Infrared Heating Solutions for Every Space

Infrared heating uses infrared radiation (the same as the sun) to warm up objects and people instead of warming the air. Infrared heating isn’t harmful like ultraviolet rays and works incredibly efficiently to heat large and small spaces both indoors and out. 

Most traditional heating methods use convection. Convection is the process of heating the surrounding air and circulating it around the space until it has adequately warmed up. Infrared heaters work differently. They emit heat that instantly warms you and surrounding objects up in a concentrated beam of warming light. Unlike electric radiators, you won’t be waiting for the room to warm up. Infrared heating offers immediate, convenient warmth and a host of other benefits too.

More efficiency, less energy. Infrared heaters warm rooms quickly and are much more cost-effective than conventional heating equipment. Infrared heating can reduce the risk of mould, as it warms up objects and the air — preventing condensation from forming. For those who suffer from asthma or dust allergies, IR heating doesn’t use a fan to circulate air around the room, making it a much healthier heating choice. Because they run off electricity, infrared heaters are easy to install (no pipeline needed!) and don’t get in the way of your interior design. Infrared heating solutions are certainly more cost-effective than unit heaters and low-maintenance compared to propane heating.

Let’s take a look at some alternative options to IR heaters so you can choose a heating type that will suit your space and lifestyle. 

Electric Space Heaters: Electric space heaters are popular and work well for specific rooms or small areas. They have the benefit of being portable and are usually very safe. Popular types include oil-filled or fan-forced varieties. These work by heating up the air in the room and usually take some time to warm the area. For this reason, you need to turn them on ahead of time.

Baseboard Heaters: These are great for hallways and bedrooms. Easy to put in, safe, and low profile, baseboard heaters have been popular for quite some time. However, they are usually not enough to heat an entire house on their own.

Garage Heaters: These produce radiant heat and are meant to be used in areas without good insulation. Garage heaters produce large blasts of heat intended to warm big spaces. If your home is properly insulated, this isn’t the right type of heating for use indoors.

Fireplace Heaters: These add a decorative element along with heat to your living room. The pricier versions of these heaters look like real fireplaces but use electricity, making them cleaner and safer than burning wood. Oil-filled heaters work with a special oil that radiates heat into the area efficiently and safely. Every type of heating comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, so keep reading to learn why IR heaters might be better for you.

Infrared heaters work without producing any noise as there’s no fan involved; they’re only radiating light. This makes IR heaters ideal for environments where peace and quiet are paramount, like in a bedroom or office.

Infrared heaters don’t add pollutants to the room you use them in; they’re environmentally friendly. They work without fuel lines, open flames, toxic by-products, or carbon combustion. In essence, IR heaters add nothing to the environment and don’t take anything from it, either. Since these heaters only warm up specific objects and areas, they don’t waste power warming the whole room.

All space heaters offer the benefit of zone heating. This means that if you choose an infrared heater, only the areas in your home you need heated will be heated up. When you don’t heat up your whole house, your heating bill will become considerably lower. You also won’t have to preheat the room since infrared heat works right away. Some of these heaters only use 300 watts of power and almost all of the warmth created is sent out, leading to heating efficiency at an economical price.

Infrared heating can reduce your heating costs by 30-50%. Of course, how much you will save does depend on the construction of your home, ceiling height, insulation, and more. Keep in mind, also, that the efficiency you experience will also depend on the specific type of IR heater you choose. When you are trying to gauge how green an infrared heater is, think about its power source.

If you do choose to go with an infrared heater for your home, there are some factors to consider to make sure the process goes as well as possible.

Heating Safety: As mentioned, the coils inside infrared heaters get very hot. This can make them dangerous around pets and children if they are not made with the correct safety features. Thankfully, companies are starting to create most units with safety features because of their growing popularity. Many modern IR heaters come with cool cabinets protecting the heat source and even use a fan to disperse the warmth. Some models also come with auto shut-off and other safety features. Always make sure that, before you purchase a unit, it comes with features to keep you and your family safe.

The Limited Spectrum of Infrared Heating: Although zone warming is a plus for many due to its money-saving potential, it may not be what’s best for others. If you tend to move around your home a lot or live with many people, using a single IR heater might not be enough, or you may need to buy more than one. Some are strong enough to heat up a whole room, but most of these heaters work most effectively on objects close by.

They Stop Working when Switched Off: IR heaters are warm immediately after being turned on, but this means that the heat source is eliminated immediately after being turned off as well. Since you aren’t warming the air when you use an IR heater, the room will lose its warmth fast when you turn it off. Oil-filled heaters, on the other hand, can keep a room warm after you turn them off since the heated oil stays warm for some time.

Infrared heaters are more energy-efficient, so if this is a major concern for you, they could still be the ideal option despite these considerations. These days, how sustainable a product is matters a lot, and the resources of the earth need to be used responsibly. An environmentally friendly choice, such as infrared heating, offers a way to do this.