6 Cove Heaters Pros And Cons (2022)

Cove heaters were invented years ago and have gained popularity over the years due to their safe designs and effective performance. Cove heaters are energy efficient and the radiant heat from them feels just like the warm sunlight. However, nothing comes without its own drawbacks and cove heaters are not an exception, they do have their own pros and cons.

Understanding what cove heaters are and how they work can help you decide if they are worth the investment. Cove heaters work great when your house is insulated, and it does have lots of benefits as well but note that it is not ideal for everyone.

Cove heaters were introduced in the years 1984 and the purpose of developing them was to take advantage of the benefits provided by baseboard heaters. Cove heaters are considered a safer alternative and more versatile.

With the advancement of technology, cove heaters are now made to offer lots of benefits and more parts of has been improved. Cove heaters are fascinating but knowing their pros and cons can help you determine whether they are right for you or not.

How Do Cove Heaters Work?

Cove heaters are designed to target you and not the surrounding air.

Cove heaters use infrared rays, and they are mounted near the ceiling so that the radiant panels will direct heat downward across the room, the radiant heat warms people up directly without being blocked by furniture and other objects. They can be placed virtually in any furnished living space.

There are lots of varieties of cove heaters available for both residential and commercial purposes. Electric radiant cove heaters are the best options for many homes. Options for cove heaters range from gas-fueled, electric equipment, or some with a basic thermostat.

6 Cove Heaters Pros And Cons
Image: Sylvane

Electrical radiant heaters are considered the most efficient cove heaters. They will warm your floor and also help create a comfortable blanket of radiant heat, and it doesn’t come with the dangers and cost of a regular heating system.

While they are called cove heaters, they are rather mounted on ceilings or any wall. This can be installed for commercial uses or ideal for your home, garage, or yoga. So, you do not have to sacrifice any floor space to install a cove heater.

Pros Of Cove Heaters

Cove heaters might have been around for years but not everyone is aware of the advantage. This innovative radiate heating element has been engineered to last for a very long time, but that is not the only benefit to be derived from it. Here are some of the distinctive pros of cove heaters.

1. Energy Efficient

Cove heaters are considered the hottest wall radiant heat heaters in the market and depending on the make and model, they shouldn’t consume much energy to heat up. The heat from the cove heater is not stored in the air hence it will not dissipate quickly rather it’s going to heat objects and you directly.

Cove heaters use 10 to 20 percent least of electricity compared to conventional heaters.

2. Space Saving

Since you will be mounting cove heat on the wall, you get to save floor space, and you get to mount it away from any furniture as well. A Cove heater is a great choice for people with limited space. You can literally install it anywhere you want.

3. Flexible Temperature Control

You can set different temperatures for the cove heater and also control it with a wall mount thermostat. It does offer accurate temperature control.

4. Speed

Cove heater temperature control is not only flexible, but you also don’t have to wait for the air in the room to heat up and circulate before feeling the heat.

You simply have to turn on the heat and sit under the heat, this allows you to enjoy the benefits of a heater straight away, especially in the cold winter months.

Cons of Cove Heaters

We all can use a heat boost during winter. Having a cove heater instead of a conventional heater has benefits but note that everything comes with advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the cons of cove heaters.

1. Short Range

Cove heaters might have some great benefits, but it is not ideal for everyone. Cove heaters have a short range when it is compared to space heaters, you won’t feel the heat in other parts of the room except in the area it is targeted at. It is not ideal for large rooms and not everyone will be comfortable sitting directly under the heat.

2. Offers No Residual Heat

The cove heater cools off immediately unlike the conventional heater which means there is no residual heat. You will feel the heat dissipate immediately after it is unplugged. This is also mitigated by the fact that it will start working immediately after it is plugged in.

Frequently Asked Questions

How hot do cove heaters get?

The surface of the cove heater installed on the ceiling can reach as high as 425F and 340F on the wall. Cove heaters are considered the hottest radiant heater on the market. The electric unit makes it even more efficient.

Are cove heaters better than baseboard heaters?

Cove heaters are more energy efficient than baseboard heaters, in fact, they are considered to be the most energy-efficient heaters to go for. Cove heaters have been created to be a safer and more versatile alternative to baseboard heaters.

Are cove heaters good?

Cove heaters require no maintenance, make no noise, and have effective performance. This is an excellent choice for your home due to its safe designs and unobtrusive presence in the living space. They require no maintenance as well

Is cove heating expensive?

Cove heaters are not as expensive as often expected and considering the savings from the less electricity consumption, they are definitely not expensive.

Wrapping Up

Cove heaters can fulfill requirements of any type and there are also models that let you program the area to heat.

The pros of using a cove heater do outweigh the cons hence it’s a great heating appliance. Cove heaters are also installed near ceilings, so the radiant panels can direct the heat downward without anything blocking it.

Instead of heating the air, cove heaters heat people and objects, it’s not that different from a conventional heater, but we have to agree this is quite unique. Cove heaters are an ideal solution during winter.