INFRARED HEATING
Benefits of Far Infrared Heating
Far infrared heating is a form of electric radiant heating that transfers heat directly to people, objects and surfaces within a room rather than relying primarily on warming and circulating the air. This different approach to heating offers practical advantages for homes, offices, commercial buildings and larger or more specialist spaces.
Key benefits of infrared heating include comfortable radiant warmth, flexible wall and ceiling installation, individual room control and the ability to create heating zones around how a building is actually used. With no boiler, radiators or water-filled pipework required, electric infrared heating can also provide a straightforward alternative for both new-build and retrofit projects.
Key benefits of infrared heating at a glance
- Radiant warmth delivered directly to people and surrounding surfaces
- Individual room and zoned temperature control
- Minimal air movement compared with convection-based heating
- Wall and ceiling mounting options that preserve usable floor space
- No boiler, water-filled radiators or heating pipework required
- Silent operation with no fans or moving parts in standard infrared panels
- Low routine maintenance requirements
- Compatible with thermostatic and smart heating controls
- Suitable for residential, commercial and specialist applications
The advantages of infrared heating depend on choosing the correct heater output, position and controls for the space. For a more technical explanation of the technology itself, read our Infrared Heating Guide.
Why choose far infrared heating?
Comfortable radiant warmth
Far infrared heaters produce radiant heat. Instead of relying primarily on warm air circulating around a room, radiant energy reaches people, furniture and other solid surfaces within the heater's effective area. This creates a different heating experience from conventional convection systems and can provide comfortable warmth without requiring a fan.
Heating without relying on air circulation
Convection heating warms air, which then moves around a room. Because warm air naturally rises, temperature differences can develop between lower and higher parts of a space, particularly in buildings with high ceilings.
Infrared heating transfers heat radiantly instead. This makes it particularly useful where heating the entire volume of air may be undesirable, including rooms with high ceilings and larger commercial or industrial environments where heating can be designed around occupied areas.
Room-by-room and zoned heating control
One of the major practical benefits of electric infrared heating is the ability to divide a property into independently controlled heating zones. Rather than treating an entire building as a single heating area, thermostats can control individual rooms or groups of heaters according to their required temperature and schedule.
This can help avoid heating unused areas unnecessarily. The actual electricity consumption and running cost will depend on factors including installed wattage, thermostat settings, operating time, insulation, building construction and the electricity tariff being used.
Flexible wall and ceiling installation
Infrared heaters are available in a range of formats including wall-mounted panels, ceiling-mounted panels, high-output bar heaters, mirrors and glass heaters. This gives greater flexibility when designing a heating system around the available space.
Ceiling-mounted infrared panels can be particularly useful where wall space is limited, while wall panels can provide a slim alternative to conventional radiators. Different formats can therefore be selected according to the room, building and intended application.
Silent operation with minimal air movement
Standard infrared heating panels operate without fans and therefore do not need to continually circulate air in order to distribute warmth. They also operate silently, which can be particularly useful in bedrooms, offices, hospitality environments, studios and other spaces where noise is an important consideration.
The absence of forced-air circulation also means the heating system itself is not continually blowing air around the room. Indoor air quality, however, depends on many other factors including ventilation, humidity, building condition and occupancy.
Infrared heating and condensation
Because radiant heating warms solid surfaces as well as occupants, it can increase the temperature of surfaces within its effective area. Warmer surfaces can be less susceptible to surface condensation when other conditions are appropriate.
Infrared heating should not, however, be treated as a cure for damp or mould. Persistent moisture problems may be caused by leaks, penetrating damp, rising damp, insufficient ventilation or other building defects that need to be identified separately. Read more in our guide to infrared heating, damp and condensation.
Energy Efficient
Save up to 60% on your heating bills compared to traditional heating methods.
Health
Reduces dust circulation and improves air quality — great for allergies.
Radiant Comfort
Even heat distribution with no cold spots, just warm, balanced spaces.
Room-by-Room Control
With suitable independent controls, heat different rooms to their own temperatures and schedules.
Direct Radiant Warmth
Feel radiant warmth within the heater’s coverage as it warms up.
Low Maintenance
Standard infrared panels have no fans or pumps.
Silent Operation
No fans or noise. Enjoy uninterrupted warmth in peace and quiet.
Damp & Mould Prevention
Warming surfaces may help reduce condensation.
Practical advantages of infrared heating systems
The benefits of infrared heating extend beyond the way heat is delivered. As an electric heating system, infrared can simplify installation in properties where installing or extending a conventional wet central heating system would be difficult, disruptive or unnecessary.
No boiler or wet heating system required
Electric infrared heaters do not require a gas boiler, water-filled radiators or a network of heating pipes. Depending on the heater and installation, panels can be wall or ceiling mounted and connected to suitable electrical controls.
This can make infrared heating particularly useful for property renovations, extensions, garden rooms, apartments, offices and buildings where adding conventional heating pipework would be impractical.
Low routine maintenance
Standard infrared panels have no fans, pumps or other moving components required to produce heat. This results in relatively simple routine maintenance compared with heating systems containing boilers, pumps and water circuits.
Product life will depend on the heater, installation, operating conditions and usage. You can read more in our guide to infrared heating lifespan.
Smart thermostats and heating schedules
Infrared heating can be combined with thermostatic controls to manage room temperature and operating schedules. Depending on the system selected, controls can include individual room thermostats, programmable schedules and smart or Wi-Fi functionality.
Zoning allows different parts of a property to operate independently, so a bedroom, living area, office or commercial zone does not necessarily need to follow the same heating schedule as the rest of the building.
Works alongside solar PV
As infrared heaters use electricity, they can form part of an all-electric property and operate alongside electricity generated by solar photovoltaic panels. The amount of heating demand that can be met directly by solar generation will depend on factors including system size, generation at the time heating is required, household or building demand and whether battery storage is available.
For more information, see our guide to infrared heating and solar panels and our guide to the environmental considerations of infrared heating.
Are infrared heaters cheaper to run?
There is no single running-cost figure that applies to every infrared heating installation. Electricity consumption depends on the total wattage installed and how long the heaters actually operate. For example, a 1kW heater operating continuously at full output for one hour uses 1kWh of electricity.
In practice, thermostatic control means a correctly configured heating system may cycle rather than operate continuously once the required temperature is reached. Building insulation, heat loss, room dimensions, target temperature, occupancy and zoning will all influence actual consumption.
For this reason, infrared heating should be correctly sized for the property rather than selected using floor area alone. Use our Infrared Heating Wattage Calculator to estimate the heating output required for your rooms.
Where can infrared heating be used?
The flexibility of infrared heating allows it to be specified across a wide range of environments. Smaller panels can provide whole-room heating in residential spaces, while higher-output heaters can be used to create heating zones within larger buildings.
- Homes: living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, conservatories and garden rooms
- Commercial buildings: offices, shops, cafés, restaurants, hotels and leisure facilities
- Industrial spaces: warehouses, workshops, production areas and loading bays
- Public and heritage buildings: churches, community halls and other large or intermittently occupied spaces
- Animal environments: kennels, catteries, stables and equestrian facilities
Explore our infrared heating solutions by application to find more detailed guidance for different building types and environments.
Frequently asked questions about far infrared heating
What are the main benefits of far infrared heating?
Far infrared heating provides radiant warmth directly to people and surfaces, can be controlled room by room, operates silently and requires no boiler or water-filled heating circuit. Wall, ceiling, mirror, glass and higher-output heater formats also provide flexibility when designing a heating system for different types of space.
Can far infrared heating heat an entire room?
Yes. Infrared heating can be used as a whole-room heating system when the heaters are correctly sized and positioned for the room. The required wattage depends on factors including room dimensions, insulation, building type and heat loss, so heater selection should not be based on floor area alone.
Are infrared heaters energy efficient?
Electric resistance heaters convert the electrical energy they consume into heat at the point of use. The practical efficiency of a heating system depends on how that heat is controlled and used within the building. Infrared systems can be divided into independently controlled zones, allowing rooms or areas to be heated according to their individual schedules and temperature requirements.
Are infrared heaters expensive to run?
Running costs depend on installed wattage, operating time, electricity price, thermostat settings, insulation and heat loss. A 1kW heater running continuously at full output for one hour consumes 1kWh of electricity. Thermostatic and zoned control can reduce operating time by switching or cycling heaters according to the temperature and schedule required.
Can infrared heating help with condensation?
Infrared heating can warm solid surfaces within its effective area, and warmer surfaces can be less susceptible to surface condensation. However, heating is not a substitute for appropriate ventilation or for repairing the underlying cause of persistent damp or moisture problems.
Do infrared heaters circulate dust?
Standard infrared panels do not use fans to distribute heat and therefore do not themselves create forced-air circulation. Dust and indoor air quality are also affected by ventilation, occupants, furnishings and other sources of air movement within a building.
Do infrared heaters need maintenance?
Standard electric infrared panels have relatively few components and no boiler, pump or water circuit. Routine requirements are therefore generally limited, although heaters, electrical connections and controls should always be installed, used and inspected in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
What is the difference between far infrared and near infrared heating?
Far infrared and near infrared refer to different wavelength ranges within the infrared spectrum. Far infrared is commonly used by panel heaters designed for indoor space heating, while shorter-wavelength infrared technologies are often used where more intense or directional heat is required. The appropriate heater depends on the application and environment.