Heating glossary

Air Flow: The distribution or movement of air.
Anti Frost Protection: Automatic thermostat that switches the heater on, if the room temperature drops below 5ºc. Helps to reduce the likelihood of water pipes freezing and bursting.
Comfort Level: This is the level of preferred heat required and as selected by the individual(s). This is usually in the main living areas where a warmer, more comfortable temperature is required.
Convection Heating: A convection heater is a heater which operates by air convection currents circulating through the body of the appliance, and across its heating element. This heats up the air, causing it to increase in volume and so become buoyant and rise.
Because of this natural ventilation, they are quieter in operation than fan heaters.
Energy Efficiency: Is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services.
Element or Heating Element: The internal component of a heater which provides the heat
IP Protection degree: Classifies and rates the degrees of protection provided against the intrusion of solid objects (including body parts like hands and fingers), dust, accidental contact, and water in mechanical casings and with electrical enclosures
Noise level: is the noise produced by the climate control system during normal operation; it is measured in decibels dB(A).
Overheat protection: Safety thermostat (or Auto shut-off) helps prevent damage and minimise risks if the heater were to overheat. As soon as the internal temperature of the heater becomes too hot, the unit will shut itself off.
PTC Heaters: Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heating elements are small ceramic plates with self-limiting temperature characteristics. PTC plates have fast heating response times and plateau once the pre-defined reference temperature is reached.
Personal Heater: Provides the best comfort when you are directly in front of the unit and provides the best comfort when heating is required quickly.
Power absorbed or consumption: Is the heating appliance's power consumption. In catalogues provided by manufacturers, this is given in Watt (W) or KiloWatt (kW = 1000xWatt). Catalogues usually also include the current used in Ampere (A).
Radiant Heating: A radiant heater is a heater which operates by warming up not only the surrounding air, but also the surfaces and objects which are in the environment/room.
Walls and objects become themselves heating elements, thermal masses that release heat, allowing a smaller movement of the air, a greater uniformity of the temperature and consequently reduce lifting of dusts in and around the environment. The air is pleasantly moderate and to a correct level of comfort.
Heating by radiant energy is observed everyday, the warmth of the sunshine being probably the most commonly observed example.
Room Heater: When referring to room heaters we are looking for a product that provides the best comfort for the whole of a large room and over long periods of time.
Thermostat: A temperature control device, typically found on a wall inside, that consists of a series of sensors and relays that monitor and control the functions of a heating and cooling system.
The tip-over switch: It is designed to turn the heater off if it gets knocked over. When heaters are not upright there is the possibility that the heated elements end up very close to your carpet or flooring, which increases the risk of fire. The tip-over switch automatically cuts the power off for you, thus reducing the risk of fire and increasing your safety.
Temperature: The measure of the intensity of heat that a substance possesses.
Ventilation: The process of supplying or removing air, by natural or mechanical means, to or from any space. Such air may or may not have been conditioned.