Which type of heater is cheapest to run? Learning all about the most efficient heaters in the market may help you cut down on your energy bills during the winter months.
Here are the cheapest types of heater along with their relative advantages and disadvantages.
Infrared Heaters
Infrared heaters radiate heat, using environmentally friendly methods. The heat from infrared heaters can match that of the sun that you enjoy during summer months. However, infrared rays have a major advantage over sunlight since they are invisible. Infrared technology works differently from conduction and convection heat transfer methods.
An infrared heater emits infrared rays which are absorbed by your clothes and skin to keep you warm. Unlike conduction and convection, it does not first heat the surrounding air. Being a more direct mode of heat transfer, it is thus more efficient. With an infrared heater, more heat can reach solid objects (including yourself) instead of just the surrounding air.
Thus, infrared heaters help you cut down on energy bills by warning you up rather than the air surrounding you. Since air absorbs less heat, heat losses through draughty windows, bad insulation and chimneys are minimized.
Here are other advantages that infrared heaters have to offer:
- They are smaller than most heaters.
- Infrared heaters are economical since you have to direct 50 to 100 watts of energy for every square meter.
- Infrared heaters may give you the benefits of infrared rays – plenty of scientific studies now attest to the benefits of infrared rays on the human body.
- Infrared heaters equipped with thermostats can start up instantly.
- Since it does not use any fans, there is no circulation of dust.
- Infrared heaters are environmentally friendly and come in several elegant designs.
Perhaps the only major disadvantage of infrared heaters is that they do not heat up the surrounding air. While avoiding surrounding air from heating up can save you energy, it means that the entire room will not heat up while the appliance is running. Infrared heaters work by heating you directly. Your room may see no major change in temperature.
Radiant Heaters
Radiant heaters are also referred to as convection panel heaters. They work on the basis of convection and have quick startup for faster heating. Radiant heaters are equipped with reflectors and glowing elements for delivering heat uniformly throughout the heated space.
Depending on your preferences, you can buy wall-mounted and portable configurations. Radiant heaters are simple to use besides being economical.
Radiant heaters are efficient and heavy duty in nature because they can run for long stretches without the need for a shutdown.
Advantages of using radiant heaters:
- They can heat up the room quickly.
- Safety features like trip-over protection and overheating protection
- Efficient and economical in their operation.
The biggest disadvantage is that they emit some light due to which you may need a sleep mask.
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