Infrared heater - pros and cons

An infrared heater is an alternative to other heating appliances, such as a convector or an oil cooler . IR-heater appeared relatively recently and immediately gained popularity among users. He has a lot of positive sides, nevertheless, there are disadvantages that need to be known when deciding on the purchase of such equipment for the home. But everything in order - the pros and cons of an infrared heater.

Advantages of infrared heaters

The main and main advantage of such devices is that they do not warm the air, but the objects and bodies that are next to them. This causes their high efficiency. The person next to the device, after switching it on, immediately begins to feel the heat.

In addition, during operation IR heaters do not dry air and do not burn oxygen, so that the microclimate of the room will not be affected in any way. Moreover, these heaters disinfect the room in the process of work, saving it from fungi and mold. This other device can not.

What's more important, an infrared heater is the only type of heater that can be used in a street. In fact, for him there is not much difference - in open space or closed. It does not heat the air, but objects nearby.

All these advantages make IR-heaters universal devices, almost unlimited in operation. In addition, they save a lot of energy due to the fact that not all the heating is warmed, but only their immediate surroundings.

Minuses of infrared heaters

The first thing I want to say is the unfair saying by the manufacturers of IR-heaters that these devices emit absolutely harmless infrared radiation, similar to the fact that conventional heat radiators are released during operation. But the truth is that central heating radiators, heat guns and other heating appliances really emit waves that are not hazardous to health. But IR-heaters work on other waves.

Radiation emanating from infrared heaters refers to the short and middle parts of the infrared spectrum. On the one hand, these powerful waves cause the advantage of such heaters in front of oil and water, but on the other - are the main disadvantage of infrared heaters for health. These waves are harmful, although not as critical as, for example, radiation.

Use of such heaters is necessary with some limitations, just as we limit our stay in the sun to avoid burns, changes in the skin and internal organs, and so on.

Another disadvantage is the uneven heating. If other heaters heat the entire room and the air temperature rises all over, the IR heater only heats one side of the object turned towards it. So when the central heating is off, do not expect to warm up the room. Even if you sit next to the device, you will be warm only from the side to which you are facing it. To heat from all sides, you need to place several devices at different points in the room.

Another undisputable minus: with prolonged use of such a device and constant presence in front of it, drying of the skin occurs. This is due to the fact that radiation evaporates moisture from the cells, and as a result can lead to burns and harm to the body as a whole.

In this regard, it is preferable to direct the heater to pieces of furniture. It is undesirable to use them in children's rooms and bedrooms, because people in dormant state do not control their condition, which can lead to serious negative consequences.

In conclusion, we can say that the infrared heaters for the apartment have both pluses and minuses. And for safe use, it is important to correctly calculate the required power of the device and observe the rules of operation.