The heat can bring a lot of troubles - in the summer we were convinced of this. But the cold is no less dangerous, and in fact, according to some forecasts, the coming winter will be extremely frosty.
It is not a fact that the forecasts will come true, but it is still better to take care of additional heat sources in an apartment or office in advance. This material will allow you to learn more about such useful devices as household electric heaters.
Modern electric heaters are oil-filled (they are also called radiators) and convector heaters. There are also thermo fans (“heated” fans) and infrared heaters.
Oil heaters
The most common heaters in Russia are oil heaters. They are similar to conventional central heating radiators and are quite simple. Instead of water, the metal casing of such a heater contains mineral oil. It is heated by heating elements and runs through special channels. As a result, the metal of the case also heats up and transfers heat to the surrounding air. Heating is not uncontrolled - it is controlled by a thermostat that turns off the heating element when the oil reaches a certain temperature. As a rule, modern oil coolers are equipped with a two- or three-position mode switch, which allows you to select one of several power levels to obtain the optimal temperature and save energy. In addition to the thermostat, some models have a timer, which makes the use of oil coolers more convenient and safe.
It looks like a modern oil (oil-filled) electric heater
Power is the most important parameter that should be considered when purchasing an oil cooler. The stores offer devices of different powers: from 800 to 3000 watts. Here it is important not to "overdo it" by buying a too powerful device (this is a heavy load on the power grid, additional costs for paying for electricity), and a low-power device will be a little confusing. In general, to heat a 10 m² room with a ceiling height of 3 m, in which there are no other heat sources, a 1000 W heater is required. Accordingly, a room of 20 m² will require a heater twice as powerful. If the room has two windows, or one of the walls is external, then the heat consumption increases by another 200 W per 1 m². If central heating is provided and the heater is needed as an additional source of heat, 1500-1800 watts will be enough for a room with an area of 20-25 m².
The use of any heating device is a certain risk. However, in a modern oil heater, the risk is minimized. The surface of the radiator heats up to a maximum of 60 ° C - the likelihood of a burn is extremely small (at least severe). In the lower part of the heater (inside the housing) there is a safety valve that will be triggered if the oil boils in the event of a thermostat failure.
When choosing an oil cooler, pay attention to the additional functions provided in many models. For example, an oil cooler can be equipped with a built-in fan. The fan helps to heat the air in the room much faster (it takes 20-30 minutes for a radiator without a fan).
Oil-fired electric heater with built-in fan
will raise the air temperature in the room faster ...
In some models (usually more expensive) an “external” thermostat is provided - it controls the air temperature in the room, and not the oil temperature, which is much more convenient during operation (you can select the desired temperature mode, and not determine the temperature “by eye”). However, the oil temperature controller in such models is also present - for safety reasons.
The cost of oil heaters, as a rule, is not high - this is one of the reasons for their popularity among the population. There are models that can be purchased for a thousand rubles *. There are more expensive heaters (2-2.5 thousand rubles). There are also more expensive (but still quite affordable) models - costing about 5 thousand rubles. Among the manufacturers, we note De'Longhi, General Climate, Polaris, EWT, Hansa, Timberk and Supra.
Summarizing the "pros" and "cons" of oil heaters, the first should include the already mentioned acceptable cost of most models, the environmental friendliness of this heating method, as well as mobility (the oil cooler can be moved with wheels - use where it is needed at one time or another ). As for the "minuses", it is a rather high electricity consumption when the oil heater is operating, a long time for heating the air in the room (especially for models without a fan) and weight (an oil cooler is a rather heavy device).
Convection heaters
The next type of household electric heaters is convector heaters. Nowadays they are becoming more and more popular. This is not surprising since they are easy to use, safe and effective. The convector heater has a smooth flat body with a built-in heating element inside. The latter can be metallic or ceramic (ceramic is the second generation of heaters: better heat transfer at lower heating).
Convector heaters are combined -
wall-mountable and floor-mountable
The convector heater heats the air itself, not the oil. Therefore, unlike an oil heater, it starts to work effectively within 40-60 seconds after being turned on. The maximum power consumption is 3000 W. There are heaters with a capacity of 500, 1000, 2000, 2500 W. However, their efficiency is much higher than that of oil heaters, so we can say that they are more economical.
The convector heater can be stationary (mounted on the wall) or mobile (with wheels, like an oil heater). A great advantage of convector heaters over oil heaters is the ability to create an entire heating network. To do this, you just need to install a special programmer in one of the convectors (it is sold in the same stores as the heaters themselves) and connect all the convectors to each other using a special cable. In this case, a private heating system is created in the house or apartment - the convectors will function together, the user can set certain operating parameters for several heaters in different rooms at once.
As for the cost of convector heaters, it is usually higher than the cost of oil heaters. However, a low-power convector (up to 1000 W) can be bought for 1-1.5 thousand rubles, but the maximum cost can go up to 30 thousand rubles. On average, a convector with a capacity of about 2000 W will cost no less than 5-6 thousand. It is worth paying attention to the models of the following brands: Nobo, Noirot, AEG-Electrolux, Ballu, Supra, De'Longhi, General Climate, Polaris, Timberk.
The main "advantages" of convectors: an environmentally friendly way of heating, compactness (in comparison with oil ones), higher efficiency, efficiency, safety (the body does not heat up much, because metal or ceramic heaters, as a rule, are of a "closed" type overheating), the possibility of creating a network of devices. "Cons": in most cases, it is still a higher cost (in comparison with oil), possible difficulties in wall mounting.
Thermo fans
The thermo fan is another type of household electric heater. However, unlike the heaters mentioned above, which are quite suitable for maintaining a comfortable temperature in a room for a long time, it is more necessary for a rapid increase in air temperature in relatively small rooms. Using a thermal fan as a permanent heater is not a good idea. However, in spite of this, there are thermostatic fans with thermostats. Such models are able to maintain a certain temperature in the room (in any case, they strive for this).
The design of a modern thermal fan often includes a thermostat
- the device can maintain the set temperature
A household thermo-fan is a metal or plastic case in which a heating element is placed (it can also be metal or ceramic) and, in fact, the fan itself, which drives air through the heating element and distributes it throughout the room. For a more even distribution of warm air, many models are able to automatically turn in different directions. The maximum power of most household thermo fans is 3000 W. However, most of all in stores there are models with this indicator from 1000 to 2000 W, often with a choice of power level, which is convenient.
One of the main advantages of thermo fans is their compactness. There are very small "desktop" models. But even larger floor or wall-mounted (there are also such) thermo fans, as a rule, take up little space.
A household thermo fan can be very compact ...
When buying a thermo-fan, pay attention to the presence of a protective shutdown in case of overheating, and also (very desirable) in case of the device overturning. It's good if there is a sleep timer. It's great if the heating element is protected from accidental moisture ingress. There are models of thermo fans with the "Air ionization" function, with special filters that trap dust.
The cost of thermal fans is generally quite affordable for most users. So, simple tabletop models with a power of up to 2000 W can be purchased for 500-700 rubles. The most expensive household thermo-fans that we were able to find in domestic online stores cost about 10 thousand rubles. Major manufacturers: Ballu, De'Longhi, AEG-Electrolux, General Climate, Polaris, Stiebel Eltron, Timberk.
Infrared electric heaters
In the end - a few words about infrared heaters (IR heaters). They are radically different from the three previous types - they heat the surrounding objects, and already from them the air in the room heats up.
Quartz glass tubes are placed in the metal body of the IR heater. In them, depending on the type of heater, there may be a tungsten filament (quartz infrared heater), tungsten filament and inert gas (halogen heater), carbon fiber (carbon infrared heater). Under the influence of an electric current, the filament or fiber is heated and thus becomes a source of infrared radiation. There are also micathermic infrared heaters, in which special hard plates with a mica coating are used as a heater - there is no liquid, gases, cermets, time and energy is not wasted on heating the heat carriers.
Infrared heaters can be ceiling mounted,
on the wall, there are floor models
Low-power infrared heaters are often used to heat bathrooms, relaxation rooms in individual baths, saunas. Due to the low (compared to all other heaters) electricity consumption, infrared heaters are also suitable for heating large rooms. In addition, they can be used not only indoors, but also outdoors (for example, on a summer terrace on a cool evening).
Infrared heaters do not make noise and do not take up much space. The maximum power of modern household models is 3200 W. There are models with a power of 100, 200 watts.Most have a power of 500-2000 W with the ability to adjust its level. The cost of infrared heaters starts at 1 thousand rubles. On average, an ordinary wall-mounted infrared heater will cost 3-5 thousand rubles. There are also more expensive models. Major manufacturers: AEG-Electrolux, Ballu, Polaris, Nobo, Noirot, General Climate, Stiebel Eltron.
The infrared heater is quiet, takes up little space,
there are models of different capacities
An electric heater in the conditions of the Russian not the mildest winter is certainly a necessary thing. Moreover, due to the deterioration of domestic heating networks, every winter in our country in various cities and towns there are troubles - they turn off the heating. In such situations, the heater is a real salvation, it will allow you to maintain a temperature more or less suitable for life in the room. But even if everything is fine with the heating of your home or office, it can still be cool in the room during severe frosts. In this case, an electric heater will also come to the rescue. If, of course, you have it.
Wow, I beg your pardon - this link is a year old! Today's issue is also available, but it describes the methods of floor heating.
With the onset of cold weather, we put on warm slippers at home, and we forbid children to play on the floor. We wrap ourselves in blankets and sleep in bike pajamas. But the “weather” in the house can be improved with the help of warm floors - they not only warm the feet of bare feet, but also warm the air in the apartment.
"AiF" figured out what types of warm floors exist today. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Electric
It consists of a heating cable that transfers heat to the floor covering, which in turn heats the air. The heating system is controlled by an electronic thermostat. You can install a warm floor in a screed or under any covering.
Advantages: electrical systems do not require maintenance during operation, the heating process is very easy to control.
Disadvantages: Power consumption at constant maximum use can be very high. True, you can install a so-called accumulating warm floor, which, due to the large thickness of the screed, will gain heat at night. But whether the stored heat is enough for the whole day is a question ...
Laying features: underfloor heating cables require careful handling during pouring in order to avoid the appearance of air bubbles in the concrete - this can lead to overheating of the cable and its failure.
Application: Most often used for heating tile floors in kitchens and bathrooms. It is rarely used as an independent source of heat in Russia, since electricity prices are growing from year to year.
Price: varies widely, since there are several types of electric underfloor heating: with a single-core and two-core cable, with a thick and thin fill, for high-grade heating and for minor heating.
By the way, it has been found that floors with a two-core cable emit less electromagnetic radiation.
Water
It is heated by warm water flowing through the tubes.
Advantages: the cheapest to use - no extra costs (except for increased hot water consumption). As well as durability and absence of electromagnetic radiation.
Disadvantages: a pipe filled with water, bursting or leaking in the thickness of the concrete screed, is not only a leak down several floors, but also the need to break the floor covering.
Installation features: There are two ways to install a water floor - either in a concrete screed or on aluminum rails, which ensure an even distribution of heat. Tubes through which water flows are made of metal-plastic, copper or polypropylene. Copper ones are the most durable, but also the most expensive.
Metal-plastic is cheaper and combines durability with high flexibility and thermal conductivity. The polypropylene pipe is the cheapest and "short-lived" one. Not every polypropylene is suitable for underfloor heating, but manufacturers sometimes "forget" about it.Installation requires highly skilled workers.
Application: Due to the sudden increase in pressure in the pipes at the beginning of the heating season, the pipes may burst. Therefore, it is allowed to arrange a water floor only in apartments that are owned. The blame for the neighbors' bay will be entirely on you.
Price: high, since it consists of the cost of a full-fledged floor screed or installation of guides and pipes through which water will flow.
Infrared
A film interspersed with carbon polymer, which heats up using electricity and heats objects in the room. And they, in turn, give off heat to the environment. This type of heating uses the most suitable infrared range for humans, literally creating a comfortable environment.
Advantages: cost-effectiveness and mobility, floor arrangement does not require repair interventions. The foil can be cut into any number of separate strips and heated where needed. The thermal foil is very thin, so the installation of the system will not take away a single centimeter of height, which is especially important for rooms with low ceilings.
Disadvantages: infrared floors are not recommended to be installed in rooms with high humidity - for example, in a bathroom.
Installation features: installation is available even to a layman. The film is simply placed under the floor covering, connected and covered from above with any material - from linoleum to tiles. If necessary, warm film-type floors can be easily dismantled and moved to another room.
Application: in bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens, as well as in children's rooms.
Price: not high, since there is no need to make a screed and carry out time-consuming installation work.
Thermomat
It consists of carbon rods attached to a fiberglass mesh.
Advantages: does not require any special preparation of the floor, does not "eat up" the height of the room.
Disadvantages: a warm floor of this type is able to provide additional heat, but it will not be possible to fully warm up at its expense.
Laying features: according to the technology, the mats can be poured with a cement-sand mortar 1.5-2 cm thick, and then put the finishing floor covering. But you don't have to do this - in this case, the tiles or carpet are placed directly on the mat.
Application: suitable for any living space, especially with low ceilings.
Price: not high, since there is no need to make a capital screed.
