November arrives and with it the cold. Autumn brings with it spending more hours at home sheltered from the rain and frigid air. Have you equipped your home for this moment? Below we detail the types of electric heating that exist on the market as well as their different characteristics. Electric heating: Which option is more efficient?
WHAT IS ELECTRIC HEATING?
When we talk about electric heating we are referring to any heating system that uses electricity for its operation. In short, it is any system that uses electricity to generate heat, either directly or indirectly, through some intermediate procedure aluminium infrapanel.
More and more homes are opting for this type of heating even though it has a reputation for being expensive… But is this real? Electric heating uses electricity to produce heat through the Joule effect , that is, the procedure by which electrical energy is converted into thermal energy , giving rise to 100% efficient energy useful for heating any room.
Among the strengths that electric heating offers are: they are super economical heating devices, they require simple, quick and uncomplicated installation, they generally take up very little space and offer a constant energy supply.
Have we not convinced you yet? Keep reading, we assure you that between now and the end of this post you will change your mind.
DIRECT VS INDIRECT HEATING
Before listing the different electric heating equipment on the market, it is necessary to make a small distinction, and that is that these can be divided into two clearly differentiated groups. We are referring to direct electric heating and indirect electric heating.
Within the direct group we will mainly find equipment that is responsible for converting electricity into heat without resorting to intermediate steps thanks to the Joule effect. This group includes electric radiators, electric heaters , electric stoves or even electric underfloor heating.
In the group of indirect ones, however, we find models that are capable of generating heat through a fluid , which is responsible for spreading the heat through space. This fluid can be water or air, and includes air conditioning, heat pumps and electric boilers.
DIRECT HEATING MODELS
The different models that fall into this group are very varied , even so, sometimes they are so similar in appearance that it is easy to confuse them. Among the most used in the domestic sphere we find: electric radiators, electric heaters, electric stoves and electric underfloor heating.
Electric radiators: There is a wide variety of electric radiators, although each family works with a different technology. What do they have in common? Each and every one of them has electrical resistances inside that heat up, producing heat. The most notable are electric oil radiators, electric night accumulators, infrared emitters, blue heat radiators and radiant panels.
Electric heaters: These heating devices are responsible for generating heat thanks to the air that passes through them and their internal fans. Among the most used we find electric ceramic heaters , electric convectors , braziers and electric fan heaters.
Electric stoves: These are compact devices that generally simulate traditional butane gas stoves or wood-burning fireplaces. These models are very aesthetic, the most modern ones even change color when turned on.
Electric underfloor heating: Also known as electric wire, it consists of an electric cable that is installed under the floor prepared to generate heat thanks to the energy that passes through it.
INDIRECT HEATING MODELS
As we mentioned previously, indirect electric heating models are summarized in three, and are characterized by generating heat through a medium , which can be either air or water, and is responsible for spreading the heat throughout the rooms.
Air conditioning devices: These devices require electricity to operate, although at the same time they take advantage of the properties of a specific gas that is responsible for separating the heat energy from the air.
Heat pump: It works the same as the air appliance, but instead of heating the air, it is responsible for heating the water contained in its tank. This water is what will later be used to diffuse heat throughout the rooms of the home through water radiators and underfloor heating.
Electric boiler: This equipment has an electric resistance that is responsible for heating the water, which is distributed throughout the home through a circuit. This heat will spread throughout the house thanks to the radiators.