Heating element
The type of heating element provided in the device.
- Tubular heater, an element in the form of a tube, inside which there is a heating coil and a filler made of sand, ceramics, oil or other heat-conducting material/liquid. Heating elements do not heat up as quickly as spirals, and are somewhat more expensive; on the other hand, they are more fireproof. Moreover, the relatively low operating temperature prevents (at least partially) the combustion of dust and the appearance of unpleasant odours.
-Spiral — in this case, an open electric spiral is meant. Provides fast heating due to the high operating temperature. However, of all types of heating elements, it is the most fire-hazardous, and dust on the coil causes an unpleasant odor.
- Ceramic. The heating element constructed using ceramic plates. In this case, we are talking about a classic heater, which provides heating mainly due to convection; models with IR heating are placed in a separate category (see below). The main advantage of ceramic heaters over tubular heater and spiral heater is a relatively low operating temperature, which not only prevents the combustion of dust but also reduces the risk of burns (and the likelihood of fires is reduced to almost zero). In addition, ceramic elements are reliable and durable. Their main drawback is their high price.
— Ceramic with IR heating. Ceramic heaters (see above), are capable of providing heating not only due to direct contac...t with air but also due to infrared radiation. They are mainly used in convectors, but can also be installed in infrared heaters. Recall that IR radiation does not heat the air, but directly the objects to which it is directed, while the heat from heating is felt instantly, but only as long as the heater is turned on. Convection, in turn, allows you to warm up the entire volume of air in the room, but this can take quite a long time. The combined heater combines the advantages of these methods of operation and mutually compensates for their shortcomings: with its help, you can quickly heat individual parts of the room and, at the same time, warm the air inside. This can be useful, for example, if you need to heat a cold room and at the same time quickly warm yourself. The main disadvantage of elements of this type can be called a high cost. It is also worth considering that a specialized heater will be more appropriate than a universal one — for example, it is more reasonable to use classic IR heaters outdoors since the heat from the convector in such conditions will “fly away into the atmosphere”. A heating element consisting of a heating element and an IR heater also works on a similar principle. See above for more details on the operation of the heating element.
— Heat exchanger. A heating element found exclusively in gas heaters (see "Power supply"). It has the form of a long curved tube: through it, the products of combustion of gas move from the burner to the chimney, cooling down along the way and giving up their heat to heat the room. For more efficient heat transfer, the surface of the tube can be supplemented with fins, plates and other elements that increase the area of contact with air.
- Stitch heater. At the heart of the stitch heater is a set of thin and long metal protrusions, similar to needles. One of their key advantages is the almost instantaneous heating to operating temperature. On the other hand, this temperature is higher than that of heating elements, which leads to rapid drying of the air and increases the likelihood of unpleasant odours (dust or other contamination that gets on the needles is likely to be burned). Stitch heaters are found exclusively in convectors (see "Type").
Heating modes
The ability to adjust the power of the heater. Do not confuse this parameter with temperature control since several power modes primarily affect the heating rate, energy consumption and device wear.
Installation
Installation methods, nominally provided for by the design of the heater. Many models allow several mounting options — for example, floor or wall, at the request of the user.
— Floor. Installation directly on the floor using feet, wheels or similar supports. Such installation is as simple and fast as possible — no work is needed, it is enough to find a free area of the floor and install a heater on it. Accordingly, moving from place to place is also not a problem — especially if the design has the wheels mentioned (and almost all heavy devices like oil heaters are equipped with them). And you can place the heater almost anywhere in the room — with certain restrictions, but the freedom of movement for such devices is still much greater than for wall or ceiling ones. At the same time, a floor heater takes up the most space, and there is also a risk of bumping into such a device and tipping it over.
— Wall mounted. Mounting on a wall, usually by hanging on hooks, screws or other similar devices. This installation option is found in all types of heaters, but it is most popular in convectors and fan heaters. Wall installation is not as convenient as floor installation — certain work is required to prepare the wall, and it is impossible to install such a device in the middle of the room. On the other hand, wall models do not take up space on the floor, which can be especially useful in cramped conditions.
— Ceiling. Installation by hanging from t...he ceiling. This option is used mainly among IR heaters — installation at the maximum height allows you to cover a large area; in other types of heaters, ceiling mounting is practically not found. Often, ceiling models also allow wall installation.
— Into socket. Portable heaters with a plug directly in the housing are installed in the socket. The dimensions of such devices are negligible, as well as the heating power. Plug-in models are a good option for heating a workplace in a small office space, at a guard post or in a gatehouse.
Note that accessories for a particular type of installation may not be included in the kit, they will have to be purchased separately: for example, for a wall-mounted convector, you will need to purchase screws or other fasteners, and for a floor convector, legs-stands.
