Kerosene Heaters Types
Home kerosene heaters can create a warm atmosphere in your home even during cold winters. There are two types of kerosene heaters indoors: convection and radiant. It is important to see the difference between them, as the peculiarities of each type is likely to influence you choice.
What is common between convection and radiant kerosene heaters?
First of all, both types of kerosene heaters require some kind of preparation period. Within this time their wicks should be “burned dry”, as tar balls will build up on the top of the wick, inhibiting correct capillary action by the wick.
A circular fiberglass wick, as a very important part of home kerosene heaters, is the connection between the tank and the catalytic converter (or burner unit). The burner unit is considered the center of heating process, the very part producing heat.
What is different?
The burner unit of convective heaters indoors is encased in a steel sleeve. Convective heaters heat the area by means of heating the air. What is important is that the heat is radiated in all directions, which for convective heaters’ owners means being especially proper with basic rules of safety use. Convective heaters must be placed at least three feet away from combustible materials. Up-to-date convective heaters produce heat equal to 20,000 BTUs or more. Older ones are smaller and produce only 10000 BTU heat. Older convective home heaters are still available. When found in good condition, the can be modernized a little (change of some important parts) and work properly for many years. To operate at full blast convective heaters require three minute warm-up.
As for the radiant heaters the burner unit is encased in a glass cylinder, with a half circle of reflective polished stainless steel behind it. Red glow of radiant kerosene heaters means the radiation of infrared heat waves. Infrared waves heat the objects and people as they reach them. Convective heat is inevitably produced by radiant heaters, however, its amount is small and convective heat itself is ancillary. The efficiency of radiant kerosene heaters indoors is 10,000 BTUs or less. What is important is that they feature the direction of radiation, so you can place them aimed at the object you want to heat.
Radiant heaters are slower than convective ones to reach the operating temperatures. It is due to the fact that the heat is radiated. Since radiation is the main principle of operation of such heaters it causes some negative consequences such as slower start-up.
It is also important to mention that the BTU rating aside from other factors is based on fuel consumption. It seems logical as radiate home kerosene heaters use a half of the fuel convective heaters consume, and radiate heat two times smaller according to BTU.
Important fact
To choose the best home kerosene heater you should decide what size is appropriate for the area you want to heat. Heaters usually have only one option of heating, id est there is no medium or low position, that is why the only way to regulate the heat is to choose the size you need or in extremis to open the window.