Radiators or convectors, which solution is more convenient?

To keep warm in winter today there are many solutions.
We have classic wood-burning fireplaces, both wood and pellet stoves but also different solutions such as convector heaters, air conditioners or classic radiators.
There is no doubt that in older homes, especially in older homes, radiators connected to the fireplace or stove or boiler represent the most adopted solution.
And the reasons are easy to tell, given the efficiency and zero maintenance costs.
But especially in more modern homes, alternative solutions such as convector heaters are very fashionable.
Comparing the two systems, which is the most convenient? Let's find out.
How a radiator works The radiator needs hot water to work, generally coming from a boiler.
This circulating in the panels which can be made of steel, aluminum or cast iron causes them to heat up and consequently the surrounding air also heats up.
The air heated by the radiator circulating in the room is a cross between convection and radiant heat.
read also Radiators in steel, cast iron or aluminium, here's what the best material is.
How a convector heater works The convector heater uses heat by convention to heat the room.
By creating a vacuum, it sucks in cold air from below to heat it and expel hot air.
Convector heaters can run on electricity, water or gas.
Current-powered convector heaters are the most widespread and also the most practical and simple to use because no gas or boiler connections are needed.
They are perfect for heating rooms that are not too large in a short time.
However, be careful about excessive electricity consumption.
Water convector heaters require the presence of a boiler or a heat pump which, once heated, sends the water to the convector.
They are more complex devices than a normal radiator.
The water in circulation is smaller than that of traditional radiators and therefore heats up more quickly.
The air is also heated very effectively.
They have a higher cost than radiators.
Finally, in gas convector heaters the air is heated by a gas burner located in an airtight chamber inside the appliance.
This is a more complex appliance that requires the presence of a qualified technician for installation.
It must be connected to the gas network and created an external air intake and a fume exhaust.
Precisely because of fumes, gas convector heaters must be checked periodically for safety reasons.
Which is the most convenient? In addition to the different way radiators and convectors work, there are other important differences that tip the balance towards one appliance rather than another.
Much depends on the needs of those who have to make the choice.
First of all, the heating capacity must be evaluated.
A radiator takes longer to heat a room than a convector but it is also true that a room heated with a convector cools down more quickly than a radiator which takes a long time to cool down completely.
Then the dimensions must be evaluated.
A convector heater can also have very small dimensions, ideal for rooms with little space, while the radiator needs more space and is also more aesthetically pleasing as well as being suitable for other tasks (think for example of use as a clothes dryer).
Another aspect to evaluate is the quality of the air, convector heaters tend to dry it out.
Then there are consumption, electric convector heaters are certainly seen as very expensive from an energy point of view even if in recent years the new models have made giant strides in terms of savings on the bill.
Last aspect: costs.
Radiators are cheaper to install and have a longer life, convector heaters have a higher price.
As we have seen, both have advantages and disadvantages.
There are many aspects to evaluate to understand which one to choose such as the size of the room, the type of system, our budget to allocate to consumption.
Once we have done the necessary analysis we will have clearer ideas on what to choose.
It is not easy to make a choice between the two solutions.
In order to decide and understand which is the most convenient solution, we must evaluate various aspects listed above such as the size of the house, our budget to allocate to consumption, the space we have available.
One thing is certain, it is not true that convector heaters should be excluded a priori given that they work electrically and may apparently seem more expensive.
We have seen that modern models do not consume much and today, with the cost of electricity falling, consumption is even lower.