IR heater type
The type of heating element installed in the infrared heater (see "Type").
-
Quartz. A heater is in the form of a sealed tube made of quartz glass, inside which there is an electric coil (usually tungsten), which serves as a source of infrared radiation. Air is pumped out from the tube, which avoids oxidation of the coil. This is the most simple, inexpensive and, as a result, the most common type of heater. Its disadvantages are a rather high operating temperature, which leads to the combustion of dust and increases the likelihood of burns, as well as a relatively short service life of the spiral.
-
Halogen. A modified version of the quartz heater described above, which is also a tube with a filament inside. The main difference is that the tube is filled with a special gas, which increases the intensity of the radiation (and, accordingly, the efficiency of the heater), and also prevents the evaporation of metal from the surface of the spiral and increases its service life. On the other hand, such heaters are more expensive than conventional quartz heaters, even though they also get very hot during operation.
-
Carbon. Another modification of the quartz heater: in this case, the coil is made not of metal, but of carbon fibre. Such elements are highly energy efficient at a reduced heating temperature. However, they are not cheap.
...- Mycathermic. A heating element in the form of a metal plate coated on both sides with a layer of material that is an electrical insulator and does not prevent infrared radiation (a perfect version of such a material is mica). The key difference between micathermic elements and the types of heaters described above is that they intensely radiate thermal energy without heating up to high temperatures. Due to this, heaters with such elements have a high efficiency with a minimum likelihood of fires and burns during use. In addition, metal plates are noticeably stronger and more reliable than glass tubes in other types of heaters. Among the shortcomings, it can be noted that the plates are usually covered with a rather small grate, in which dust tends to accumulate.
Note that some manufacturers also classify heaters with a traditional quartz tube as micathermic, which uses special technologies to increase heating efficiency. You can recognize such models by their appearance: the quartz tube glows during operation, unlike the micathermic plate.Heating modes
The ability to adjust the power of the heater. Do not confuse this parameter with temperature control since several power modes primarily affect the heating rate, energy consumption and device wear.
Safety system
— Overheat protection. The system of automatic shutdown of the heater when the critical temperature of the heating element is reached (which can happen, for example, if the fan heater motor fails). Ensures the fire safety of the device.
— Waterproof. The presence of a body protected from water splashes (most often sealed). Such heaters can be used in rooms with high humidity — for example, bathrooms — without the risk of short circuits or electric shock. However, even in such models, it is imperative to clarify the specific degree of water protection and restrictions on use before use; these data can be found in the instructions or other official documents of the manufacturer.
— Child lock. The control lock function prevents playful children or animals from changing the settings. Relevant for advanced devices with extensive management capabilities.
— Tip-over protection. A system that turns off the heater when it tips over to avoid fire or damage to the floor. This feature is especially relevant if there are small children in the house.
— Motion sensor. The presence of an appropriate sensor allows the device to focus on the presence of people and, by this, warm up the room. So, the absence of any movement in the "field of view" of the heater puts it into sleep mode. And the detection of movement (be it a dog or a person) reactivates it.
— Open window sensor. A special sensor allows the device to automatically recogni...ze when a window is opened for ventilation. In the process of airing the premises, the heater either turns off completely or switches to the most economical operation mode. This function allows you to save energy because, in the process of ventilation, the room heat will still evaporate into the street. Usually, the heating stop time is up to 30 minutes — in some models, the exact ventilation time can be adjusted by the user. The very fact of ventilation is most often fixed by the electronics. To do this, automation can use either traditional magnetic contact sensors or draft sensors (cold air inflow).
