Are Room Heaters Really Worth Buying?
Room heaters come in handy during the winter season. To get one, there are certain features to look out for. In this guide, you shall find the features of in-room heaters that would aid you to acquire the room heaters. We have made it easy to understand, so you can read and get a grasp of what we are talking about.
What is a Room Heater?
Room heaters are used to heat a small space and are normally portable or fitted to a wall. Most room heaters use gas or electricity.
Room heaters are convenient appliances that provide focused and localized heat which is particularly suitable in a room for people that are elderly, ill, or with limited mobility. But they can be expensive.
Importantly, you should note that Room heaters consume a lot of gas or electricity, and if used over a long period of time are likely to cost a lot more than a central heating system.
Ideally, room heaters should only be used as a secondary or supplementary source of heat. Even then, you should use the right heater for the space you want to heat, and carefully control the temperature and the time you have the heater on. Heaters that have these controls are often cheaper to run.
Types of room heaters available based on the method of heating
When it comes to heating methods, there are primarily 3 types of room heaters available. Almost every room heater works on either of these heating principles. Here they are: –
Convection heaters
They work on the principle of heating the room through convection technology where a coil or a panel is used for heating. A fan/ blower is blown toward the heat panel which spreads warm air throughout the entire room.
Conduction heaters
These room heaters spread heat through a metallic coil which glows upon being heated electrically. First, the nearby areas are heated which eventually spread the heat to other areas of the room.
Radiant heaters
These are the heaters that work on the basis of infrared radiation. These rays of heat are known to directly heat the surfaces on which they fall, thereby generating the warmth that is required in the room.
General safety precautions for room heaters
- Do not place them near the door or in the walking passage to avoid accidents.
- Place them away from inflammable substances.
- Do not keep them near children or pets.
- Avoid using room heaters for drying clothes.
- Keep your room heater away from water.
Types Of Room Heaters
Room heaters are also known as space heaters. There are a number of room heaters available in the market. All of these have varied shapes, sizes, cozy, and many other features. Room heaters can be classified into three major categories based on their heating technology and method.
Here are the major types of heaters:
- Infrared heaters
- Fan heaters
- Halogen heaters
- Oil-filled room heaters
Infrared Heaters
An infrared room heater is probably the most economical heater that works like a campfire and gives out heat to its vicinity areas only. So it is ideal for small spaces and single people. This heater has no fans, thus it is not at all loud. Besides, it heats up quickly and uses less energy. The only drawback of such a heater is that it is not enough for large rooms or more people and is not child safe. These are also known as Halogen, Quartz, and Infrared based room heaters.
Fan Heaters
An ideal pick to heat up a little large space in a short time, the fan heaters are also quite pocket friendly. The ceramic coil heats the hot air around such heaters and thus the convection heater quickly creates heat and is safe to touch. This heater includes a fan
that will blow out the hot air and thus it will keep your living space hot. A fan heater consumes less energy and is also known as a ceramic heater, convection heater, or blower room heater.
Halogen heaters:
Also known as a Radiant room heater, this works like a campfire and provides warmth to its close proximity. It is helpful to provide heat to small spaces. Radiant heaters use quartz, halogen, or metal elements combined with a reflector to direct heat at an object. These kinds of heaters are not child-safe as their surface heats up fast.
Oil Filled Room Heaters
Oil-filled radiators are one of the best heaters anyone can opt for but take a long time to be heated. This is because they provide heat for a long time even after the heater is turned off. Oil-filled room heaters consume less electricity and are not at all loud. As oil is used as a heat reservoir, even if you switch off the heater still room will be hot.
Oil-filled room heaters neither burn oxygen nor reduce humidity making the best choice for newborn babies. In this regard, they are healthy options as they won’t cause any suffocation or dry eyes, or skin rashes. Contrary to the misconception there is no burning of oil is required in oil-based room heaters. The power is consumed to heat the oil, then the heat is passed to metal walls through convection.
Features and variables to look out for:
Timers:
Allow you to set the heater turn on and turn off times. This helps you save energy and also is very convenient.
Noise levels:
Silence is gold and it will be very nice to have a noise-free room heater. Noise basically depends on the kind of technology we are using to generate the heat. By definition radiance method of heat, generation does not make noise at all. So Radiant and Oil filled room heaters are noise-free room heaters. Ceramic heaters make little noise due to the fan. If the room heater makes a loud noise, read more about how to reduce the noise of the room heater.
Humidity and Oxygen levels:
Radiance and Oil filled room heaters burn oxygen to make the room warm. In fan heaters, the air is pushed on the hot coil and makes and comes out as hot air. Somewhat similar case with infrared heaters too. In short, fan heaters and infrared heaters reduces oxygen levels and humidity. Less humidity leads to dry eyes and nasal blockage.
To overcome this keeps a bucket of water in the corner of the room. If the problem still continues you can get a humidifier. Apart from that, the best option is to buy an oil-based room heater. In Oil heaters, only oil is heated and through radiance hot oil temperature is conducted in the air, hence there is no burning of oxygen and humidity. This is a critical factor if you are purchasing a room heater for a newborn baby.
Room Heater for Asthma:
This is one of the most commonly asked questions to Select, the short answer is all electrical room heaters are fine. In other countries gas-based room heaters are available and fumes that come out of gas room heaters are not good for asthma patients. But all the above-mentioned room heaters (fan, radiance, oil) are electrical and safe to use. But as a general rule of thumb for Asthma patients if you face any problem with any appliance immediately stay away from it.
Aesthetic of room heater:
A room heater is an additional piece of furniture in your room. So it should match the style of the room interior and also with the other furniture. Many fashionable room heaters are available, so one should search a little and find out the heater which would enhance the beauty of the room. Apart from that make sure you have a sufficient place where you can keep the room heater like on the table or chair.
Portability:
Providing mobility wheels or handles makes transporting your room heater a breeze. Portable room heaters are appropriate for use at different places very easily.
Automatic oscillation:
It helps to evenly distribute the heat in the room. This feature is most common in fan heaters where oscillation spreads hot air across the room. Multiple Heat Setting: It gives you more control to heat different-sized spaces. Multiple heating settings also add to the functionality as the heater can be used in variables.
Safety Features:
The most important thing to consider before purchasing a room heater is safety. Choose heaters equipped with safety devices such as protective grills that cover the heating coils, a tip-over protection switch that will automatically shut off if it is tipped over for any reason, and a cool-touch that can prevent accidental burns on the exterior.
Right Place:
To prevent future accidents, picking up the right place for our space heater is one of the main vitals while purchasing one. One of the most important things to look for is the size of the space the appliance will cover. It is advisable to place the heaters at least 2 feet away from furniture, bedding, clothing, rugs, etc. While positioning, place the heater on a hard-level surface. Moreover, if you are wet or have wet hands, it is suggested not to touch the heaters, as this increases the risk of electric shocks.
conclusion
In conclusion, it is necessary to have room heaters in your home when you are experiencing a winter season. Luckily, there are different types, it is best you pick the one that would suit your needs more. Read through the buyer’s guide to select the right option.
