Electrical Heaters
Electric heaters have been around for decades as a source of heat in homes to provide warmth to us. One of the reason for their popularity is because of lower cost to purchase and easy maintenance compared to other sources of heat. They are usually powered by electricity though a small percentage are still using propane or kerosene as fuel.
They work by converting electricity into heat using metals as heating elements. The metals have high resistance that permit a certain amount of current to flow through them to provide the required heat. Electrical energy is changed into heat energy and the relationship between the wattage and Btu/hr. is:
The advantages of using electric heaters are:
- Initial Low-Cost Investment. The units are usually lower in cost compared to other types of heating sources.
- Clean Operation. There isn’t any need for refrigerant or oxygen, hence the operation is neat and clean.
- No Toxic Gases. Since no combustion is needed, there is no danger of toxic gases that may leak in the event of faulty units. No chimney is needed unlike the traditional coal or wood source of heating.
- Smaller in Size. They take smaller space compared to other systems.
- Ease of Control. Individual unit temperature can be controlled more precisely using the thermostat mounted on the unit.
- Ozone Friendly. Since no refrigerant is involved, this type of heat source is more ozone friendly.