Showing posts with label Infrared Heaters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Infrared Heaters. Show all posts

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Advantages and Disadvantages of Convection Heaters

Convection heaters are those which warm up the room by blowing heated air. They are being used widely for residential heating, especially during winters. Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of convection heaters.

Advantages of convection heaters
  • As convection heaters can heat the entire room, they can heat more people. However, this is not the case in radiant heaters as they can heat only the people nearby the heater.
  • Convection heaters are more economical and are used for longer periods.
  • The heating elements of convection heaters are not exposed and hence, are safe to use. Even the outside surface of the heaters do not get heated up to the extent that they burn you.
  • Convection heaters are much inexpensive when compared to radiant heaters.
  • They are even available in different designs, sizes and models.

Disadvantages of convection heaters
  • One of the major concerns with convection heaters is overheating. Generally, forced convection heaters make use of fan that forces the heated air out. In case the fan is spoiled, the heater will overheat. Furthermore, if the heater is made of plastic, upon overheating, the plastic melts down. It is for this reason that convection heaters are recommended to be made of metal instead of plastic.
  • Convection heaters should not be placed near windows or other areas where drafts are likely to occur. With these heaters, the drafts are even susceptible to overheating.
  • No objects should be placed near convection heaters as they block the warm air and make the heater hot. Any objects present near the heater corresponds to energy loss.
  • Warm air from convection heaters is less dense and remains at the ceiling. So, lesser heat is present at the bottom and you cannot experience the warmth leading to energy wastage.

Remember these pros and cons of convection heaters when purchasing a heater.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Know How Much Electricity is Used by Quartz Infrared Heaters

Infrared heaters are of various types including metal sheath, quartz tubes, and ceramic infrared heaters. Quartz infrared heaters are one of the efficient types of infrared heaters. They are designed to be energy efficient. These heaters heat the objects and people present in a room but not the air. This is the most important characteristic of quartz infrared heaters.

Electric current of 12.5 amps is used by a standard quartz heater initially when it is turned on or is in the process. After the heater is warmed up emitting heat, then 6amps to 7amps is drawn by it. So quartz infrared heaters are very much energy efficient. The cost of these heaters varies based on the wattage. Various models of heaters are available which have a different draw for wattage. Larger British Thermal Unit (BTU) output is seen in larger models. Large spaces can be heated by such models. A power monitor can be used with a heater in order to know the energy that is being used by it.