13 facts that you must know when choosing a heat gun

What you need to know to choose the right heat gun model? This will tell our article.

Fact 1: The source of energy for a heat gun can be electricity, gas, diesel fuel - and not only. What suits you best?

There are also multi-fuel guns capable of using any liquid fuel (including used oils, kerosene) and infrared (separated into a separate type due to the particular heating method). For households are certain models of electric and gas guns, all others are used in industrial conditions.

When choosing a device, think about what type of gun will be most profitable for you - what source of heat is available to you. Electric heat guns are connected to the mains. Gas cannons are powered either from the main gas pipeline or from cylinders. A gun attached to a gas pipeline is much more economical, but the connection itself will require the collection of documents and obtaining permission. In production, where waste oils remain in large quantities, it is more profitable to install a multi-fuel gun.

Fact 2: Sometimes it is more profitable to buy two small (by power) guns than one large.

Obviously, in a large room, the closest to the desired temperature will be maintained near the heat gun. If a room (for example, in which repairs are being made and it is necessary to dry concrete or plaster) also has a complex configuration, the heat may not reach where you want it to go. Therefore, compare the prices for the gun of the power that you received as a result of calculations, and for a few (2-3) smaller ones, which together will give the same amount of power (they can be placed at different ends of the room and it will warm up evenly).

Fact 3: The required voltage in the network for the operation of heat guns can be equal to 220 or 380 V.

For example, a floor-mounted Frico P303 heat gun with stepwise power control (10, 20, 30 kW) requires a voltage of 380 V. The same requirements are with popular model Master B 15 EPB (power 15 kW). It is equipped with a thermostat, protection against overheating, has two heating modes, can work without heating (ventilation mode), is suitable for indoor conditions, and is used when laying parquet, finishing and plumbing works.

Does your site have the ability to connect this model? Will your network stand? Remember also about other electrical devices that will work simultaneously with a heat gun (compressors, generators, etc.).

Fact 4: For the safe use of most heat guns, a forced ventilation of the room is necessary.

Guns burn oxygen during operation. This is especially true of gas guns. Therefore, fresh air must constantly enter the room. In rooms without ventilation, it is prohibited to use devices that do not have a combustion gas exhaust system (for example, gas guns of direct heating). To increase safety, many models are equipped with sensors that monitor the level of oxygen. If it is too low, the burner shuts off. Electric guns almost do not burn oxygen.

Fact 5: Heat guns vary in duration of continuous operation.

If you need a heat gun to continuously heat the room, choose a device with a long period of work. However, even for devices that can work 24 hours, you need to take breaks of 1-2 hours. Marking on the device indicates the working conditions (for example, 24/1 on the case).

Fact 6: Electric heat guns have two types of heating elements that are distinguished by their degree of safety.

These are heating elements and spirals. The spiral warms up much faster, its maximum temperature is higher.Guns with heating elements are safer, they do not accumulate and do not burn dust in such quantities as on open spirals. At the same time, TEN is able to give a lower exit temperature and heats up more slowly. An example of a heat gun with heating elements - Ballu BHP-5.000 C (power 5 kW). TENA material - stainless steel, the element is protected by a metal grid. Works from 220 V.

Fact 7: Heat guns can be stationary or mobile.

Stationary - more productive and economical. They are larger in size - the stationary diesel gun Master BG 100 PD (power 6300 W) weighs 214 kg. To install them, you may need to create a project, get permission (as, for example, for gas). Used for continuous heating.

Mobile weighs less, has convenient handles, are easy to manage. Can be instantly transferred to a working state. Mobile diesel gun of the same manufacturer - Master B 150 CED (power 44 kW) - weighs 25 kg, almost 10 times less. It is easy to move, as the cart with a high 2-sided handle is included in the design of the gun. In the tank of this model, you can pour 43 liters of fuel, so it does not require refueling for a long time. The output temperature is 300 ° C.

Fact 8: Good heat guns have built-in automatic protection against overheating and overturning.

Pay attention to this. The device should shut itself off when overheating, the gas gun mechanism should stop the fuel supply when overturning.

Resant TGP-30000 (power 33 kW, gas) is equipped with overheating protection (maximum - 85 ° С, air flow gives 430 ° С), has a temperature flame control sensor. It is recommended for use in spacious rooms with well-established ventilation work.

The BALLU BHG-10 gun (power 9.2 kW) has a multi-level protection, it turns off when fuel is consumed, when overheating, the flame goes out, the power supply is unavailable. Anticorrosion coating of the housing allows work in rooms with high humidity.

Fact 9: for heat guns that are planned to be used in rooms in the presence of people, the noise level should be within acceptable limits.

The norm in the heat gun room is 40 dB. Low noise can boast Ballu electric guns, for example, BPH 6.000 C Prorab.

Fact 10: Many heat guns create an unpleasant odor indoors.

Ceramic electric guns have practically no disadvantage. An example is the Ballu KX-2. It has a ceramic heating element (temperature range 70 °), stepped power control (1-2 kW), differs from other household guns in its compactness, weighs only 2 kilograms, and can be used in domestic conditions and in production.

Fact 11: The body of a good heat gun is metal.

The device must be durable, then it will be safe and work for a long time. Pay attention to the material of the diffusing grid (it must also be made of metal). If the electricity is suddenly turned off, which is why the fan stops working, the heated heating elements will not damage the metal casing. The already mentioned guns Master B 15 EPB and Ballu BPH 6000 C Prorab have steel heating elements and do not spread unpleasant odors.

Fact 12: In order for the heat gun to work efficiently, you need to calculate the required power as accurately as possible.

Decided on the type of heat gun? It's too early to rush to the store. Heat guns have significant differences in power (from 1-2 to 220 kW). If you buy a device of lower power, you can not get the desired temperature in the room. If the power is too high, the device will still not be used 100% - you just overpay for it.

To calculate the required power level, you need to know the parameters of the room. If you carry the device for different objects, use the most spacious and cold for calculations.

Calculate the power of the gun by the formula: Q = V * T * K, where
Q - instrument power, kcal / hour
V is the volume of the heated room (multiply the area by the height),
T is the difference between the initial and final (that you want to receive as a result) air temperatures,
K - coefficient. It is called differently, but most importantly - it describes the heat loss of the room. There are tables for its definition. The value of K depends on the presence and characteristics of thermal insulation, on the material of the walls, and is within 0.6-3 (the warmer the walls, the smaller K), for open construction sites K is even higher.

Fact 13: if there is no company service center in the city, then even an inexpensive heat gun can become “golden”.

The choice is made. Before buying, ask how easy it is to repair this model. For normal operation of any device, it is recommended to use only original spare parts. If you have to carry them from the manufacturing country and wait for repairs for several months, the gun can cost you dearly.

Brief conclusions

For living conditions suitable electric or gas guns of low and medium power. The safest among them - electric with heating elements or ceramic heater. In construction sites, in industry, heat guns of all types are used. When choosing, they take into account the availability of different types of fuel at the facilities, safety requirements, and the presence of ventilation. In confined spaces, it is permissible to use only indirect heating guns with exhaust combustion products.