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In order to create heat in your home, a transfer of energy must take place. Heat can be transferred in the following ways:
Convection: This heat works by transferring heat from one place to another using moving air, and heaters utilizing this method are great for providing background warmth in a closed space. Examples of this are fan heaters, which work work by filling a room with warm air. Convection heaters are often relatively silent and have a low risk of fire.
Of course, these two heating principles do not live in isolation from each other.
Radiant heat helps to increase the air temperature and the higher air temperatures will increase the temperature of surfaces. Convection heaters can also come with internal fans to quickly distribute warm air more evenly. You will find people who will swear by each heating method; it is truly a matter of preference. Some people love the toasty quality of radiant heat, while others find that it feels too intense. Some like the evenness of fan forced convection heating, while others claim that the fan makes it drafty. Overall, both forms of heat do a good job heating your home.
Convection heaters
In convection heating, air is heated when it comes into contact with hot surfaces in the heater. People feel warmer because of the higher air temperature. Some convection heaters use a fan to draw the cool air in.
Convection heater with fan
Cool air is drawn in and passed over the gas or electric heating elements. Warm air then moves out into the room by natural convection.
Characteristics of convection heaters:
Convection heaters heat the space from the top down – for larger spaces or
spaces with high ceilings, it will take some time for the heat to reach
occupant level, particularly when the occupants are sitting;
raise room air temperature more quickly than radiant
heaters;
use more energy to achieve the same temperature change
as radiant heating in larger spaces;
change the air temperature gradually (fans may increase
the rate of air movement) which means that occupants only gradually feel
warmer;
make the air warmer close to the heater, so space
heating relies on adequate air movement;
create convection currents and temperature gradients as
warmer air from the heater rises.
Radiant heaters
Radiant heaters heat surfaces, objects and occupants with infra-red radiation; they do not heat the air within the room directly.
Characteristics of radiant heaters:
Radiant heating provides immediate heat. Someone directly in
front of the heater will feel immediately warmer when it is turned on and
immediately cooler when it is turned off;
only surfaces in a direct line of sight to the heater
are heated;
though air is not directly warmed, it will warm up
through contact with surfaces that have been heated;
heating intensity increases as the surface gets closer
to the heater;
safety from touch is an issue.