Not in all modern apartments, central heating radiators please with their warmth. In some cases, they need helpers. If you are concerned about the question of which heater is best for an apartment, then you are in this situation. All devices that are currently available for sale can be divided into four groups: oil radiators, convectors, infrared quartz radiators and fan heaters. All of them work from a normal electric network. You can consider each type individually to identify weaknesses and strengths.
Oil coolers
This is the most famous and common group. Of all the electric heaters available on the market, only this group is called radiators. In general, radiators mean the type of heating system in the form of a container that is filled with liquid (it can be water or oil), which serves as the heating element. If we talk about which heater is better for an apartment, then this option is pretty good, since the heat from it spreads in all directions after the oil heats the metal surfaces.
This is an electric battery in which water is replaced by oil. The device has metal fins (like central heating radiators). The room heats up gradually, and the warmest point is located in the immediate vicinity of the heater.
Oil Cooler Care
The procedure for leaving in this case is quite simple. Oil coolers do not require special maintenance. Do not use solvents or abrasive materials for cleaning. Dust is erased with a dry soft cloth, but before that, disconnect the appliance from the mains and wait until it cools down.
Do not use an oil heater in the shower, pool or bathroom, as these rooms are characterized by high humidity. For drying clothes, it should not be used either, since the air from it will not be able to rise, which may well cause overheating of the device. Do not lay the power cord on a hot appliance, as its plastic “shirt” may melt. The heater must always be in an upright position: it is designed so that its heating element is placed at the bottom, therefore it is designed for a certain amount of oil and its pressure. The high surface temperature indicates the need to place the device away from furniture and fusible items.
Advantages: air heating is fast and high-quality, the device is fireproof, silent, thermostat and timer allow not to disconnect the device from the network.
Disadvantages: due to the high surface temperature, the device can cause burns if you touch it. And this raises the question of which heater is best for an apartment with a small child?
Convectors
In this type of appliance, heating element acts as heating element - a curved steel rod, which is located in a metal case, which serves as a protection and heating element at the same time. If we talk about which heater is best for an apartment, oil or convector, then it is worth noting that the second type distributes heat due to natural convection, in which the air rises after heating and takes its place cold.
At the moment, there are wall and floor options that differ only in design and mounting location. It is most correct to place convectors under the window, since from the point of view of heat engineering, these are holes in the room in the winter. Two windows with an air cushion between them can not be compared with thick walls that hold heat in the room.
It is worth noting that such heaters are not able to quickly heat a cold room, they are more focused on maintaining the required temperature. They have a built-in thermostat, similar to oil coolers. Its tasks are raising or lowering the temperature. Most models allow you to set a comfortable room temperature, which will be maintained. If we talk about which heater is better for an apartment, it is worth noting that convectors are silent, except for models with a built-in fan. In this case, the included device will emit certain sounds.
If we talk about which heater is better for an apartment and a child, then the second of the two options described is more suitable, since you can touch it during operation, it is not too hot.
Convector Care
The device does not need any special and special course, and the dust is removed from it with a soft cloth in the switched off and cooled state. The convector should not be used to dry laundry, as this may cause it to overheat. Installation is not permitted under an electrical outlet. The extension cord should not be used, as it may overheat during operation. A working convector must not be covered.
Advantages: fire safety, silent operation, does not require shutdown, since the thermostat controls the temperature, from an aesthetic point of view it is pretty good.
Disadvantages: if the convector is not equipped with a built-in fan, then air heating is very slow.
Heat fans
So, understanding the question of which heater is better to choose for an apartment, it is worth considering an option such as a heat fan. Its principle of operation is similar to a convector, however here a heating rod replaces a metal spiral. The fan takes on convection tasks. In this case, the heat from the spiral is distributed throughout the room by a fan. This principle of operation is similar to a hairdryer.
Fan heaters can be wall, floor and desktop. The presence of a thermal fuse serves as protection against overheating of the device. There is also protection against accidental ingress of water. If we talk about which heater is better for an apartment, then it is worth noting that before such devices burned a lot of oxygen, which was their main drawback, but now this problem has been solved. New generation equipment produces heating quite quickly.
Fan heater care
Dust accumulating on the spiral can cause the appearance of an unpleasant odor from the device. Therefore, the heater itself is most correctly wiped with a dry cloth as often as possible, turning it off from the mains.
It is strictly forbidden to lay the power cord on a hot heater. The grill of the apparatus must not become clogged with dust. Do not use an extension cord, as it may overheat during operation. During operation, the appliance must not be covered with anything; this may cause a fire.
Advantages: fast heating of the air, protection against overheating, the presence of a thermostat allows you to adjust the heating temperature without having to disconnect from the network, in case of a fall, the device itself turns off.
Disadvantages: it emits a constant “buzz” during operation, an unpleasant odor from dust falling on the spiral.
Infrared Quartz Emitters
If you ask yourself which heater is best for an apartment, then you should not forget about such a solution as an infrared quartz radiator. In this case, a long quartz lamp protected by a metal housing acts as a heating element. This type does not heat air, but the objects it is aimed at. This option is good for temporary heating, when you do not need to heat the entire room. If we talk about which heater is better to choose for an apartment, reviews of this option indicate the convenience of its use, in particular, in the bedroom, when you do not want to go to cold bed.
Instrument Care
Dust removal is carried out with a dry soft cloth, while the device must be disconnected from the mains. No special procedures are required.
Advantages: noiselessness, fire safety, rotation angle of 20-40 degrees.
Which heater is better for an apartment and more economical
So, after the most currently known devices are listed, you can proceed to determine the best option. First of all, the goal for which a heater is important is important. There are several common causes:
- The need for quick heating of the room. In this case, the fan heater can be considered the right choice. He will raise the temperature to the desired level and will maintain it. Another option is an oil cooler with a fan heater.
- If we talk about which heater is better to choose so that you can leave it unattended, then here is the best option would be any of the devices equipped with a thermostat.
- You can warm a small room with a convector heater that can maintain a constant temperature.
- If it is a question of which heater is better to choose if it is necessary to warm the surface of a certain object, then an infrared emitter will do well with this work. A desktop fan heater may be an alternative.
So, now you can well draw conclusions for yourself, answering the question of what is the best heater for an apartment. The most popular brands on the market are Scarlett, Philips, Vitek, LG and Panasonik. The recommendations in our review are given, and each person must make the final decision on their own.