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Heaters
work by converting one form of energy, either electrical energy in
electricity or chemical energy in gas, wood and kerosene, into another
form of energy - heat. Other by-products arise from the conversion
process - including greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and sometimes
smoke, soot and other pollutants.
Most heaters use one of two methods, and sometimes a combination of
the two, to provide warmth.
Radiant heaters give off 'rays' of heat from a warm or hot
surface. The rays travel through the room, heating surfaces such as
furniture, the floor and your skin. In turn these objects slowly heat
up the air around them. Electric 'bar' radiators, open fires and the
sun are all common examples of radiant heaters.
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Radiant
heaters are a good choice for rooms with one or more of the
following:
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An
open-plan design |
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A
high ceiling |
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Poor
or no insulation |
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Unavoidable
draughts. |
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Convection
heaters work by heating air, which circulates through the room.
While some circulation happens naturally, most convection heaters
have a fan to improve the circulation effect. Common examples are
electric 'fan' heaters, convection gas heaters and ducted central
heaters.
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Convection
heaters are suitable for rooms with one or more of the following:
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Average-height
ceilings |
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Roof/ceiling
insulation |
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Few
draughts. |
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Some heaters combine the characteristics and effects of both radiant
and convection heaters. Many gas, wood and oil-filled electric column
heaters function in this way. These heaters may be suitable if your
room has a combination of the features listed above.
Conduction is a third, less common method of transferring heat.
Electric blankets are one of the few heaters that use conduction.
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