What is better to choose - convectors or radiators

The main characteristics of the fan heater

Fan heaters are inexpensive and efficient devices that are bought for heating residential, administrative, industrial premises.

By choosing the right model, you can create a warm zone within a few minutes. To do this, you just need to point the fan heater in the right direction and turn it on.

This is an excellent choice if you need to quickly warm the air in a separate area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room. Such fan heaters are installed next to beds, desktops. They are also used if you need to urgently dry the washed things.

Overall stationary models are installed on the floor or fixed on the walls, and mobile ones are easy to carry, rotate, rearrange to another place.

Instrument cases do not overheat, so there are no special requirements for surfaces. Fan heaters put on any floor coverings, tables, curbstones.

An ideal option for heating a living space or office during the off-season. The model can be installed so that it creates a thermal curtain at the entrance to the room or at the window

The principle of operation of the device

The principle of operation is simple: cold air enters a closed or open heating element, instantly warms up, and the fan throws it out.

It turns out the effect of a warm wind that blows people and objects in the room. The heated air flows are mixed with the cold ones, so that a comfortable temperature is quickly established in the room.

Hot air moves forward - in the direction in which the device is pointed, after which it rises. The distance that the heat flow overcomes depends on the power and design features of the model

When choosing, they are guided by the desired power, noise level. We recommend that you look at detailed recommendations for choosing a fan heater, taking into account key criteria.

The choice is also influenced by the type of heating element of the fan heater, depending on which the following types of devices are distinguished:

• Spiral. Heaters are made of spiral nichrome wire. In working condition, their temperature can reach 800°C. Despite the high efficiency, these heaters are considered not the best choice, because. when working, they burn dust and moisture.
• TENovye. The temperature of the heating element does not exceed 200°C, however, this does not affect the quality of work due to its large area. Models are fireproof, convenient, but more expensive than spiral ones.
• Ceramic. The elements heat up much less - up to 200 ° C, do not burn out the air. They are absolutely safe and easy to use.

Spiral models have practically lost their popularity among buyers. Because as a result of their work, the air becomes too dry, an unpleasant smell appears.

Users call a ceramic fan heater the most preferred option. This is the best choice for today. If you buy a model of a reliable brand, it will serve for a long time and without fail.

Advantages and disadvantages of fan heaters

The advantages of fan heaters include compactness, high speed of air heating. Almost all models are equipped with operating mode adjustment panels, temperature sensors, and some also have remote controls.

In some cases, uneven heating is a plus. If some area in the room needs more intensive heating than the rest, it is worth choosing a fan heater.

Fan heaters also have disadvantages: noise during operation and uneven heating of the room.

As for noise, it is impossible to completely solve this problem. Rotating fan blades will make sounds anyway. Noise can be more or less, but it will always be there. This will have to be dealt with.

A brief overview of the best brands

In the ratings of the best manufacturers of fan heaters, the same companies that produce the most reliable convectors are in the lead: Ballu, Timberk, Vitek, Electrolux, Saturn, Polaris, AEG, NeoClima, Scarlett, Teplomash and others.

When choosing a fan heater or convector, keep in mind that many of them are assembled in China

It is better to pay attention to manufacturers who strictly control the quality of products, and buy models of those brands that have well-organized service centers.

You have decided to get a fan heater, but do not want to overpay for the brand? In this case, you can assemble a homemade fan heater from improvised materials.

Advantages and disadvantages of conventional radiators

Each product is not without flaws, although they recede into the background before the list of positive characteristics.

Steel heating radiator

Conventional heating radiators differ:

• reliable work;
• good heat output due to the large surface;
• do not dry the air;
• do not require the absorption of oxygen to maintain the process of calorie release into the surrounding space;
• environmental friendliness and safety;
• the absence of third-party odors during operation;
• the possibility of using as a place for drying things after washing;
• affordable cost relative to other heat sources.

There are disadvantages, mainly in older models:

• it is difficult to change the surface temperature (hot batteries can harm the health of the child);
• “acceleration” takes a long time until the case warms up;
• over time accumulate sediment and become clogged.

Modern designs are distinguished by good thermal efficiency, environmental friendliness and safety.

It is also impossible not to mention the disadvantages that differ in space heating units, depending on the properties of the metal:

1. Cast iron "accordions" are heavy, create a load on the materials of the walls and floor (if there are legs), on the foundation, which is highly undesirable in buildings on unsteady soils.
2. Steel and bimetallic models are subject to internal corrosion, and the painted surface is unstable to mechanical damage.
3. Radiators made of light and ductile aluminum do not withstand overload during water hammer and burst at the points where pipes are connected to the battery.
4. Copper and bimetallic batteries with a copper tube are good for everyone, but they are too expensive, especially when you have to change the entire heating circuit in a house or apartment.

What to choose?

To understand which device is better for specific conditions of use, an oil heater or a convector, it is necessary to compare them according to various parameters.

It is important to consider the version of the device, since units of the same type, but of different brands, can vary significantly in quality, ease of use, durability and safety.

compactness

Convectors, as well as radiators, are represented by floor and wall models. At the same time, the dimensions of the convector are usually slightly smaller.

When choosing a portable convector or oil cooler for temporary use, you should also pay attention to the weight of the product. The weight of convectors does not exceed 10 kg, while oil heaters weigh 18-25 kg

Convector type wall heater

Room heating rate

Comparison of the heating rate of a conventional oil heater will benefit from an electric convector, since it quickly enters the operating mode of heat transfer. However, a radiator equipped with a built-in fan will spend some time warming up, but then in a short time it will warm up the entire volume of air in the room due to forced circulation.The convector has a lower heating temperature and it works only due to natural air exchange.

Safety

Most models of convectors are equipped with protection against voltage surges, overheating, equipped with position sensors that turn off the unit when it falls or tilts.

Economy class oil-filled radiators may not have any protection, so their operation is possible only with constant monitoring. More expensive models also have a rollover sensor.

The surface of a working convector heats up to approximately 60 ° C, it is impossible to burn yourself on this heating device. The metal body of the oil cooler heats up to 85°C and may cause burns if touched. If there are children in the house, choose a model with a protective cover.

The device of a modern convector heater

If we imagine an emergency situation, then if the convector malfunctions, a short circuit may occur. A faulty oil cooler can also cause a short circuit, and in addition, there is a risk of hot oil leaking.

From a safety point of view, a convector is the best option.

Environmental friendliness

According to this parameter, the devices are equivalent and safe for health. In both cases, during operation, oxygen in the room is not burned out, dust is not burned. The paint and varnish external covering does not emit harmful substances when heated.

Oil coolers without a fan differ only in that they raise dust particles into the air to a lesser extent, since they are characterized by a relatively low convection efficiency.

Heating large areas

If you need to warm up a large area well, several heating devices are used.However, each oil cooler requires a separate outlet.

Oil coolers with and without fan

Convectors installed in the same or different rooms are combined into a single heating network, which is equipped with a rheostat - this reduces the consumption of electrical energy.

Comfort

Heating devices of both types work silently (with the exception of radiators equipped with a fan), they do not emit unpleasant odors. High-end models are designed for programming the operating mode, setting the on and off times.

Oil radiators do not dry out the air, in addition, they can be additionally equipped with a humidifier.

When choosing a convector, please note that heat is distributed unevenly during convection - the difference in air temperatures near the floor and under the flow can reach 10 ° C. In addition, devices of this type are not suitable for dusty rooms and rooms.

Cost and durability

Assessing the pros and cons of heaters, it is necessary to compare the service life and cost of products.

Oil heaters can be of different sizes

Convectors are designed for 20-25 years of use. These are reliable, maintainable devices. Oil radiators after several years of operation (up to 10 years) leak due to the formation of microcracks. Such heaters cannot be repaired, and they must be replaced with new ones.

The cost of both convectors and radiators depends on the brand and characteristics of a particular model. On average, oil heaters are cheaper when comparing units of different types, but of the same power and functionality. Products of well-known brands are expensive, but inexpensive analogues usually have a short service life.

Oil coolers

Oil coolers work on a similar principle, but the temperature of their cases is much higher.

Let's immediately see how a convector differs from a radiator. Convectors heat mainly by heating hot air. As for radiators, there is also thermal radiation. If we stand next to the radiator, we will catch the heat emanating from it and at the same time we will feel how hot air rises above the device. That is, the main difference between a convector and a radiator is not at all in the principle of operation, but in the design and some other parameters.

Oil radiators are heating devices that not only radiate heat that spreads in all directions, but also provide heated air that rises. Due to this, a relatively fast heating of the premises is achieved. Such radiators are rarely used in permanent heating systems, most often they work as auxiliary equipment - in this regard, they heat a little better than convector devices.

The main difference between an oil cooler and a convector is a large working area. In fact, this is the entire outer surface. It is heated by heated mineral oil circulating through a small circuit. These devices are installed at arbitrary points in the premises - under the desktops, near workplaces, next to the sofa, along blank walls. Some models are made in an exclusively wall-mounted form factor.

Advantages of oil coolers:

• Oil appliances are better because they provide quick warm-up due to their large area;
• Built-in thermoregulation systems;
• Mobility - they are easy to move from place to place;
• Ease of cleaning;
• Affordable cost.

But there are also disadvantages:

Do not leave children alone with oil coolers, they may burn themselves.

• High case temperatures - it is better not to use these devices where children play, otherwise they may get burned;
• There is always a risk of leakage - hot mineral oil leaking from the radiator can cause burns;
• Models for permanent heating are very, very expensive.

Oil coolers are best chosen as accessories.

Kinds

Basically, there are two types of convectors:

They work with electricity. Electricity is supplied to the heating elements, which is converted into heat. The air around the convector heats up and rises, and this process continues all the time. Thanks to air circulation, the electric convector quickly raises the temperature in the room. To install an electric convector, it is not necessary to mount additional structures or provide air outflow

We will focus on this particular type of convectors in the article.

They work by burning gas inside the case. Fire also raises the temperature of the heating element, and, accordingly, the ambient air. Gas convectors are used somewhat less frequently due to the fact that their installation involves the use of gas for heating, and this is additional paperwork. Also, gas convectors require increased attention from fire safety. When installing them, you need to create a structure for the removal of combustion products from the house. Accordingly, gas convectors are used less frequently, and mainly in private homes.

Advantages and disadvantages of electrical devices

To install an electric convector, you do not need to draw up documents or obtain permits. The convector does not make changes to the design of the premises, so it can be placed anywhere, including in residential and non-residential premises. The installation of such devices is extremely simple - it can be fixed anywhere or simply placed on the floor, and you do not need to bring it to a gas pipe or other communications - just plug it into a power outlet.

Many electric convectors have automation that is responsible for controlling the temperature in the room. This saves money on heating and prevents excess air heating, so the room does not get hot. Also, the electric convector is safe to use - in the event of an accidental tipping over to the floor, it can turn itself off to prevent accidental fire.

The electric convector is quite simply arranged, so it rarely breaks down and does not require careful maintenance. Also, it does not burn oxygen in the room and does not dry out the air. The convector with an electric heating system does not create noise and does not emit unpleasant odors.

Electric convectors have several disadvantages:

1. Firstly, it is completely dependent on electricity, and if for some reason it does not exist, the convector will not heat the room.
2. Secondly, not all models of convectors have sufficient moisture protection, which prevents their use in bathrooms.

Also, the electric convector has a drawback in the form of a limited area that it can heat. So, the average convector can heat up to 30 square meters.Of course, there are also convectors for large rooms, but they will cost more and the range of such convectors is limited.

Advantages and disadvantages of gas appliances

The main reason why people buy gas convectors is the final cost of heating. It is cheaper to heat a room with gas than with electricity (at a comparative temperature and size of the room). Also, gas convectors can cope with the heating of large rooms. Because of these features, people install gas convectors. Also, problems with gas happen less often than with electricity, so if there is a gas convector in the house, then the probability of turning off the heating is minimal.

There are more disadvantages of this type of convectors:

1. First, you need to call specialists to install them.
2. Secondly, it is simply impossible to put a gas convector indoors. You have to get permission from government agencies.
3. For the installation of gas convectors, it is necessary to install additional ventilation on the facade of the house.
4. Unlike electric convectors, gas convectors are not equipped with electronics, so they have to be adjusted independently.

Expert opinion
Torsunov Pavel Maksimovich

The gas convector burns oxygen in the room. It often emits an unpleasant odor due to small gas leaks. Open flames remain a potential hazard despite being isolated by the enclosure. Another problem of the gas convector is the connection with the external atmosphere through ventilation. There are frequent cases when, due to strong wind, the fire in the convector is blown out, and the convector has to be turned on again. The switching process itself is not clear the first time, and in order to learn how to light a fire, you have to train.There is also a risk of gas leakage.

Compare convector and radiator

To understand what is better to choose, first of all it makes sense to compare the ease of use and the economic effect of the operation of devices.

An oil heater with a heating element is characterized by high thermal inertia, since it takes a lot of time to heat up and cool down mineral oil. As a result:

• heating of the air in the room begins only some time after the unit is connected to the mains;
• the heating device continues to heat the air in the room for a long time after being turned off;
• the unit consumes more electricity than the convector, by 25-30%.

The convector is economical and designed for a longer service life. Oil-filled heaters begin to leak over time due to microcracks in the body.

Comparative characteristics

To finally answer the question of which heater is better: oil or convector, let's make a small comparative table:

Thus, the answer to the question of what is better a convector or an oil heater adds up by itself. Despite the higher price, convectors still outperform oil appliances in almost all respects. However, the choice is definitely yours.

Technical characteristics of radiators

Diagram of the radiator device.

If we talk about the degree of prevalence, then radiators are more popular. For the most part, these are ordinary batteries familiar to everyone.The principle of operation of such a heater is identical to the principle of operation of a Russian stove: heat radiates from the surface of the radiator. The cast-iron radiator has a number of advantages: abrasive and corrosion resistance is high, and its cost is relatively low. The service life of the radiator is also impressive, at least 50 years with proper care. Such a heating device is best used in storey buildings where there is natural ventilation.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that if there is a choice of a heating system, then it is not recommended to choose cast-iron radiators, it is best to use appliances made of aluminum, bimetal, which perfectly combine style and quality.

Such heaters can be sectional, tubular and panel. In order to understand how they differ from each other, you should consider them in more detail.

A sectional radiator is a structure of connected heating elements. The power of such a heater directly depends on the number of these heating elements, and the reliability is directly dependent on the quality of the connections. In order to make such devices, different metals are used. More often than others, cast iron is used in this regard; you can still often see steel and aluminum radiators on sale.

Diagram of radiator sections.

When it comes to panel radiators, the name says a lot: as a heating element in such a heater, a panel is used, which consists of metal plates hermetically connected to each other, between which a coolant is placed, it is he who serves as a heater for the radiator housing.

As for the tubular radiator, it can be used as a heating device, and it is also a great piece of design. This becomes possible due to the fact that such a device has only two hard fixation points: they are located on the incoming and outgoing collectors. Pipes between these points can be placed arbitrarily, so that any weave pattern is created. However, such a device, for all its positive characteristics, is rather uneconomical.

How convectors are used

Scheme of the principle of operation of the convector.

Convectors can be used for both primary and secondary heating, they are also indispensable where it is impossible to install traditional radiators. So, a convector that is built into the floor can be placed along sliding doors or walls made of glass. Such a heater is distinguished by its simplicity of design and low cost of the material, which ensures its popularity. The mechanism of this device works in this way: the cold air that is between the plates heats up, then rises, cools, and then falls again, then the process is repeated.

Increasingly, such a heating device as an electric convector is used in everyday life, which is distinguished by its compact size, attractive design and low weight, thanks to these qualities it fits perfectly into the interior. If we compare such a device with an oil radiator in terms of the speed of heating the room, then the electric convector will have an advantage, which means that less electricity is consumed.

Electric convectors have another indisputable advantage - a long service life, which can be 10-15 years, while an oil cooler can go out of service with the smallest crack.

It should also be noted that an electric radiator heats up much less than an oil one, which is very important if, for example, there is a small child in the house