How to choose a quartz heater for your home and garden: pros and cons of models, review of manufacturers

The issue of alternative heating is relevant for residents of apartments, private houses and cottages.Heaters save the day in the cool off-season or become the main source of heating. Among the variety of models, buyers are increasingly choosing quartz products.

What are their advantages, what are the features of their design and application? We will answer these questions and also give practical advice on how to choose a quartz heater for domestic use.

When thinking about a purchase, you need to decide on the type of unit, compare its parameters with the upcoming operating conditions and evaluate the offers of leading manufacturers.

Classification of quartz aggregates

A quartz heater is a practical modern device for arranging alternative heating, which contains elements of quartz sand. It can serve as both main and auxiliary heating equipment.

To function correctly, it is connected to the electrical network and creates comfortable heat by passing current through a high-resistance element. Demonstrates an impressive level of efficiency and does not burn oxygen.

Progressive models of quartz heaters have a convenient thermostat. It allows you to control heating and allows owners to set the most acceptable temperature for themselves.

It works on a resistive principle and is considered the safest for users, since it does not generate a magnetic field and does not heat metal accessories on the clothes of a person who comes too close to the unit.

It uses electricity wisely and makes it possible to save on utility bills without compromising your own comfort.

Manufacturers of heating equipment today offer two types of quartz units: infrared and monolithic (MKTEN). Both devices cope excellently with their tasks and have their own positive qualities.

The choice remains with the clients and depends on financial capabilities and the future intended use of the equipment.

Features of infrared modules

A quartz IR heater for a home functions by releasing heat to the environment through infrared radiation. In the process of absorbing radiant energy, the surfaces in the room heat up and then transfer the heat to the air.

This principle of operation is much more efficient and economical than convection, since the resource is spent on heating the usable area and is not spent on heating the unused ceiling space.

When intensely heated, the spiral in infrared quartz devices glows red-orange. The majority of people don’t even notice this, but some complain of pain in the eyes and discomfort

Using an infrared unit, you can heat the desired building locally, that is, turn on the equipment only in those rooms that currently require heat, without resorting to heating the entire residential complex.

The effect is observed almost immediately and remains for a long time after unplugging.Thanks to these capabilities, the device is ideal for heating a dacha where the owners do not live year-round, but only occasionally come to relax for a few days.

Types of IR devices

The heating element in quartz infrared heaters is a nichrome, tungsten or carbon spiral. In open devices, it is wound around a ceramic base, behind which a reflector is placed.

Units of this type intensively burn oxygen and have a high level of fire hazard. It is strictly not recommended to use them.

In closed-type modules, the working element is the same spiral, only enclosed in a sealed tube made of durable quartz glass. The air from there is completely pumped out and oxygen combustion does not occur. The device demonstrates high efficiency and easily copes with heating small rooms.

To ensure that the heat is distributed evenly throughout the room and not concentrated in one place, it is recommended to hang the infrared quartz heater from the ceiling or install it on a tripod with the ability to rotate

If the heater is located in a place accessible to people, children or pets, the radiator must be equipped with additional protection: a transparent partition or metal mesh. This avoids accidents and protects residents from burns.

Quartz infrared heaters are either stationary or portable. Stationary ones are attached to a specific place in the room and work there continuously. Portable ones make it possible to heat a specific room at a certain time convenient for the owners, for example, when arriving at an unheated dacha

The main disadvantage of the model is that the tube heats up excessively during operation - up to +700°C. The dust that settles on it immediately begins to burn, and an unpleasant, pungent odor spreads into the room.

If the device is rarely used, for example, only for heating a summer house, where the owners visit only on holidays, you need to carefully consider how to protect the tube from dust. Otherwise, immediately after switching on, you will have to actively ventilate the room and “drive out” burnt aromas, and with them useful heat.

When planning to purchase an infrared quartz heater, you must definitely ask the seller to present a hygiene certificate for the equipment. If this document is not available, and the warranty period does not exceed one and a half years, the purchase issue should be considered again and more carefully.

Another disadvantage of the device is the instability of the quartz tube to moisture and sudden temperature changes. Constantly working in difficult conditions, it quickly loses its physical characteristics and breaks down. Experts say that it is not advisable to repair a damaged unit. It will be much cheaper to buy a new module.

One of the options for infrared heating equipment is a device with a heating element mounted in an anodized profile. Outwardly it resembles a regular fluorescent lamp and easily fits into any interior.

The main element does not become red-hot during operation and creates soft, diffuse radiation. It is environmentally friendly, does not burn oxygen and, due to the completely enclosed working part, never provokes fire hazards.

Infrared heaters with heating elements are used to heat houses, cottages, and greenhouses.Moreover, the equipment provides not only high-quality heating, but also pleasant, diffuse lighting, to which both ornamental plants and vegetables or berries respond well.

The unit has practically no shortcomings and the only thing that can be reproached for it is a slight cracking noise during intensive use. The “sound” effect is in no way related to design flaws or any malfunctions.

It occurs because the stainless steel from which the heating element is made and the aluminum used in the manufacture of the plate have different expansion coefficients when heated.

A detailed classification of infrared heaters and tips for choosing the appropriate model are given in this article.

The reason for the popularity of the technique

Quartz infrared heaters are in great demand in the market for the following reasons:

1. The products are not too heavy and take up virtually no space in the room.
2. Installation does not require special knowledge, experience or expensive tools. Installation can be easily done by one person, and it does not require a lot of time.
3. The devices demonstrate one of the highest levels of efficiency (up to 95%) and provide instant heating of the room immediately after switching on.
4. The absolute fire safety of closed-type modules allows installation even in children's rooms.
5. The products have a thermostat and remote control function. The owner can independently set a specific program for the device via the Internet or a smartphone, and then monitor its implementation.
6. The ability to organize a comfort zone in a certain part of the room without resorting to heating the entire room.

Compared to other options for portable heating equipment, an infrared quartz unit works many times faster than heat fan or oil heater .

Monolithic model: device and parameters

The second type of quartz heaters are monolithic products. Let's take a closer look at their design, operating principle and nuances of use.

Design and operating features

The quartz monolithic heater has a simple design and consists of the following elements:

• main heating element – a spiral made of nichrome (an alloy of nickel and chromium, enriched with silicon, iron, aluminum and manganese), which has impressive resistivity, an increased level of heat resistance, good ductility, durability and reliability;
• monolithic slab – a heavy (about 12 kg) rectangular fragment made of quartz sand.

When assembling the unit, the nichrome spiral is equipped with the appropriate connecting parts and fasteners, and then placed in a zigzag shape in a mold and filled with a liquid solution of quartz sand.

Then the workpiece is placed under a press, given the desired shape, thoroughly dried and subjected to intensive high-temperature treatment in an oven. The finished product has clear parameters of length and width (60*35 cm), and the thickness of the slab is 2.5-3 cm.

A monolithic quartz heater is a stationary device and does not require constant transfer to different rooms. Manufacturers equip their models with special durable brackets for convenient mounting of the unit on the wall

The equipment turns out to be absolutely fireproof, since the heating element is located inside the quartz plate and has no contact with the external environment.The area where the power cable is attached is also completely covered.

This design feature eliminates the heating coil from breaking and reduces to zero the risk of a short circuit in the system.

The durable nickel-chromium alloy from which the heating element is made allows the device to heat up to 100 degrees and reduces the chance of the coil burning out to a minimum. This extends the life of the device and makes it more reliable

Almost all modern models of monolithic heaters have a special coating that provides the device with a high level of moisture protection. This quality allows you to install equipment not only in living rooms, but also in the bathroom or kitchen.

Quartz sand quickly accumulates thermal energy, and then releases it into the room for a long time in the form of infrared radiation. Even after disconnecting from the power supply, the device continues to emit useful heat and warm up the room for about an hour.

For all their bright advantages, monoliths also have disadvantages.

Disadvantage #1. The weight of some models reaches 13 kg, and this significantly limits the range of places where the unit can be installed.

Thin interior partitions or false walls made of plasterboard simply will not withstand the load and will crack, forcing owners to spend additional money on cosmetic repairs.

Disadvantage #2. During operation, the surface of the monolithic slab heats up to +80…+120°C. If you touch it carelessly, you can harm yourself and get seriously burned.

In places where families with small children or pets live, the installation of such equipment is unacceptable without a special protective screen, which will make the fire stove inaccessible without in any way affecting the level of efficiency of the device itself.

Disadvantage #3. The lack of remote control also creates certain problems. But most of the devices do not even have an on/off button, and they are directly connected to the outlet using a regular power cable with a plug at the end.

Some manufacturers still display a toggle switch on the external panel to activate the equipment, and in addition offer customers the opportunity to purchase a thermostat with a regulator that allows them to control the heating level and use electrical energy more economically.

Alternatively, you can connect the heater via socket with thermostat.

Technical parameters of monoliths

A standard monolithic heating device has a size of 61*34*2.5 cm and weighs about 10 kg. Heating begins immediately after plugging the cable into the outlet. After 20 minutes, the stove reaches maximum operating temperatures (about +90°C) and fills the room with comfortable warmth. The rated power of the unit is 0.5 kW.

A high-quality monolithic heater holds its shape perfectly and does not crack during operation. If the slab has peeled off and lost its integrity, it means that it is a fake and in its manufacture they used not purified quartz sand, but gypsum, whitewash, marble chips or cement

To heat a 16-meter room with a normal ceiling height, one monolithic module is enough. The equipment comes with three brackets (two lower and one upper).With their help, you can quickly and securely mount the device on the wall and immediately begin to operate it in full mode.

The thermostat allows you to avoid freezing in winter, but at the same time use electricity economically. Sometimes it comes included with the equipment initially, or you can buy it in a specialized store and install it at home yourself

If a large room or an entire house/apartment needs high-quality heating, a one-piece heating system is created from several monoliths with a parallel connection of each device into a common complex.

Such equipment is controlled automatically using temperature control devices.

Who produces quartz equipment

On the heating equipment market, quartz units are offered in a wide range, but many of them are imported from China and do not have any documents confirming the quality of the products and their suitability for use at home.

It is not very wise to buy such models, since no one knows how safe the radiation they emit is.

Quartz heaters from China attract with their appearance and low price. However, it is almost impossible to get a guarantee for them, because the service centers of these companies do not operate in Russia

To protect yourself and your family from additional problems, it is better to buy equipment from branded stores that offer products from official Russian, Belarusian and foreign manufacturers.

TeplEco plant module

TepplEco is the only Russian enterprise that produces economical heating equipment from natural quartz sand of a high degree of purification.

The products coming off the brand's assembly line fully comply with the requirements of TU 3468-001-89101774-2009 and GOST RMEC 60335-2-30-99, GOST R 51318.14.1-99, GOST R 51317.3.2-99, GOST R 51317.3.3 -2008. The devices are absolutely safe (class 1 in electrical protection and fire safety) and are suitable for use in residential premises.

TeplEco quartz units are in great demand. Even such a famous person as Alexander Druz, a member of the Connoisseurs Club and owner of the Crystal Owl, heats his home using TeplEco products

The company’s website contains all permits for the right to produce heating equipment, as well as certification certificates, patents and hygienic certificates confirming the environmental friendliness of the products and their complete safety for human health.

The TeploEko quartz heater is a practical heating device that provides high-quality heating of the room with reasonable electrical consumption.

Distinctive features include the following parameters:

• base power – 400 W
• actual energy consumption per day – 2.5-3.5 kW/h
• weight – 12 kg
• textured pattern on the front side
• frame around the edge of the product, treated with white powder paint to ensure reliable electrical protection
• on/off button located so as not to be conspicuous
• power cable that can withstand intensive operating load (up to 380 V) and the highest operating temperature (about 120°C)

The basic kit does not include a thermoregulatory device, but if desired, it can be purchased for an additional fee and, once installed, will make the use of the equipment even more convenient and comfortable.

TeplopitBel device from a Belarusian manufacturer

The Belarusian manufacturer and supplier of heating equipment, private entrepreneur Roman Mikhailovich Goncharenko offers clients who do not have the opportunity to organize a gas heating system in their home or country house, quartz appliances for comfortable heating of premises.

The company creates modern competitive devices. Their main feature is a large radiating surface area, increased by applying natural quartz chips.

This technology has no analogues and is the property of the manufacturer (patent No. 11053, registered in the state register of useful inventions of the Republic of Belarus).

Quartz heaters manufactured by a Belarusian manufacturer are produced in a wide variety of colors and, in addition to heating the room, can serve as an effective and eye-catching element of interior decor

The heating element is made from pure high-quality quartz sand (confirmed by a quality certificate), which has high thermal conductivity. Marble chips, which are present in models from other manufacturers and significantly reduce the thermal conductivity, are not used in the Belarusian device.

Unit TeplopitBel quickly accumulates electrical energy and converts it into heat. Due to the combination of low consumption and high efficiency, it belongs to energy saving heating systems. Awarded a diploma from the construction exhibition "Euroremont-2016" as a unique heating device.

The TeplopitBel quartz heating module is a cost-effective purchase for both home and garden.

Among its main advantages are such positions as:

• rated power – 0.25 kW
• electrical consumption per 1 hour – from 0.25 to 0.4 kW/h depending on the model
• large size of the heat-emitting surface – 312 mm
• temperature indicators of the unit (efficiency) – 75-98%
• ability to heat an area of ​​10-12 m
• complete cooling after switching off – 40-60 m
• fire safety
• environmental friendliness
• heat-resistant varnish coating for increased durability
• Possibility of mounting equipment on the wall
• attractive appearance (can be purchased in any color according to the client’s wishes)
• weight – 11 kg

Economical energy consumption and a high level of efficiency allow you to effectively heat a room without spending a lot of money on utility bills.

UFO quartz equipment

Turkish company NNR has been making heaters for many years. Since 2004, the manufacturer has been operating in the Russian market and offers customers a wide range of quartz infrared units of different sizes and configurations.

Models are available for installation on the floor, wall or ceiling, designed to create comfortable conditions in residential buildings, cottages or production workshops.

New heater UFO CITY suitable for heating any type of premises up to 23 sq.m. The minimum resource of a heating lamp is 6,000 hours, and the power does not exceed 1,700 W.

Installation is available in three ways:

• floor – placed on a vertical rod with a four-bladed base;
• wall – mounted on brackets to the load-bearing wall;
• vertical or horizontal – can be placed in both options, depending on the wishes of the owners; There is no loss of efficiency.

The device has a convenient thermostat that allows you to regulate the heating level and save electricity.Moisture protection IP 24 allows the device to be used in the bathroom without the risk of short circuits and other unpleasant situations.

For safety reasons, the front part of the panel is protected by a durable grille and is inaccessible to accidental touches.

The infrared quartz device from UFO does not emit any harmful substances during operation, calmly withstands intense loads and provides the room with comfortable warmth around the clock.

The unit is easy to disassemble/assemble and does not require specific maintenance. You can pack it in the trunk of your car and take it with you to your dacha, where there is no central heating. In just 15 minutes it will warm up the room and maintain the temperature until the owners are ready to leave home.

On our website there is a series of articles devoted to the selection and description of the characteristics of various household heaters. If you have not yet decided on the device model, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with:

1. Which heater is better to choose for a house and apartment: a comparative review of units
2. How to choose a micathermic heater: overview of types and selection tips
3. How to choose a convection heater: comparative review and recommendations before purchasing

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

How to choose the right quality quartz heater and not run into a Chinese counterfeit? Useful recommendations and tips from a representative of the TeplEko company, which has been selling heating equipment on the Russian market for many years.

Details of the installation and operation of an infrared quartz heater in the bathroom. Review and honest opinion of a real person who installed the equipment at home.

A detailed description of quartz heaters and ways to save energy on home heating systems.

Choosing a quartz heater for a summer house or home is not difficult, but it requires attention. When purchasing, you need to know what specific area the module is designed for and not purchase equipment based solely on price.

A device that is too weak will not cope with heating a large room, and a large one will create a hot and stuffy atmosphere in a small room.

It is better to focus on the numbers indicated by the manufacturer in the accompanying documents and purchase a heating device specifically tailored to the parameters of your home. This is the only way to create truly comfortable, cozy conditions in your house, apartment or country house.

Are you looking for a high-quality and efficient quartz heater? Or do you have experience using such devices? Please leave comments on the article, ask questions and participate in discussions. The contact form is located below.