Unlike typical room heaters, halogen heaters use special halogen elements to brighten the halogen lamp inside the heater. That’s why they are more efficient and last longer than other heat appliances. However, we can’t ignore the side effects of halogen room heaters, as discussed in this article.
As said earlier, halogen heaters set themselves apart using the useful halogen technology that serves as the actual heating element. Hence, halogen heaters are used widely and preferred in large rooms and buildings for their long-lasting performance.
Are Halogen Heaters Harmful?
Compared to other room heaters, halogen heaters are environmentally safe and possess fewer health effects. Check out our guide on halogen heater health effects to learn more about the health risks of halogen heaters.
As they reach extremely high temperatures, it is best to stay away from them and not leave them running overnight.
Are Halogen Heaters Harmful To Health?
Halogen heaters are a great way to keep yourself warm and comfortable when it’s cold outside.
The halogen element in halogen heaters might dry your skin, trigger allergies, and put you at risk for respiratory problems. Additionally, running halogen heaters for too long can increase the amount of carbon monoxide in the air, which can affect sensitive organs like the lungs and eyes.
Can Halogen Heaters Damage Eyes?
The halogen lamps inside halogen heaters operate at a very high temperature hence offer a brighter light than regular heaters.
Thus, maintaining direct eye contact with the halogen lamp or white light could result in eye irritation or retinal damage.
Are Halogen Heaters Using A Lot Of Electricity?
As halogen heaters are very energy-efficient, they are popular among people who want a heat appliance that doesn’t require a lot of electricity. Usually, halogen heaters take up to 400, 800, or 1200 watts which means they hardly cost up to 6 pence per hour, 12 pence per hour, and 18 pence per hour, respectively.
Do Halogen Heaters Burn Oxygen?
Yes, halogen heaters burn oxygen to some extent due to the harmful UV-infrared radiation emitted from their halogen bulbs.
This continuous drop in oxygen may result in skin burning and other respiratory problems for the person facing the heater.
Overview
It is evident in all of these answers that halogen heaters produce comparatively fewer side effects than other heaters which use direct power sources.
The brightness of halogen bulbs increases their lifespan and heats spaces more quickly, which increases their lifespan. But on the flip side, they may affect your health in some way.
So with that said, let’s dive deep into the side effects of halogen heaters and whether they’re safe for use.
Side effects Of Halogen Heaters
1. Ineffective For Space Heating
Also called indoor heaters, they are not the best option for heating large spaces, including auditoriums, patios, terraces, and other large spaces.
The disadvantage of Halogen heaters is that they are less efficient and tend to heat a specific area, which means they are ineffective in large rooms. It would be better for you to use oil-based heaters would be ideal for space heating in large buildings, airports, and halls.
2. Cool Down Rapidly
While halogen elements in halogen lamps produce heat for a prolonged period, they still cool down rapidly. It means that halogen heaters lose heat after turning off and have somewhat weak temperature regulation mechanisms.
3. Expensive To Run
Although halogen heaters are usually not expensive, their running costs are higher than those of other heating appliances.
Halogen heaters cool down as soon as they are switched off, which means that you must supply continuous power to keep them running.
4. Not The Best For Winters
If you’re looking for an effective heater for winters, it’s better to cut halogen heaters from your list. In winter, you’re likely to run the heater for longer durations or even overnight, which can require you to break a bank.
Running halogen heaters overnight is bad for your health and pocket as it increases the level of carbon monoxide in the air and doesn’t retain heat once it’s turned off.
5. Only Heats A Specific Area
If you’ve ever seen a halogen heater running, you might have noticed that it heats only a specific area. Unlike normal room heaters, these heaters do not distribute the heat to all parts of the room but only to a particular part.
Only those will feel heat who are facing the heater, not those who are slightly far from where the heater is placed.
6. Maintenance Costs
When buying a halogen heater, it’s better to calculate the maintenance costs you’ll pay over time. As you know, halogen heaters use halogen elements to heat the place, which needs to be restored once it has run out.
Other than this, the halogen lamps present in the halogen heaters are also quite sensitive and likely to get damaged in case of very high voltage. That is why halogen heaters are high-maintenance heat appliances that not everyone would happily pay for.
7. Harmful For Infants
Running halogen heaters for long is not the best option to beat the chill if you have an infant with you. Infants have sensitive skin and need a balanced temperature to respire without any trouble.
Also, babies have very weak and sensitive nasal passageways that can easily be exposed to the high quantity of carbon inside the surrounding area. As a result, excessive use of halogen heaters can lead to serious health problems for your baby.
8. Overloading Fires
Leaving halogen heaters running without any use can cause potentially overloading fires in the area.
Also, any damage to the heater or covering the heater outlet can catch fire and may cause life severe burns or death to those in the room.
9. Dangerous To Touch
Due to the halogen lamps inside these heaters, they get hot very quickly and heat the place in a few minutes.
Thus, touching halogen heaters when they are in operation can burn your skin, clothes, or any polyester material present close to the heater.
Conclusion
Although halogen heaters are environmentally safe, healthy, affordable, and easy to install, they can still be a threat to your life. The best practice to prevent the side effects of halogen heaters is to stay away from them and avoid overusing them.
