Heaters Revealed

Most of the heaters work on the basic principles of heating through conduction, convection or radiation or a combination of any of these. These systems primarily heat the medium thru which they pass, which in most of the cases is air present around. But, infrared heaters work differently in the sense that they heat the objects straight away, without heating the medium.

You may understand it as a kind of light that can’t be seen but it generates heat that can be felt. Its wavelengths are longer than that of light but shorter than radio waves. The primary construction of an infrared heater comprises of a tungsten wire element enclosed in a clear tube of quartz crystal. When we pass an electric current thru the tungsten wire, it gets heated up, but the quartz crystal entraps this heat inside the tube. That further raises the temperature of the wire and it starts emitting heat in the form of infrared rays.

It is very interesting to learn that all the objects, human beings included, are constantly emitting infra red rays, though of insignificant value, but the quantum of light emitted by quartz is much larger. On coming in contact with some object on the way, it transfers a part of its energy to that object, which gets heated in the process. Yes, you are right in concluding that if there is no hindrance in the form of an object on its way, this light simply passes thru the air. Infrared heaters are often provided with a mirrored coating at the back that allows them to remain focused in a particular direction.

Why you need Infrared Quartz Heater?

Infrared quartz heaters keep you comfortably warm during extreme winters and rainy days of autumn. These can be used in any area, including outdoor patios, where the temperature is below the comfort level.

Quite often I’m questioned which of the two heaters, the Comfort Zone, or the EdenPure is better. Well, both have continued to be in the market and shall remain there as neither can really outdo the other in all aspects. Yet, both have a few differences that need considered when buying one.

The Comfort Zone Infrared Heater delivers better results than the EdenPure as far as heat diffusion and operating lifetime is concerned. This is provided with a new stainless steel diffuser that is 14% more efficient than the competitive makes. The unique infrared heating technology employed by these heaters gives them longer life and the manufacturers claim these to have a life span of 20,000 hours. The EdenPure, on the other hand, uses infrared bulbs that are rated for 5000 hours of working life.

A common feature of both, the comfort zone and the EdenPure is the use of similar type of heat exchanger. Both make use of solid copper heat exchanger to enhance the absorption of infrared heat. Heat exchanger forms an essential part of any infrared heater as it transforms the infrared waves to a bandwidth of 9-10 microns, an optimum level for maximum absorption of heat. The process is called copper ionization.

The quality of heat delivered by The Comfort Zone is healthier, because it does not burn oxygen available in the atmosphere of the room. Therefore, the humidity of air around you is maintained and you won’t experience that dryness, which often accompanies the use of any heater. The Comfort Zone provides comfortable warmth that remains consistent from floor to ceiling.

Both the makes are provided with remote and thermostat, and a fan for dispersal of heat. The design of Comfort Zone Infrared Heaters incorporates a Dual DC fan, the operation of which is very quiet, a feature often found lacking in other makes but very desirable for any domestic device.

On comparing the prices one finds that the Comfort Zone is more expensive, with the most expensive models priced for $400 to $500. However, top of the line models from EdenPure cost 300-400 dollars. The lower end models of both the companies sell for 300-350 dollars.

To sum it all, both the makes are good for domestic applications. However, one should weigh the options and make a calculated decision. Though The Comfort Zone sells at a higher price, it offers better functionality. But, ultimately quality takes priority while deciding for a durable domestic appliance as it takes away the pains of maintenance and repairs.

I’m quite happy in having an online account with Consumer Reports and always review the same before buying any appliance for domestic use. Consumer Reports guided all the purchase of my dryer, space heater, washer and lawn mover and I have no regrets, whatsoever. Yet, at times while sticking to the objective measures, they tend to go wrong when problems arise outside the objective measures. Personally, I feel that somewhere their judgment of the Honeywell HZ-519 electric convection space heater was not so prudent when they compared it with the DeLonghi HHP 1500, which did not earn a very high rating.

Problem 1: Physical Dimensions

You’ll observe that the HZ-519 is a long and thin device. Such objects are delicate; requiring odd shaped shipping boxes. Just like me, another Amazon reviewer too realized that such items get bent in the middle while in transit and you are delivered a piece that has ugly bends in the metal. In my case the Amazon merchant compensated me to the tune of $24, rather than taking it back. Further, its cord is mounted on the right side, and if your plug-in happens to be on the left side, you may find the cord length just short of the point? On the other hand the solid HHP 1500 is square-shaped and comes in a standard sized box with a cord long enough to be fitted into a left or a right-sided plug-in point.

Problem 2: Temperature Control

Consumer reports award high marks to HZ-519 due provision of a digital temperature control and a timer. These are nice functions for a single use: set the desired temperature to be maintained and the time for heating, all thru pressing of a couple of buttons. But, the HHP 1500 has no arrangements or adjustment of temperature. You just turn it on and it takes its time to heat the room and tries to maintain it at the same temperature, but you can’t know the temperature. You may have to try a couple of settings over the first few nights to discover the most comfortable temperature for you. And, once you have realized that temperature, you are thru with it for long. While using the DeLonghi, you flick the top knob on; with the Honeywell you need to press the power button, press the “Temp/Timer” and select a temperature, hit a few more arrow keys for automatic turning off the unit, meaning more button presses for every operation. It doesn’t record the last setting; there is no memory unit. Well, there is a timer. It’s nice to have it as long as you don’t intend setting the temperature in a dark room in the middle of the night. (There are revised versions of this heater that come with a display backlight and a remote control that facilitates the operation)

Problem 3: Being Nice to Your Fuses

The HHP 1500 comes with two power settings, one drawing about 7 Amps, while the other consumes about 13 Amps, which may go up to 15Amps when there are spikes during voltage fluctuations and that causes a warning beep on Kill-a-Watt. The HZ-519 has only one mode that draws about 11 Amps. Normally a household circuit is rated for 15 Amps. So, two rooms drawing power from the same circuit may have one each of HHP 1500 and be operated at 7Amps rating. It will take slightly longer for the rooms to get heated, being operated at 7Amps. But, imagine having two HZ-519s in the same two rooms, and pop goes the circuit breaker!

Problem 4: Noise

As a consequence of the shipping episode, my HZ-519 arrived with twisted metal but it remains rather noisy during its operation, whereas the HHP 1500 is with zero noise.

Problem 5: Flexibility of Placement

The HZ-519 can only be fixed on the wall, whereas HHP-1500 can be fixed on the wall or dragged to the middle of a room

Energy Usage

That’s not a big issue in this case. The per night expense of running the HZ-519 in one bedroom comes to about one dollar, its consumption being about 6Kwh. But, that keeps the room temperature at comfortable level, compared to the rest of the house that remains chilly, though the HHP 1500 too consumes the same amount of power. Personally I would be pleased with nice warm blankets but it is good to have it for keeping kids warm, as they would kick out the covers.

Safety

Of course, the HZ-519 has additional safety features including an automatic switch off in case it gets knocked over, but you have to decide your priorities.

In Conclusion

Incase you are considering to have new electric convection space heater for the coming season, go ahead with DeLonghi. I insist on “coming season” so that you buy it during summer at discounted price before cold weather sets in when the prices are revised upwards. Late November, I paid just $80 for a DeLonghi and now in mid-January they are asking for $160 for the same heater.

In case you are looking for portable small heater, you can ill afford to overlook The Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater. Very conveniently it sits on your table or could be adjusted in a corner of the room. It offers the versatility of being used as a small heater for the bathroom or even for heating a large living room.

The Lasko 754200 is provided with three settings: low setting of 900 watts, a high setting with 1500 watts and of course just the fan setting to circulate air without any heat. It comes with a thermostat enabling adjustments of temperature to suit personal comfort levels. And, above all, it is safe or use even if you have children and pets at home, because it is designed to include an overheat protection mechanism.

Some of the other facilities provided in this space heater include a quite operation and easy cleaning. Just use the brush attachment of your vacuum on its grills to get rid of the dirt that gets built up in the heater. Likewise, use a clean cloth to wipe off the external ceramic part of the heater. The manufacturers offer a three-year warranty period for this UL-listed ceramic heater that is quite compact in size. Here are the main features of the Lasko Ceramic Space Heater.

- It comes with a thermostat, enabling adjustments of temperatures to suit personal comfort-level

- Three settings are provided; high setting at 1500 watts, low setting of 900 watts and just a fan operation for circulation of air without any heating

- It has manual controls

- The ceramic element is self-regulating

- It offers a near noiseless operation

- Provision of an overheat protection system makes it use so safe

- It can conveniently be shifted because of the handle provided

- It measures just 7-2/5 x 6-3/5 x 10 inches

- It is covered by a three-year warranty

It’s quite often that one is naturally dissuaded from having a warm shower on a cold wintry morning just because the bathroom happens to be too cold for an enjoyable bath. You’ll find the installation of bathroom heaters quite motivating under the said circumstances. Apart from providing the warmth while you bathe, such heaters are helpful in keeping bath linen like towels and washcloths from getting mildew. Moreover, they cause evaporation of moisture and humidity that you can’t avoid otherwise in any bathroom. That helps to keep a check on bacteria and mold spores in the bathroom.

Whatever be the size and type of your bathroom you are sure to find a bathroom heater to suit your specific needs. There are many designs and types available and that includes: Ceiling heaters, panel heaters, overhead radiant heaters, under-tile heaters and radiant strip heaters.

Of all the types noted above, overhead radiant heaters continue to be more popular with most of the homeowners. The reasons are not far to seek. Their operation is economical and they can be used in association with other heaters. Typically, such a heater includes an extractor fan, lighting and the heating element that generates heat instantly. The other features that make them such a favorite are: Being out of reach of the children they are safe and can be so fitted at an appropriate height to avoid fogging of mirrors. You get them in two models, one with two globes for low heat and the four globe model for higher levels of temperature.

Infra-red heaters used in the bathrooms are also known as radiant strip heaters and employ the same principle of working as portable radiators do. As these are wall mounted, it’s safe for children and pets. They effectively provide safe heating of the bathroom and offer the advantage of eliminating cold drafts from there. They can also be used in conjunction with under-tile heaters.

As gets apparent from the name, under-tile heaters are used for heating the tiles and floor of a bathroom and not the complete bathroom, and thus necessitate the need of additional heater for heating the rest of the bathroom. These comprise of thin heating elements that are attached to a self-adhesive heat resistant mat. They can be installed on any type of a bathroom floor and are provided with a thermostat control for adjustments of temperature.

In-slab heaters are ideal for having warmth around the clock all the year round. Such a heater is built-in the slab whereas heating cables are tied to the reinforcing mesh located at the top of the cement before the slab is poured. Obviously you can have such an arrangement only when making a new floor or while completely renovating the floor.

Some of the helpful features that panel heaters offer are their versatility, economical operation and aesthetic looks. These are highly efficient and functional. A very distinct feature of these heaters that makes them an ideal choice for asthmatics is that they do not blow dust around. They can also be used for bedrooms.

Ceiling heaters were originally designed for cold Arctic winters but are now used at places that have severe cold climates. They are provided with thermostats and timers for control. These are filaments which are fixed over the ceiling plaster and the heat so generated is radiated down the room.

There are many options for getting your bathroom heated for those chilling winter mornings and enjoy your bath in the warmth of your bathroom. Going online to research the most viable heating arrangement for your bathroom, will be time well spent.

For quite a long time one of my friends had been appreciative of the Comfort Zone Infrared Heater and one day I decided to check for myself what’s so great about this heater. We have had a long discussion of the product and I sum of the features that really impressed me.

This friend of mine has had reasons to be happy about his possession. At the outset, it lowers your energy bills while effectively heating the surroundings. For a given area the Comfort Zone Infrared Heater uses less power than the conventional heaters. It’s not only the conventional heaters that lag far behind this heater; even the other models of similar capacity with the same technology consume about 14% more power than the Comfort Zone. This make has a rated capacity of 20.000 working hours of operation.

A very healthy feature of infra red heaters is that the temperature is evenly controlled to avoid burning of oxygen and water content present in the surrounding air. As a result, there is no loss of water content in the air around the room and humidity levels are maintained. That surely saves the users from developing a dry skin and avoids irritation in the eyes that one experiences at times on leaving a heater on for a long time. As there is no burning of any kind you breathe a better quality of air. As a matter of fact it imparts the feeling of being in a warm blanket.

The Comfort Zone, like any other infra red heating device employs a different principle of heat transfer that results to having an effective and efficient heating. It doesn’t allow the temperature to rise to the point of causing fire. So, you are able to sleep comfortably with this device on, without the fear of any fire being caused.

The Infrared Heater has many built-in features that include a fully electronic thermostat, a delayed start function and an entirely functional remote control. This combination of thermostat and remote is so well matched that you can control the room temperature even by one single degree, precisely to the level you feel most comfortable with.

Though my friend has not faced any problems with the functioning of the Comfort Zone, he feels comfortable at the back of his mind as the manufacturer has an outstanding Nationwide Service Plan.

It leaves little doubt in mind that the Comfort Zone, with its economics of effective operation and healthier breathing surroundings, coupled with zero maintenance, makes it an ideal choice for any homeowner.

A very convenient and practical alternative to portable patio heater is a ceiling patio heater. One these have been fixed, there is no problem of storage when the season is over, nor is there any maintenance required. You are saving your floor area! Just the flick of a button provides the needed warmth for the comfort of your family and the guests.

One can use gas or electricity for ceiling heaters. Should you already be using natural gas for heating your house, it’ll be a natural choice to use the same for your ceiling heaters of your patio. Else, you could certainly use electric ceiling heaters. You also get them for being used with propane, if you so prefer.

A very efficient way of heating is thru radiation as it heats the objects or the people without heating the air in between. Certain models of ceiling heaters for patios follow this technique. They offer improved efficiency and thus can be used to get the desired results even on windy days.

Different models of ceiling heaters are available for heating your patio. Some are designed to hang from the ceiling. These are provided with suitably designed reflectors to reflect and conserve heat as in the case of portable patio heaters. Natural gas or propane is the most commonly used fuel in such heaters.

Electric ceiling heaters being mounted on the ceiling directly help save floor area. These can safely be used indoors. You may enclose a part of your patio during winters and heat it with an electric heater.

Despite their capacity of heating rather large spaces, the operation of electric ceiling heaters is quite economical. There operation is efficient and they offer a good alternative to gas heating that may not be possible under certain circumstances. Making use of a regulator you may adjust the heat output.

An added advantage of electric heaters is that their operation is almost silent, whereas gas heaters are known to produce a hissing sound while under operation. Usually gas heating system has to be accompanied with a vent to avoid building up of unhealthy environments within the enclosure. Should there be plenty of ventilation one can avoid having a vent but using a gas heating system in an enclosed or even semi-enclosed are necessitates the incorporation a vent in the system.

The ever increasing bills of electricity and oil prompted me to explore the possibilities of using some energy-saving devices to have a control on the amount of bills for energy, and it zeroed down to an infrared heater. I got impressed by the efficiency of such heaters that provide steady distribution of heat that helps save energy costs.

I decided for EdenPure infrared heater because of the reputation that they enjoy and a wide range on offer. I am happy to add here that I have no regrets of my decision.

The EdenPure characteristically offers an even distribution of heat. This is helpful in effectively heating the total surroundings of any room. I keep it in the middle of my living room and in no time the whole room gets warmed up when set to “high heat” setting. The equipment offers comfortable heating for the simple reason that the patented heating element of EdenPure burns no oxygen present in the atmosphere. The resultant feeling is like the warmth of a blanket.

A very useful feature of EdenPure is that it allows you to have a concentration of heat in a particular area. For instance, you could adjust it to lower heat setting and adjust it to point towards a particular chair, when alone in the room. That saves a lot of energy and thus lowers the bill. As the unit is provided with a trolley, it can conveniently be moved to any part of the room to get the desired effect.

The most important technical feature of EdenPure is the safety of operation that it offers.
This is very important, especially when you have children and pets at home. Though I continued using electric heaters with heating coils for long, I always had an uncomfortable feeling of having a fire at the back of my mind. But that’s not so anymore since EdenPure arrived on the scene. It’s just warm to human touch, even while operating on full power. My wife, who takes care of the children at home, remains very relieved as there is no fear of a child getting burns on accidentally getting in touch with this heater. Of course, your pets would get drawn towards it because of the warmth, but remain safe even if their body gets in direct contact with it.

Before I wrap it up, let me admit that it has been a great experience to have EdenPure at home. It evenly heats the place and really helps to cut down on energy bills, true to its ads. It’s a worthwhile investment as it ultimately pays for itself by cutting down your expense on electricity. If you have been considering of having an efficient cost saving heating equipment for your home, you wouldn’t get a better option than an EdenPure.

The Dayton G73 Electric Shop Heater offers a ready solution to heat garages, shops or other such large areas that may need additional heat. The temperature of such area are lower because they have lower levels of insulation and have a more direct exposure to atmospheric conditions.

This electric heater takes care of the problem by offering an efficient means of heating without creating any serious risks. It has a lot of inviting features too. Installation of one such piece has indeed increased the level of work efficiency in my garage that had always been so cold prior to its installation. An increased level of comfort helps you to get more output.

Here are some of the technical specifications. It offers a temperature range of 40 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. That ensures warmth on the coldest of days. Its rating is 17,000 BTU, capable of heating areas up to 500 sq ft. Because of the dual air flow system heating is very quick and efficient. Dual means that it has a vertical and a horizontal air flow as well. It is provided with bracings fir being mounted on the ceiling.

Safety and energy efficiency are two vital factors that can’t be ignored and Dayton has both. There is a thermostat to regulate the temperature. It is designed to cut off supply as soon as the desired temperature is reached, thus preventing overheating and saving electricity. As there is no internal flame like in a propane heater, it is not as fire hazardous. It works on electricity alone and there are no expenses for fuel to be accounted for.

In case you desire to have an efficient and a safe heating system that will heat on the coldest of days, you should not be ignoring the Dayton G73 that works on electricity.

Cold winter days tell us that it’s the right time to get some warmth in our home. We want to take care not only for ourselves, we want a warm, cozy atmosphere for our children, grandparents and all others who spend a lot of time at home. And baseboard heaters are one solution that will heat up your home and make all your rooms comfortable. There are many heating devices available, and baseboard heater is among popular solutions.

I will explain how these units work actually. The basic principle is: the baseboard is heated with the help of electricity. Than these electric heaters are passing hot air outside in the room, cold air comes to them again and the circulation repeats. Since hot air always goes upwards, cold air will come down again to be heated. Convection heaters work on this principle and this is used for wide range of heating. But the best places for them is to be installed somewhere where the circulation of the air is natural. The better air flow near them, your room will be warmer soon.

One of the advantages of these units is that they do not make any sound while they are working. Since they are noiseless, people usually place them in bedrooms.

I want to talk about 4 different types you can have in your home. Baseboard heaters can appear as:

1. Portable electric baseboard heaters are sleek and maneuverable so you can place them anywhere you want at any time you want. Most of them can fit alongside the wall with ease and will not make any trouble at all. They do provide effective heating, and that is what we want them to do in the first place.

2. Resident convection heaters can be found in sizes from 24″ to 84″ wide.

3. Hydronic convection baseboard heaters have immersion element that is in an anti freeze solution. This makes them more effective but also pricier. If you have a budget, go for them.

4. Commercial convection baseboard heaters are heavy duty devices that come in bigger sizes and are able to heat really large areas. If you have big rooms or your home is requiring a lot of power to be heated, these may be th right solution for you.

You can check your local stores to find these with aluminum elements or with stainless steel heating elements. Aluminum will be heated faster but it also will cool faster, while stainless steel has opposite quality. Of course, both will provide you with effective heating. Almost all the energy will be converted into heat, which is very important.

When it comes ti installation, I have some tips and tricks you should know. First thing is, you should not have any curtains or furniture near these heating devices. And the air flow should not be blocked at all. What I want to say is that there should be no obstacle or element near your heater.

The coil is there to provide heat, but you should take care of it. Clean it regularly because the dust may reduce heat production and this will definitely reduce the life of the baseboard unit in question.

Of course, blankets, curtains and everything that is combustible should be kept away from the heater.

Another thing I want to say at the end is that you should not seek for cheap units, because they will not have the same abilities and qualities. They can be noisy and less reliable. You should find a UL approved baseboard heater in a local store you visit. And of course, looking at the warranty will only help you get a more durable heating unit.