Every year, technologies are improving, a very large number of ways to heat a home have appeared. However, for some time now, heaters have become popular, the principle of operation of which is based on the radiation of infrared waves. They earned their popularity thanks to widespread advertising in all media. The manufacturer claims that the device is absolutely safe to use in everyday life, and is also an economical device. This is manifested in the fact that infrared radiation emits more heat than conventional appliances for heating a room. At the same time, the advantages of this heater are not so many, however, they cover the disadvantages of conventional ones. In this article, we will tell you whether infrared heaters are harmful or not. The benefits and harms of devices will be described below in the article.
Working principle and design
To understand the benefit or harm, or both at the same time, you need to know the principle of operation of the device itself, its design and technical parameters.
As is generally known, all local heating devices emit infrared waves, which are a type of electromagnetic flux. However, the difference between an ordinary battery and our device lies in the length and intensity of these flows, which is a significant difference. As an example of natural heating and light - our Sun, it is the most powerful emitter of IR waves on the planet. Long exposure to the sun can lead to burns and other unpleasant consequences.
An infrared heater is not the Sun, the radiation is thousands of times weaker, the wavelength and frequency are less, which means it is safer. The principle of operation is to uniformly heat the surrounding objects, using directed rays into the space of the room. The surrounding objects, or rather the surface, heats up depending on the heating of the device itself. The number of waves increases depending on the degree of heating of the heater.
Infrared heaters are divided depending on the peak temperature and wavelength. Here are some examples:
- Devices emitting long waves - from about fifty to two hundred microns;
- Emitting waves of medium length - from two and a half to fifty microns;
- Radiating waves of a short range - from seventy six hundredths to two and a half microns.
They are also divided according to the effect on human skin, that is, the penetrating ability of waves under the skin. It depends on the frequency and intensity of IR waves, which are divided into three types: IR-C, IR-B, IR-A. The letters from C to A indicate the effect of infrared rays on human skin, that is, depending on the wavelength, the penetration of the latter into the layers of the skin increases. When the incandescent element reaches a certain temperature, depending on its indicator, the number of emitted waves will change and some waves will be more, others less. However, it is known that the higher the temperature, the higher the concentration of short waves. Most often, this is silent, and it will be a novelty for an uninformed user.
It is also worth paying attention to what material the device is made of.It is known that black shades absorb infrared radiation more strongly than others, and also reflect them well, while distorting them. Therefore, you should avoid devices made of black metal or plastic; ceramics, which have optical reflectors, are best suited for this.
See also - How to connect a thermostat to an infrared heater
Harm and benefit
So, here we come to the main question that interests many users or just people who are going to buy an infrared heater for their use, whether the device has a negative effect on their body.
Since the discovery of infrared radiation, scientists have been testing and studying for years how it affects the human body as a whole, its benefits and harms. As mentioned above, the largest and most aggressive source of radiation is the Sun, it was this that served as an example for experiments. So, the influence of radiation goes mainly through the skin and eyes. Depending on the number of IR waves, their influence also changes.
Infrared rays cause the main harm to the skin, they dry it out, and the epidermis does not have time to release the segment that moisturizes the surface in time. Therefore, it is harmful to be under the influence of a heater for a long time, because it can lead to burns of varying degrees and skin diseases. It is strongly not recommended to turn on the device at full when you are under direct influence, especially for devices that emit short and medium range waves. All these indicators also depend on the person himself, on his susceptibility, which you should definitely pay attention to, so as not to blame the manufacturer for deception later. Each person can withstand a certain amount of any wave, not just infrared, so you need to be careful and follow all the instructions that come with the device.
Further, according to the degree of harmful effects on the human body, there is harm to the eyes. Often, prolonged exposure to direct infrared rays negatively affects the internal structure of the eye. The influence is thousands of times weaker than that of the sun, but again everything depends on the physiology of the people who use the device. Therefore, it is strictly not recommended to install infrared devices near workplaces where there is a direct effect on the eyes. This applies to manufacturing plants and offices. Violation of these points is a direct violation of safety during operation.
Therefore, in order to avoid harmful effects, you need to know a few things:
- The device is not intended for use for a long time, since its principle of operation is radically different;
- Devices using short and medium wavelengths are intended for use in large rooms and outdoors;
- If you have purchased a device, then please follow the safety rules during operation, so that later unnecessary questions do not arise.
So, we got acquainted with the harmful factors, now we will find out the useful aspects of an infrared heater.
Firstly, unlike solar radiation, the infrared radiation of the device does not have radioactive effects and ultraviolet radiation. This is a huge plus that makes this device convenient and safe, of course, if you choose the right device and use it correctly.
Secondly, as mentioned above, the device heats up all objects in the room, which is similar to the sun's effect on a surface. Only for this reason, when using this device, you will feel that the room is warming up evenly, and not like from ordinary heaters, that is, in sections.
It is also worth noting that the main advantage of these heaters is the fact that they do not dry out the air, destroy microbes and prevent dampness from spreading, thereby creating coziness and comfort in the home.
The devices are excellent not only for space heating, but also used outdoors.Many devices are used for medical and prophylactic purposes, for quick and effective heating of certain parts of the body. It is useful in the prevention of colds and inflammatory diseases.
See also - Convector or infrared heater - which is better to use?
Output
So, from all of the above, we can draw the following conclusion: infrared heaters have more positive qualities than negative ones, they are rational to use both indoors and outdoors, however, devices that use a long wavelength range are recommended for home use.
We hope this article has helped you in deciding whether infrared heaters are unhealthy or not. Use the devices according to the instructions and we assure you that the device will be of great benefit to you.
See also:
- 5 best electric fireplaces and hearths according to customer reviews
- 9 best electric fireplaces and hearths Electrolux according to customer reviews
- 9 best heaters RESANT according to customer reviews
- 10 best Electrolux heaters of 2019
- The 10 best Hyundai heaters
