Heating appliances & systems

This short course offers guidance on how you can identify and distinguish between heating appliances.

Heating Appliances & Systems

Start

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Radiation

Convection

01

Identify the heating method - how do they heat a room?

Bottle Gas HeaterGas Radiant Fire

Which heaters fall into what category?

Electric Oil-Filled Radiator Electric Radiant Fire Open Coal Fire Infra-red Room Heater Closed Solid Fuel Room Heater

Electric Fan Heater Electric Convector Heater Electric Storage Heater Quantum Storage Heater Gas Convector Wall Heater Gas Coal Effect Fire - Open Fronted

Radiation

Convection

02

Use key characteristics to narrow down the options

The vents are usually metal strips positioned in front of the heating element to protect from direct exposure from heat or heating method.These can also be found around the side and back of some heaters to draw cold air in to be heated and distributed.

Convection based heaters usually have a damper and/or air vent (grill) to control the amount of air that can be taken in and be pushed outwardly. This can be easily identified as it is required in order for heated air to be pushed out into the room and for air to be funneled into the room heater simultaneously during the process.

Convection - key characteristics

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Wall-Mounted

Electric Fan Heater

Vent

Wheeled

Gas Convector Wall Heater

Gas Coal Effect Fire - Open Fronted

Bottle Gas Heater

Gas Radiant Fire

Quantum Storage Heater

Electric Storage Heater

Electric Convector Heater

Flue

Convection - key characteristics

An Electric Radiant Fire can usually be seen with horizontal glowing heated elements radiating heat outwardly. The glowing bars are a great indication as to how heat is being produced by a heating appliance to heat a room!

A Open Coal Fire has a visible flame within the hearth which radiates heat outwards. Other radiant heaters with a flame use the same application to radiate heat in a similar manner.

Radiation based heaters usually show a heating element that can be seen by the light which is produced when heat is being radiated. For example, this can be seen as an open flame or a heated solid element.

Radiation - key characteristics

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Wheeled

Visible Flame

Heated Solid Element

Electric Oil-Filled Radiator

Gas Radiant Fire

Bottle Gas Heater

Closed Solid Fuel Room Heater

Infra-red Room Heater

Open Coal Fire

Electric Radiant Fire

Flue

Radiation - key characteristics

We hope this overview of the key features that help you to identify heating applicances and distinguish between them is a useful addition to your revision material! Now you are in a good place to make use of the practice quiz included in the next section and Test your Knowledge ➡