Which is better, an infrared heater or a fan heater?

The central heating system does not always cope with its task. For this reason, most people have a heater at home. However, it may not suit its users if, for example, they did not pay attention to its features when purchasing it.

Good representatives of heating devices are a fan heater and an infrared heater. They both do their job well, but they have a number of different features that may affect which one is most convenient for you to use.

Features of an infrared heater

A distinctive feature of an infrared heater is that it heats not the air, but objects in the surrounding area: walls, floors, furniture. This helps maintain the temperature for a long time even after the device is turned off.

When choosing a model, you should pay attention to the element on which it is made. The following options are currently available on the market:

• Halogen lamp. Its key element is an incandescent filament, which, when heated, emits in the infrared spectrum. At the same time, a glow emanates from the lamp, which can interfere with high light sensitivity. Some are sure that such models emit harmful short waves, which is why they refuse to use it.There is no need to give in to general panic: a potentially dangerous model would not be allowed onto the market.
• Carbonate tube with quartz base and carbon fiber spiral. Its main advantages include fast heating and high efficiency, but it also consumes a lot of energy, irritates with the glow and is not suitable for allergy sufferers and asthmatics.
• Ceramic element. It has a relatively low power, but at the same time it does not emit any glow, which many users do not accept in other models.
• Metal tube. It stands out among its competitors due to its high strength and durability, which is why its price is significantly higher.

Important! When choosing, pay attention to the plate material. Black is suitable for dry rooms, stainless steel is suitable for wet rooms.

pros

Many users have long loved infrared heaters and for good reason. They have a number of advantages:

• rapid heating of the room;
• no harmful effects on the body;
• do not create any odor during operation;
• various configurations that allow you to both carry the device and permanently mount it on a shelf;
• the heating process does not involve air circulation, which could affect the creation of drafts, which is unacceptable in homes with small children.

Minuses

This heater has few disadvantages. But nevertheless they are also significant:

• high cost in relation to the fan heater;
• annoying glow in many models;
• widespread prejudice about harm from radiation.

Features of the fan heater

The operating principle of a fan heater is similar to an ordinary fan, but, unlike it, it heats air masses, and does not simply distill them.A special element is responsible for heating, which can be made of various materials:

• Nichrome spiral. The high heating temperature of the element (1 thousand degrees) allows the air to warm up faster, but is not a safety standard: there is a high probability of a fire if used incorrectly.
• Ceramics. It heats up to only 150 degrees, but nevertheless warms up the air faster than a spiral, since it has a larger active surface. The low operating temperature range makes the element less fire hazardous.
• heating element. Its tubes are most often metal or quartz with a graphite or wire rod. Such an element heats up to 500 degrees, which has a good effect on its efficiency, as well as reliability.

pros

Fan heaters are one of the most popular heaters. They have won their place in the market thanks to positive qualities that are difficult not to notice:

• accessibility (these are the cheapest heaters);
• mobility (many models are compact in size and light in weight, which allows you to carry them wherever you need them without any extra effort);
• quick warm-up (due to heating of the circulating air, the room quickly becomes warm);
• multifunctionality (most representatives can be switched to a regular fan mode in the summer).

Minuses

No matter how many advantages fan heaters have, they also have a number of disadvantages, some of which you simply cannot turn a blind eye to:

• fire hazard (they should not be left unattended, much less fall asleep with the device turned on);
• noise (all models create a lot of it, which is very annoying if you need to constantly operate the heater);
• dry the air (rarely equipped with a humidifier);
• high energy consumption.

Important! When operating, the fan heater raises dust into the air, which can become a strong irritant for allergy sufferers.

Conclusion

If you compare the pros and cons of both heaters without any special purpose, then the infrared one comes out the best. However, do not forget that everyone has different goals for purchasing a heater. For many, the choice falls on a fan heater due to its low cost, ability to use in summer, and temperature control functions. An infrared heater cannot perform such tasks, which does not make it a bad device. It’s just that before purchasing, it is important to first formulate the requirements for the device, and only then proceed to purchase it, so as not to miss the choice.