Micathermic heaters are thought to be a combination of convection and radiant space heaters. Mica heaters use mica to heat a room using electromagnetic rays. If you’re looking for a space heater with excellent efficiency in heating, micathermic heaters are your best bet. In this article, we review our best micathermic heaters.
The Best Micathermic Heaters
1. DeLonghi HMP1500 – Our Best Micathermic Heater
Weight: 15.4 pounds
Key Features: Stylish design, multiple safety features, convenient carry handle for easy mobility.
Pros: Thermostat, Silent, Automatic tip-over shutoff
Cons: Not durable
This is another effective micathermic heater. The model can be sued as a floor unit as well as on the wall. Once you mount it on the wall, it will provide you with the warmth you require throughout the entire winter. This feature means that the heater can be installed in your house as a permanent fixture, which prevents it from tipping over.
The model comes with a thermostat, but only has two settings, high and low. What’s more, the model also has an automatic tip-over shutoff, which means that it shuts down if it falls over, which helps in preventing serious problems that could arise from the heater functioning while lying down.
While in its initial stages after installation, the model works perfectly and quietly. However, after a few years, it stops working quietly and produces a click or hum. This is usually a sign that something is worn out on the inside, and one needs to be cautious when using it. Generally, this model is effective. If it had better durability, it would probably take the first place.
2. TURBRO HR1500-B
Weight: 11 pounds
Key Features: Instant heating, personalized warmth, 3-dimensional heating
Pros: Easy to assemble, Easily portable, Efficient heating in a medium room
Cons: Thermostat too sensitive
With this product, you no longer have to wait for a few minutes for your room to get warm. Once you switch on the appliance, you feel the warmth immediately. The heater also produces heat through infrared rays, which means the heat spreads throughout the room without having to worry about noise being produced by a fan. Furthermore, no oxygen is consumed, and air moisture remains the same.
Most heaters produce heat using only one outlet. That is not the case with this model as it delivers warmth by producing heat Omni direct. Most of the heat comes out through the top of the heater, and both sides also release some heat. Therefore, you do not need to adjust the angle of the appliance for everyone to feel warm.
With this model, you can also personalize the warmth in your room. The heater has an adjustable thermostat and a power selector from between 1000 and 1500W. After you have set the temperature you want, the heater automatically turns off and on depending on how much the temperature rises or falls.
The model also comes with a full manual that helps you assemble it with ease in a few steps. As a result, you will only require a few minutes to assemble the heater. From there, you can personalize the desired temperature and enjoy your “summer” during winter.
3. Bionaire Silent Micathermic Heater
Weight: 12 pounds
Key Features: slender design, durable micathermic heating panels, adjustable thermostat.
Pros: Silent, lightweight, automatic tip-over turnoff, thermostat
Cons: Poor top-end heat
The Bionaire BH39850-U silent micathermic heater is considered among the best heaters on the market. Its credibility comes from its multiple features that also contribute to its portability characteristics that include a lightweight of around 12 pounds, a carrying handle, and wheels. This model also has a thermostat with multiple settings. Therefore, you can set the temperature you want, depending on how cold your room is or how big it is.
However, compared to other models, the top end does not produce enough heat. As such, the model is not effective for people who are extremely affected by cold weather as it cannot produce satisfactory heat. Nonetheless, for many other people whose bodies cope well with cool temperatures, this is one of the most effective appliances, especially in medium and small rooms.
This model’s performance is excellent as it produces efficient heat for a mid-sized room with ease. Furthermore, the heat it produces is ideally regulated and thus makes it easy for you to sleep all night without having to be highly uncomfortable because of too much heat.
Also, the heater’s controls are easy to use. The buttons are visible even at night, making it easy for the user to operate the dark appliance. Furthermore, the model is durable and, therefore, ideal for a person with kids. The model is also safe for use as the cover does not overheat.
However, if you are happy with this model and want to purchase it, be ready to spend. The heater is quite costly as compared to other makes and models. Nonetheless, it is worth the money since it has all qualities one would want in a room heater.
Micathermic Heater Buying Guide
What is a Micathermic Heater?
Before we look at the list of the best products to buy, we need to understand the real meaning of a micathermic heater. A micathermic heater provides warmth the same as other heaters. However, the process at which it produces the heat is entirely different. A typical heater uses radiant or convection heat to warm up your room, while a micathermic heater uses a different principle whereby mica technology produces the heat.
The technology uses mica mineral, which is well-known to be a silicate. It is layered in structure and also shiny. The mineral is mostly found in rocks such as granite, which is why such rocks have a shiny appearance. Not all people know that mica can be used for anything else apart from making certain rocks shiny.
One of mica’s efficient qualities, which becomes particularly useful when making micathermic heaters, is that it is a good conductor of heat and electricity. Like other heaters, electricity passes through an element in a micathermic heater, which then produces heat. The heat from the element heats the mica, releasing electromagnetic rays, which function the same as radiant heat. The rays then warm up objects in your room, and eventually, the air becomes less cold. Because of this, the heat produced by a micathermic heater lasts longer than that of other heaters.
See our in-depth explanation of How a Micathermic Heater works.
Oil-Filled Radiators vs. Micathermic Heaters
It is evident enough that oil-filled radiators are more popular than micathermic heaters. These radiators operate the same way as micathermic heaters as they heat surrounding objects using radiant heat and convection.
Also, oil-filled radiators operate silently, the same as micathermic heaters. Furthermore, they do not blow hot air to warm up a room, which is efficient as no germs are blown into the air.
Up to this point, micathermic heaters and oil-filled radiators have the same advantages. Let us get to the other benefits that micathermic heaters have an oil-filled radiators do not.
The first advantage is that micathermic heaters warm up your room immediately after turning them on. Oil-filled radiators take a couple of minutes before they warm up the room. The second advantage is that micathermic heaters are lightweight compared to oil-filled radiators.
Moreover, these heaters are also less bulky, making them more portable than oil-filled radiators. The excess weight from radiators is because of the oil in the radiators, which is essential during the healing process.
The Price and Size of the Heater
The price of a micathermic heater is dependent on the make and size of the specific heater. Before making any purchases, ensure you get the right size for the room you want to keep warm. Also, ensure you get the make and model that suits you. Most micathermic heaters last longer than one year, and as such, you should make sure you get something that you will not regret later.
Size of the Room
Before you buy a heater, you should first consider the size of the room you intend to warm up. You should note that micathermic heaters are efficient because they heat large spaces within the shortest time possible while consuming less power than conventional heaters. If you intend to heat a small room, you should not buy a micathermic heater. Likewise, the size of your micathermic heater should depend on how big the room is; the bigger the room, the larger the heater.
The Models of the Thermostats
Efficient micathermic heaters have thermostats that help in saving energy. The thermostats allow the heaters to keep the temperature steady to a certain degree. A thermostat turns off when your room reaches a high-temperature level and switches back on when the temperature goes low. As a result, the heater does not remain on even when not needed, which consumes less electricity.
The Physical Appearance of the Heater
One clear thing about micathermic heaters is that they come in different designs. As such, before buying a heater, you should consider the design that suits you. Some of the heaters resemble radiators, while others look like modern TVs. Also, when looking for the right design, consider where you want to place the heater as radiator styles are more portable than TV styles.
Safety
When dealing with heaters, safety is always the primary concern. Likewise, when dealing with micathermic heaters, you have to consider the safety of everything around your house, including children and pets. If you do not live alone, consider buying appliances that have tip-over protection and overheat protection functions.
Benefits of Micathermic Heaters
Compared to other heaters, micathermic heaters are the most effective. This is because conventional ways of warming surrounding areas depend on heating the air by force, which consumes a lot of energy; the conventional heater has to warm up the air and blow it around to ensure enough warmth. Some of the benefits of micathermic heaters include:
Using less electricity
For heat distribution, micathermic heaters use electromagnetic radiation, and thus they use less electricity. Conventional radiant heaters depend on the proximity of objects in the room to distribute heat. This means objects closer to the heater will warm up first, and those far from it may not get enough warmth. The heater will turn off when the entire room is warm enough, which means it may stay on for a long time and consume more electricity.
Efficient Heat Distribution
When you turn on a micathermic heater, the electromagnetic radiation from the heater helps the heat reach all the objects at once. As a result, the room becomes warmer faster, and the appliance switches off when the room gets warm.
Lightweight
The physical appearance of a micathermic heater is the same as that of the radiator. The difference is that a radiator is filled with water or oil, making it heavy. On the other hand, micathermic heaters do not use any liquid, so they are lightweight and easy to move around.
Less Noisy
People who use conventional heaters have always complained of their appliances being noisy. The noise comes from the fans fitted in the appliances, which help distribute warmth to your room. That is not the case with micathermic heater users. Micathermic heaters are entirely silent since they do not contain any moving parts.
Full Conversion of Energy to Heat
One of the best things about a micathermic heater is that it takes in electricity and converts it into heat without losing any of it. This means converting electricity into heat is 100% for a micathermic heater. Therefore, no power is lost on other ineffective features such as lighting.
Instant Process
A micathermic heater depends on radiant heat and electromagnetic rays to heat that warms up your room. Out of the total heat produced, 20% is radiant heat. The radiant heat makes the heater effective in that it heats the environment instantly, while electromagnetic rays distribute the heat evenly around the entire room.
FAQs
Are Micathermic Heaters Energy-Efficient?
When you switch on a micathermic heater, it produces about 80% convection heat. This means that of all the heat produced by this product, only 20% is radiant heat. As a result, a micathermic heater uses less electricity and thus is energy efficient.
Are Micathermic Heaters Good?
When choosing an appliance that heats your room, a micathermic heat is considered the best. This heater not only heats objects in your room but also blows hot air around. Furthermore, micathermic heaters are more efficient than other forms of heating. They also work faster and consume less power than other heaters.
How efficient are Micathermic Heaters?
Micathermic heaters are said to be 100 percent efficient. They use an electrical resistor to convert electricity into heat, which means less electricity is consumed.
How Does a Micathermic Heater Work?
When the mica is heated, electromagnetic rays are released into your room, where they warm up the room. The rays warm up the room with the same effect that the sun’s rays have. They provide soothing warmth and radiant heat, the same as infrared heaters. Please read our detailed post on How micathermic heaters work.
Can I leave a heater on all night?
It is not advisable to leave the heater on overnight, especially if it does not have a thermostat. This is because it may dry out your nasal passages and skin.
Wrapping Up
Micathermic heaters will be helpful during winter not only because it makes your room warm but it is also cost-efficient. Also, a micathermic heater is portable, and you can move it from one room to another with ease. However, before buying a heater, you must understand which brand will serve you the best and is pocket-friendly. You should also note that some micathermic heaters have essential safety switches, especially when you have a young one in your home.
