and a thermostat, but it creates strong noises during operation.
Electric floor heating
If installing such a device on a wall or ceiling causes difficulties, it is worth choosing in favor of the classical version. The most popular type is a floor electric heater, which effectively warms the air at the bottom of the room. In addition to oil, it is available in three types:
- Convector of a bench type. This is the best solution for small rooms, because it simultaneously combines two functions - heating and seating.
- Infrared heater. Thanks to wave radiation, they affect the temperature of air, not ambient, but of surrounding objects, which give heat to the space.
- Film floor convector. This type of heating housing is often combined with electric heaters for skirting. The heating element in it is located between two layers of heat-resistant film. Under the influence of current, its temperature rises and it begins to emit infrared rays.
Plinth electric heaters
In parallel, the floor can be placed devices with a flattened body, which are able to withstand the neighborhood, even with wooden furniture and interior details made of plastic. Such types of electric heaters as skirting convectors have a height of no more than 20 cm and do not consume too much electricity. Other advantages include:
- No prospect of overheating the case. Power from 500 W to 1500 W excludes this possibility.
- They allow you to maintain the minimum temperature at low energy costs in the room, if the owners for a long time leave the house.
- Skirting heaters can be installed in garages and indoor pools, because they are not afraid of moisture.
Heater-fireplace electric
The decorative panel with the imitation of the fire source gives the room an individuality and makes it more cozy. All room electric heaters in the form of a fireplace are equipped with a display on which flames are lit. They are classified according to their location:
- The wall variant is considered traditional and suitable for any interior.
- The built-in fireplace is located in the niche of a wall or a specially constructed portal.
- Angle convector facilitates the rational use of free space in the room.
Electric heater with fan
They differ from heat guns in that they do not burn oxygen and quickly equalize the temperature in the room. Modern fan electric heaters are economical devices that can purposefully act on the object with a sharp increase in the recoil of the device in comparison with the heat gun. Spirals are blown by blades and the heating process passes much more efficiently - warm air penetrates into all corners of the room.
Electric Heat Mat
This design works on the principle of a foot warmer, which is relevant for any person who often has cold feet. Compact electric heater is made of modern flexible materials in the form of a film and infrared emitter. It can be used in an apartment and car, as well as drying for shoes and clothes. The main advantages of this rug:
- no need for installation;
- safety of radiated waves thanks to the screen;
- ergonomics and rapid heating.
Electric water heater
Today, simple heating appliances are increasingly replaced by systems with a boiler or boiler. In the role of the coolant, water is used here: it transfers heat, circulates through pipes and gives it through metal radiators. The electric heater is equipped with a thermostat - with its help you can choose a comfortable temperature for housing. There are three types of similar heating installations:
- TEN. The water is forced to circulate through the tubes by means of a circulation pump.
- Electrode installation. The liquid in a small volume vessel is heated by electrodes through which current is passed.
- Induction boiler. This electric heater combines two circuits - magnetic and heat exchange. The principle of its operation is similar to that of the induction hob.
Air heater electric
In addition to fan heaters, there are also air curtains with or without heating. They create an invisible airflow barrier, so they are often located above the doors - for example, above the entrance to the store or access to the balcony. An electric heater for an air-type room shields the opening, protecting it from the penetration of cold into the interior. In appearance it can be:
- a veil of vertical installation;
- built-in heater;
- curtain of horizontal installation.
Heater oil electric
This type of construction is divided into several sections, reminiscent of the segments of the radiator. Inside of them there is an oil which circulates from above downwards on metal tubes (ТЭНам). The main drawback (which is characteristic of wall-mounted oil electric heaters) is the slow heating after switching on if the device does not have a timer. Among its advantages:
- The possibility of soft temperature control.
- A special valve protects the heater from rupture caused by hot oil.
- Thanks to closed metal pipes, oil is not contaminated by combustion products.
- Noiseless operation does not interfere with rest, so the device can easily be placed in the bedroom or living room.
Electric heater - what to choose?
The purchase of a particular model of a household appliance depends on a variety of factors, from the covered area to the heating rate. There are three main aspects that you need to pay attention to before deciding on a choice:
- Do not overpay for devices supposedly possessing the ability not to dry air. Such convectors simply do not exist - whether the heater is infrared , electric or wall-mounted.
- Conditions in which the heater will work, contribute to the choice of its format. A compact infra-red device suffices, while a room with high humidity - a convector in a housing with protection from water.
- Models of a well-known brand are preferable to little-known brands, because the latter often do not have protection against overheating.
Rating of electric heaters
The list of the best models of convectors is made on the basis of customer feedback and reliability of parameters, given manufacturers. Optimum suitable for all characteristics is the electric heater for the house, included in the rating of the most purchased brands:
- Arbonia - tubular radiators of heating, produced by a German company, ready even to work with unusual shapes and sizes of devices on request.
- Buderus - the company was redesigned from the production of cast iron elements for the production of convectors with quality thermostats.
- Zehnder - premium-class boilers and oil radiators with extended warranty period.
- Siemens - electric heater of this brand can be found in any household appliance store at a democratic price.
- " Ruby" - infrared and air heaters with low energy consumption.
Electric heater power
The most important parameter of choice is the area of the room in which the device will operate. In direct dependence on it is the power: if you choose a small economical electric heater for a house with many rooms - the efficiency of heating will decrease. Recommended calculations are such calculations as:
- up to 10 sq. m - 500 W;
- up to 15 sq. m - 750 W;
- up to 20 sq. m - 1000 W;
- up to 25 sq. m - 1250 W;
- up to 30 sq m - 2000 watts.
The most efficient electric heaters
The maximum productivity of this household appliance is determined not only by energy-saving characteristics, but also by the speed of heating the air in the room. Electric heaters of the apartment constitute a worthy competition to heating systems operating on gas, coal and solar energy, so their use should not require serious financial costs. Convectors of the new generation include:
- Micathermic heaters. They emit infrared rays, but they themselves do not heat up. The main element is made of ceramic or two plates covered with mica.
- Quartz heaters. Their working principle illustrates the effect of a "hot brick" - the sand quickly heats up, but slowly cools.
The safest electric heaters
Any source of heat is associated with an increased risk of fire and even smoke. As the main criteria, according to which the heater can be considered electric safe, are considered: low housing temperature, fire safety, oxygen combustion level and environmental friendliness. Experts advise to trust such devices as:
- Oily convector. Due to the fact that the mineral mixture circulates through the closed tube, the risk of leakage or ignition of the oil is minimized.
- Fan heater. It is harmless if you carefully monitor that it does not get dust - while remaining on the spiral, it provokes the appearance of an unpleasant smell.
- Flat electric heater of convection type. It is compact and equipped with touch panels that allow you to control the heating level.