Efficient home heating - how to choose electric convectors?

Home heating

Convectors are electrical devices that are designed to heat a room. They are an excellent alternative to a centralized heat supply system, especially before the heating season, when it is already cold outside. Also, such units can serve as the only source of heat in a private house, without requiring the installation of a boiler and the installation of pipes. This is very convenient when the owner does not have the opportunity to heat his house, except with the help of electricity. The main question to be solved is how to choose the right electric convector so that the heating is efficient.

Device and principle of operation

Electric convectors are modern devices that operate on the principle of convection, a type of heat transfer when all energy is transferred by air currents.

All such electrical devices have a simple design. They consist of two main parts:

• Frame.
• A heating element.

Holes designed to draw cold air into the device are located in the lower part of the body, heated air masses exit from the upper part of the convector. As a rule, the heating element is located at the bottom of the heater. It warms up the air located between the walls of the case, which subsequently rushes up. In most cases, the outlets are placed at a slight angle.

The principle is as follows - the air heated to the desired temperature moves gradually upwards, and then, slowly cooling down, falls down to the floor. Then the cycle repeats again. The main advantage that such a device as a convector has is that the air is distributed evenly and silently throughout the entire volume of the room. Some models are equipped with fans to make the heating process faster. In this case, noiselessness will have to be forgotten.

The popularity of convectors is influenced by the fact that the temperature of the walls of the housing of such electrical devices does not exceed +60 degrees. This fact favorably distinguishes them from traditional oil heaters, which, in terms of the risk of burns, are considered traumatic devices.

Three types of heating elements are used in heating convectors:

Tubular electric heater

• Monolithic - convectors with such a heater are absolutely silent in operation, since the body of the heating element is one-piece, and the ribs are an indispensable part of it. Such devices operate with low heat loss, and also favorably differ in maximum efficiency.
• Needle-shaped, they are a thin plate made of a dielectric, on which a heating thread made of an alloy of chromium and nickel is installed, which forms loops on both sides of the plate. Their main advantage is instant heating and cooling, convection based on a needle heating element is carried out thanks to a specially created body design. Due to the fact that the thread is almost not protected from moisture, the use of such equipment is prohibited in rooms with high humidity. The price of such devices is small, but in practice, heating elements are used quite rarely.
• Tubular with aluminum fins - these are heating elements in the form of a steel tube into which a nichrome thread is mounted. They are filled with a special backfill - a heat insulator. Aluminum fins are fixed on this tube, which ensures high-quality heat transfer and enhances convection. A heating element of this type heats up much less than a needle one and it is more durable. Most models with such heating elements are splash-proof, so they can be used without fear in bathrooms. The device has the only drawback - due to the difference in thermal expansion when turned on and off, it is accompanied by sounds similar to crackling.

Choosing a convector - what to look for?

When buying an electric heater, it is necessary to carefully study all the details of the placement of the device, its features, as well as other factors that affect the choice of a particular model.

Instrument location

Airflow

Before you go for an electric convector, you should decide where it will be located. Such devices can be mounted directly on the walls, using special fasteners that come with the kit. If the owner wants to move the device around the house, then it should be clarified whether there are special wheels in the set so that after the purchase it does not rush about in search of suitable parts. The choice of the location of the heating device depends on the personal preferences of the owner, the climatic features of the region and the interior features.

When buying, you must also pay attention to the dimensions of the convector, since such devices can have different widths and lengths, as well as different shapes. The most compact are miniature plinth models, which have a height of just over 15 centimeters.

Convector power

Many buyers ask quite a reasonable question, what power should electric convectors have? The selection of the unit, or rather, its efficiency, can be calculated quite simply using the formula - 1 kW per 10 square meters of room space, but only on condition that the ceiling height is not more than 2.7 meters. In the case when this figure is greater, then for every additional ten centimeters of height you will need an additional 10% of the power of the heating device.

Control Panel

In addition, if the convector is the main source of heating, then some important points should be taken into account:

• To effectively heat a room, you need as many appliances as there are windows in it.
• Corner and walk-through rooms, as well as rooms that are located above the basement or with a solid glazing area, in any case, require a device with a sufficient power reserve.
• For high-quality heating of the room and the choice of the desired power of the device, you must use the advice of a specialist.

Varieties of thermostats

A device such as a thermostat, which can be electronically or mechanically controlled, is responsible for maintaining the desired temperature in the room in an electric convector. The last version of the thermostat, with manual control, reduces the cost of the device, but at the same time causes some inconvenience during operation, in particular, significant power consumption, unstable temperature control, accompanied by characteristic clicks.

An electronic thermostat against a mechanical one wins significantly, since it:

Thermostat knob

• Completely silent during operation of the convector.
• Maintains the temperature value that was set, with a minimum error.
• Reduces the amount of electricity consumed within its capabilities.
• Provides the ability to carry out "climate control" remotely.

Of course, convectors with such a thermostat are somewhat more expensive, but they are definitely worth it. Therefore, the electronic convector should not be abandoned.

Mains voltage

When buying an electrical appliance, it is necessary to clarify the question of what should be the voltage in the mains, from which the unit will operate. This parameter is indicated in the technical data sheet. Of course, most of the convectors are adapted to domestic conditions and are powered by a voltage of 220 V, but there are also devices on the electrical appliance market that require an operating voltage of 120 V for normal operation.

How to choose the perfect convector?

If we take into account all the parameters of the electric convector, we can draw the following conclusions:

• In the best case, the device should have a tubular or monolithic heater.
• It is desirable that the convector be equipped with an electronic thermostat, a "deactivation" sensor, protection against overheating and freezing.
• The device must be supplied with elements for floor and wall mounting.
• Options such as a remote control, a convenient display and instructions in Russian on how to use the product can be useful.

Advantages of electric convectors

mobile type

It should be noted that electric convectors should be chosen according to many parameters. The main advantages that distinguish these electric convectors include:

• To install such a device, the owner does not need to obtain special permits, prepare special conditions for its operation and create a connection project. That is, the process itself consists in buying a device, installing it and plugging it into a power outlet.
• Affordable cost.
• High efficiency, since almost all consumed electricity is converted into heat.

Conclusion

Analyzing the trends of the domestic market, we can note the growing popularity of electric heating. This is not at all surprising, since main gas pipelines do not exist in all regions of our country. Solid fuel boilers are far from affordable for everyone, and solar panels are still at the experimental stage. As for centralized heating, CHPs do not always cope with their duties and it happens when in winter the temperature in apartments does not reach the norm, and in most cases the law does not allow installing autonomous heating in a city apartment. Therefore, a reasonable and correct decision would be to purchase an electric convector - a safe, practical and efficient device.