Is an oil heater harmful to health? Are infrared heaters harmful to health? What to do if the batteries at home cannot be turned off

In a dank autumn or frosty winter, you really want to warm up as soon as possible when you come home. But utilities do not always provide adequate centralized heating. In this case, heaters come to the rescue, the choice of which in household appliances stores is great. You can purchase a fan heater, an oil battery, a convector or an infrared heater. The latest heaters are remarkable in that they do not dissipate heat, but produce localized heating of a specific object. However, many people are worried about whether the infrared heater is harmful to human and animal health.

General characteristics of the infrared heater

Most of the heaters sold are not very profitable. They contribute to the heating of the surrounding air, and it, in turn, transfers heat to people, animals and surrounding objects. An infrared battery works in a completely different way. The principle of operation is based on natural phenomena, where everything is quite practical and expedient. So, the rays of the sun warm up the surrounding objects, which then contribute to the heating of the air and all warm-blooded animals.

The infrared heater consists of an emitter and a special reflector.. The emitter is the source of infrared rays, and the reflector forwards them in the required direction. Such a heater warms up the walls and interior items, and they already heat the air.

Types of infrared heaters

In stores you can see several types of infrared heaters:

1. Floor.
2. Wall.
3. Ceiling.

Each of them is good in its own way. Which of these varieties to choose depends on the installation location of the device. In a house where there are children, wall-mounted appliances are mounted only at a height that children cannot reach. Installation below the level to which the baby can reach can be dangerous not only for health, but also for life. In houses and apartments with low ceilings, you should not install an IR ceiling type, this can cause overheating of furniture and household appliances that are in the house. In addition, it is not necessary to install ceiling type heaters in bedrooms and children's rooms, constant overheating of the head will lead to bad consequences.

The best option are floor IR heaters. The location of such devices can be quickly changed, so excessive heating of interior items and people is almost impossible.

What is the use of an IR heater

Unlike other heaters, which are presented in a large assortment in household appliances stores, this home sun has such important advantages:

• allows local heating of certain objects;
• does not burn oxygen at all;
• does not dry out the air;
• does not make noise during operation;
• makes it possible to quickly adjust the direction and area of ​​the radiation zone;
• helps to keep warm in the room for a long time even after turning off;
• during operation there is no convention of air masses, which means that there is no movement of dust particles;
• infrared rays, hitting a person, help improve blood circulation and normalize metabolism, as well as cheer up.

The human body also radiates heat in the long-wave range, so people are in great need of periodic replenishment of this heat. When replenishment with long-wave heat does not occur for a long time, malfunctions in the functioning of organs are observed, general well-being is disturbed and severe weakness occurs.

People on a subconscious level like to sit near a fireplace, a fire, or just in the sun. At this time, the body is saturated with useful heat.

The heat generated by infrared heating is almost not absorbed by the natural environment, because it consists of electromagnetic waves. Air for this type of waves is absolutely transparent. Such devices can provide comfort and warmth in a certain corner of the apartment, in a country house, in a gazebo or during outdoor recreation.

What harm can infrared heaters do?

The harmfulness of infrared heaters can also occur if the device is used improperly or incorrectly selected for a particular purpose. All such heaters operate in the temperature range from 300 to 800 °C and the length of the reflected waves depends only on the temperature of the heater. Long infrared waves are not at all dangerous for any person, on the contrary, they help to strengthen the immune system. Similar waves come from the heater, on which the mode is set to 400 ° C; during this operation, the device does not glow. If the operating temperature is set higher, then the waves are displaced.

Infrared heaters become very harmful to human health if the maximum radiation emitted from them is short waves.

It must be remembered that all the heating parts of the UV heater emit many different frequencies, but their intensity depends only on the temperature regime. The human body itself is an emitter and absorber of long waves that are absorbed in the upper layers of the skin. At the same time, the shortest waves can penetrate the subcutaneous layer to a depth of about 4 cm. What is the harmful effect? Like the flames of a huge fire, they instantly heat one side of the object without affecting the other at all. This results in the following unfortunate consequences:

• the skin is overdried, and with prolonged exposure there may be an extensive burn;
• short-wave heat has a detrimental photochemical effect on the cells of the body. With a strong wave intensity, cell membranes are broken and an atypical structure of protein molecules begins, often leading to a change in their characteristics. A similar phenomenon can be observed when sour milk boils, when the protein coagulates under the influence of temperature;
• if the organs of vision are irradiated with short waves for a long time, this will lead to the destruction of the grid structure of the retina and the lens, which ultimately causes cataracts.

Knowing the benefits and harms that infrared heaters can bring, it is worth taking the choice and purchase of such a device with great responsibility. Do not buy cheap devices from unknown manufacturers. Not only will they not be beneficial, but they can cause serious health problems for the entire family.

Harmful or not infrared heater, the debate has been going on for a long time. Before buying, it is necessary to weigh well all the advantages and disadvantages of the device so that its operation brings only pleasure and does not cause unpleasant moments.

How to choose a good infrared heater

In stores you can see heaters with different types of heating particles:

1. Halogen - such a device has two drawbacks. Very bright light is unpleasant for the eyes. The heater is a source of short waves that have a bad effect on the human body.
2. From carbon - in addition to thermal heating, it gives part of the energy in the form of a reddish glow, which is not very pleasant for the eyes. This feature of the device can lead to negative reactions in patients with asthma or allergies.
3. From ceramics - does not form a glow, works only in the medium and long wavelength ranges.

In all heaters, the heating element is protected by thermal insulation, which prevents the body from melting. Basalt, without any impurities, is recognized as the optimal heat-insulating material. When heated, any additives can release toxins, which leads to poisoning.

Film infrared heaters

Infrared film heaters are very popular among the population. They consist of thin working elements, which are decorated with a thin film. Such devices are suitable for heating floors, walls and ceilings. The maximum heating is about 50 °C. Due to the low heating temperature, the waves emitted by the device almost completely coincide with the human wave range. They are easily absorbed by the human body and warm it almost from the inside. Film heaters have a lot of advantages:

1. Do not reduce the oxygen content inside the room and do not overdry the air.
2. They heat large areas well and retain heat for a long time. Not inferior to quartz heaters in this.
3. When working, negative ions are formed, which have a good effect on the body.
4. The film heater will organically fit into any interior. Many manufacturers decorate them with beautiful landscapes.

Are IR heaters harmful at all and what does it depend on? Many manufacturers claim that the devices are completely safe for humans and the environment, if they are properly selected and installed.

How to prevent the harmful effects of IR radiation

To minimize the harmful effects on humans, you should follow a few simple rules when choosing and installing:

• It is better to place the device higher or in the farthest corner of the room. It is undesirable to direct it to where there are people. In this case, the room will warm up, and there will be no harmful radiation.
• It is not recommended to install heaters of this type in children's rooms and bedrooms. Or where there are always crowds of people. If the device is essential, do not point it towards people.
• No need to buy a very powerful heater. It is necessary that its power is enough to heat the walls, floor and ceiling, and they will give heat.
• Take a good look at the infrared heater that you liked. Ask a consultant about the advantages and disadvantages, ask about the reliability of the manufacturer. To get an independent opinion, you can look at forums on the Internet.
• When choosing an infrared heater, you do not need to chase very cheap copies. Often cheapness indicates poor quality when the device is made of poor materials. When heated, toxins can be released, which will cause poisoning..

An infrared heater is a great alternative to centralized heating. When used correctly, it does not harm a person, and even improves health. This device will easily warm the whole family in the most severe frosts.

When purchasing a device for heating a home, you need to pay attention not only to the technical characteristics of the unit, but also to the safety of its use. To choose the safest heater, it is necessary to assess the degree of its fire safety, if there is an oxygen consumption factor, its intensity, the temperature of the body heating and other parameters. After all, for example, if the heater body becomes very hot during operation, you can get burned by accidentally touching the device. One of the first places when choosing a heater is also the degree of environmental friendliness of the device - an especially important characteristic if a child lives in the house.

Oil coolers

Attention: Among all types of heaters, oil heaters are considered the most reliable and safe. They consist of a sealed housing filled with oil and an electric heating element. All modern models of such devices have a thermostat designed to manually control the heating temperature of the device. Heaters of high performance are equipped with timers for heating programming and liquid crystal displays that display the current parameters of the device. Models equipped with a built-in fan heat the room faster and more evenly, accelerating the movement of convective currents and more intensively mixing air layers with different temperatures in the room.

Oil cooler with liquid crystal display, equipped with a removable device for safe drying of laundry.

The body of the oil heater, depending on the type of unit, has the form of a flat panel or a cast-iron central heating radiator - it consists of separate sections assembled into a battery. The more sections in such a device, the more intensively the room will be heated. The capacity of radiators of various models of oil heaters can be different - you can increase the heat transfer area of ​​the battery by changing the profile of the sections while maintaining the basic dimensions of the unit.

This heating equipment has the following advantages:

• simplicity of design;
• noiselessness (models without fan);
• affordable price;
• availability of automatic control;
• safety.

Among the shortcomings, one can single out increased power consumption and a low speed of entering the operating mode - the result of the heater's operation will be felt no earlier than 30 minutes after switching on. In addition, it should be mentioned about the rather significant weight of oil coolers - from 18 to 25 kg.

fan heaters

The main advantage of fan heaters is their compactness and the ability to quickly heat the room. The electric fan heater consists of a heating element and a fan.

Important! Fan heaters, depending on the power of the model, can be used to heat both residential premises and large industrial facilities of a large area, such as warehouses or hangars.

Household fan heaters are easy to use and compact. Their cost and quality depends on the type of installed heating element, which is used as:

• spiral;
• ceramic type heater.

Timberk portable compact fan heater in a plastic case

The main disadvantages of spiral fan heaters are also the increased consumption of electricity and the high heating temperature of the spiral - when dust enters the spiral, it burns out, releasing an unpleasant and harmful odor to humans.

Important! Ignition of dust accumulation can provoke a fire, therefore, it is necessary to turn on the unit with a visual control of the start of work.

The fan heater must be installed in a place inaccessible to children, the device must not be left switched on unattended or instructed to control its operation by children.

TEN types of fan heaters are equipped with a heating element made of wire or graphite. They are safer to use than their spiral counterparts but are more cost effective.

The most advanced of fan heaters are ceramic models equipped with heating elements coated with a layer of porous ceramics. The ceramic coating is a kind of thermal insulator that lowers the surface temperature of the heater, making it safer. However, this effective design feature also results in a higher price for such devices.

Convectors

Convectors have been used to heat homes for a long time. These are safe and efficient heaters, thanks to which you can quickly warm up the room. In addition, this device is not capable of causing a burn - the temperature of its case does not rise above 60 degrees.

IMPORTANT! A high degree of performance security allows you to leave the convector turned on for a short (1-3 hours) absence of residents, setting the temperature value with the regulator, 2-3 degrees less than usual.

Electric convector floor version, equipped with support legs on wheels for ease of movement.

Convectors are characterized by compactness, the presence of additional options, such as touch panels, operating mode switch, high heat output.

Infrared heaters

Infrared heaters are a fairly popular means of heating homes and premises for other purposes. They are sources of infrared radiation that can heat objects in the room that are exposed to infrared rays. Most often, such emitters are mounted on the ceiling or walls, but there are also portable tripod units.

Attention: With the help of these heaters, you can provide high-quality heating of actual areas in the room. For example, it is possible to warm only a working or sleeping place, while maintaining the temperature in the rest of the room without significant changes, which increases the efficiency of heating.

An example of placement of an infrared heater of suspended type

IR heaters have the following advantages:

• resistance to moisture;
• noiselessness;
• relatively low power consumption;
• a fairly wide power range of manufactured devices;
• do not change the humidity in the room.

The distance from infrared heaters to the nearest object in the path of infrared rays should be at least 2-3 meters to avoid fire. In the room where the infrared heater is installed, there must be no flammable objects (wool, paper, wood shavings).

Electric fireplaces

In an effort to effectively heat the room, many prefer electric fireplaces with the effect of "live fire".

Note: in fact, such an electric fireplace is a conventional fan heater with a visual imitation of a moving flame. The cost of this type of heater largely depends on the model, but, as a rule, is high due to the high class of the decorative design of the body.

One of the models of an electric fireplace with a body trimmed with precious woods and a 3D imitation of a living flame

Typically, an electric fireplace is built into a wall or installed close to the building envelope. The device differs in efficiency, reliability and sufficient power. In addition, this heater can be used not only for heating, but also as an element of room decor.

Non-electric heaters

All of the heaters listed above require electricity to operate. But in the absence of power supply, the need for heating does not disappear, and in such situations a gas convector is indispensable. Such devices are distinguished by heating efficiency, durability and reliability. Household gas during combustion almost does not form harmful substances, so there is no need for an exhaust device in the room. However, the combustion of gas is accompanied by the consumption of oxygen from the air, and the heated room must be periodically ventilated.

The gas convector is equipped with devices for automatically stopping the gas supply when the burner goes out (flame sensor), gas pressure surges at the supply or the appliance overturning.

Household portable gas convector floor version with a protective grille

For space heating, you can also use more powerful devices - gas guns, but they are used more often in industrial buildings, where people are not constantly present, but periodically. However, even in such a situation, fire safety is a factor that occupies the first place in the requirements for the operation of such equipment.

Conclusion

Of all the above devices for heating, electric convectors are the safest. But, no matter what heating device you buy, during its operation there is always a factor of increased temperature of the equipment case and the risk of fire or burns. Therefore, you should always remember about safety precautions and strictly follow its rules. What kind of heater you use depends only on the direction of safety, which is a priority.

In addition to the general rules for the use of electrical or gas equipment, individual requirements set forth by the manufacturer in the instructions for use are mandatory.

Infrared heaters are the most popular air heaters used by people in everyday life.

They are more efficient than oil radiators, "heat guns", consume a small amount of electricity, do not burn oxygen in the room, and generally do not have any negative impact on human health.

In addition to their direct duty - space heating, heaters began to be used in "infrared saunas", which also do not harm health.

Is there any harm from an infrared heater?

Any heating household appliance emits infrared rays. But the difference between a conventional heating battery and an infrared heater is significant. Such devices emit "waves" of different lengths and intensities.

Infrared radiation is electromagnetic radiation invisible to the eye, the wavelength of which varies from 1-2 millimeters to 0.74 micrometers. The most intense source of such radiation is the sun.

In the warm season, the share of infrared radiation in the spectrum of the sun is at least fifty percent. Manufacturers often mention this, saying that allegedly sunlight is not harmful, which means that the heater will not have an effect on the body.

As you know, those infrared waves that penetrate under the human skin, as well as into its subcutaneous layers, have an effect on the body.

From the infrared heater, these waves are just emitted. But there is one nuance here. The closer a person is to the source of radiation, the greater the effect of infrared waves on him.

The effect of exposure to radiant energy depends on the intensity and wavelength, as well as the duration of exposure to it.

It is known that infrared rays, whose wavelength is from 0.8 to 1.5 microns, penetrate deep enough into the tissues of the human body and can have a negative effect on them.

Therefore, infrared heaters that operate on shortwave radiation are more harmful than those that operate on longwave radiation. You should pay attention to this when buying.

It is also known that in moderate doses, infrared radiation has no effect on the human body.

Infrared radiation is even often used to treat various kinds of diseases.

However, such treatment is prescribed only for those who have no contraindications.

High intensity radiation can damage health. The same can be said about medium-power radiation if it "affects" a person for more than six hours.

For this reason, it is important to follow the rules for handling heaters:

• If you want to install a powerful heater in the apartment, then try to make sure that it is not too close to you. You can buy a ceiling heater and install it at the maximum height. Try to position it so that the radiation beam is not directed directly at people.
• It is not recommended to install an infrared heater in a children's room or bedroom. If there is an “urgent” need for this, again, do not point it at a person.
• Heaters should not be too "powerful". Ideally, they should give off heat only to the floor, walls and other interior items.
• Before buying, be sure to ask the seller about all the nuances, and ask the manufacturer of the devices.

Many unscrupulous manufacturers make air heaters from low-quality materials, which in turn can also cause health complications.

In almost every home today you can see some kind of heater. This blessing of civilization helps us to survive the off-season, when it is not heated yet, but it is already cold, and severe frosts, when it is heated, but it is still cold. The modern market offers many options, among which there are heaters for every taste and budget. But infrared heaters enjoy the most controversial fame. Are they harmful or is it a myth?

Any layman who sees this invention on the shelves involuntarily raises a question about its safety. Are infrared heaters harmful? The very word "infrared" sounds somehow too frightening, and is immediately associated with radiation or ultraviolet radiation. But in fact, there is nothing of the kind here. And, as it turned out, even the opposite. Infrared waves have long been used in medicine to treat certain diseases. They are well accepted by the human body, and therefore very effectively help to overcome ailments. The same principle underlies the heater. Infrared waves are transmitted to the human body, like the sun's rays, and very effectively, and most importantly, quickly warm it.

Do not confuse infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV is really bad. IR - is considered harmless. The sun gives us both types of radiation. And the heater is like the same sun, only without ultraviolet radiation. At least that's what the manufacturers tell us.

Advantages of IR heaters

If we compare this type of heater with others, we can name a number of advantages. Heaters that emit infrared waves warm all objects around (to which it is directed). Which is a big plus. After all, even when the device is turned off, the heated walls, floor and ceiling continue to give off their heat, and the room maintains a comfortable temperature for quite a long time.

Oil or convector heaters can only heat the air. Moreover, in order to heat the room, they need some time, and in order to keep the heat, they almost always need to be kept on, which negatively affects electricity bills.

In addition, when using an infrared heater, you do not need to additionally use various ones, which inevitably follows when other thermal devices are connected to the network. The air during operation of such a heater is not dried. And even to destroy dampness and mold under the power of this technique, which cannot be said about competitors. It seems that the harm of infrared heaters can be called into question.

It can even be used to heat a person in the open air (on a veranda, balcony), by directing it directly to the object, it will not work uselessly, warming the street.

Harm of infrared heaters

However, infrared heaters can still bring some harm.

First, it concerns proper operation. Once upon a time, the very first models were considered quite fire hazardous. It only took one fall to start a fire. Modern appliances are equipped with a bunch of sensors that should turn off the power if the heater is accidentally dropped. But still, in this world, everything can misfire, including some kind of sensor, it can simply not work on time. So you need to choose mainly wall-mounted models, and look carefully at the floor models and keep them away from children.

Secondly, when buying, carefully study the composition and manufacturer. There are many fakes for an infrared heater, which, when heated, together with heat, release various harmful compounds into the air.

From personal experience: it is very uncomfortable to spend a day at work under an infrared heater. I don't know if infrared heaters are harmful or not, but by the end of the day my head hurts. Feels like you've been in the microwave all day. Heating is uneven - part of the face turned to the heater is “burning”, the second part is cold. It can be compared with being by the fire: if you turn your face to the fire, you feel the heat, if you turn away, it pours cold. I don't know how harmless it is. Maybe you are right. But I don't want to experience this every day.

Summing up, we can say that infrared heaters are the climate technology of the future. They are already an order of magnitude superior to their predecessors, economical, easy to operate. Surely, over time, this direction of technical thought will only improve and questions about the dangers of infrared heaters will no longer arise. However, we do not yet have total confidence in this type of heaters.

Hardening is useful - but only if it is voluntary and not around the clock! In our latitudes, the cold season lasts from October to April - seven months of dank cold, rain and snow, sudden frosts and insidious thaws. Unfortunately, central heating is not always and not everywhere available, and sometimes it is simply not enough to heat the room.

The solution is obvious: not without a heater. Moreover, now there are a great many heaters - a lot of modifications and varieties, various capacities and technologies for heat release. The times when the heater was a flammable metal “monster” that could not be regulated and it was scary to leave the room unattended are long gone: most modern models are safe, perfectly regulated and even turn off on their own in case of emergency. But does this mean that heaters are no longer harmful to health? Let's try to figure it out!

What can be harmful in heaters? Rumor ascribes to them such vices as the tendency to dry the air in the room, the release of harmful substances, increased air allergenicity. Which of these is true and which is myth?

Oil heaters

A fairly common type of heaters, the principle of which is that the heating element heats up the oil, and it, in turn, transfers heat to the heater body. The case participates in heat exchange - it gives off heat to the environment. This is how the space is heated. The features of oil heaters are simple heat exchange and a hot body of the device.

Oil heater damage. Modern oil heaters do not emit anything harmful into the atmosphere of the room during operation, and the advantage of this device is the uniformity of heating. On the other hand, oil heaters do dry the air, significantly lowering the humidity, which can cause - especially for those who have relevant diseases or a tendency to respiratory diseases. Another point: a hot oil heater housing can potentially be a problem. In contact with furniture and finishing materials, it can heat surfaces that are capable of releasing harmful substances when heated and melted (plastic, MDF, chipboard, some fabrics).

fan heaters

The principle of operation of a fan heater involves heating the air directly: the heating element transfers heat to the air, which is distributed throughout the room with the help of a fan. The features of this type of heaters include the following properties: uneven heating of the air in the room and some intrusiveness of the device during operation (noise, smell).

Heater damage. In the process of heating the air in a room, a fan heater uses oxygen from the environment, which is why fan heaters give some “suffocating” effect: after a while you may feel that you have nothing to breathe, you will want to ventilate the room. Of course, there is nothing useful for the respiratory organs in such a feature of a fan heater. In addition, the fan heater, like an oil heater, dries the air in the room, lowers humidity. It can get on your nerves with noise during work, especially noticeable at night when you sleep.

Convectors

Convector heaters are considered one of the most ergonomic and comfortable for humans: air is heated directly upon contact with the heating element, warm air spreads naturally throughout the room. However, this technology does not allow convectors to be truly powerful heat sources: they can only heat a small room.

Damage to a convector heater. Convector heaters usually dry the air and increase its allergenicity. It is known that if a person has some household elements (dust, pet hair, etc.), then the air dried by a heater or air conditioner works against an allergic person. The only way out in this case is to install a humidifier, frequent ventilation of the room and regular wet cleaning.

Infrared heaters

Infrared heaters are still considered a novelty, although they appeared on the market for heating devices more than a decade ago. The principle of their operation is very different from the principle of operation of all considered heaters: the IR heater lamp is a source of radiation that heats not the surrounding air, but objects that are in the field of the heater. In fact, an infrared heater heats according to the same principle as the sun. The infrared heater does not dry the air, does not reduce humidity.

Harm of infrared heater. The only suspicion that an IR heater has ever been under was that harmful ultraviolet rays are present in its radiation. In reality, the radiation of such a heater lies in the infrared spectrum - safe for humans. The early generation of IR heaters was notable for its particular fire hazard, but modern models are equipped with various sensors and fire protection.

How to keep warm without harm to health?

Of course, if you can do without a heater, it’s better to do so, especially since it’s generally cool. It is better to dress warmly, drink hot tea, put a heating pad with hot water in bed, take a hot bath, etc. But if you cannot do without a heater, choose a modern model with minimal impact on the air in the room. It is desirable that the heater be equipped with several heating modes and a protection system against overheating, spontaneous combustion, etc. If we are talking about an oil heater, fan heater or convector, get an air humidifier, ventilate the room more often. Try not to turn on the heater for the whole day, take breaks, let the air in the room cool down.