How Infrared Heaters Work Such As Solar Comfort, Edenpure, CZ Heater, Comfort Furnace
Posted: Wednesday, October 13, 2010
by Charles Michael
S. C. H
Portable Infrared heaters are not a new concept. Actually the technology was first distributed by Solar Comfort back in the 1980's. The heating results were amazing! However, it wasn't until more recent years that they have become more main stream due to mass marketing.
To get a better understanding of how they work lets first explain the two main differences in the Infrared heating element. There is Solar Comfort which uses a screw in style Infrared heating lamp . This puts out what I believe to be a more comfortable soft and safe heat. More like the feel of the sun.
Regardless of whether it is a lamp or the bulb, they work similar. Cooler air is drawn in through the back of the heater. It then passes through a fan system and into the heating chamber. Typically the heating chamber will have some sort of heat exchanger which captures the heat from the lamp or bulb. After passing through the exchanger(s) it is pushed out of the heater by force from the mentioned fan.
The fans are typically pretty quiet. A bit louder than a computer. However, I have found it to be a white sound that after a day or so you hardly notice.
Infrared heaters will typically have a thermostat whether mechanical or digital. This tells the heater when to turn on and heat the room. The lamps will turn on and heat the chambers and then when the heat reaches a specific temperature, the fan turns on and blows the air out of the unit. Once en the room reaches the desired thermostat setting, the lamps turn off while the fan will still continue to operate until the chamber has cooled off closer to room temperature.
It is a real efficient process as the lamps or bulbs are not always on due to the thermostat. At times the heater may only be running at about 14 watts, which is while the fan is running. I found that the Solar Comfort will hold heat the longest as it has the largest heat exchanger . It is a very large furnace style exchanger with many hollow prong like tubes. Others either have a coffee can type exchanger, diffuser on the actual bulb or practically no exchanger at all. Note: PTC heaters are not truly infrared heaters and so we are not examining them in the article.
Now for the real reason that Infrared heaters are more effective than traditional heat sources. Although Infrared heater dealers and manufacturers express that they don't remove humidity, I have found that they do to a point. By my research, the quartz tubes will reduce more than the Solar Comfort's heat lamps. However, the reduction is way less than other heaters.
By not dramatically removing humidity, the mighty Infrared heater attaches its heat to the water molecules in the room. What this does is create a more dense and heavier heat. By effectively warming the water molecules in the room, you feel it more and it tends to stay lower in the room as it is a heavier, denser heat rather than a light fluffy heat.
You will find that the Infrared heat will heat objects and you will feel it deeper in you. It is a penetrating heat. One way I like to explain it is that if you were in Arizona and it was 72 degrees out and then you went to Florida and it was 72 degrees out, where would you feel warmer? Florida, because there is more water in the air.
Now keep in mind, we are not talking about a lot of humidity in a room. However, if you can keep your humidity level between 28 and 40 percent, you will have the best results. The 40 percent is ideal. Besides, some humidity in your home is better for your health, heating and your furniture.
I hope this sheds a bit more light on the basics of how Infrared heaters work. It is also a great heat source for elderly and those that are diabetic as Infrared is known for helping blood circulation.
Charles
http://www.solarcomfortheating.com
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