Now that summer is fast approaching, several of us will be heading out into our gardens and taking advantage of the glorious weather. From intimate dinner parties with close friends to family barbecues where everyone is invited, there are several reasons why we like our outdoor spaces to be warm and welcoming.
This can be achieved through comfortable furniture and cosy blankets, but another essential addition for many is an outdoor patio heater. Despite the fact we will soon be enjoying much longer evenings, things can get cold quite quickly and some extra warmth is very much appreciated.
However, due to the powerful heat these appliances emit, some believe they are potentially dangerous and not safe to use. But as we will soon discover, this is an unfounded preconception, as outdoor infrared heaters do not pose a threat to you or your friends and family.
How do Infrared Heaters Work?
In the past, if you wanted to generate extra heat for your garden or outdoor space, you would need to purchase an appliance fuelled by gas or oil. In addition to being expensive and inefficient, these heaters also give off greenhouse gasses, which is far from ideal.
Today, infrared heaters work utilising innovative technology to heat objects in the vicinity rather than relying on convection currents to heat the air around them. This results in minimal heat loss, low wattage and superb energy efficiency.
Zero Emissions
As opposed to traditional heaters, which require fossil fuels to work, modern infrared options do not produce carbon dioxide or any other form of exhaust emissions. This means there are no health or safety issues to worry about and you won’t need planning permission either.
You can rest assured that your family members, party guests and neighbours won’t be breathing in any toxic chemicals, as outdoor infrared heaters are incredibly clean and efficient.
Radiation
When soaking up the sun in your garden, you will need to wear sunscreen in order to protect your skin from burning up. However, a bigger threat is ultraviolet rays, which can cause harmful or even fatal conditions such as skin cancer.
But there is no need to worry about this when you turn an outdoor infrared heater on, as it is a pure form of heat and therefore entirely safe. Manufacturers will vouch for this and product specifications often state that there are absolutely no health risks associated with infrared technology.
Bright light
There are some quartz and halogen infrared heaters currently available, which produce a very fierce, short wave heat. As they are rather inefficient, people tend to position them closer to seating areas and the bright red light can damage one’s eyes through prolonged exposure.
However, Infrared Heaters Direct’s range of products do not give off any visible light, produce longer wavelengths that provide a gentle heat and therefore won’t cause problems such as “burning head” or “dry eye.”
Installation
It is highly recommended that you employ the services of a professional electrician to install any outdoor infrared heater. That way, you’ll know for sure that it is safe to use and won’t give you any problems in the future.
A qualified electrician can also install a push button, motion sensor or thermostat control for greater safety, as you can rest assured it won’t be on when you’ve gone inside either.
Despite the fact outdoor infrared heaters give out a tremendous amount of heat, they are very safe and won’t put anyone at risk. They do not give off any emissions like traditional heaters, do not produce any harmful radiation and do not generate a bright light that can damage your eyesight.
However, it is advisable to have your outdoor infrared heater installed professionally to ensure high safety standards are maintained at all times.