The best option is Redmond RCH 4535, the budget option is Thermex Pronto 2000M.
The operation of a convection heater is based on the principle of convection: warm air rises, cold air falls. Air enters the convector through holes at the bottom and heats up there. Becoming warmer and lighter, it comes out through the upper holes.
Unlike infrared heaters, which heat only the surfaces where their rays fall, convectors heat all the air in the room. They are more compact
than oil ones and are easy to buy on marketplaces. They are inexpensive: at Ozone, prices for devices start from 1,455 ₽.
I studied the Russian market for inexpensive convectors and talked with experts from the real estate editorial team. I’ll tell you what to rely on besides price and which models are suitable for different rooms.
Selection criteria for convector heaters
Installation type. According to the type of installation, convector heaters are divided into four categories: floor, wall, combined and built into the floor. Each type requires an electrical connection to operate.
Floor-standing ones usually have wheels to make them easy to move around the apartment or house. They are often used as an additional heat source when the main heating system is not enough. For example, when the radiators in the apartment heat poorly or if you need to warm up a specific room in the off-season.
Wall heaters are attached to the wall like a radiator. They can be installed, for example, under windows, as cold air is generated there. As a rule, wall heaters are used in private homes – sometimes as the main source of heating.
Most convectors are combined: depending on needs, they are mounted on the wall or moved from room to room.
Stationary or in-floor convectors are built into the floor. Most often they are used where there are panoramic windows. Devices of this type have a more complex design and are not mobile, and their installation, as a rule, is taken into account at the design stage.
Our rating presents only easily installed and mobile options – floor-standing or combined convectors.
Power. If it is too low, the heater will not warm the room – you will have to use several devices. Conversely, operating an overly powerful device without the ability to adjust the heating strength will lead to unnecessary waste of electricity. Higher-power models tend to be larger in size and may not look very good visually in a small room.
The maximum area of ​​the room for which the convector is designed is indicated in the characteristics. Manufacturers advise focusing on a value of 1 kW per 10 m², that is, a 1000 W convector can heat a room of 10 m², 2000 W – 20 m². But this is a rough calculation, which is valid for poorly insulated rooms. In a well-insulated house where someone permanently lives, heat loss is 40-50% lower than the specified value . To calculate the power for a specific housing, you can use
When purchasing high-power convectors – these are usually purchased for large rooms – it is worth checking for heating adjustment: this will help reduce energy costs.
Our selection includes convector heaters with a power of 1000 W or more, both with and without the possibility of adjustment.
Control type. Most convectors have a mechanical control type, that is, they turn on the device and regulate the temperature using buttons and rotary elements. There are heaters with touch control – on the display. Some models have a remote control with which you can adjust the operation of the device from a distance. You can turn it on without getting out of bed. There are also models for a smart home system – controlled from a smartphone. When compiling the selection, we considered all options.
Type of thermostat. This heater element is designed to regulate temperature. It can be mechanical or electronic.
A mechanical thermostat is a classic thermostat with two adjustable parameters: shutdown temperature and operating power. Most often, such a thermostat is installed in budget convectors.
An electronic thermostat allows you to program the operating mode of the device and the heating temperature of the room using special sensors – usually presented in the form of buttons or a touch panel on the body. Sometimes they can be used to set the temperature to the nearest degree. Such heaters usually have three operating modes: manual, programmable and automatic.
Operational safety. The advantage of convector heaters is their high safety: the body practically does not heat up during operation. This eliminates the possibility of burns, which is especially important if there are children, elderly people or pets in the house.
Many models have additional protection systems. Here are the most common ones:
- shutdown when overheated. Overheating can occur, for example, if clothes are placed on the convector. To prevent a fire, the device will automatically turn off if it overheats;
- Tip-over protection – will automatically turn off the power if the device is accidentally knocked over by children or animals. This is fraught with overheating, damage to the finish and fire;
- home frost protection – will automatically turn on the heating when the air temperature drops to a certain temperature – usually at +5 °C. This is necessary, for example, when the owners leave the house for a long time, so that the frost does not break communications and deteriorate the finishing;
- parental controls—lock buttons on the control panel. This will allow you not to worry about your children.
The rating includes devices with a different number of additional protection systems – they are mainly equipped with convectors with electronic control and an electric thermostat.
Protection class. Indicates whether the convector is protected from moisture getting inside. The dust and moisture protection class determines in which rooms the device can be used. Among convector heaters, several standards are most often found:
- IP20 or IPX0 – there is no protection from moisture, such a device is suitable only for dry rooms;
- IP21 or IPX1 – protection against drops falling strictly vertically;
- IP22 or IPX2 – protection from drops falling at an angle of 15 degrees, usually used in kitchens;
- IP23 or IPX3 – protection against drops that fall at an angle of 60 degrees;
- IP24 or IPX4 – protection even in case of continuous splashing, the device is suitable for bathrooms.
The rating included devices with different levels of dust and moisture protection, but we considered IP21 or IPX1 as minimally acceptable.
Additional functions. Designed to make using the device more comfortable. I’ll tell you about the most common ones:
- timer – allows you to set the automatic switching on or off of the convector;
- indicator – shows the current heating level;
- built-in fan – helps to warm up the air in the room faster and protects the heating element from overheating;
- air humidification – helps not to dry out the air;
- inverter technology – when first turned on, the heating element of the convector operates at maximum power, and then the inverter gradually reduces it.
The choice of additional functions always depends on the user’s needs. Our selection includes models with different numbers of options or without them at all.
Ease of movement. If the convector has wheels or a carrying handle, it is more convenient to move it from room to room. For stationary models these elements are not needed. Since we did not consider such models, all devices presented in the rating can be moved. Our selection includes convectors with or without wheels or a handle.
Availability of service centers. In case of a breakdown, it is worth checking whether there is a service center in your city; usually this information is on the manufacturer’s website. For example, the companies Redmond and Marta have many service centers throughout Russia. But if the Electrolux convector breaks down, you will have to contact the store where it was purchased.