I've lived at 7100 feet altitude for most of the last 40 years, and heated at least partially with wood for all of those, using all types of stoves. In that time I have developed a definite preference for radiant heaters over convectors. (Yeah, my current Kent Tile Fire is a convector, but I haven't been able to find a Sherwood (the radiant version) and one can't be so choosey with used stoves).
People at all altitudes tend to prefer radiant stoves; their sun-like radiance just feels good. But as I've recently re-learned when dealing with heated air from a solar heater, at high altitude, there is more to it than just mere preference. Radiants are actually more efficient up here in the clouds.
Convectors are designed to heat the air as much as possible, then that air is moved through the space to heat it. Air IS the heat distribution medium.
Problem is, at higher altitudes, air is less dense. And just as with any other material, lower mass means less heat storage ability. So at higher altitudes, moving the same amount of air means you can move less heat than at near sea level. Here at 7100 ft., air mass is 24% less. That's a pretty significant hit on your heat transfer mechanism - as much or more than the efficiency difference between the best and worst stoves made today.
Counterbalancing this is the fact that the air in the room also weighs less, and is therefore easier to heat up. But by using a primarily radiant heater, we can sidestep the distribution inefficiency of air and have more sensible heat throughout a room.
But this only works well within a single room. If you need to heat multiple rooms from a single location, radiants don't do as well. But for the greatest comfort within a single room at altitude, give me a radiant!
People at all altitudes tend to prefer radiant stoves; their sun-like radiance just feels good. But as I've recently re-learned when dealing with heated air from a solar heater, at high altitude, there is more to it than just mere preference. Radiants are actually more efficient up here in the clouds.
Convectors are designed to heat the air as much as possible, then that air is moved through the space to heat it. Air IS the heat distribution medium.
Problem is, at higher altitudes, air is less dense. And just as with any other material, lower mass means less heat storage ability. So at higher altitudes, moving the same amount of air means you can move less heat than at near sea level. Here at 7100 ft., air mass is 24% less. That's a pretty significant hit on your heat transfer mechanism - as much or more than the efficiency difference between the best and worst stoves made today.
Counterbalancing this is the fact that the air in the room also weighs less, and is therefore easier to heat up. But by using a primarily radiant heater, we can sidestep the distribution inefficiency of air and have more sensible heat throughout a room.
But this only works well within a single room. If you need to heat multiple rooms from a single location, radiants don't do as well. But for the greatest comfort within a single room at altitude, give me a radiant!
