Infrared film heaters: device, characteristics and features of use for heating the house

Film infrared heaters are becoming more widespread today. The reason for this phenomenon is clearly their incredible properties. They do not heat up the air, which leads to more a quick feeling of warmth, unlike traditional heating appliances. In addition, they are mounted on almost any surface due to their flexibility, and have an excellent effect on both the person in the room and the air in the room.

Features of the operation of infrared heaters

Infrared film heaters are several types, depending on the place of their attachment:

• Ceiling - they are fixed to the ceiling and provide good coverage of the entire area of ​​the room, evenly heating all objects and forcing them to radiate heat.
• Floor - are the main component of "warm floor" systems and the like. The floor itself is heated, which gives off heat to the room. They are good because they support the natural flow of heated air - from top to bottom.
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• Wall-mounted - are an intermediate option, they are performed mainly in the form of decorative elements, for example, paintings.
• Skirting boards are practically a subspecies of floor boards, but they are attached around the perimeter of the room in the form of massive baseboards.

The design of the device resembles a sandwich panel in construction, only it is lighter, thinner and with the ability to bend. The top layer on both sides is an insulating film, resistant to high temperatures, allowing avoid electric shocks during operation and does not melt during operation. Under this layer there is a foil that reflects heat from the heating elements and contributes to less heat loss and a more even distribution throughout the room. In addition, temperature sensors are very often used that turn off the heating when certain temperatures are reached and turn it on when the room becomes colder than the set value.

The principle of operation of the device

The principle of operation of these devices is based on the ability of radiation of a certain wavelength to cause in the surface layer of molecules, vibrations stimulating the acceleration of their mutual movement and, as a consequence, the growth object temperature. With the constant acceleration of vibrations, more and more layers of molecules come into play, which contributes to the transfer of heat more and more deep layers subject or object.

A few seconds after switching on, the heating elements of the foil heater reach a temperature of about 50 degrees. This heat is transferred to the reflective aluminum surface and radiated evenly into the space. When the required temperature rise in the room is detected by the thermal sensor, the device automatically turns off.

In this case, the maintenance of heat lies on the surface of the furniture and people inside. They begin to emit thermal energy, as a result of which comfortable conditions are maintained for a long time, and to maintain them, it is not necessary to keep the heater on all the time. All you need to do is wait until the temperature drops by 1 degree. As a result, automatically the thermostat will turn on, will start one turn-on cycle, the heat emitted by the device will go to objects and people and again force them to heat themselves.

Typical characteristics of film heaters

The main and most influencing characteristic of the heating quality is the area of ​​the heater itself. The larger it is, the more efficiently it works, and the number of start-up and shutdown cycles is significantly reduced. Another important characteristic is the placement. On floors and ceilings, these devices show very good results and maximum efficiency. Being placed on the wall, they strongly depend not only on what is located on the path of radiation to the opposite wall, but also from its area and location relative to the floor.

So, if you attach it closer to the ceiling, the efficiency will not be too great. Warm air will hardly reach the floor and in the area of ​​the baseboard the temperature will be significantly lower than near the ceiling, where there is nothing and no one to heat. If the heater is fixed at the level of the feet, the situation will be completely different. In the path of infrared rays, in any case, there will be a sufficient number of potential heat emitters. The air heated by it will be able to circulate correctly around the room, constantly supplying more cold streamdisplaced from the upper layers of the room.

In addition to the area and location, there are several more technical characteristics of typical film heaters for the home:

• The heating temperature is from 35 to 50 degrees, more for the operation of this type of device is not required.
• Power - within 500 watts. Specific power (that is, consumed by one square meter of the device) is different, mainly - from 70 watts to 170 and more.
• The mass of one square meter is in the range of 300-400 grams.
• The current at which the device operates is within one - one and a half amperes.
• The voltage is typical, but sometimes, especially in online stores, there are imported 110-volts. If they are not equipped with an adapter, you have to buy it to work in 220 volt networks.

Features of installation of infrared heating devices

To carry out the installation of film heaters, any highly professional skills from the person installing them are not required. All that is needed for this is to adhere to several recommendations that eliminate most common mistakes:

• A warm and dry atmosphere must be maintained in the room - cold air compresses both the flexible film and the foil. During the initial heating, such negative effects as the formation of bubbles and even destruction of the hardened film are possible.
• It is strictly forbidden to check the operability of the device in a twisted state.
• Before installation, it is advisable to level the surface as carefully as possible - this will help avoid losses heat and will allow the use of a foil heater with maximum efficiency.
• Bending the roll more than 90 degrees and subsequent surface mounting is prohibited.
• The maximum length of the foil heater should be no more than 7-8 meters. Leave a gap of at least 5 millimeters between adjacent strips.
• In order to avoid damage to thermal insulation, shielding coating and heating elements, it is allowed to cut rolls only along the lines of the factory marking. Installation with screws, nails or self-tapping screws is unacceptable for the same reason. Use specially designed fasteners or a construction stapler.

Pros and cons of infrared heaters

Before choosing the type of heating system, it is necessary to think in detail about all aspects, calculate the required number of film heaters and take into account the possible positive and negative sides. The quantity is selected based on the volume of the room, the height of the walls and the presence of furniture. The benefits include:

• Ease of installation, operation and maintenance - just read the instructions, and the heater in the form of a picture will give warmth to the room in an hour. Ceiling and floor-standing devices are mounted slightly slower.
• Lack of associated costs and long service life. The average service life of film-type heaters is 25-30 years, and their maintenance does not require any serious effort.
• Eliminates fire safety problems - the peak heating of heating elements is about 80 degrees Celsius, which does not lead to fires or skin burns.
• Quiet, economical, thanks to the built-in thermostat, they do not affect the air humidity in the room and its oxygen saturation.

The disadvantages are associated with the heating method and its duration:

• Due to the large surface area of ​​the device and the small thickness of its heating plates, it cools quickly when the device is turned off.
• The heating intensity strongly depends on the total area of ​​all films. Basically, to provide a sufficiently warm atmosphere, it is sufficient to completely cover the floor or ceiling with them.
• Heating of household appliances. Because infrared light is used, things like the system unit or monitor will get hotter than usual. It is necessary to hide from direct exposure to radiation those devices that do not work well in high ambient temperatures.

This type of heating is good enough to be used as an alternative to traditional heating. Its economy, compactness and ease of use allow you to abandon bulky batteries and significantly expand your living space.