Today, fewer people rely on a central heating system and heat their apartments and houses with additional heaters. Fortunately, this segment of household appliances is constantly replenished with all sorts of new products and more and more efficient appliances for every taste and budget. However, is it worth trusting the loud assurances of manufacturers? Are the heaters that appear on store shelves really so perfect and functional? Let's take a closer look at another innovation and find out: what is a micathermic heater?
Device and principle of operation
Micathermic heaters do not "waste" heat - they heat not the air, but objects within the radius of their action. From heated surfaces and bodies, the air in the room begins to warm up. No wonder they are called "room suns", because the principle of their work is similar to how the sun warms the earth. That is why even on a frosty winter day, if we stand in direct sunlight, we will feel warmth.
Of their advantages, it should be noted that the room warms up almost immediately after switching on. But traditional devices - oil radiators or fan heaters for this will have to work out in a row.
The first heaters operating on this principle radiated heat in both directions, so they were recommended to be installed in the middle of the room. Continuous engineering research and development has led to the creation of micathermic heaters with one-sided heating - they can be installed or even hung on the wall.
The device of a micathermic heater differs significantly from how its predecessors were designed. In a new generation heater there are no heating elements or heat carrier, it is not capable of burning a person. The device is based on a non-metallic multi-layer plate covered with mica. It does not heat up, but simply distributes infrared rays, so even touching the heater, you will not get burns or any damage. This makes the use of such a device completely safe, even in homes where small children grow up. And since there are no heating elements and a coolant, then the expenses for replacing these parts are excluded. Manufacturers of household appliances proudly declare that this technology has been successfully implemented and operated in the field of astronautics and innovative medicine for a long time. And now these advanced technologies are designed to provide warmth and comfort to ordinary houses and apartments.
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Advantages of a micathermic heater
Like any new product, they immediately attracted the attention of consumers. Many are interested in the question - why is such a device better than traditional heat sources? Let's find out!
- Energy efficiency. The consumption of an average micathermic heater is about 1.5 kWh. Fan heaters and radiators "eat" a little more - from 2 kWh. In addition, traditional appliances require 3-4 hours to work for the present to feel the warmth in the room. Micathermic heater immediately manifests itself, you just need to be in the infrared zone. In addition, such a heater does not need time to heat itself or the air around it - therefore, its efficiency is many times higher.
- Compact and light weight. Floor-standing micathermic heaters can be easily moved around the room. Wall-mounted models are less compact, but their range is somewhat wider than that of floor-standing appliances.
- Safety. The device itself does not heat up, but only distributes heat energy and transfers it to surrounding objects. That is why, even with an accidental touch, the owner of the mycothermal heater or his household will not receive burns or other injuries.
- Maintain a healthy microclimate. Micathermic heater does not heat, and therefore does not dry the air. That is, the oxygen level in the air does not decrease during the operation of the heater. You can use such a device to heat any premises, including children's rooms, where it is important to maintain a certain level of humidity.
- Quiet operation of the device. Due to the peculiarities of the device, the device does not make absolutely any sounds during operation. No engine running, no cracking or tapping of warming up elements - absolute silence.
- Modern, elegant design. The appearance of the device organically fits into any interior and is able to complement any room.
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Cons Overview
Let's see if this is the case in practice? And are the advantages of a micathermic heater so convincing in real conditions?
On the one hand, the energy consumption of popular models of such heaters is indeed in the range of 1–1.5 kWh. On the other hand, if you take any heating device, then all the power consumed by it is converted into heat. This means that the efficiency of conventional and micathermic heaters is the same. The only difference is in the amount of time that the device spends on heating the room. But, users note an interesting fact - if you leave the infrared zone of the micathermic heater, it will not become so warm. And if you turn off the device, then the heating of objects, surfaces and people will instantly stop. This means that there is no particular difference between the operation of a conventional heater and a micothermic one.
It is really impossible to get burned on a mycothermal heater. The device still warms up a little, however, this temperature does not exceed 60 °. However, you should still follow certain safety measures - do not cover the device, put it away from flammable decorative elements (curtains, curtains, screens, plastic partitions) and furniture.
Another caveat - mykatermichesky device becomes easy prey for dust particles, which literally clogs all available holes. After a long standstill of the heater, you will either have to turn it on in a non-residential premises, or “enjoy” the smell of burning dust.
Like any modern device, the mycothermal heater, depending on the model, can be supplemented with various functions - remote control, electronic informative display, climate control, various operating modes, etc.
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What to look for when buying
Whether it is worth spending money on an updated micathermic heater is up to you, because the advantages of the device are quite convincing, and you can easily accept the disadvantages and learn how to fight. If you decide to install a device of this type in your house or apartment, it would be good to learn about several important criteria for choosing an effective micathermic heater.
First of all, you must understand that 1 kWh power is enough to heat 12 m². It is worth choosing a more powerful device in a large room.
By the type of mounting and installation, they are divided into floor, wall and ceiling. The higher the device is installed, the larger the coverage radius. However, wall-mounted and floor-standing models cannot boast of the mobility of floor-standing models, which can be used to heat the room sector by sector or even to move or transport the heater.
When buying a heater, pay attention to the additional functionality. In a family where children are growing up, blocking the control will not be superfluous. If you need to heat the bathroom, pay attention to the protection against water and moisture. For unheated summer cottages, you can buy a device that will periodically turn on and warm up the room to a certain temperature, and then turn off again.
In general, micathermic heaters allow you to quickly create comfortable conditions in any room. They are easy to use, durable and very effective. As with any device, these heaters have certain operational nuances, but if you follow the manufacturer's recommendations, then you can get maximum pleasure and effect from using micathermic heaters.
See also:
- 12 best infrared heaters according to customers
- 12 best home heaters according to buyers
- 18 best Timberk heaters of the year
- 20 best Ballu heaters years according to buyers
- 5 best heaters Stiebel Eltron of the year
