Infrared heaters with a thermostat for cottages: a choice

Infrared heaters with a thermostat for cottages: characteristics and selection

Every owner of a cottage wants to be cozy and warm inside a country house in any weather. Stationary heating systems, including boilers, pipe contours, radiators and a underfloor heating system, are an excellent option if you plan to live outside the city all year round. But what if staying in the house is limited only to the summer period? In this case, infrared heaters with a thermostat for cottages are the best solution to the problem of heating a country house.

An infrared heater will provide warmth and comfort in a country house

Infrared heaters with a thermostat for cottages: the principle of operation

Currently, the market is full of offers and finding a suitable option will not be a difficult task. The only thing you need to understand is what the selection criteria are and what you should focus on. To begin with, let’s look at how the heating system is arranged, then the device itself, its principle of operation and advantages over classical room heating systems.

If we consider our usual heating system, which consists of water circuits and radiators, it is easy to come to the conclusion that heat is released into space in three ways:

• direct heat transfer is a direct exchange between the surface of the heating device and the air surrounding it. This option has a significant disadvantage – the limited working area of the radiator. It can be increased by increasing the temperature in the system;

The principle of operation of the infrared heater

• convection is a process directly related to direct heat transfer. The special design of radiators contributes to the formation of convection air flows, which, when heated to the desired temperature, are able to move throughout the entire area of the room. One of the disadvantages of this option is the fact that warm air moves upwards, while the floor and the lower level of the room remain cold. Such flows create drafts and carry dust;
• thermal radiation also occurs in the classical heating system, however, it is so insignificant that it cannot have a serious impact on the overall performance. In addition, the area of its distribution is very small.

Using an infrared heater is a simple and effective way to maintain a comfortable temperature in the room

Infrared heaters for cottages with a thermostat have a fundamentally different principle of operation. Due to electromagnetic waves lying in a certain range, energy is transferred over a distance. This is how solar energy spreads across our planet, heating objects and substances that get in the way. And they give this heat to the surrounding air. Thus, the principle of operation of this type of heaters was borrowed from nature itself.

When using a local “sun” placed absolutely anywhere in the room, furniture, walls, floor and ceiling receive heat, which is then released into the environment, and comfortable conditions are created in the room.

Comparative scheme of temperature distribution in convection heating and in the case of using an infrared heater

Infrared heaters: advantages and disadvantages

At first, you may be surprised by the large price range of infrared heaters. The pros and cons of using such a device in your home will help determine the following information.

Let’s consider the main advantages of this type of heaters:

• high speed of warming up even very large rooms and a feeling of warming almost immediately after the heater starts working;
• absence of convection currents in the heating process;
• The efficiency of such devices is almost 100%;
• comfortable air distribution in the room: the warmest – near the floor, the coolest – near the ceiling;

Wall-mounted infrared heater

• as a result of the operation of the device, oxygen is not burned, and the natural humidity level is maintained.;
• infrared heaters are absolutely silent;
• the stylishness and compactness of modern models allow you to choose a suitable style option for any interior;
• mobility is another significant plus of this type of heaters. You can easily take the device with you or just move it to a more convenient place for you;
• fire and electrical safety of such devices is at the highest level;
• the installation and use of an IR heater does not cause any difficulties even for those users who are not too well versed in the operation of electrical appliances.

A wall-mounted infrared heater in the form of a picture can become an interior decoration

This type of heating devices is not devoid of disadvantages. For example, zonal heating, which, on the one hand, is an advantage, on the other hand, significantly limits the zone of comfortable stay.

You can often find statements about the dangers of infrared heaters. And although, according to all indicators, the impact on the human body of medium and long infrared waves is not dangerous, and sometimes even useful, it is impossible to exclude the option of an individual allergic reaction. This is manifested by excessive lacrimation and irritability of the mucous membrane of the eyes.

Useful advice! Long-term direct exposure to IR rays on the eyes is strictly not recommended. This is fraught with serious corneal burns.

Heat distribution in the heater operation area

Due to the possible negative consequences of infrared heaters, it is necessary to adhere to all recommendations for installation and operation. The device is never placed in such a way as to affect a person directly, for example, over a bed. Before buying, be sure to think about where and how you will place the heater.

If you have previously noticed any signs of intolerance to radiation or are simply worried that infrared heaters are harmful to health, be sure to consult your doctor beforehand.

Outdoor model of infrared heater

Types of infrared heaters

The range of infrared heaters on the market is so large that it will not be difficult to choose a device for absolutely any operating conditions. But in order to make the right choice, it is necessary to understand at least a little about the specifics and classification of the goods.

Depending on the degree of radiation intensity, infrared heaters can be divided into three groups:

• short–wave devices with a wave range from 0.74 to 2.5 microns are the most powerful devices. For safety reasons, such heaters are not used in residential premises and even in shops or shopping centers. The scope of their application is large–scale industrial or public premises: railway stations, production workshops, warehouses. The use of some models is acceptable to create comfortable recreation areas on the summer grounds of restaurants or cafes;

Currently, the heating equipment market offers a wide selection of infrared heaters

• medium-wave devices occupy an intermediate position and emit waves from 2.5 to 50 microns. The use of such heaters is allowed everywhere, including in public places and residential premises;
• long–wave heaters (from 50 to 1000 microns) are the safest option in all respects. In these models, the radiator does not heat up to excessively high temperatures, which makes its operation almost imperceptible. And the radiation itself in this range is not only not considered dangerous, but even vice versa – it has a beneficial effect on the human body. According to sanitary and hygienic standards, long-wave heaters can be used in hospitals and kindergartens.

Infrared heaters are gaining more and more popularity every year

Also, IR heaters are divided into groups depending on the energy carrier used:

• diesel heaters, the operation of which requires the process of burning liquid fuel. If we talk about choosing an infrared heater with a thermostat for a cottage, this option is not considered at all. Firstly, it is unsafe, and secondly – the unpleasant smell of diesel fuel will not add comfort to your life;

Diagram of the gas infrared heater device

• gas models are sometimes used for heating residential premises or outbuildings. For such devices to work, they must be connected to cylinders with liquefied gas. To use these heaters, a good ventilation system is required, as well as constant monitoring of their operation. Despite its high efficiency, this option is still not optimal for use in the country, as it hides many dangers;
• electric heaters are the most common option today. Such devices consist of an infrared radiation source and an aluminum or steel reflector that provides heat transfer in the desired direction. This type of heaters often has a spherical or parabolic shape.

Electric heaters are the most common and safe option for heating cottages

Useful advice! Not so long ago, new models of heaters appeared in which there is no reflector. This is the safest of all possible options, since in this case the panels do not heat up above 90 degrees.

In turn, electric heaters are divided into several types:

• halogen;
• carbon fiber;
• glass;
• ceramic.

Criteria for choosing IR heaters for cottages

Perhaps one of the most important criteria for choosing a heater is the way it is installed. Given this characteristic, the following types of heating devices can be distinguished:

• outdoor;
• ceiling;
• wall mounted.

The outdoor type of IR heaters is characterized by high mobility

Floor heaters are the easiest and most mobile option. They can be easily moved, rearranged and even transported with you if necessary. The only drawback of such models is a very limited impact zone. The choice of floor heaters is quite large. They can be both with a vertical and horizontal arrangement of the IR emitter, which can also have a variety of shapes. The device can be placed directly on the floor or have a special stand or platform.

Ceiling infrared heaters with a thermostat occupy the second most popular place. Their main advantage is a convenient location, which allows not only to free up additional space in the room, but also to cover the maximum area for heating.

Ceiling models do not clutter up the space and allow you to cover the maximum area for heating

Today you can buy an infrared ceiling heater with a thermostat, which will perfectly fit into the design of the room, since many models are similar to lamps. Moreover, options are available even for suspended ceilings. The dimensions of such heaters are 600×600 mm, which allows them to be ideally placed in a standard ceiling cell.

Wall-mounted infrared heaters are often flat rectangular panels that do not clutter up the space. If you choose the right place for their location, they are able to cover a considerable area.

Flat wall heater with unique design

Useful advice! You can order an individual design of both wall and ceiling infrared heaters with a thermostat. The price of such pleasure is high, but the unique design will delight you for a long time.

Thermoregulators for IR heater: operating principle and connection features

In order for the heater to maintain the necessary temperature regime, as well as in order to maximize the safety of the device, a thermostat is used, it is also a thermostat. It happens that the model you have chosen does not have a built-in thermostat. Then it is worth considering the option of buying and installing a thermostat separately.

Related article:

Electric heating convectors with a wall-mounted thermostat. Types and characteristics. Design and features. Advantages of convectors, nuances of choice. Operating rules.

Why is this necessary? Receiving a signal from the air temperature sensor, the thermostat turns on or off the heating system. As the temperature rises, the resistance of the sensor drops. It can only go down to a certain level, after which the thermostat turns on and opens the circuit. Then the thermostat cools down. When the lower temperature mark is reached, the sensor switches the system on again. This principle of operation is the same for all devices, regardless of the variety and manufacturer.

Thermostat for infrared heater

Types of thermostats:

• 300-1200 degrees Celsius – high temperature;
• 60-500 degrees Celsius – medium temperature;
• up to 60 degrees Celsius – low temperature.

Depending on the design , thermostats are divided into two types:

Wiring diagram of two infrared heaters to the thermostat

Features of connecting the thermostat to the infrared heater:

• the location of the device should be at a height of no more than one and a half meters;
• under the thermostat, it is necessary to lay a layer of insulation to avoid incorrect readings of the device due to the contact of its surface with a cold wall;
• one regulator is used for one room;
• for safety reasons, avoid contact of the device with surrounding objects;
• the power of the thermostat must match the power of the heater.

If we talk about the installation method, thermostats can be divided into open and hidden.

Outdoor version of the IR heater for cottages

How to choose an energy-saving heater for your home yourself

Before proceeding to the choice of an IR heater for your home, it is recommended to carefully study the offers on the market, as well as read the reviews. Which heater is better for a cottage is an ambiguous question. A lot depends on the living conditions and individual requirements. Let’s consider the main parameters of the device most suitable for use in a country house:

An important addition for an infrared heater is a thermostat that will allow you to control the degree of heating of the device and set the desired temperature.

The choice of an infrared heater depends on the living conditions and individual requirements

Useful advice! If we are talking about a quick one-time heating of a room in the country, the best option would be to purchase a heater with a specific power of up to 120 W / m2.

The control of the most modern models can include a smooth adjustment of the heating power, as well as an automatic thermostat that will turn off the device when the required room temperature is reached.

Moreover, a considerable number of modern models have remote control. The most convenient option is to connect the heater to the climate control system. How much these functions are necessary in the conditions of the cottage is up to you.

IR heater in the form of a flat panel in the interior

When choosing an energy-saving heater for your home, also pay attention to the following points:

• the heater should not be excessively large and take up too much space;
• be sure to pay attention to the weight of the structure when it comes to purchasing a ceiling infrared heater with a thermostat. Customer reviews claim that for such devices, parts for suspension must be included, otherwise the ceiling may not withstand such a load. Do not forget that the heater should not be placed directly above the sleeping or workplace;
• another important nuance when choosing an IR heater is the presence of protection against short circuit, overheating or falling of the device;

Various types of infrared heaters

• the last, but one of the main selection criteria is the quality of the IR heater. Now you can find a lot of cheap devices from unknown manufacturers. Do not buy them! Not only because it is likely to be a waste of money and such a device will not last long. The heater itself is a rather dangerous device and its unscrupulous assembly can cost you dearly. Give preference to a certified factory product that can be purchased in the store.

As an example, consider some of the most popular models of well-known manufacturers:

The use of infrared heaters for greenhouses

Another area of application of IR heaters, which can not be said, is the heating of greenhouses. As a rule, devices with low power are used for this, which can be conveniently mounted depending on the needs of the plants being grown. Statistics show that using the right model can increase germination rates by 30-40%.

Infrared heater for greenhouse

A distinctive feature of this method of heating can be called the transfer of heat directly from the carrier to the soil or to seedlings. At the same time, energy is not spent on heating the air – it warms itself already from the warm soil. This makes the system economical and affordable to operate.

Summing up, we can say that infrared heaters are a worthy competitor for classical heating systems, which is not inferior to them in terms of efficiency. At the same time, the cost of such devices is much lower, they can be easily transported and installed anywhere in the room. Therefore, if you think about the heating system in the country, you can seriously consider IR heaters as an alternative option.