In the current life, the convector type heater has become popular. He not only works silently and takes up little space, but also looks laconically. To heat the room, this device is effective, it is acceptable for both the apartment and the office. Compact form of such heating system allows you to fit it into the design, without violating the stylistics of the room.
Convector type heater - pros and cons
Having decided to install a convector heater, it is better to study the pros and cons of such a radiator in advance. Advantages of the circulating heating method:
- Safe operation. Having touched the radiator shell, it is impossible to get burned - it is heated only up to 45-65 ° С. The convector does not overdry the air in the dwelling and does not burn oxygen. The integrated sensor disconnects the convector when it falls.
- Energy saving. The internal thermostat controls the temperature.
- Low noise level. It is achieved due to electronic programmers in the design and absence of a fan.
- The widest choice of location options. There are constructions floor, wall , ceiling, narrow for skirting boards.
- Low inertia. The room is heated more quickly due to the direct heating of the air.
The disadvantages of a convector heating system include:
- The lack of a fan provides a quiet work for the radiator, but the warming-up time of the room is lower than with compulsory circulation.
- Incorrectly calculating the power of the equipment, you can get insufficient heating.
How does a convector heater work?
A modern convector heater is a device for heating a certain room by circulating heated air in it. It uses different sources of energy: electricity, natural gas, heated water or other liquid energy. The principle of the convector heater is designed to ensure that the cool air in the room is at the bottom, and the warm air moves upward.
The structure of the device comprises a heating element with a heat exchanger, where the air is heated. Heat transfer is carried out continuously by upward moving flows. The ribs in the body become guides for the jet. In this case, the area of the outer shell is heated slightly. By type of heat source, the following types of convection heaters are distinguished:
- electric;
- on gas;
- water.
Heater of electric convection type
Devices use electric heating elements as a source of thermal energy:
- ТЭНы (tubular electric heaters);
- filament;
- nichrome spirals.
The most progressive model of convector electric heaters is the one in which the heater is installed. The filament in them is hidden in a steel tube, the heat is transferred through an aluminum radiator. TENs with a closed spiral are the safest, do not heat the case to a high temperature and do not burn oxygen. The cheapest model is an electric converter with an open filament. But it has minuses - the spiral heats up to 150 ° C and burns the dust, oxygen, which is not useful for people in the room.
Gas convector heater
The principle of operation of such a heater is identical to that of an electric heater, but instead of a TEN it uses a gas burner. The heat energy is transferred to the heat exchanger from the metal, and it heats the cool air coming from below. The convector heater on the gas requires the removal of combustion residues in the chimney, which is considered a drawback. But it is safe and efficiently heats the air in the room even at low temperatures. Gas convectors do not need a current source unless they are additionally fitted with fans that accelerate the movement of heat.
Ceramic Convector Heater
Advanced ceramic convector heaters for the home appeared recently, but have already gained popularity. They are a plate, inside which a heating element is poured, thermal radiation emanates from it. Ceramic heaters of convector type are more expensive than analogues, but are considered the safest. Their main advantage is ecological compatibility, the device does not dry the air in the room, it does not burn oxygen.
Ceramic elements have high heat transfer, long service life and are effective. For example, to heat a room of 10 m you need a conventional heater for 1 kW. A ceramic for heating this area is enough for 450 watts. In addition, they are interesting in their design - outwardly resemble a thin slab that nicely fits into any interior.
Infrared Convector Heater
The construction of the converter may include infrared panels. Then combined heating of the room is ensured - with the help of convection and thermal radiation. The arrangement of the convector heater with infrared rays is slightly different from the traditional one. In it, a heating element made from metal with high heat transfer is placed in a heat-resistant ceramic plate, which spreads the hot rays.
The power consumption of this heater is 0.2-2.5 kW / h, depending on the size. To heat the room in 20 m 2, 1 kW per hour will be spent. A great advantage of the device is its aesthetic appearance. Its minimalistic design fits into any interior, the panel can be hung on the wall, on the ceiling, some of them are painted, and they become a decor for the room.
Electronic convector heater
The advanced convector heater with electronic thermostat has great possibilities in comparison with mechanical control:
- You can set the mode of power consumption.
- The temperature is maintained with an accuracy of 0.1 ° C.
- You can set the timer operation of the device.
- In expensive models there are temperature controllers that allow you to set the temperature regime depending on the time of day and day of the week.
- There are many interesting operating modes - "auto", "economy", "anti-freeze", "night".
Convector wall heater
Convector heaters for home energy-saving with a wall type of installation are very popular. They are attractive outwardly, safe. Due to the possibility of power regulation, overheating of premises is prevented, which makes them economical. The heater of the convector type is fixed on the wall, occupying less space. Its advantage is to protect the surfaces from dampness and mold penetration. The models are fixed on brackets anywhere in the wall, more often under the window, preventing fogging of the windows.
Ceiling convector heater
An unusual ceiling convector is a heating panel fixed to the ceiling with brackets. At the same time, the thermal radiation is directed downwards with the help of ribs on the housing and heats the planes that are in the range of the device. Under the ceiling heater you can work, relax without any unpleasant sensations. The embedded small convector heater looks invisible. It is mounted flush with the plane of the ceiling, floor, niche and covered with grating. But the location of such equipment is planned at the stage of construction of the facility.
Convector skirting heater
Innovative baseboard convector heaters for the house are installed along the perimeter of the wall on the floor. They have a small height - 13-20 cm, the lack of height of heating parts is compensated for by their length. There are two types of skirting heaters:
- Electric. In the decorative casing there are heaters - TEN or infrared.
- Water. It consists of tubes with a heat exchanger and a protective liner, connected to a heating system.
Advantages of plinth converters:
- Compactness. In the room it is almost invisible.
- Double action principle. The device warms both the air and the walls, preventing the cold from spreading around the room.
Convector heater with fan
An improved convector heater with a fan enhances the speed of the air flow due to forced convection and increases the efficiency of the device. Such models have an advantage over the others - the internal fan helps not only to increase the heat transfer, but also cools the heat exchanger. This function increases the life of the device. A convector type heater with a fan is so effective that it can act as the only heat source in the room.
Convector type heater with thermostat
Modern convector heater type is adjusted to the specific power and the desired temperature in the room. At the same time, he is able to switch off himself for a while, avoiding overheating of internal parts. The temperature controller (thermostat) is the most important element of the device. It is of two kinds:
- Mechanical. Adjust the temperature by turning the switch. Turning on and off is accompanied by a characteristic click. Plus - low cost. Minus is the impossibility of setting the temperature mode precisely.
- Electronic. This option is more expensive, but in operation it is more economical. Electronic thermostat for convector heater provides the possibility to choose the temperature with accuracy to tenths of a degree, completely silent.
How to choose a convector heater for your home?
Acquiring convector heaters for home energy-saving, it is important to take into account their features. Tips for choosing:
- Power. If you intend to use the device in addition to heating, then for each m 2 of the area you need 25 watts of power. If the house will be heated only by converters - 40 watts per square meter.
- Height. The optimum height of the device is 50-60 cm, then it will quickly ensure the movement of air masses and heat the room.
- Type of heater. If possible, it is better to purchase a device with a tubular or monolithic heater. They have a volumetric contact with the air, they are more productive and last longer.
- Additional possibilities. When buying, it is advisable to pay attention to the availability of useful functions:
- Temperature regulator. Helps to independently set the desired level of heat.
- Timer. It will be possible to set the time when the radiator will work or turn off.
- Built-in ionizer. Removes dust, saturates the air with ions, improves the microclimate of the home.
- Remote control. Helps to conveniently manage the heating.