Infrared Heating vs Storage Heaters: Which Is Better for Your Home?
Storage heaters and infrared panels are both electric heating systems, but they approach the job in very different ways.
Storage heaters store heat for later use. Infrared heaters produce radiant heat when the heating system is required.
Should You Replace Storage Heaters with Infrared Heating?
Infrared heating can be a practical alternative to storage heaters, particularly where you want heating to respond to room occupancy rather than charging thermal storage in advance.
However, that does not mean replacing storage heaters with infrared will automatically reduce your electricity bill.
Storage-heater economics can depend heavily on the electricity tariff used for charging, while infrared heating uses electricity at the time the heat is required.
The right comparison therefore needs to consider the tariff, building heat loss, heating schedule, room controls and the amount of heat actually required.
What Is the Difference Between Infrared Heating and Storage Heaters?
The biggest difference is when the electricity is used and how the resulting heat reaches the room.
Heat When Required
An electric infrared heater raises the temperature of an emitting surface and releases radiant energy towards people and solid surfaces within its effective coverage.
The heater draws electricity when it is operating rather than charging a thermal store for later use.
Store Heat for Later
A storage heater uses electricity to heat an internal thermal storage material.
The stored energy is then released into the room over time rather than all being used immediately when the electricity is consumed.
This fundamental difference affects tariffs, controls and how each system fits around the way a household actually uses its rooms.
For the broader comparison with other electric systems, see our Infrared Heating vs Electric Heating guide.
Infrared Heating vs Storage Heaters Comparison
| Factor | Infrared Heating | Storage Heaters |
|---|---|---|
| Energy source | Electricity | Electricity |
| Heating method | Primarily radiant heat | Stored thermal energy released into the room |
| When electricity is used | When the heater is actively required | During the charging period |
| Tariff importance | Cost depends on tariff when heating operates | Charging tariff can be particularly important |
| Heat storage | No thermal storage within the panel | Yes |
| Room control | Can be controlled room by room with an appropriate arrangement | Depends on heater design, charging and output controls |
| Wall space | Wall or suitable ceiling options depending on heater | Usually occupies lower wall/floor-level space |
| Wet pipework | Not required | Not required |
| Domestic hot water | Separate system required | Separate system required |
Don't Compare Storage Heaters and Infrared Using Wattage Alone
With ordinary direct electric heating, a simple calculation can tell you the maximum electricity cost while the heater is drawing full power:
Heater output in kW × electricity price per kWh × operating time.
Storage heating adds another important variable: when the electricity used to charge the heater is purchased.
If a storage-heater installation is paired with a tariff that provides lower-cost electricity during its charging period, comparing its running cost against infrared using one standard electricity unit price would give an incomplete picture.
Equally, a cheaper charging period does not tell you whether the right amount of heat is being stored and released at the times the household actually needs it.
Tariff, total electricity consumption and useful heating schedule all need to be considered together.
Is Infrared Heating Cheaper to Run Than Storage Heaters?
There is no universal yes-or-no answer.
Both systems ultimately use electricity, so the cost depends on how many kilowatt-hours are consumed and what you pay for those units.
For infrared heating, important factors include:
- Installed heater wattage
- Active heating hours
- Thermostat settings
- Room zoning
- Building heat loss
- Electricity tariff
For storage heating, you also need to consider:
- Charging period
- Charging tariff
- How much energy is stored
- How and when that stored heat is released
- Whether the stored heat matches the household's occupancy pattern
The correct question isn't simply “which heater is more efficient?” It is how much electricity the property needs for heating, what that electricity costs when it is purchased and how effectively the heating schedule matches actual demand.
See our Infrared Heating Running Costs guide for more detail on calculating direct-electric heating costs.
Infrared Heating Can Match Heat More Directly to Room Use
One attraction of direct electric infrared heating is that a room can call for heat when that room requires it, provided the system has been designed with appropriate controls.
This can be useful where different rooms have very different schedules.
For example:
- A home office may only need heating during working hours
- A living room may be occupied mainly in the evening
- Bedrooms may follow a different schedule
- A spare room may only need occasional heating
Storage heating works differently because some or all of the heating energy is charged into the unit in advance.
Modern storage heaters can provide more sophisticated charging and output control than older units, so it would be wrong to treat every storage heater as an uncontrollable legacy appliance.
The key difference remains that storage heating involves planning and storing energy ahead of its later release, while direct infrared heating operates when its control system calls for heat.
What About Old Storage Heaters?
Many people considering infrared are not comparing it with a brand-new storage-heater installation.
They are deciding what to do with storage heaters that have already been installed in a property for many years.
In that situation, it is worth assessing:
How Well Do the Existing Controls Work?
Consider whether the current system gives you suitable control over charging, output and individual rooms.
Does the Heat Match Your Schedule?
Consider whether useful heat is available when rooms are occupied and whether heat is being released when it is not required.
What Electricity Tariff Are You Using?
The economics of storage heating can change significantly depending on the tariff and charging arrangement.
What Does the Building Actually Need?
Before replacing anything, calculate the heating requirement of each room rather than assuming the existing heater sizes are correct.
Can You Replace Storage Heaters with Infrared Panels?
Yes. Infrared panels can be used as an alternative electric space-heating system where the property is suitable and the new system is correctly designed.
But don't simply remove one storage heater and install one infrared panel of an arbitrary wattage in the same location.
Instead:
- Calculate each room's heating requirement
- Select sufficient infrared output
- Determine the number of heaters required
- Plan suitable radiant positions
- Decide whether wall or ceiling mounting is appropriate
- Design the thermostat/control arrangement
- Have the electrical requirements assessed
Start with What Size Infrared Heater Do I Need? and How Many Infrared Panels Do I Need?.
Replacing a Storage Heater Can Free Up Lower Wall Space
Storage heaters are generally substantial appliances positioned at lower wall level.
Infrared panels can offer a different approach to room layout.
Depending on the specific heater, an infrared panel may be mounted on a suitable wall or ceiling.
A suitable ceiling installation can be particularly useful where you would rather use the lower walls for:
- Furniture
- Storage
- Desks
- Sofas
- Kitchen layouts
- Other interior features
Mounting options are product-specific, so do not assume every infrared panel is suitable for both wall and ceiling installation.
Read our Ceiling vs Wall-Mounted Infrared Panels guide before choosing the position.
How Would Infrared Heating Be Controlled?
An infrared heating system should include appropriate temperature control.
Depending on the specific product, that may involve a built-in control arrangement or an appropriate external thermostat.
For a multi-room installation, consider how each room is actually used.
If rooms need independent temperatures and schedules, they need the appropriate independent control arrangement. One thermostat should not be assumed to provide independent control across multiple separate rooms.
Read Do Infrared Heaters Need a Thermostat? for our full control guide.
Can Infrared Replace Storage Heaters Throughout a Whole House?
Infrared heating can be designed as the primary space-heating system across a property.
The important point is to treat the conversion as a new heating design rather than a simple appliance swap.
Every heated room should be assessed individually for:
- Dimensions
- Ceiling height
- Building construction
- Insulation
- Glazing
- Required output
- Heater position
- Controls
Our Can Infrared Heating Heat a Whole House? article explains this approach in detail.
What About Replacing Storage Heaters in a Flat?
This is a particularly relevant question because many flats and apartments use electric heating and may not have a mains-gas heating system.
Infrared can be one option, but the best heating strategy depends on the individual property.
Consider:
- Existing electrical installation
- Insulation and heat loss
- Whether the flat is occupied all day or intermittently
- Current electricity tariff
- Available wall and ceiling positions
- Whether existing storage heating is working effectively
- Installation permissions where applicable
We've created a separate guide specifically for this: Best Electric Heating for a Flat.
What If the Property Has No Mains Gas?
If you're considering replacing storage heaters because the property has no gas supply, it is worth comparing the wider range of available heating systems rather than looking at infrared alone.
Depending on the property and project, options may include:
- Infrared heating
- Modern storage heating
- Electric radiators
- Heat pumps
- Other suitable electric heating systems
Our upcoming Best Heating for a House Without Gas guide compares this broader decision.
You can also compare Infrared Heating vs Electric Radiators and our existing Infrared Heating vs Air Source Heat Pumps.
What Does It Cost to Replace Storage Heaters with Infrared?
There is no sensible fixed installation price for every property.
The total project can depend on:
- Number and type of infrared heaters
- Wall or ceiling installation
- Electrical alterations
- Existing circuits
- Thermostats and controls
- Number of independently controlled rooms or zones
- Removal of the existing storage heaters
- Accessibility and building layout
This is why we're covering the subject separately in How Much Does It Cost to Install Infrared Heating in a House?.
You can also read our existing Infrared Heater Installation Guide.
Which Should You Choose: Infrared or Storage Heating?
You Want...
- Heat produced when a room calls for it
- Greater emphasis on radiant heating
- Wall or suitable ceiling-mounted options
- Room-by-room schedules with appropriate controls
- To free up some lower wall space
- No thermal charging cycle within the heater
You Want...
- To store electrically generated heat for later use
- A suitable tariff arrangement for charging
- Heat availability based around a planned charging cycle
- To retain an existing storage-heater system that already works well for your property
- A system whose charging pattern matches your daily routine
If you're still deciding whether infrared itself is right for your property, read Infrared Heating Pros & Cons and Is Infrared Heating Worth It?.
Infrared Heating vs Storage Heater FAQs
Can I replace storage heaters with infrared panels?
Yes. Infrared panels can form an alternative electric space-heating system when the new heating requirement, heater output, positioning, controls and electrical installation are correctly designed.
Is infrared heating cheaper than storage heaters?
Not automatically. Storage-heater running costs can depend heavily on the charging tariff, while infrared uses electricity when heating operates. Total electricity consumption, tariffs, building heat loss and heating schedules all need to be compared.
Are infrared heaters more efficient than storage heaters?
Both use electricity to provide heating, but they manage that energy differently. Infrared provides direct radiant heating when required, while storage heaters store thermal energy for later release. The more useful comparison is total energy consumption, tariff cost and how well each system matches the property's heating requirements.
Do infrared panels need an Economy 7 tariff?
No. Infrared heaters do not need an Economy 7 tariff in order to operate because they draw electricity when heating is required rather than relying on an overnight thermal charging cycle.
Can infrared heating replace storage heaters in a flat?
Potentially, yes. The flat's heat loss, room sizes, electrical installation, mounting positions, controls, tariff and any applicable installation permissions should all be considered first.
Can infrared replace storage heaters throughout a whole house?
Yes, where infrared is suitable for the property and each room has sufficient calculated output, appropriate heater positioning and suitable independent controls.
Do infrared panels store heat?
Infrared panels are not thermal storage heaters. They produce radiant heat while operating. Surfaces in the room can absorb radiant energy and subsequently exchange heat with their surroundings, but this is different from intentionally charging a storage heater for later heat release.
Thinking About Replacing Your Storage Heaters?
Don't simply replace each existing storage heater with an arbitrary infrared panel.
Calculate the heating requirement of each room, determine the required output, plan the heater positions and decide how each area will be controlled.
Read our Complete Infrared Heating Guide, compare infrared with other electric heating systems, browse our infrared heating ranges or speak to the IHS team about replacing your existing heating →