No alternative to gas heating - TÜV Süd gives tips on the correct use of fan heaters
Created: 11/28/2022, 10:46 am
By: Katarina Amtmann
Fan heaters and radiators, many are looking for alternatives to heating with oil and gas (symbol image).
© IMAGO / Wolfgang Maria Weber
They are not suitable as a replacement for gas heating, but fan heaters can still help to get through the winter and save money.
TÜV Süd gives tips.
Munich - October was mild and mostly a golden October, as it is in the book.
This has delayed the start of the heating season.
But now it's getting cold in Bavaria.
At the latest now, consumers must be asking themselves how they heat in winter.
Energy Crisis: Fan Heaters as an Alternative to Heating with Gas or Oil?
"Not only aspects related to saving energy come into play here - more and more people are looking for reliable solutions in the event that the gas supply is no longer guaranteed or the full heating oil tank is unaffordable," writes the TÜV Süd based in Munich.
The fan heater also comes into focus.
But is it a good alternative?
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Fan heater: TÜV expert warns of dangers
Free-standing devices are often used for private purposes.
They are handy and can be plugged into any socket.
However, this already harbors the first risks.
TÜV Süd product expert Christian Kästl therefore advises observing the manufacturer's instructions for positioning the devices: "A fan heater standing on the floor must be clear of furniture or other objects on all sides - including upwards.
If heat builds up due to insufficient intake air or a blocked exhaust air path, the device can overheat after a short time.
Fan heaters can heat up to more than 120 degrees.
This is particularly quick if the device tips over.
Some models therefore have an anti-tipper that automatically switches them off when they are no longer flat on the ground.
"Nevertheless, we recommend never leaving the room when a fan heater is in operation," explains the TÜV Süd expert.
Other points to consider with fan heaters
Fan heaters heat up a lot and move a lot of air:
The room is heated up quickly, but it also spreads dust, which is a problem for people who are allergic to house dust, among other things.
It must also be ensured that the fan does not blow any paper off the table, for example, which in the worst case could end up on the device and catch fire.
Fan heaters consume a lot of electricity - sometimes more than 2,000 watts per hour:
Do not plug them into a power strip with other energy guzzlers.
The heating element is not protected by a casing:
If you get your old fan heater out of the basement, you should check it for dust and other foreign objects.
Under no circumstances should children be left alone with the device, since there is a risk of not only being burned, but also an electric shock (e.g. if the heating wire is touched with a pointed object).
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Fan heaters are not an alternative to gas/oil heating - but may be a useful addition
In view of rising energy prices, could a fan heater represent an alternative to gas or oil heating?
The TÜV Süd expert clearly denies this: "Fan heaters not only need a lot of energy to heat up a larger room.
They are not suitable for continuous operation and overheat quickly.
Multiple heaters would also overload the power supply.
Apartment buildings, for example, are not designed for each party to have energy-intensive devices in use at the same time.”
However, fan heaters can still make a contribution to getting through the cold season and also to saving energy - "if they are used correctly", says Kästler.
"A fan heater that is switched on briefly in the morning for breakfast can definitely help to use less gas or heating oil - if the whole family leaves the house afterwards, it is sufficient in the transitional period if the central heating is set to frost protection.
Fan heaters are also ideal for quick, effective heating - for example when the baby has to be changed at night.
For such clearly defined, short operations, fan heaters are perfect helpers, then the comparatively high energy consumption is not important."
(kam)
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