A Deeper Dive on Comfort Cove Electric Radiant Heaters
As we enter the cooler months, many homeowners start to become aware (or rather, reminded!) of the habits of their heating systems. In some cases, you may notice cold spots—areas or rooms that just don’t get as warm as others. Whether it’s a central system that doesn’t do a good enough job or a naturally cooler area that could use a little help – or even an area that didn’t need reliable heat previously – heating season once again brings these issues back to the forefront.
Enter electric infrared radiant heaters, and specifically radiant cove heaters. We’ve written about these products before, and today we’re going to take a closer look at the Comfort Cove product line we currently recommend. This blog post will cover details such as dimensions, heating capacity, electrical ratings, and more.
What Are Comfort Cove Radiant Heaters?
Comfort Cove electric radiant heaters, like their gas-powered counterparts, employ technology that allows these products to provide heat in much the same way that the sun heats us directly when we’re outdoors – with the difference that the infrared wavelengths produced by these heaters is not also a source of visible light. Radiant heaters directly warm the people and objects that they ‘shine’ on, unlike other heaters that warm and recirculate indoor air.
Comfort Cove electric radiant heaters are very compact and are designed to be installed in the ‘cove area’ up near the ceiling on the sidewall in virtually any room that can accommodate a proper installation. Our team regularly installs Comfort Cove heaters in locations such as home offices, dens, living rooms, kitchens and dining areas, finished basements, rec rooms, bathrooms, and more – even additions!
Modern styled, with the ability to blend in well with many home decors, Comfort Cove radiant heaters continue to carve a strong niche in the “green” home comfort market as a replacement for or supplement to systems that burn fossil fuels such as natural gas and propane. They are also a more efficient, more comfortable, and safer option to products such as electric baseboard heaters that also take up lots of valuable floorspace.
Comfort Zone Heater Features & Benefits Include:
- Effective & efficient electric heating
- Quick response & great comfort levels
- Silent operation
- Allows you to create independent heating zones in your home
- Unobtrusive design that blends in easily & takes up zero floorspace
- User-friendly operation
- Safe design & equipment locations
- A “green” heating option
- Little to no maintenance required
A Closer Look at Comfort Cove Radiant Heater Details
To help our readers get a better feel for the factors that involve sizing and installing these versatile electric radiant heaters, below are some of the details that can help direct you in your daydreaming, brainstorming, and/or planning.
How Big Are Comfort Cove Heaters?
There are currently nine different Comfort Cove models available, ranging in width from approximately 3 to 10 feet – they can cover a very wide area. The height of all models is only about 4 inches tall, with a depth extending out from the wall of just 3 inches. Installed in the cove area up near the top of an interior wall, these radiant heaters are truly low-profile and inconspicuous.
Comfort Cove Heating Capacities & Electrical Specifications
Electric radiant heaters are normally sold by their wattage rating, as opposed to their heating capacity in BTUs, and it’s noteworthy that sizing these heaters for a home is quite different than running a Manual J calculation for a furnace or boiler system. Essentially, there is a set of proven, established guidelines provided by the manufacturer for addressing the size of each room, insulation values, the region of the country, and other important factors.
The 9 models of Comfort Coves units currently available are manufactured for use in 120 volt, 208 volt, or 240 applications, with nine different electrical power ratings ranging from 450 watts (smallest units) up to 2000 watts (widest models), each rating corresponding with the physical size of the specific heater.
Amperage Draw & Circuit Breaker Needs for Comfort Cove Heaters
One of the concerns about electric heaters, and electrical appliances in general, is how much load they place on a home’s electrical system. One of several ways this is addressed by your trusted electrician when planning the installation is by carefully taking into account the amperage draw that each heater will place on an electrical circuit. This key factor helps determine the gauge of wiring that will be used, as well as the rating of the circuit breaker switch that will be installed.
The electrical amperage draw of Comfort Cove heaters is relatively low by industry standards, ranging from just 2 to 3 amps on smaller models installed on a 240-volt circuit, to 10 amps for a 120 volt-powered unit over 7 feet long. These tolerances are well within the ‘comfort range’ of wiring and circuit breakers commonly used in home applications. Make note that 120 volt systems (the most common circuits in our homes) produce the highest amperage draws and more importantly, the highest operating costs, while 240 volt systems (often used) provide the least amount of electrical stress and the lowest operating costs.
Most of these electric heaters are typically installed with their own dedicated electrical circuit and a specifically labeled breaker switch in the home’s electrical panel.
Comfort Cove Heater Colors
Comfort Cove heaters are currently available in six different, relatively neutral colors: white, off-white, light gray, almond, sandalwood, and walnut. We wouldn’t be at all surprised if this offering continues to broaden with time.
Expertly Serving Denver-Boulder Homeowners
Along with a full range of expert heating, cooling, and plumbing services, our team at Save Home Heat Company provides knowledgeable and experienced, highly skilled electrical services to Boulder-Denver homeowners. Our electrical team performs all installations and repairs cleanly and safely, in full accordance with all National Electrical Code (NEC) and manufacturer requirements.
For more information about Comfort Cove electric radiant heaters – or outdoor rated radiant heaters! – or to schedule a free, low-pressure install quote, please reach out to our team today. Thank you for keeping Save Home Heat in mind for all things electrical!
Please contact me to schedule a radiant cove heater assessment!
Tags: Electrical, Green Living, Heating
