The advantages of convectors as home heating allow them to be used as a main or additional source of heat. Depending on the selected model, the convector-type heater can be wall-mounted or floor-mounted, which is convenient if space heating is not always required. The convection heater can be connected to the electricity or gas mains.
The principle of operation of convector heaters
Cold air, according to the laws of physics, is heavier, so it is at the bottom. The principle of convection is to pick up cold air masses from below, heat them inside the unit and move them to the top, from where warm air is blown up. This is how the room is heated. The stream moves continuously, so after 3 - 4 minutes the room becomes warm. Then the air masses are cooled again and go down, where they again fall into the lower openings of the convector.
The device, depending on the model, can be transported and turned on, for example, in the country. For this, electric convection units are more suitable.
Appliances of this type can be turned on in a bathroom or other rooms with high humidity. It is safe as they are reliably protected from moisture ingress. The case does not get very hot - if there are small children in the room, they will not get burns if they touch parts of the device.
Modern convectors can be configured to work in a specific mode. The settings are saved if a power failure occurs and the device continues to operate.
Pros and cons of using for home
There are many positive aspects that make it worth buying a convector for a house or apartment:
- It is not necessary to obtain permits for operation if it is a normal electrical device.
- Ease of installation. The foot convector is installed in the right place and plugged into the socket. There are wheels for moving.
- Adjustable temperature. Some models have built-in sensors that support the desired mode of operation.
- Quiet - can be turned on around the clock.
- Compact dimensions allow the convectors to be installed in small spaces.
- Oxygen is not burned, since the temperature inside the heating element does not exceed 65 degrees.
- Economical. They are cheaper than oil coolers, while the efficiency is much higher. When no one is at home, the heater can be set to a lower temperature.
- Low cost allows you to install several devices in one room, if necessary.
- The devices are fireproof and have overheating protection.
- You can purchase a convector heater with a protective screen with a controlled air flow directed to a specific area.
The units can be matched to the color of the case to match the design of the room. There are also various models. Some of them can be installed in the floor so that they do not take up space, but such units are mounted during a rough repair. The rest are installed after finishing the walls.
There are few disadvantages of this type of heating. Devices of increased power will require more energy consumption.The inconvenience may be associated with the installation of floor convectors, the grille of which is flush with the coating - debris will get inside the unit. If the room is dusty, dust particles due to circulation will constantly float in the air. The apartment will have to do wet cleaning more often.
Once a year, the unit must be cleaned of the accumulated dust layer inside.
Additional equipment can be connected to this type of devices:
- humidifier;
- timer;
- thermostat for precise temperature control;
- remote control to turn on devices remotely.
Additional equipment is usually not included with the device. Buy it separately if necessary.
Installation types
By the type of installation, mobile heaters can be distinguished, which can be carried, wall-mounted and floor-standing. The mobile unit on casters can be used as additional heating. For example, in the bathroom, where you need to keep the air dry so that mold does not start, or in the nursery in winter. It can also be taken to the country house for a weekend - while the stove is firing up, the convector will heat up the room and create a cozy atmosphere. The floor heater can be placed anywhere. The only limitation is the length of the cord.
Wall mounted
A wall-mounted convector heater is most often hung under a window to create a screen of warm air. This is especially true if the windows are panoramic and heat loss occurs through them. The principle is the same as that of conventional water batteries, only they emit heat, and the convector sets the air in motion.
There are various models of wall convectors. Among them there are low ones - up to 20 cm in height, but at the same time very long - up to 2.5 m. For panoramic windows, under which there is very little space for installing heating devices, there are models that are installed directly into the floor.
Floor recessed
During the planning and pouring of the concrete floor, floor convection systems can be installed. After all the work, only the grill will be visible through which cold air is sucked in and warm air comes out. Such models are suitable for large rooms - they can be mounted around the perimeter, and the grilles can be matched to the floor covering in order to preserve the design. The grilles are the main element of the floor convector, as the rest of it is hidden in the floor. The grilles can be made of any material - wood, iron, plastic.
Built-in appliances cannot be installed everywhere. Usually, installation is planned even at the construction stage, since for such a model, communications must be laid in the floor to supply hot water to the heating system.
Built-in convectors are usually equipped with fans to speed up the air circulation and heat the room faster.
Varieties of convectors
Depending on what kind of coolant is supplied to the heating system, you can choose a water or gas convector. The internal structure of the devices will be slightly different, but the principle is the same: the coolant heats the elements inside the device, through which air passes and takes heat, then leaves the heater and heats the room.
Gas
There is a burner inside the convector that heats the gas. The device has an air intake, which is located on the street at one end. Oxygen is needed to keep burning. The chimney is needed to remove combustion products from the combustion chamber.
Gas convection heating at home does not need water, it is safe, since the combustion chamber is completely insulated.
The disadvantages of gas appliances are as follows:
- To install the convector, you need to obtain a permit from the gas industry. The problem may arise due to the construction of the house and the impossibility of equipping the chimney.
- When heated with gas, the temperature of the case is above 60 degrees, therefore, the process of thermal decomposition of dust particles begins, which settle on furniture and other interior items.
It is more profitable to use gas convectors in rooms that are not intended for permanent residence or as additional heating.
Aquatic
Water convectors can be installed in autonomous and central heating systems. They are reliable and durable, and can transfer up to 95% of the generated heat.
According to the type of installation, water heaters can be trench, baseboard, wall, floor, basement. They are connected to pipes of any diameter through a series of adapters. The case temperature usually does not exceed 30 degrees, so small children cannot get burned by touching the device.
Water heating convectors built into the floor are planned at the stage of building a house, since niches are arranged for them and pipes are supplied. After the floor has been filled, it will be impossible to install such models.
Wall-mounted water heating convectors are usually placed under windows in order to reduce the flow of cold air if the glass unit is single-chamber.
If you need to hide the heating system, you can buy built-in models. They are mounted in special niches in the wall or mounted on furniture.
Benefits:
- Light weight, which allows the fixtures to be installed on plasterboard partitions.
- Compactness thanks to the slim body.
- The temperature can be adjusted and adjusted.
- There are models with one or two heat exchangers.
Water heaters are the most common among similar models, therefore they are available in various designs, which allows them to be mounted in rooms of any style and color.
Electrical
Electric convectors are considered the safest. Most manufacturers produce devices with the highest degree of electrical protection: no wire comes into contact with the case. Thanks to this, the models can be operated without grounding.
Water heating temperatures are low enough so that oxygen does not burn and the dust does not disintegrate into microparticles that have a bad effect on the state of the human respiratory system. Low heating temperatures are compensated for by the volume of the heating elements.
Any heater consumes fuel. In this case, it is electricity, for which you do not need to go far or drive, such as for firewood or gasoline. Electricity consumption can be large if the premises are rather large in area or the temperature in the winter season drops significantly below zero degrees. To save money, it is advisable to install double-glazed windows with argon sputtering, which prevents heat from escaping.
Infrared
If a typical convector heats air by circulating it through a heat exchanger, then the principle of infrared heating of a house with convectors is different. The device heats up the surrounding objects using infrared radiation, and the objects give off heat to the surrounding space. In this regard, it is desirable that the device be installed in a place where its radiation on objects or walls will be maximum. Then the heat transfer will be high.
It is better to use infrared heaters as an additional source of heat, since when it is turned off, the room cools down quickly.
There are only two models of heaters in the infrared series - floor-standing and wall-mounted. They need a working socket with good quality wiring. It is undesirable to use extension cords if the appliance will operate at full power.
How to choose a convector type heater
First of all, it is necessary to calculate the power of the heater based on the area of the room.For electrical appliances, this is 100 W / m2. The height of the ceilings is taken into account. If it is higher than 2.4 meters, the power is doubled. Thus, for full heating of a room with an area of 20 sq. m will need a power of 2 kW.
If there are alternative heat sources in the house, and the convector is used as an addition, you can limit yourself to a power that is 2 times less than the calculated one.
The type of thermostat affects the cost of the device. Electric adds about 30% to the price. Particular attention should be paid to the heating element, since this is the main structural element that affects its durability. High-quality heating elements have been serving for more than 15 years. They are made of steel that can withstand the temperature of the filament for a long time.
The parameter of the moisture protection index must be at least IP 21, but if the device is periodically installed in the bathroom, an index of at least IP 24 and higher is needed.
If you need to direct a warm stream of air to a certain point in the room, you must choose models with a protective screen - stationary or portable.
In an apartment with small children, a rollover sensor must be purchased. If someone accidentally pushes the device, the sensor will automatically disconnect it from the mains.
Frost protection can be used in cold rooms. This is a temperature sensor that automatically turns on the convector if the air temperature drops below a certain level, which you can adjust yourself.
Installation features
Electric convectors do not require any special building skills. To install the wall model, you need to choose a location, attach the brackets supplied with the equipment, and hang the appliance. It is important that the cord can reach the outlet.
For gas equipment, you must first obtain a permit. The installation of devices is carried out by the master gasmen. After the completion of the work, a document is issued confirming the right to operate the gas convector.
Floor models can be installed in an apartment or a private house. Most developers plan the installation of built-in convectors in advance, and notify apartment buyers about this.
Water convectors are mounted on the wall or in the floor, where plastic pipes are laid, through which hot water circulates from a gas or electric boiler.
