What health risks can an infrared heater cause?

Infrared treatment

Thus, the benefits of infrared radiation for humans achieved through the following mechanism:

1. The heat coming from the rays starts and accelerates biochemical reactions.
2. First of all, tissue regeneration processes begin to intensify, the network of blood vessels becomes wider, blood flow accelerates.
3. As a result, the growth of healthy cells becomes more and more intense, plus everything in the body begins to independently produce biologically active substances.
4. All this reduces blood pressure due to better blood supply, thereby achieving muscle relaxation.
5. Provides easy access of white blood cells to the foci of inflammation. This leads to strengthening of immunity and strengthening of the protective functions of the body in the fight against various diseases.

Recommended reading: How to descale a steam generator at home

It is thanks to these special properties that a general strengthening effect is achieved for the body during the treatment with infrared rays.

During treatment, both the whole body and some of its affected part can be exposed to radiation. Procedures can be carried out up to 2 times a day, and the duration of the session is up to half an hour. The number of procedures depends on the needs of the patient. In order not to harm, during the sessions it is imperative to protect the eyes and the area around them from exposure to radiation. Various methods are used for this.

Attention! Redness of the skin that appears after the procedure on the skin will disappear within an hour

The principle of operation of infrared heaters

The functionality of these devices is based on the emission of electromagnetic rays.

The components of a household appliance convert incoming electrical energy into heat radiation.

These rays are absorbed by the interior items that are in the room, and then emitted back, heating the air in the space.

A distinctive feature of such heaters is that the air in a heated room remains warm and moderately humidified for a long time. The incoming rays are absorbed by the furniture, which helps to maintain normal oxygen humidity.

In addition, these units are famous for their efficiency. Experts recommend using the services of professionals when choosing and installing an infrared heater in each room. Doing this will save you a lot of energy and money.

Choosing an infrared heater

Key point to consider when choosing equipment - safety. It is necessary to study the reviews about the manufacturer, the technical characteristics of the models. Look at the reviews, descriptions. It is better to select several models that are suitable for the heating area.

The safest ceramic and tubular heaters. Ceramic is desirable to use in floor, desktop options. The wall-mounted appliance must be installed at a sufficient height so as not to hurt.

It is advisable to purchase equipment with an overheating sensor.

The locality of heating is an advantage and a disadvantage of the device, since when leaving the radius of the waves, a temperature difference will be noticeable. If you do not plan to install other heating devices, it is better to buy several panels. The warmest option is the ceiling.

When calculating power, it is necessary to take into account the rule: 100 W of power is consumed per 1 square meter. When choosing and checking, check the thickness of the body, the integrity of the main parts. You should not take a model with thin wires, a weak case made of thin metal. This significantly reduces the service life.

The safest way to heat a room with infrared devices is to arrange a network of several ceiling panels that heat the main parts of the room. It is advisable to purchase carbon models.

Types of heating element, advantages and disadvantages, which one to choose

When choosing an infrared heater, please note that the models differ in the shell, in which the heating element is placed. It can be metal, quartz or ceramic.

As for the heating element, there are several types:

Halogen

The device has the form of a halogen lamp operating in the infrared range. In the internal cavity of the product is a filament, which is made of carbon fiber or tungsten.

When the filament is heated, infrared energy is released and then transferred to the tube.

The peculiarities of halogen lamps include the emission of light of a golden hue, which irritates the eyesight. To eliminate the effect, a number of manufacturers apply a special composition.

But even this is not the main disadvantage. Halogen heaters emit short waves that are dangerous to human health. That is why it is better to refuse to buy such devices.

Carbon

Such a heating element has the form of a quartz tube, in the cavity of which there is a vacuum. A spiral made of carbon (carbon) is installed inside the tube.

The advantages of the device include a high heating rate, as well as high efficiency.

Disadvantages - a small resource that does not exceed 2 years. In this case, the power is 1-2 kW.

A feature of carbon infrared heaters is a red glow, which is dangerous for people with allergies and asthma.

In general, products with such heaters are more suitable for short-term use.

Ceramic

The advantage of a ceramic-coated heating element is the absence of glow during operation, as well as a longer service life (from 3 years).

The downside is the high price (when compared with the quartz counterpart). But it is worth noting that the increased costs pay off faster, thanks to the design features of the product.

Despite slow heating and cooling, ceramic infrared heaters are often used in saunas and hospitals.

Micathermic (tubular)

This heating element type made of metal and structurally involves the use of a ceramic element.

Pros - reliability, ease of use and a long resource. The disadvantage is the presence of slight crackling.

The reason for the crackling is the difference in the coefficients of thermal expansion of the aluminum body and the steel spiral.

When choosing an IR heater of this type, check the parameters of the heating element, the quality of the case, the insulator, the foil and the emitter. Such a device is the best option for long-term use.

Film infrared analogues

They are mainly used as infrared underfloor heating, but can also be used as elements for individual heating. Film infrared heaters are usually mounted on the wall. Often used in bathrooms.

Element insulator

During prolonged operation, the body of the infrared heater may overheat above 95 degrees. To avoid the problem, an insulator is installed, which can be of several types.

The most widely used basalt type of product

It is especially important that it does not contain harmful additives, because such components, when heated, emit toxic formaldehyde, which is dangerous for the human body.

Please note that the thermal insulator is approved for use in the food industry, which guarantees the safety of the product. To do this, study the hygiene certificate - it must have a corresponding mark

At the first request of the buyer, the seller is obliged to present the document.

Additional options

Modern models of infrared heaters often provide a number of additional options.

These include:

• Built-in thermostat, which ensures that the temperature is maintained at the set level. It is not mounted on all models, but its presence is an advantage.
• Overheat protection. The installation of a sensor that controls the temperature of the heater is mandatory when the device is operated without the supervision of the owner.
• Rollover protection. The main task of the sensor is to turn off the product in the event of a fall. This option should be in floor models.
• Remote control. The possibility of remote control simplifies the process of use. The presence of a remote control is a prerequisite for ceiling models, and in other devices the option is provided at the discretion of the manufacturer.

Infrared radiation - what is it?

Conclusions about the harmfulness of this radiation can be made only if you understand what it is. In principle, any heating device emits infrared rays, but their wavelengths, as well as their intensity, are different. Therefore, it would be wrong to compare the IR radiation of a conventional cast-iron battery and an infrared heater.

Infrared radiation refers to electromagnetic radiation. Its natural source is the Sun. It's nice to feel the warm rays of the sun on your skin, but being exposed to them for too long can be harmful. In principle, the negative and positive impact of this radiation is determined by the degree of its penetration deep into the skin.

One of the main advantages of infrared type heaters is that they transfer energy to the destination with virtually no loss. The surface of objects exposed to IR radiation heats up the more, the higher the temperature of the heater itself. After all, as it heats up, more and more short waves appear in the spectrum. Namely, they most of all heat the surfaces that are facing them. And if the heater during operation carries out mainly only short-wave radiation, then we have to talk not about the benefits, but only about the dangers of infrared heaters.

Depending on what the wavelength is, and also to what temperature the heating element is heated, infrared heaters are divided into three types:

• Heaters emitting long waves (from 50 to 200 microns) heat up to 300 degrees Celsius.
• Heaters emitting medium waves (from 2.5 to 50 microns) heat up to 600 degrees.
• Heaters emitting short waves (from 0.7 to 2.5 microns) heat up the most - over 800 degrees.

Depending on the degree of penetration into the depth of human skin, the entire range of the infrared wave spectrum can be divided into three parts:

• IR-A - wavelengths from 0.76 to 1.5 microns. They are able to penetrate deep enough under the skin - up to four centimeters.
• IR-B is a wavelength range, the length of which is from 1.5 to 3 microns. Their degree of penetration under the skin is medium.
• IR-C - waves longer than 3 microns. They do not go beyond the uppermost skin layers (from 0.1 to 0.2 microns), being completely absorbed by them.

Radiation of the heating element consists of short, long and medium waves. It's just that there are more of them in the spectrum, and less of others. The higher the heating temperature, the more short waves appear in this spectrum. But not all manufacturers of infrared heaters talk about this. For example, here is the dependence of wavelengths on the temperature of the heating element given by one of the honest manufacturers of infrared heaters.

255	6,80	150
354	5,40	250
354	4,90	300
452	4,50	400
468	4,15	500
553	3,85	650
602	3,60	750
685	3,15	1000

Take for example the human body, which has a temperature of 36.6 degrees. The maximum energy emitted by it comes from waves with a length of 9.6 microns. An infrared heater with a ceramic element emits maximum radiation at a wavelength of 3.6 microns and a temperature of 600 degrees. The sun has the greatest radiation in the visible part of the spectrum at a wavelength of 0.5 microns.

From this it becomes clear that our body can easily perceive heat waves with a length of more than 9.6 microns. Looking at the passport of a heater produced by a reliable company, you can find the range of emitted waves in it. Typically, it is either 2 (or 3) to 10 microns.

The main advantage of IR heaters - instantaneous energy transfer - is due precisely to the influence of short and medium waves. The more the radiator heats up, the more short waves appear in the spectrum.As a result, the surface to be heated will become warm much faster than using, for example, a convector-type heater that has to heat all the air in the room.

The principle of operation of a convector heater.

If you've had a fireplace or an electric reflector, then you know it's warm to sit next to them, but you need to move close enough to the appliance. And heat from them goes only in one direction. It's like sitting by a fire. You can gape and overheat, having received harm from infrared heaters instead of good. Therefore, manufacturers of these devices are trying to soften the radiation.

The emissivity, also called the emissivity, determines its intensity. If you strongly heat a completely black object, the radiation from it will be the hardest. The intensity of rays from an element in a ceramic case is somewhat reduced. Soften the radiation and reflectors mounted in the device.

Three ways to transfer heat

In the eighth grade, in physics lessons, teachers said that there are three types of heat transfer:

• Thermal conductivity is the transfer of heat from less heated bodies to hotter ones. For the process to be carried out, the contact of the bodies is necessary. The object on top of the radiator will heat up due to heat conduction.
• Convection is a process in which heat is transferred by fluid or gas flows. All classical heating systems are based on this effect. Hot air goes up, cold air goes down. Therefore, all radiators must be located below, near the floor.
• Radiation (radiant heat transfer) - heat is transferred using waves.The infrared radiation discussed above refers to this method of heat transfer.

Advantages of IR heaters, recommendations

Advantages of infrared heating:

High speed distribution of beams.

Based on the principle of operation, the rapid distribution of radiation over the surface is a rapid warm-up in general.

Save oxygen.

Conventional systems burn the gas in the air necessary for breathing.

Retain moisture.

The absence of combustion of particles in air masses leads to the conservation of oxygen and water vapor. Humidity remains constant in the room

Important in production, in places of temporary residence (hospitals, sanatoriums), living rooms (nurseries, bedrooms)

Possibility of local heating.

The convention is carried out with all the air in space. Infrared heating is zonal, extending only to the "illuminated" space.

Lack of sounds.

The heater does not crackle, does not create discomfort with extraneous sounds, and maintains good audibility. In a heated room, you can make music, relax in silence, install stereo systems.

How to prevent the harmful effects of IR radiation

To minimize the harmful effects on a person, it is worth observing a few simple rules for choosing and installing:

• It is better to place the device higher or in the farthest corner of the room. It is undesirable to send it to where there are people. In this case, the room will warm up, and there will be no harmful radiation.
• It is not recommended to install heaters of this type in children's rooms and bedrooms or where there is a constant crowd of people. If the device is essential, do not point it towards people.
• No need to buy a very powerful heater.It is necessary that its power is enough to heat the walls, floor and ceiling, and they will give heat.
• Take a good look at the infrared heater that you liked. Ask a consultant about the advantages and disadvantages, ask about the reliability of the manufacturer. To get an independent opinion, you can look at forums on the Internet.
• When choosing an infrared heater, you do not need to chase very cheap copies. Often cheapness indicates poor quality when the device is made of poor materials. When heated, toxins can be released, which will cause poisoning.

An infrared heater is a great alternative to centralized heating. When used correctly, it does not harm a person, and even improves health. This device will easily warm the whole family in the most severe frosts.

Safe radiation range for humans

Scientists divide infrared radiation into three more groups, depending on the wavelength of the emitted rays:

• Shortwave (from 0.75 * 10-6 to 1.5 * 10-6 meters);
• Medium wave (from 1.5 * 10-6 to 4 * 10-6 meters);
• Longwave (from 4 * 10-6 to 1 millimeter).

Man, being a source of energy, also emits waves. Having studied them, scientists found out that this is also infrared radiation belonging to the long-wave group. But the range of their wavelengths is small: from 6*10-6 to 20*10-6.

The harm of infrared heaters for a person is not detected if the range of rays emitted by them is included in the range of radiation emitted by a person. Therefore, modern IR heaters, according to safety standards, must operate at lengths waves from 7 to 14 micrometers - in a narrower range to eliminate harm.

First aid for heat stroke

If complications cannot be avoided, it is necessary to take a set of certain measures.

When providing first aid for heat stroke, the following steps should be taken.

1. Call an ambulance.
2. Move the victim to a cool place, preferably in the shade, where there will be fresh air.
3. Make it easier for him to breathe by removing or unbuttoning his clothes. Give validol.
4. Put the victim in a horizontal position, lifting his legs.
5. Give the victim 1 liter of water to drink with a little salt added.
6. Cool the person by wrapping him in a cold wet towel, apply ice to his forehead.
7. In case of loss of consciousness, it is necessary to give the victim a sniff of ammonia.

How infrared rays work

Infrared heaters have a simple device - they use special heating elements that generate infrared radiation. This type of radiation is thermal, it is emitted by the sun and any other heat sources. Even the most ordinary fire, on which we fry shish kebab, is a powerful source of infrared radiation. It is this radiation that allows you to warm residential premises and even open and semi-closed areas.

Infrared heaters heat objects and the floor in the room, and they in turn warm the air.

Studying the harm of infrared heaters for humans, you need to know about the principle of operation of these heaters. It is very simple - IR radiation, leaving the heater, reaches the surrounding objects and begins to heat them. Those, in turn, heat up, starting to give off heat to the atmosphere.This method of heating is more efficient than the same convection heating the air masses.

The devices we are considering do not heat the air, since infrared radiation is weakly absorbed by it. Air masses are warmed up only from surrounding objects. A person can also feel infrared radiation - he perceives it in the form of directed heat. Remember how warm it is when we approach the fire - this is how its IR radiation works. And if we turn our backs to the fire, the face will feel the coolness of the surrounding air.

What are the advantages of infrared heaters? They provide:

• rapid spread of heat throughout the heated room - infrared radiation propagates at the speed of light and over a fairly large distance (hot air from convectors diverges through the room ten times slower);
• preservation of air humidity - this indicator does not change;
• preservation of the amount of oxygen in the air - the oxygen necessary for breathing is not burned, its percentage remains the same.

IR devices are characterized by high efficiency and fairly good economy.

Carbon infrared heaters have the best characteristics - they surpass any other heating devices in their efficiency and economy.

What is an infrared heater?

Infrared devices have a simple device - for their design, special heating elements are used that generate infrared radiation. This type of radiation is thermal, and it is emitted not only by the sun, but also by any other heat sources.It is these rays that make it possible to warm residential premises, as well as open and semi-closed areas.

The principle of operation of such units is similar to the main source of infrared rays - the sun and is manifested in the following:

• Creation of thermal IR rays.
• Transfer of the received heat to the surrounding air masses.
• IR absorption of floor, wall and ceiling surfaces.
• Occurrence on the basis of this radiation of the thermal effect inside the room.

If we think in a global sense, then each object that gives off heat, i.e. actually being its source, may well be considered an IR heater.

There are such heaters by wavelength:

• emitting long waves reach an operating temperature of +300-400°C.
• with medium waves reach a working temperature of +400-600°C.
• using short waves, have a standard temperature that reaches + 800 ° C, and sometimes even exceed the specified parameter.

Specially designed heating systems of this type are based on a different design, but at the same time they have an identical principle of operation. The reflector and emitter in the design form the necessary IR rays and direct them in the right direction.

Types of IR heaters. There are several types of infrared heaters:

1. Floor.
2. Wall.
3. Ceiling.

Which of these options is most preferable depends on the purpose and location of the installation.

In a house where there is a child, only wall-mounted appliances should be installed, while maintaining a height out of reach for his growth.

In a room with low ceilings, the installation of a ceiling variant is undesirable, since there is a high risk of overheating of household appliances and furniture.Also, this option is not recommended for installation in a children's room, bedroom and other places for a long stay.

Outdoor specimens are quite mobile, their location can be changed. Their use eliminates the risk of overheating any part of the body.

Choosing the Right Infrared Heater

halogen heating element

Infrared heaters are commercially available with three types of heating elements:

• halogen;
• carbon;
• ceramic.

1. The halogen emitter has two drawbacks - its golden light irritates the eyes and it emits short-wave heat, which has a negative effect on humans.
2. The carbon heating element, in addition to thermal radiation, gives off part of the energy in the form of a reddish glow, which can be an irritating factor for vision and cause a negative reaction in asthmatics and allergy sufferers.
3. Heating elements with a ceramic sheath do not emit light, and their radiation falls on the harmless medium and long wavelength range.

film IR heater

An honorable second place, after convector heaters, in the overall rating was taken by IR film models. They are thin heating elements laminated with a special film. The maximum temperature of their heating is 50 degrees. Such heaters are suitable for floor, panel, ceiling heating. Due to the low heating temperatures, the wavelength emitted by the heater is in the range of 5–10 µm. Moreover, the main part of its wave spectrum falls on 9-10 microns, which coincides with the length of the thermal wave emitted by a person. Therefore, it is easily absorbed by the human body and, as it were, warms it from the inside.

The positive asset of IR film coatings should also be their ability to maintain a comfortable temperature at which the air does not dry out and the oxygen content in it does not decrease. A large heating area contributes to the formation of negative ions, which have a positive effect on the body.

Manufacturers of infrared technology in the field of heating convince of its complete safety. In fact Is infrared heater harmful or not? - largely depends on the correct choice during its acquisition and installation.

local effect of IR heater

When choosing the power of an infrared heater, focus on the ratio of 1 kW for every 10 square meters. m. area to be heated. But this is only in the case when this unit will be the main source of heat.

For short-term local heating, the best option would be low power IR emitters, about 3 kW with carbon or quartz heaters. They are much more efficient at dissipating heat. If you just need an additional source of heat, then the power can be reduced.

Having chosen the ceiling mounting option for the heater, make sure that the distance from it to the head is from 0.7 to 1 meter. If you place the device too low, you are guaranteed a headache and feeling unwell. You will have to reinstall the heater or change the work area.

In other words, the harm of an infrared heater is “not programmed” in the principle of its operation, and may be caused by its incorrect installation or its excessive use. Infrared heating technology is economical, easy to operate, and it is not for nothing that it is called the climate technology of the future.

The article was written by Svetlana Semyonovna Dracheva, a physics teacher of the highest qualification category.

How infrared rays work

Infrared heaters have a simple device - they use special heating elements that generate infrared radiation. This type of radiation is thermal, it is emitted by the sun and any other heat sources. Even the most ordinary fire, on which we fry shish kebab, is a powerful source of infrared radiation. It is this radiation that allows you to warm residential premises and even open and semi-closed areas.

Infrared heaters heat objects and the floor in the room, and they in turn warm the air.

Studying the harm of infrared heaters for humans, you need to know about the principle of operation of these heaters. It is very simple - IR radiation, leaving the heater, reaches the surrounding objects and begins to heat them. Those, in turn, heat up, starting to give off heat to the atmosphere. This method of heating is more efficient than the same convection heating the air masses.

The devices we are considering do not heat the air, since infrared radiation is weakly absorbed by it. Air masses are warmed up only from surrounding objects. A person can also feel infrared radiation - he perceives it in the form of directed heat. Remember how warm it is when we approach the fire - this is how its IR radiation works. And if we turn our backs to the fire, the face will feel the coolness of the surrounding air.

What are the advantages of infrared heaters? They provide:

• rapid spread of heat throughout the heated room - infrared radiation propagates at the speed of light and over a fairly large distance (hot air from convectors diverges through the room ten times slower);
• preservation of air humidity - this indicator does not change;
• preservation of the amount of oxygen in the air - the oxygen necessary for breathing is not burned, its percentage remains the same.

IR devices are characterized by high efficiency and fairly good economy.

Carbon infrared heaters have the best characteristics - they surpass any other heating devices in their efficiency and economy.

This is interesting: The best manufacturers of IR heaters - we cover in detail

Cons of infrared heaters

Despite all the advantages of infrared heaters, compared to oil or convection heaters, this type of equipment still has disadvantages. They are insignificant, but they should be taken into account when choosing a heater for an office, house or apartment, as this will affect ease of use and safety.

Rapid drop in temperature when the heater is turned off

If you turn off the oil heater, then the heat from the heated liquid will still spread throughout the room for some time. This allows you to alternate the intervals of activity and passivity of the device so that it consumes less electricity, but does not stop heating.

Infrared heaters give off heat only when switched on. As soon as the voltage stops flowing to the heating element, radiant heat stops. The user immediately becomes cool.If the device has been working in the room for a long time, so that the walls and objects have warmed up, then the comfortable temperature will last a little longer. When turned on for a short time, as soon as the device is turned off, it will immediately become cold.

Uneven heating

Another disadvantage of an infrared heater is uneven heating. All his work, due to the involvement of electromagnetic waves in the infrared range, has a directional effect. As a result, in a room of 5x5 m, heat will be felt by those people who are in the zone of influence of the heater. The rest will be cold. For example, if there are two beds in a children's room in different corners, then you will have to put them side by side or use two IR devices at once.

Uneven heating is also manifested in the fact that radiant heat heats the zone like light from a flashlight - where it hits. Therefore, on the one hand, the human body can even be hot, and on the other, it feels cool from the surrounding air. With such an operation of the device in the open air, it will have to be periodically rearranged or turned by itself in order to warm up from all sides.

Negative impact on a person with prolonged intensive exposure

In general, IR heaters are safe for health, but problems can arise when you stay under a constantly turned on high-temperature device for a long time. It's like sitting under the sun for a long time - you won't get a tan from infrared rays, but the concentrated heat will dry out the skin, and the body will not have time to compensate for the loss of moisture by removing sweat in this place. Overdried skin can then bake and peel off. Therefore, sitting on one side with bare parts of the body to a constantly turned on heater is not recommended.

Dangerous for children and pets

High-temperature IR heaters with spiral heating elements can cause burns if a person touches the bulb or reflector. Although the heating element of the IR heater is enclosed in a glass tube, the surface of the latter is still very hot.

The heating element of the apparatus is often covered with a metal grate with large cells, so children, out of curiosity, can easily stick their hand in there. In view of this, you should not leave the included IR heater and children in the same room unattended. A pet with long hair can be hurt if it rubs against the heater and accidentally touches the heated bulb with the coil.

Bright light

Infrared heaters with tubular heating elements have another drawback - a bright glow. In daylight, this is not very noticeable and only helps to see whether the device is working or not. In the setting of a street cafe, it is even attractive in the evening.

But in a room at night, such a “bulb” can interfere with rest, continuing to shine brightly in the eyes. It is impossible to turn the case in the other direction, because then the heat will be directed past.

Fire risk

This shortcoming again concerns only high-temperature models. The tall stand of the heater allows it to be installed at different heights to adjust the direction of radiant heat depending on the user's location. The stand has a four-point stand to ensure a stable position, but a large dog in the house can easily overwhelm the unit by running past. If this is not seen, then touching the carpet or continuing to shine on the wooden flooring in this position, the heater can start a fire.

Having considered from all sides the topic of the pros and cons of IR heaters, it will be easier for you to make your choice. And you can find out already tested and popular models that have positive reviews by looking at the next page of the site, which describes the best infrared heaters of all kinds.

Which heater to buy

So... oil coolers, electric heaters, coiled heaters, it's all wrong. Too often we hear that these types of heaters dry out the air in the room, affect the humidity indicators and do not quite cope with their direct duties of warming us. In addition, they are not so harmless to our health. We continue to move on. But what is it?! A little sun, from the rays of which it becomes so warm. We carefully read the name of the product - Infrared heater. It seems to be exactly what we were looking for.

But, since our faithful friends, the authors of the World Without Harm website, went with you in search of a heater, before we start making our purchase, let's find out everything about infrared heaters together, and a little more ...

The range of home goods, and in particular heaters, has recently been replenished with a completely new product on the market - infrared heating devices. They are advertised quite loudly at all corners, but we understand that everything that is said in advertising must first be checked, and only then - blindly trust the manufacturers with your life and health.

So, what do we know about this type of heaters? Also, of course, we are interested in the question - on what principle do these infrared heating devices work?