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If you still have questions you can submit a question using our Contact page or by giving us a call on our toll free number. |
dial: (877) 891-7333 |
frequently asked questions
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Q: | Some manufacturers claim their copper has been subjected to a special curing process involving high heating, i.e. “cured copper” that somehow gives it “special properties.” Is there such a form of copper? |
| A: | No. The reason copper is used as the heat exchanger is because of the well known property of distributing heat evenly (for example, bottoms of cooking pots and pans) thereby providing a consistent surface area temperature to contact air and water molecules. The Copper Development Association Inc., or CDA, the market development engineering and information services arm of the copper industry (chartered to enhance and expand all copper and its alloys in North America), is not familiar with the term “cured copper” or with any process that would change copper in such a way that would enable it to retain heat longer than normal copper. |
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Q: | Some indoor infrared heater manufacturers claim that their indoor heater emits infrared rays into the room heating objects instead of the air. Is that true? |
| A: | The amount of infrared light that exits an indoor unit is very small. Portable Indoor Infrared Heaters that enclose their heating elements inside of a steel chamber for safety prevents the majority of infrared light from exiting the chamber. Outdoor Infrared Heaters, on the other hand do indeed project infrared light directly onto objects, heating them. This is ideal for outdoor use or for use in drafty areas for heating a small specific space. |
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Q: | Do all forms of electric heat emit infrared? For example, do PTC heaters, or resistive wire heaters, or even visible light bulbs emit infrared? |
| A: | No. Many products claim to emit Infrared because there is a growing awareness and demand among North American consumers for infrared. However, infrared light is emitted in very small amounts until the radiant heating element reaches extreme temperatures above 2500 degrees Fahrenheit. Most products including resistive wire, ceramic, and the vast majority of radiant heating elements do not reach that critical temperature. |
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Q: | Some infrared heating manufactures claim their portable Infrared Heaters create or enhance ionization, suggesting added health benefits. Is that true? |
| A: | No. The claim is that when infrared light is emitted at the right frequency towards the copper exchanger, there is a production of negative ions which aid in the rapid heat transfer of the infrared waves. Some manufacturers furthermore claim that this process aids in the production of ionized water molecules. Ionization is the physical process of converting an atom or molecule into an ion by adding or removing charged particles such as electrons or other ions. Infrared Light waves (at any frequency) simply cannot create enough energy for ionization to occur. |
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Q: | Can I use an extension cord with Heat Storm heaters? |
| A: | It is not recommended. The longer the extension cord the more electrical power is lost in the cord rather than being converted to heat. However, if you decide to use an extension cord use a heavy gauge cord, 14 gauge or lower. This would be true for our indoor and outdoor units. If a cord is a smaller gauge such as a 16 gauge cord there is a risk of it over heating. |
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Q: | Can the Heat Storm Outdoor Infrared Heaters be mounted outdoors with no covering? |
| A: | Yes. Heat Storm Outdoor Infrared Heaters are weatherproof and were designed to function in all types of weather. |
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Q: | How long is the warranty on Heat Storm heaters? |
| A: | A 3 year warranty is standard on all of our products. The warranty covers all parts of the unit. However, the warranty does not cover damage caused by improper use (e.g. dropped, improper mounting, etc) and some shipping fees may apply. Our Gold Standard 5 year warranty is available on our Logan and Smithfield models at participating stores. |
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Q: | What is Heat Storm’s Outdoor weatherproof rating? |
| A: | Our Heat Storm outdoor infrared heaters have the highest water resistant rating possible for a product that is not immersed in water. This is true for all of our outdoor electric heaters, which have a rating of 5 on the water portion of the rating. For more information on what this means you can go here to read more. |
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Q: | Can I reprogram my Heat Storm units with a digital display to match my home thermostat? |
| A: | Yes. If the room temperature on the unit does not match your wall thermostat, the Logan and Smithfield can be programmed to match your central heating systems thermostat. However, there is a good chance that the Heat Storm digital thermostat is more accurate than your central heating thermostat. Changing the Heat Storm thermostat to match the central heating system thermostat may not be the most accurate solution and may not be the most cost effective decision. |
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Q: | What temperature is being displayed on my digital unit, the set temperature or the room temperature? |
| A: | The room temperature. Unlike most of our competitors, Heat Storm heaters with a digital display are showing the room temperature just like a normal thermostat. |
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Q: | Why do BTU’s vary so much from one electric heater manufacturer to another even when they consume the same amount of electrical wattage? |
| A: | Some manufacturers use creative math that can only be explained as a misleading claim to increase their sales. The formula for determining how many BTU’s an electrical device can create is by multiplying the wattage by 3.41. So, if you wanted to discover the BTU’s of a 1500 Watt heater you would use the following formula: 3.41 X 1500 = 5115 BTU’s.
It is important to note that BTU’s are not a good measurement for electric heating as the British Thermal Unit was created to measure flame based heaters. Square footage is a more accurate measurement. However, again some manufacturers make exaggerated square footage claims as well. |
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