Infrared or radiant heaters are an increasingly popular heating solution. Instead of pushing hot, dry air around a room, they rely on invisible infrared waves similar to the light waves radiating from the sun and warming everyone and everything it touches.
Because they come in many different sizes and styles, infrared heaters can be an inexpensive and environmentally friendly way to warm your spaces in winter.
- How Do Infrared Heaters Work?
- The Advantages of Infrared Heaters
- Infrared Heater Types
- Heating Power Types
- Infrared Heater Uses
- Cost to Operate Infrared Heaters
- Additional Features to Look For
- Do I need an Infrared Heater in My Home?
How Do Infrared Heaters Work?
Infrared heaters use invisible infrared light waves similar to sunlight. Like the sun's light waves, infrared or radiant heating machines raise the temperature in the surroundings of objects and people and transfer the heat to surfaces and skin faster than traditional heating methods. Because the air is not heated and circulated, the differential in temperature from the ceiling to the floor varies by only two to three degrees.
Other heaters circulate warm air through a fan and often heat the air unevenly, reducing the room's oxygen and humidity levels. In contrast, infrared heaters don't affect the oxygen levels in the room, and they often reduce the need for humidifiers during the winter, as they do not dry out the air.
Advantages of Infrared Heaters
Infrared heaters do more than heat your home or office. Because of the invisible infrared wavelength heat they produce, which warms objects instead of the air, they are incredibly efficient at keeping relative humidity levels consistent in homes.
Infrared heating efficiency reduces the need for a home humidifier during the winter. In addition, in some models, infrared heaters produce clean heat without a blower, so dirt and particulates are not dispersed around the home.
Other possible advantages include:
- Mold Production: Infrared heat reduces mold formation, as it stops the formation of moisture accumulation in rooms like the bathroom.
- Health: Infrared heat, like the sun, may improve blood circulation, joint stiffness/arthritis, and immune systems. It may also draw toxins from fat cells, which is why it is sometimes used in yoga studios and saunas.
Infrared Heater Types
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Personal Infrared Space Heaters:
Personal infrared space heaters, such as floor, tabletop, and wall heaters, provide supplemental warmth in small areas, including living rooms, bedrooms, offices, and more. - Infrared Fireplaces and Stoves: Some infrared heaters are designed to heat up to 1,000 square feet but are better suited for well-insulated or interior rooms. Infrared fireboxes are a popular option for electric fireplaces and stoves.
- Garage and Industrial Infrared Heaters: Infrared heaters are great for working environments like garages and industrial sites. Their large heat output and size make them appropriate solutions for heating larger spaces. Places that benefit the most from wall-mounted infrared heaters are open bays and loading docks, warehouses, hangars, and more.
- Outdoor/Patio Infrared Heaters: Patio and outdoor heaters are practical, safe solutions to outdoor heating. From residential-covered patios to restaurant decks, these outdoor heaters generate significant heat for a condensed area, providing much-needed warmth in cooler weather. Select between propane, electric, or natural gas-powered infrared heaters.
- Bathroom Infrared Heaters: Infuse the bathroom with enveloping warmth during winter with invisible infrared heating. The Heat Storm Deluxe Infrared Wall Heater warms rooms between 100 and 500 square feet.
Check out our article on How to Select a Bathroom Heater here.
Heating Power Types
Some garage and industrial infrared heaters can be hardwired where gas isn't available or an option. In these cases, owners can strategically place electrical mounted infrared heaters where heat is needed most, in a pattern that provides direct, even heat.
Infrared propane heaters, or top tank heaters, are great for portability on job sites requiring immediate heat. Outside applications are usually the best placement for propane infrared heaters, as they provide rapid spot heating. These durable propane heaters thrive in harsh working conditions, semi-outdoor, and outdoor settings and feature adjustable thermostats, overheat and tip-over protection, quick assembly, and more for efficient heating.
Natural gas infrared heaters are typically used in outdoor applications, as they efficiently disperse heat where needed. Features like multiple burners, adjustable heat, ceiling or wall mount, and automatic ignition make natural gas infrared heaters a practical solution for outdoor patios and restaurant decks. However, with natural gas — and some propane gas infrared heaters — a qualified technician must install the appliance.
Infrared Heater Uses
Infrared heaters have other practical uses outside of heating your home or office.
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Hot Yoga: Hot yoga studios have employed infrared heaters to increase the effectiveness of workouts. Usually, these infrared heaters are paneled, wall-mounted infrared heaters that blend in with the wall and surrounding décor. - Saunas: Great for increasing body warmth since the skin absorbs heat, saunas are now using infrared heaters instead of traditional convection heaters.
- Bathrooms: Flat-paneled, wall-mounted infrared heaters are increasingly popular in bathrooms, as they add a design element with a functional purpose.
- Industrial Uses: Besides keeping job sites warm, infrared heaters can also dry paint or water-damaged homes and walls. The heat is absorbed by the surfaces of walls, drying out the water or paint much quicker than fans.
Costs to Operate Infrared Heaters
Basic infrared heaters can cost as little as $80, like the Ener-G+ 1200 Watt, but advanced larger models can run into the thousands, like the Bromic Eclipse Smart-Heater. But regardless of the device price tag, infrared heaters are engineered to work efficiently regardless of the energy or fuel type.
For additional information on calculating a space heater's operating cost, see our energy-efficient space heater guide.
Additional Features to Consider
- Casters: Some personal infrared space heaters have casters that make moving them from room to room easier.
- Remote Control: Remote controls allow you to operate all the room's heater's functions and settings.
- Controls: Depending on the model, some infrared heaters have digital control panels, while others feature manual controls. Some also have limited features compared to others.
- Energy-Efficient Modes: If you're looking for energy-efficiency modes to curb energy usage, check out our Energy-Efficient Space Heaters Article.
Do I Need an Infrared Heater in My Home?
Whether or not an infrared heater is right for your home depends on a few factors, like the size of the room you're trying to heat, how quickly you need the heat and your budget.
Infrared heaters are a fantastic option for when you need to quickly and directly heat people and objects but not the surrounding air. Typically, they have a higher starting price point but lead to increased cost savings on efficiency.
If you still have questions about infrared heaters or would like to know more about infrared heaters, give our knowledgeable sales team a call at 1-800-934-9194. Check out our space heater buying guide, which covers all types of heating technology.
