Re: How Well Do Infrared Quartz Heaters Work
Saverio Lazaro
Radiant heating uses infrared waves to directly heat the surfaces of objects. All objects emit and absorb infrared heat, which is part of the electromagnetic spectrum with a frequency below visible light. Hotter objects will radiate more of this heat. This is the basis of the technology for most quartz heaters.
The principle is well-known and has been in use for many years. Electric infrared energy travels in straight lines from the heat source. This energy is directed into specific patterns by optically designed reflectors. Infrared, like light, travels outward from the heat source and diffuses over a distance.
This form of heating works similar to the sun, travelling in parallel lines, even able to pass through the vacuum of space. This is why quartz heating is not affected by wind and able to directly heat people and objects. These heaters are suitable for outdoor heating as well as indoor heating and due to their heat intensity, are also highly effective for space heating.
A quartz heater is a common type of infrared heater and the creation and subsequent release of heat from the heater is made by the heating element, enclosed in a quartz tube. The heating element produces heat at the necessary wavelength to create the appropriate level of intensity to heat the specific material required. The purpose of the tube is to protect the heating element and also to stop the escape of convection heat.
The principle of quartz heating works with the heating element becoming very hot and the quartz tube experiencing a sudden build up of heat. When the tube reaches the appropriate temperature, the heat is emitted out of the tube. The wavelength of heat produced from this process has been acknowledged as ideal for the human body. The infrared heat is directly absorbed by the people and objects near the heater and very little heat is absorbed by the air, due to the infrared spectrum being almost completely outside the absorption spectrum of air.
For successful comfort heating, there must be reasonably even levels of heat throughout the area to be heated. Proper mounting heights of the individual quartz heaters, accurate heater spacing, reflector beam patterns, and heat wattage must all be specified to generate the proper heating levels at the task area.
Tansun provides a free heating design service upon request where we can use more than 35 years of experience in the heating industry to provide you with innovative quartz heaters for any scheme you require. Please call us at 0121 580 6200 or email our dedicated sales team at sa...@tansun.com to help provide you with the correct quartz heaters for your scheme.
Often, ceramic is utilized as the base material in infrared heaters, but it produces less efficient heaters than when quartz is used as the base material. Although ceramic and quartz can both be used to manufacture effective infrared heating elements, heaters made with quartz are preferred by many buyers due to their higher efficiency.
It is essential to understand what exactly makes quartz heaters superior to ceramic infrared heaters. This post discusses both ceramic and quartz heaters followed by the differentiating factors that make quartz heaters more efficient than ceramic heaters.
The two main materials used in infrared heater manufacturing are ceramic and quartz due to their material stability at high temperatures. The primary source of heat in both types of heaters comes from a coiled wire heating element, typically made of an iron-chromium-aluminum alloy.
With the higher performance efficiency of infrared quartz heaters now understood, it is important to acknowledge the value of quality. You must invest in high-quality quartz heaters to realize the benefits discussed above. Hence it is recommended to buy quartz heaters from a trusted manufacturer like Casso-Solar Technologies. The company has been a trusted choice of customers for infrared solutions for over 60 years. They supply high quality and high-performance infrared heaters to numerous applications and industries, such as plastics, textiles, glass, metals and more.
Infrared heaters create a heat that is very similar to the sun. Infrared light isn't visible because it's beyond the spectrum we see. That invisible light gets absorbed by our skin, clothes and other objects, which is how things around an infrared heater warm up.
It is warmer in direct sunlight than in the shade because the shade blocks out a lot of the light, and like our natural big outside heater, infrared heaters in your home will only warm areas directly in front of it.
It's hard to make generalizations about infrared heaters since there are so many different specifications. Infrared heaters can be powered by electricity, natural gas, or propane. Different heaters will have different maximum output levels, different controls, and different designs.
However there are a few benefits, and drawbacks, that generally apply to all infrared heaters. They are becoming an increasingly popular way for people to heat up their homes and workplaces during the cold winter months, and it's definitely a heating option worth considering.
Infrared space heaters emit rays that are absorbed by other items, which gently increases the temperature of the heaters' surroundings. They work differently than the other types of heaters you may be considering for your home or office.
An electric portable space heater is a popular type of heater that works well for small areas or specific rooms. They're usually very safe to use, and the most popular types are fan-forced or oil-filled.
Most heaters work through convection, gradually heating the surrounding air and letting it circulate until it's premeated the entire room, but infrared heaters emit a precise beam of heat that warms you directly by throwing out a steady stream of heat particles. With infrafed heaters, you don't have to wait to warm up with you step in from the cold, like with ordinary heaters. You warm up rapidly, with fast acting heat rays that dispel the cold. They're also great if you're sitting on the couch or at your desk because their heat is focused on you and not the entire room.
Infrared heaters are also actually "healthier" than other heaters since they do not reduce humidity or oxygen content in the room. Other heaters can dry out your sinuses and skin, as well as cause static electricity.
Since these heaters produce the same type of heat as the sun, you can enjoy the benefits of natural sunlight without the dangerous effects of UV radiation. The infrared heat will even promote healthier blood circulation.
Infrared heaters won't add any pollutants in your room. They operate without any carbon combustion, no toxic-by-products, no open flames and no fuel lines. Essentially, infrared heaters don't add anything to the air, and they don't take anything from the air.
Since they warm only specific areas and objects, you don't waste energy heating an entire room. There's also no need to preheat a room since these heaters work instantly. Some use only 300 watts of electricity and almost 100 percent of the heat created is transferred out, so you can get super efficient heating for a very low cost.
The maintenance for infrared heaters is extremely minimal. Since there are no moving parts, there's no motor to wear out, air filters to replace or lubrication required. All you have to do is periodically clean the reflectors to keep your unit working perfectly.
Some models of infrared space heaters are actually quite stylish too! Air & Water offers many infrared heaters with a furniture-like wood finish that compliments most decor. Heaters are usually an eyesore, but it's possible to find an infrared heater that you can proudly display. Many are also very compact and portable.
The coils of infrared heaters get extremely hot so they can be dangerous to use around children and pets. Since the home use of infrared heaters is increasing, however, companies are beginning to manufacturer much safer units. Some infrared heaters are encased in cool-to-the-touch cabinets and disperse the heat using a fan. More traditional models often now also have an automatic shut-off and emergency tip-over switch for added safety.
Infrared heaters work the instant they turn on, but they also stop radiating heat the instant they are turned off. Since the air in the room is not actually warmed, the room will lose heat very quickly. In comparison, an oil-filled heater will continue to warm even after the unit is off because it takes time for the heated oil to cool down.
It is safe to leave infrared heaters on overnight. However, it's important to choose a heater that has over-heating protection to ensure it remains at a cool temperature. Equally important is tip-over protection, which will immediately shut off the heater in the event it falls over.
Infrared heaters are more energy efficient than electric space heaters. They still use electricity to run, however, and while your bill might be lower, energy use depends on the size of your machine and how much power it uses. This means some infrared heaters can use as much electricity as conventional heaters.
"Relatively speaking, radiant space heaters are fairly efficient, but any electric heating unit is not the most efficient," says Micetich, who notes that several factors may play a role in your final bill. "It costs approximately 30 cents an hour to run an infrared heater," Micetich adds, "but this also depends on where you live and the unit size. If you're using it as a primary heat source, you're going to need more than one, which of course will require more electricity."
Infrared heaters, therefore, do not heat the air in a room the same way conventional space heaters do; nonetheless, they raise the temperature slightly. Many manufacturers give square footage guidelines for specific models. Note that infrared heaters often don't work as well in draftier areas such as screened-in porches, or rooms with vaulted ceilings. "An infrared heater wouldn't be the best choice to heat up a large room," says Micetich, "but they're great for spaces like a small kitchen or bedroom, office, or breakfast nook." That said, you may also find when reading reviews that some models do a good job making a large room feel cozier, despite the manufacturer's recommendations.