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Household heaters help heat a country house during the cold season. A traditional heating system, due to the need for constant operation, is not economically justified in a country house where the owners appear occasionally, for example, on holidays. A good solution to the problem is a gas heater for a summer house, powered by natural and bottled gas.
Overview of types of gas heaters for residential buildings
There are many types of gas heaters that can be successfully used to heat a country house. An inexperienced person, coming to the store, is at a loss with the choice of a suitable model. We will now talk about all the popular varieties, and how to choose a good gas heater.
Catalytic heaters
Such a heater can operate not only from gas, but also from gasoline. Catalytic units are universal in use and can be successfully used in residential premises, garages, workshops and other buildings.Naturally, to heat a house, it is better to connect the heater to a gas pipeline to avoid the unpleasant smell of gasoline. One catalytic heater is optimally used to heat a room up to 20 m22.
In addition to efficiency, catalytic gas heaters for summer cottages are highly safe. The units do not explode, are environmentally friendly, and can even operate from a liquefied gas cylinder. The heating element of the heater is a catalytic panel made of fiberglass and platinum. Relatively recently, heaters with deep oxidation catalysts that lack platinum elements have appeared. To increase performance, some heaters are equipped with a fan for better heat distribution. Such models have increased power up to 4.9 kW.
Ceramic infrared heater
If you need a mobile heating device, then an IR gas heater with a cylinder for a summer residence will be the ideal choice. Infrared units do not need to be connected to an electrical network or a central gas pipeline. The heater is powered by a cylinder of liquefied propane-butane gas. It is very convenient to take a couple of small cylinders with you in the car, fill them up and bring them to the dacha.
Infrared radiation helps to effectively use the thermal energy obtained from gas combustion.In addition, a local heat zone quickly forms around the heater, even if the entire room is still cold. Thanks to this efficiency, infrared heaters help keep you warm on your veranda, terrace or gazebo. Arriving with a group at the dacha in late autumn, you can comfortably relax outside by placing a couple of gas infrared heaters in the gazebo.
The design of the IR heater consists of a metal body with a gas burner. The operation of the burner is controlled by a control device and a valve block. The latter, by the way, are responsible for the safety of using the heater. In case of accidental overturning, failure of combustion or fuel supply, the valves will cut off the gas supply from the cylinder, protecting the heater from explosion and the room from fire.
That's all the general design of the heater, however, it is worth paying attention to the burner. This is not a simple part with holes, like, for example, a gas stove. The efficiency of such a burner will be weak, since the burned gas would simply heat the air, which would rise to the ceiling of the room. To turn an ordinary burner into a real heater, it is equipped with IR emitters. Special ceramic panels convert the energy of burning bottled gas into heat. Instead of ceramics, emitters made of other materials and different designs can be used, for example, metal meshes, reflectors, tubes, etc.
Gas convectors
Every year the popularity of gas convectors is growing not only among owners of dachas, but also among residents of private houses. A household gas heater has a simple design without complex electronics, it is economical and inexpensive. The convector can be used in any room, even for heating a greenhouse.Country houses are premises that do not require constant heating. A gas convector will heat even a large country house in a short time. Some owners of private houses install convectors instead of a traditional heating system. Firstly, this approach is due to ease of installation and lower costs. Secondly, the efficiency of convectors reaches 90%, which allows you to save on energy bills.
The design of a gas convector consists of a cast iron chamber, inside of which gas burns. Cold air penetrates through the lower holes on the heater body and, having heated up on the hot heat exchanger, is directed upward. The circulation of warm and cold air occurs naturally, but for greater performance, some convector models are equipped with fans.
The convector is equipped with a chimney made of a two-layer pipe. Fresh air enters the room through the outer layer of the chimney, and gas combustion products exit through the inner layer to the street.
Heating the cottage with a gas fireplace
In addition to its direct responsibilities for heating the room, a gas fireplace also plays a decorative role. It's nice to sit at the dacha on a weekend and warm up by the roaring fireplace. Moreover, the big advantage of a decorative heater is that it will not stain the room and will not release smoke into it, as often happens with a real fireplace. The device can be used as needed at any time. Combustion products do not enter the premises, which is safe for humans.
Externally, the gas fireplace looks like a real one. There is even firewood inside the firebox, but it is made of ceramic and is only an imitation. Some fireplace models are equipped with an aroma burner, which removes unpleasant odors from the room.The fireplace is capable of operating from main gas and bottled propane-butane. However, the use of liquefied gas creates some difficulties. You will have to make a separate niche for the cylinders outside the living area.
The main design element of a gas fireplace is the firebox. The combustion temperature of gas is lower than that of firewood or coal, so the material for the firebox can be glass and metal, and cast iron is occasionally used. The size and shape of the firebox have no restrictions. It all depends on the designer's imagination. A gas burner is installed under the decorative firewood. In cheaper models, ignition is done manually. Expensive fireplaces are equipped with heat, draft, etc. sensors. They monitor the safe operation of the fireplace and can automatically light and extinguish the burner when a certain temperature in the room is reached. There are even models with a remote control.
The chimney for a fireplace is usually made of stainless steel. Due to the absence of soot, 2 angles of 90 are allowedO. If you get a chimney with a large number of corners, be sure to install a forced exhaust hood. The external design of a gas fireplace is selected to match the interior of the room.
Outdoor gas heater
When you come to the dacha with friends, you want to relax in the fresh air. This can be done even on a cold autumn day in a gazebo or veranda; you just need to turn on an outdoor infrared heater powered by liquefied bottled gas. Typically, such models are made of stainless steel with transport wheels on the body. At outside temperature +10OC, a gas heater is capable of heating the air around it to +25OC. The principle of heating is infrared radiation passing through the air. IR rays reflected from objects heat them up.
The outdoor IR gas unit operates from a 5 or 27-liter propane-butane cylinder. The cylinder is hidden in a vertical position inside the heater body. The burner is equipped with a ceramic panel and can operate in three modes: low, medium and full power. Piezo ignition and a control unit with sensors make the operation of the outdoor heater safe and convenient.
Portable gas heaters
The efficiency of portable gas heaters in the country is quite high. A mobile device with a small cylinder can be quickly installed in any room, even taken with you on a hike to heat a tent.
Portable heater model
Portable gas heaters are considered tourist heaters. Not only can they safely heat the air in your tent, but you can even cook food with them. Tourist portable heaters have several differences in design:
- the burner is directly connected to a horizontally located cylinder without a connecting hose;
- the unit is connected to a remote cylinder using a hose;
- heater-nozzle screwed on top of a vertically standing cylinder;
- a heater with a radiator ring, similarly screwed on top of a vertically mounted cylinder.
Portable heaters are safe thanks to a protective valve block.
Gas gun
Analogue heat gun is a gas model. The gas gun operates from liquefied bottled gas and can be connected to a battery or mains power supply. A portable device can heat a room up to 100 m3. The main disadvantage is the mandatory ventilation of the room. It is better not to use a gun in the house; it is suitable for heating outbuildings or a summer cottage construction site.
Depending on the model, ignition can be manual or from a piezoelectric element. Typically the device is equipped with thermal protection, a flame and fuel supply controller. The minimum weight of the gun is 5 kg. For convenient transportation, a handle is attached to the body of the product.
How to choose a model
To decide which gas unit is best to choose for your dacha, you need to read user reviews. They will tell you which device works more efficiently and where it is best to use it.
From the models we reviewed, we can conclude that it is reasonable to buy outdoor heaters only for heating gazebos or verandas. It must be borne in mind that their cost is quite high compared to their indoor counterparts. A good option would be to buy a ceramic IR model. It costs less and can be used indoors and outdoors.
It is better to trust heating of the house only to gas convectors. Numerous reviews from summer residents will tell you about this. Catalytic heaters and fireplaces are quite expensive and are intended for amateurs. As for portable heaters, it is better not to use them in the house or only rarely when necessary.
The video talks about choosing heaters:
