How to choose a household heater?

You can choose and buy a fan heater yourself in the corresponding catalog. And below we will tell you what is important to pay attention to when choosing a device.

There are three main methods of heat transfer in nature: thermal conductivity, convection and thermal radiation. Most modern heating devices are convection — based on the principle of heat transfer by means of air flows. A striking example of this is a modern fan heater.

The device consists of a heating element and a fan, which create a directed flow of warm air during operation. It can serve as an excellent solution if you need to quickly and efficiently heat a relatively small room. Unlike an oil radiator, a fan heater can raise the temperature in a room in a matter of minutes just thanks to the forced circulation of warm air.

De'Longhi DCH 7093 ER: Ceramic heating element, 3 modes for power adjustment, rotary system

Usually, all household heat fans are designed to be connected to the electrical network. There are also large and powerful industrial models on the market that can use gas to generate heat, but their review is beyond the scope of this article.

In terms of economy, fan heaters are inferior to almost any other type of heaters. First of all, because the newly heated room cools down quickly after the device is turned off. The noise of a running fan is constantly heard, and the heating element dries the air and burns oxygen in the room, which can cause residents some inconvenience.

But at the same time , it is worth considering the indisputable advantages:

• rapid heating of the room;
• the ability to automatically maintain the required temperature;
• ease of use;
• possibility of use as a regular fan;
• low cost.

How to choose a household fan heater

A compact floor model can serve as a good solution both for the apartment and for the office. In the photo — Sencor SFH 9010

One of the most popular on the market are floor-type fan heaters. They are lightweight, durable and reliable enough in operation. The power rarely exceeds 2 kW — this is quite enough to heat the air in a room with low ceilings and an area of up to 16-20 m2. Nevertheless, more performant models are also presented on the modern market.

There is a simple rule of thumb that allows you to approximately determine the required power of a heating device for a given area. Each kilowatt of power of the device allows you to heat 10 m2 of the room.

In our catalog, all fan heaters are grouped both by power and by the area of the room, for heating of which they are recommended by the manufacturer. This provides the opportunity for the fastest and most convenient selection of a device that is ideally suited to your requirements. For example, for a room with an area of 11-15 m2, you can pay attention to devices from both this and this category. Mostly, there are the same models, but there are a number of exceptions. So, some manufacturers write for advertising purposes that their small and low-power devices are able to heat large rooms. We still recommend sticking to the rule: 1 kW = 10 m2.

Schematic principle of operation of the fan heater

In our climatic zone, portable outdoor fan heaters are most often used. Winter is replaced by a warm summer and such a heating device is easy to hide in a closet until the next winter.

There are also models for stationary wall mounting, but they are less popular, although they have their advantages. As everyone knows from school, warm air has a feature of accumulating at the top, which leads to a noticeable temperature difference between the floor and ceiling. Wall-mounted fan heaters, which provide forced movement of warm air downwards, can affect this situation.

Usually, the vast majority of modern fan heaters allow you to adjust the power of operation (the number of supported modes is indicated in the line "Maximum power" in the description of each model in our catalog). Some also support the possibility of turning off the heating element, after which the device can be used as a conventional fan to improve air circulation in the room without heating it, which can also be a very convenient and rational solution.

Heating elements: spiral or ceramic?

Two types of heating elements are used in fan heaters: ceramic and electric spiral.

The electric spiral is less efficient, in comparison with ceramic, but at the same time noticeably cheaper

Low-cost models are equipped with a heating element made in the form of an open electric spiral made of thin nichrome wire. It is very short—lived, and during operation it heats up to a high temperature — several hundred degrees. Getting dust on the spiral causes an unpleasant smell, and there is usually plenty of dust in the room, and some of it will necessarily be lifted into the air because of the fan. Moreover, it is the spiral that most "burns" oxygen in the room.

The ceramic heating element is more efficient, can provide the desired heat transfer at a lower temperature. Due to its larger surface area, its operating temperature usually does not exceed 100 °C. An important advantage is that ceramics practically does not worsen the air quality in the room.

Additional features of fan heaters

Wall models have a number of advantages, since the warm the air collects under the ceiling. In the photo — Polaris PCWH 2070 Di

Of all the heaters on the modern market, it is the fan heaters that are considered the most out-of-date. Manufacturers are trying to improve them. So, the timer will provide the ability to automatically turn off the device at the right time. The thermostat will allow it to maintain the necessary temperature in the room: the heater will automatically turn off when the set temperature is reached and turn on when it drops by 1-2 °C.

Another interesting "thermostatic" function, called "frost protection". The fan heater will automatically turn on when the ambient temperature drops below a certain value. In this way, unheated rooms, such as garages, workshops or outbuildings, can be economically and effectively protected from freezing in winter.

Usually, the operation of almost any heating equipment worsens the air quality in the room, makes it dry. To create a comfortable microclimate, use models with an air humidifier and an ionizer.

Safety above all else

The vast majority of modern fan heaters are equipped with overheating protection, it is worth paying attention to them first of all. If the fan stops and the heating element overheats, the operation of the device automatically stops, which eliminates the possibility of fire.

If the fan heater is tipped over on the floor, the discharge of heated air may be disrupted and the device will overheat. In addition, under the influence of warm air flow, the floor covering may be damaged, and therefore we recommend selecting a fan heater with the function of turning off when tipping over.

In rooms with high humidity, such as bathrooms, it is possible to use only fan heaters with water protection. Such devices are safe from the point of view of a short circuit or electric shock when water enters.

Do not use fan heaters in rooms where fumes of fuels and lubricants may be contained. When using any electric heating devices, it is important to ensure the reliability of the power supply system.