Types and features of infrared heaters, which is best for the home, selection criteria

In the field of sales of heating devices, infrared heaters (IR) are becoming more and more popular. When buying, the question often arises about which infrared heater is better, what you should pay attention to.

Heating devices of this type, according to the principle of their operation, are fundamentally different from classical heaters that use the principle of heating the ambient air. Subsequently, heat from the air is transferred to objects. Infrared radiation acts on a different principle, immediately heating objects that come under its influence. Thus, the entire power of the device is used more efficiently, while the air takes away heat from heated objects.

The principle of operation and features of the device

The device is based on infrared radiation. This is a type of radiation, which is electromagnetic emission due to the internal energy of an object at a certain temperature. Any heated body emits infrared rays, and the higher the temperature, the more energy it transfers. At the same time, energy is both absorbed and reflected.

An infrared heater is a device that heats bodies primarily by radiation, and not by convention. With infrared heating, the floor heats up more than the ceiling, thereby creating an optimal temperature balance. You can feel the warmth immediately after switching on, because the heater does not need to warm up the air. The amount of oxygen does not decrease, which means that the air does not dry out. A heated object conserves heat for a long time. Compared to other heating methods, the device saves up to 40 percent of electricity.

Quite often this type of heater is called a reflector. With its help it is very easy to carry out local heating. indoors, and not waste heat energy for unnecessary heating of the entire volume of the room.

Structurally, the device is a body, most often made of steel. In the middle of it there is a radiation energy emitter. A heat insulator is attached between the body and the heat radiation. A reflector made of foil is installed at the back and sides. Additionally, the devices are equipped with a thermostat that maintains the set temperature, and in the case of floor-standing versions, an overturn sensor.

The main types of infrared heaters

Infrared home heaters are presented on the product market in various types and characteristics.

Classification of devices

Heaters are distinguished by the following features:

1. By type of accommodation. Ceiling, wall, floor and film are available. The first two types of placement involve stationary use. They are attached using brackets or hooks, respectively, to the ceiling or wall. Since the structure is lightweight, there are no special requirements for fasteners. Floor-standing appliances have a special stand in their design, on which they are installed anywhere on the floor. A special type is film devices. The heating element here is a flexible resist cable that heats up the outer metal film.
2. By radiation power. Infrared home heaters are manufactured with power from 200 W to 2.5 kW, and designed for use in industrial areas - over 2 kW.
3. By the range of used waves. Waves ranging from 5.6 to 100 microns are called longwave. They have an operating temperature of about 600 degrees and are completely harmless to the human body. The range from 2.5 to 5.6 microns is called medium wave, the heating temperature can be 1 thousand. degrees. Such devices are used in rooms with high ceilings. Shortwave, using a wavelength of up to 2.5 microns, are considered harmful to the human body, are used for ceiling mounting at a height of 5-7 meters.
4. According to the type of heating element used, heaters are structurally divided into lamp, panel, and film heaters. Lamp tubes are made with a tubular heating element. They differ in shape, flask filling (vacuum or gas), spiral material. Usually, in addition to the lamp, the device has a reflector and a protective transparent screen. Panel heaters are produced in the form of flat panels of various sizes. The heater itself is made of quartz or carbonite.
5. By the way of power supply, the devices can be electric, gas and diesel.

Halogen lamps are low in cost, but heating light is visible during their operation. While quartz and carbon, although more expensive, but work in the invisible spectrum for the human eye.

Micathermic heater

Such a device is a new technological solution. on the IR heaters market. The radiation source in the device is the plate. This plate is made in several layers of mica, due to which the heat radiation spreads evenly, and heating occurs very quickly. Mandatory contains protection against overheating and overturning of the device.

The main advantages are cost-effectiveness, as energy consumption is almost 30 percent lower compared to other types of IR heaters. The case temperature does not exceed 50 degrees, complete noiselessness. Various body variations make such a product even more attractive. Greater mobility. The main manufacturer is Polaris. The disadvantage of such a heater is its price.

Criteria for choosing a heating device

Why do many people prefer infrared heaters? Because they have the following features:

• high efficiency;
• quickly heat up the room;
• easy to install;
• work without noise;
• do not create an unpleasant odor;
• they heat objects, you can create spot heating;
• are not afraid of changes in temperature and humidity.

In order for the heater to perform the functions assigned to it well and correctly, when choosing, it is necessary to take into account not only the appearance, but also its characteristics. Before buying a heater, you should decide on the following data:

• the required power of the device;
• place of installation;
• radiation range and type of heating element;
• power supply;
• additional functions.

Required power

When calculating the power, it is necessary to use the generally accepted recommendation: for an area of ​​10 m², 1 kW of heater power is required. It is important to note that if there are many glass objects in the heated room, then the required design power must be increased to 1.4 kW. If the device is planned to be used as a supplement to centralized heating, then the minimum power can be selected. So, for a living room with central heating, an IR heater with values ​​of 1.0–1.5 kW is sufficient (for a room with an area of ​​20 m³ with a ceiling height of up to three meters). If the height is higher, the calculated power increases to 1.3 kW per 10 m².

Design and installation site

An important parameter that you should pay attention to is the insulator used. A good option would be if it is made of basalt. The insulator itself is needed to protect the case from heating to high temperatures.

The reflector must be thick enough to maximize the power of the infrared heating. Acceptable thickness over 100 microns

There are no special requirements for the installation site. Considering that the device is lightweight, fixing it to a ceiling or wall will not cause difficulties. When choosing a place for placement, it is necessary to take into account that the heating of the device is strictly directed and therefore those objects that are located in the zone of the beam hitting will be heated. Some types of materials, primarily plastic, foam, can deteriorate under the influence of the IR emitter, and it is also unsafe to direct it at flammable objects.

The best location will be on the ceiling, but here you need to take into account the minimum allowable distance to objects. When placed on the floor the heater is mobile. If necessary, the device can be easily turned in the other direction and even rearranged to another place. At the same time, the wall mounting option will perfectly fit into the interior, but the heating area will be narrowed.

Device type and radiation range

Recently, infrared carbon heaters are increasingly being chosen. Their advantage is that heat almost instantly begins to flow immediately after turning on the device, they are able to warm a person and objects even at a distance of up to 3 meters. But the disadvantage of such devices is that it shines in the red spectrum, affecting vision, while its service life is about two years.

Using the tubular type, there will be no doubt about its reliability and safety, but you have to come to terms with the constant crackling, which is caused by design features.

The halogen type of heater uses a spiral in its work. It transfers heat to objects, but it is categorically not recommended to use this type of device on a residential building, since its radiation occurs at short wavelengths. Among the advantages of the device, one can single out a long service life, which is due to the design features, and low power consumption. One of the disadvantages of such a heating element is the long heating time of the surfaces and the same cooling time.

Despite new technologies, the device with a protective ceramic shell remains the leader in sales. Its plus is that it does not shine in the visible spectrum and is the most economical in terms of electricity consumption. Service life exceeds three years. But the minus of his work is the long heating and cooling of the surface of objects.

The radiation range can directly affect the health of living organisms exposed to radiation. According to the standards, it is assumed that a wavelength of 3 to 8 microns will not be able to penetrate beyond the surface. Therefore, the longer the wavelength, the safer such an emitter. Starting from a value of 1.5 microns and below, intense exposure can cause disturbances in the functioning of the body. For apartments, it is better to purchase heaters with a wavelength of more than 5.6 microns, with an operating temperature range of 100-600 degrees.

Power supply and additional functions

IR heaters can be electric, gas and diesel, but it is advisable to purchase an electric model for the home. With high efficiency, they are safe and durable.

The device can be equipped with mandatory and optional elements that make it more comfortable and safe to use. Of the obligatory ones, these are various sensors that allow you to set the temperature and avoid overheating. Additional ones are the presence of a liquid crystal screen, a remote control, etc.

Manufacturer model

There are models from both domestic, European and Asian manufacturers on the market. But you don't need to think that the more expensive the device is, the better it is. First of all, you need to pay attention to the availability of a certificate for the device and the warranty period declared by the manufacturer. The main manufacturers are:

1. UFO. One of the advantages is versatility. They can be used both outdoors and indoors.
2. Sinbo. Mostly used for closed objects. They are lightweight and compact.
3. Pion. Known for her pioneering approach to rounded casing, this allows infrared heating to be carried out with maximum efficiency.
4. Ecoline. Their models are characterized by high efficiency, and the service life can reach thirty years. Devices from this company can be easily carried and installed in different places.
5. POLARIS Chinese manufacturer produces floor and wall heaters. The models differ in design and many additional functions.

Of course, appearance will also be important when buying. After all, a properly selected infrared heater will give living rooms not only warmth, but also coziness and comfort.