eli5: How do space heaters start pumping out warm air right away but car heaters take some time to warm up?
In: Technology
Space heaters typically use electricity running through a heating element (basically a resistor) to create heat. When the power is switched on they immediately start heating up and reach temperature within moments.
Automobiles use the waste heat from their internal combustion engine to provide cabin heating. Burning fuel in the cylinders heats the engine which is cooled by fluid circulated to a radiator, and some of the warmed air is diverted to the cabin. In order for the radiator to produce warm air the engine itself must have time to warm up and it is a large amount of metal. This takes more time than with an electric heating element.
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