Infrared or convection heater? Who wins in benefits?

Infrared or convection heater? Who wins in benefits?

Which one is better? Let's analyze how these heaters are designed and determine the fundamental differences and obvious advantages. Let's go!

Convection heater. ​Transfers heat through air movement. The convector consists of a housing and a heating element. Cold air enters the housing and is heated inside the device using a heating element. Next, the heated air exits through special blinds and rises to the top. As it cools down, it lowers again and passes through the heater. This ensures heat circulation throughout the room.

Infrared heater. Inside this heater are special emitters (plates or spirals) to which the electric current is closed. As a result, heat is released, which is completely reflected from the rear screen of the heater and goes into the heating panel itself. The panel's surface heats up to a certain temperature and begins to emit electromagnetic waves carrying thermal energy. Such heat rays travel straight and are not absorbed by the air.

Unlike a convection heater, an infrared heater does not heat the air, but the objects surrounding it (walls, furniture, people). When infrared rays hit a surface, they are absorbed and become heat. Surrounding objects also begin to radiate heat.

So, what do we have when comparing these two types of heaters:

Heating time.

Infrared heater: heats the room instantly, immediately when turned on and irradiated. Heat accumulates in objects and is released to them V flow sometimes

A convection heater produces heat just as quickly. Especially if there is a fan that accelerates the flow of warm air. As you know, heat goes up, and cold air remains below. And when the heater is turned off, the room cools down faster.

Room and heating zone.

Infrared heaters. The heat from the infrared heater is distributed evenly throughout the entire radiation zone. Therefore, it does not depend on air flows and ceiling heights. Such heaters are suitable even for rooms with large heat losses (where the street door is often opened, ventilated, heavily glazed rooms, verandas, and retail premises). That is, in places where zone heating is needed. The power, installation location, and number of heaters are selected individually for each room, depending on the height of the ceilings, thermal insulation, and points where heat is needed.

Convection heaters. They heat mainly “at head level”. Not suitable for ventilated rooms and rooms with high ceilings.

Safety.

Infrared heaters are considered less hazardous to health since they do not heat the air in the room and do not burn dust. Such heaters are especially good for use in children's rooms, as they do not dry out the air.

Convection heaters are not recommended for people with allergies because air currents circulate in a closed room, and with them dust, hair, and odors.

Energy consumption.

Infrared heaters are considered more economical. Infrared rays are directed to specific objects, which means they are more economical in current consumption. Let us also recall that such heaters heat objects, releasing heat for a long time after being turned off.

Convection heaters primarily heat the air from above, while infrared heaters have a larger heating area (front and back) to quickly warm up the area around you.

The conclusions suggest themselves:

  • An infrared heater is more economical and safe. It is also convenient because it instantly generates heat and can be used for heating even outdoors, on a terrace, or in a cafe. After all, infrared rays are aimed at certain objects.
  • A convection heater distributes heat throughout the space on a larger scale, heating the entire room at once. The simplest models of such heaters have a low price.
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