A detailed guide for those who want to make their apartment, cottage, or even backyard even cozier.
Popular types of heaters
Each type of heater has its advantages and disadvantages. After getting acquainted with them, you will understand which device is best suited for your needs. The main thing is not to save money and choose High end.
Oil Heaters
Inside the heaters of this type is mineral oil, which is heated by an electric coil and gives heat to the body. Such a device consists of equal sections and looks like a classic apartment battery. Of two oil heaters of equal power, the one with fewer sections is heated stronger. Therefore, it is more practical to take a model with more sections to reduce the chance of accidental burns.
Pros. Oil heaters work without noise, long retain heat after turning off, and are considered environmentally friendly.
Cons. Because of the strong heating of the case, these devices can be dangerous for pets and small children. In addition, oil heaters are slow to warm up the room.
Convectors
Convector looks like a battery without sections. Heaters of this type let the cold air in through the bottom holes in the body and heat it. As a result, it becomes lighter and exits by itself through the top of the device. Thus there is a natural circulation of air.
Pros. Convectors are silent. They are not strongly heated, so they are safe for animals and children. These devices are often used as the main source of heating for dacha: they can easily be combined into a single heating network.
Cons. Heating is slow, and the efficiency of the convector strongly depends on its location: the lower, the better.
Heat Fans
These heaters distribute warm air with the rotation of blades. Their bodies are often equipped with an automatic rotating mechanism, which provides uniform heating of the surrounding area.
Pros. Fan heaters are leaders in the speed of heating rooms. They consume relatively little energy, and thanks to the variety of available sizes and shapes can easily fit into any interior.
Cons. The main disadvantage of heaters is the noise. And if dust gets on the heating coil, then an unpleasant smell of burning is added to it.
Infrared heaters
Devices of this type use harmless infrared radiation. Therefore, they, like the sun, do not heat the air but rather objects falling under the rays: furniture, walls, floor, and people. Some infrared heaters do not need electricity and run on gas.
Pros. Such devices do not make noise and are suitable for heating not only rooms but also gazebos, suburban yards, and other outdoor areas. In addition, infrared heaters are the most economical. Especially gas models, which do not work from a cylinder, but from the mains of natural gas.
Cons. These devices are not suitable for heating large rooms with many rooms. The areas where the infrared rays do not reach remain cold.
Electric fireplaces
An electric fireplace is a separate or a unit built into the furniture, which repeats the design of a traditional fireplace. Through special lighting or other technology, this device creates a convincing imitation of the flame.
Pros. An electric fireplace is first of all a stylish element of decor. You get the very comfort for which everyone loves fireplaces, but at the same time save yourself the hassle of wood, smoke, and coal.
Cons. Such devices heat badly. Therefore, you should not rely on them in cold weather.
Heat curtains
This type of heater stands apart. They don’t keep the temperature of the room warmed up, they just keep it cool. Mounted above doors and windows, they create downward air currents. These invisible barriers prevent heat exchange between the room and the outside. When choosing heat curtains, pay special attention to their dimensions. The width of the devices should not be inferior to the width of the door or window openings. Otherwise, the area of the air barrier may be too small.
Pros. Heat curtains keep the temperature of the room at any time of the year and even prevent insects from getting inside.
Cons. These devices hardly warm the room, only keep the current temperature.
Heating area
Before you buy, make sure that the power of the heater is enough for the size of your room. To do this, look at the store or manufacturer’s website for the heating area that the unit provides.
Types of Controls
Heaters with mechanical controls usually only allow you to select power and temperature levels. Models with electronic controls are more expensive, but often offer more settings and different modes of operation.
Dimensions and fixtures
For the heater to be convenient and best suited to the conditions of the room, pay attention to the dimensions and available mounting methods.
