What Is Radiator Heater – And How Does It Work? – Let’s Discuss
Choosing the perfect type of heater to heat your home or indoor spaces during the cold winters is a tough job. To start, let us first start with the definition of a radiator heater.
With many options offered to you, you may get confused as to which one is the best-suited option for you.
This is where we come to help!
In this article, we will guide you through the nooks and crooks of a radiator heater, and accordingly, we will calculate if it is the best choice for your home.
What Is A Radiator Heater?
It is used to convert thermal energy from one mode to the other for heating or cooling purposes. Radiators operate in automobiles, buildings, and even electronics.
It functions as a source of heat for its surroundings. However, it also acts as a source of coolant for automobile engine cooling.
Most of the heat in a radiator is transferred through convection and not thermal radiation.
The invention of the radiator heater goes back to the mid-1800s; it holds a history of warming people’s homes. Over the years, it has steadily evolved in low maintenance and efficient ways to warm homes. However, this may not be the most popular type of heating system nowadays; it still functions the best at keeping your home warm.
Read More: What Is A Space Heater? How It Works? Advantages And Disadvantages
Radiator Heater: Benefits
The benefits of a radiator heater may be many, which you may find in common with many newly invented heating systems that we see today.
Here are some of the key benefits of a radiator heater:
A Radiator Heater Is Safe
Being the most crucial benefit, a radiator heater offers a high level of safety to the users. Most portable radiator heaters come equipped with a tilt sensor, which means it automatically turns off the system as soon as it detects any movement or knocks.
A radiator heater also retains heat well, which makes them an ideal choice for long-term use.
However, it is not advisable to keep it near flammable times or leave clothes to dry on it. Yet still, it is much less of a fire hazard than the other types of heaters available on the market, like space heaters that demand more safety precautions.
Also, they do not give out any bad odor or any harmful gasses or chemicals when functioning, which in turn is a problem with many other gas heaters that require ventilation.
A Radiator Heater Requires Less Maintenance
A relatively lesser amount of maintenance goes behind a radiator heater when compared to other heating methods.
They do not operate on fuels that require replacing or ventilation (the lack of which) does not compromise the heating levels.
Just make sure to purchase the ones that come with a built-in thermostat which will help in preventing the wastage of heat and reduce the overall use of energy.
A Radiator Heater Is Reliable
For the maximum part, a radiator heater is the most reliable kind of heater that you can have your hands on. If you get a cast-iron heater for your home, there is a likelihood that it will last for years, decades perhaps.
However, this is not always the case. Therefore, you thoroughly research and study the brand along with the product before purchasing one.
How Does A Radiator Heater Work?
A radiator heater is mainly of two types – Steam and Electric.
Let us now see how each of the heaters individually operates:
Steam Radiator
As the name suggests, a steam radiator operates by boiling water that creates steam. The steam then travels through the pipes into the radiator, which heats up an area via convection and radiation.
While traveling through the unit, the steam condenses and goes back into the boiler, where it once again converts into steam.
However, this is the old-fashioned way of heating, and you would likely not be finding the same process in new homes. Although this type of heating system is still around, just not as preferred anymore.
Here are some newer versions of a steam radiator that you might have an interest in:
- Cast-Iron Free Standing Systems
- Baseboard Steam Systems
- Ceramic Systems
Electric Radiators
An electric radiator is built almost similar to a steam radiator, the only difference being the heat-generating method.
A metal reservoir loaded with special mineral oil is at the core of a radiator heater. The mineral oil is more popularly known as thermal oil or heat transfer oil. As it does not burn during the heating process, it does not need refilling. It has an unmatching high boiling point and a specific heat capacity which results in considerably small volumes of oil to generate extremely high quantities of heat energy without getting evaporated.
At the bottom of it, you will find a heating component that is similar to what you find in an electric stove. It gets power through electricity and heats the thermal oil. The heat generated through the oil is transported throughout the body of the heater, which heats the walls.
Once the walls are heated, the heat is then conducted through metal walls and gets graduated into the surrounding space.
Drawbacks Of A Radiator Heater
Just like everything else, a radiator heater also has some drawbacks. For many customers, these might not be a big deal; however, for someone that is initially planning on buying one, I believe you must be aware of the drawbacks, no matter how ignorable they are.
The drawbacks of a radiator heater are as follows:
A Radiator Heater Is Loud And Noisy
A few of the radiator heaters, especially the steam radiators, may get noisy during time. If you have an old radiator heater installed in the corner of your room, you probably have heard random sounds coming out of the machine. They may be whistling, squeaking, or banging sounds.
No matter how low, they are still annoying and may require some fixing or professional help.
Radiator Heater Needs Air Flow
Yet another drawback is the requirement of an effective airflow in order to disperse the heat throughout the room evenly. Hence It becomes challenging to thoroughly heat the rooms if it has limited space or furniture crowding.
Radiator Heater Gets Too Hot To Touch
In my opinion, one of the biggest drawbacks of a radiator heater is how its body heats up as it generates heat. A fire hazard is possible if anything flammable is in touch with it for too long.
This is not the same for all heaters; however, you must keep this in mind while installing one.
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Wrapping Up
Many radiator heaters are available on the market, and each has its own benefits and drawbacks. You just have to be good with the research and be well aware to know which one will work the best for you.
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