Understanding a portable heater and how it works is surprisingly simple.
These useful tools enable us to live and work comfortably when it’s seemingly too cold to do anything.
We’ll cover everything there is to know about these helpful tools.
That way, if you find yourself shopping for your first one or replacing the old one, you’ll have all the information you need.
Don’t worry. You’re in good hands on this one. Preferred Climate Solutions has worked with portable heating and cooling systems for over 17 years!
With all of that experience, it’s more than safe to say that we know how these systems work.
So let’s begin with the main two types that you can expect.
Convection vs. Radiant Heat
These are two ways heaters can produce heat and keep you feeling warm. Let’s explain what they both are and what benefits they provide, so you have a good understanding.
Convection heating works by heating up air that comes in contact with the main heating element. As that air gets hotter, it will expand, filling up the room and getting further from the heating element.
Once that happens, the colder air will be pushed towards the walls, then downwards, creating a constant circulation through the room.
Radiant heat is a little different. Radiant heat comes straight from a heating element from thermal radiation. Which means that there’s no air current required.
Because thermal radiation travels on electromagnetic waves, it heats the room, essentially like the sun heats a car up. As a car sits in the sun, the body of the car itself heats up and then emits its own heat, correct?
Well, the same applies to these heaters.
For the best results from radiant heaters, you need to be standing in direct sight of the heater itself.
Now let’s discuss the benefits of each method.
Benefits of convection heaters.
A big reason that convection heaters are so popular is that they provide warmth for the entire room that they’re stationed in. By constantly heating the air surrounding it and then dispersing it throughout, you’ll have a sort of bubble of warmth in the room.
Note: Radiant heaters will also heat the entire room. However, radiant heaters do at a much slower pace.
Benefits of radiant heaters.
Radiant heaters don’t rely on fans to move air around the room and provide heat. Because of that, they’re very quiet in comparison to convection heaters. They also provide warmth to you quickly because they don’t need to heat all the air around them.
Radiant heaters are also the best option if you’re looking to stay warm in a large area (bus stops, patios or vestibules).
There are also combustion heaters, although these heaters require much more attention to provide proper ventilation and consume gas or other fuel sources.
Energy efficiency.
If you simply need a heater that’s more likely to be energy efficient, radiant heaters are the way to go. These heaters can produce heat very quickly, which results in less energy consumption.
On the other hand, convection heaters use more energy by taking longer to heat the air around them.
How do I know which option is best for my needs?
After you’ve found yourself with a good understanding of each type and its benefits, you may still find yourself at a loss. If that’s the case, all you need to do is keep a few questions in mind while you’re shopping.
- Do you need to provide supplemental to a space?
- Do you need to warm the area fast?
- Is the space that you’re trying to warm up indoor or outdoor?
- Is the heater only meant to warm up a small space for people waiting?
Another thing to consider is what safety features the heater has. The last thing that you need is for something to happen, and in a work or public setting, you can’t always control everything.
Those questions are key to understanding which option is the best fit for your needs.
When you’re ready to decide, or you need more information, we can help you. Take a look at our website or contact us today to ensure that you have the best coverage. We have a heating option ready to go for any type of event or site. Contact us Preferred Climate Solutions now.
To read more on the different heating options that are available to you, check out our blog here.
