Types of Electric Heaters

Basically there are two types of electric heaters, radiant and convection heaters. Radiant heaters emit infrared radiation that heats up an absorbing surface. Radiant heaters are direct heaters which warms objects or people in a room directly. Convection heaters on the other hand, are designed to heat up an entire room; it does this by heating up the air in the room. We’ll look at 4 popular types of electric heaters and we’ll discuss how they work and which area each type is suited for.

Oil Filled Radiator Heaters

These look like old fashion radiators and are filled with a special kind of oil which never needs to be refilled. Although this type of electric heater takes longer to heat up compared to ceramic or radiant heater, they are extremely quiet and economical. They stay warm for a long time without using much electricity and because natural convection disperses the warmth there is no fan to make noise. It works best when it’s the only source of heat in a relatively small area, perfect for sleeping areas. They are priced from $50 to $110.

Ceramic Space Heaters

These are available in various shapes and sizes. They have ceramic plates and aluminum baffles. When electricity passes through the ceramic plates they are heated and this heat is then absorbed by the aluminum baffles which in turn, heats up the air. Then a fan blows the hot air into the room. Ceramic heaters are portable and release a great deal of heat from a small box. They heat up fast & are suitable for warming up a small bedroom, office or any area up to 150 sq. ft. Overall, ceramic heaters provide quick focus heating and can be conveniently directed to send warmth to where it is needed most. They are priced from $30 to $60.

Micathermic Space Heaters

This combines convection and radiant heating technology. They heat up fast and produce instant comfort where they are needed most. They are often extremely compact and are the perfect fit virtually for all types of areas. They only weigh half the weight of traditional oil column heaters and heats up twice as fast without the use of a fan. Operating without a fan also ensures moisture levels in an area are maintained. This eliminates the problem with dehydrated skin and does not circulate dust and other airborne particles. So they are good choice for allergies or asthma sufferers. They are priced from $100 to $120.

Radiant Space Heaters

Also called quartz heaters, these are truly spot heaters. They heat up object or people rather than the air. This makes them a great choice when you need instant focused heat. They have coils which produce heat that’s similar to the sun’s rays. Remarkably efficient, radiant heaters use much less energy than other types of heaters because they only heat up objects or people and also they use much less power to create the same amount of heat as traditional heaters. They are priced from $30 to $100.