| Most heaters are usually powered by either | | | | Infrared Heaters: |
| electricity or fuel, and while both types of heaters | | | | Infrared heaters transfer thermal energy via |
| have their own individual benefits, electric heaters | | | | electromagnetic waves, and all infrared heaters |
| seem to be the most popular option because | | | | share one common characteristic: heat is emitted |
| they are often inexpensive to purchase and easy | | | | or radiated from the heated object or substance, |
| to maintain. They primarily work by converting | | | | and only objects are warmed (as opposed to |
| electricity into heat via an electric resistor within | | | | entire areas). In general, infrared heaters are |
| the heater, and an electric current flowing through | | | | energy efficient and great for multi-purpose use, |
| the resistor then coverts the electric energy into | | | | but they are especially effective for industrial use |
| heat energy. | | | | such as warehouses and even greenhouses |
| Some of the benefits of an electric heater are | | | | where high temperatures are required to be |
| obvious - electricity is available anywhere, and | | | | quickly reached. |
| they do not require any fuel to be stored. | | | | Fan Heaters: |
| It is also important to understand safety issues | | | | A fan heater is a type of convection heater that |
| when purchasing a heater. New models of electric | | | | uses a fan to pass air over a heating element in |
| heaters are required to pass rigid safety tests in | | | | order to speed up the airflow. This heating |
| order to ensure safe operation. Wire grills, tilt | | | | element heats the air, the air leaves the heater, |
| switches, automatic shutoff controls, and | | | | and the surrounding area is warmed. This can |
| thermostat controls are all safety features to | | | | result in extremely rapid heating in a room, but |
| look for. | | | | these may not be the best choice if sound is a |
| Although all electric heaters use the same basic | | | | concern, as fan-type heaters can sometimes be |
| principle to generate heat, there are variations in | | | | noisy. However, fan heaters work well in areas |
| how they provide this heat to the environment. | | | | where installing other types of heating devices |
| Here are some different electric heating methods | | | | would be impractical, and examples of fan heaters |
| available: | | | | would be portable fan garage heaters, which are |
| Convection Heaters: | | | | placed on the floor and provide blasts of warm air |
| These types are great for providing background | | | | onto the body. |
| warmth for a closed space. Convection heaters | | | | Of course, fueled heaters such as those using |
| warm the air near the element or body of the | | | | propane or kerosene are also heating choices, but |
| heater by using air convection currents to | | | | these types of heaters may not suitable for |
| generate heat, and these currents circulate | | | | home use because they need to be vented due |
| throughout the appliance and across its heating | | | | to carbon monoxide emissions. However, if you |
| element. Examples of convection heaters are | | | | are concerned about the cost of electricity and |
| oil-filled radiators, which are perfect for personal | | | | are looking to rapidly heat your patio, warehouse, |
| spaces such as under desks and electric | | | | or other large, well-ventilated area, these can also |
| baseboard heaters, which are great for heating | | | | be considered. |
| rooms such as a bedroom or lounge area. | | | | |