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“What are infrared heaters good for?”

“What are infrared heaters good for?”

In the world of home and business heating, infrared is the new kid on the block, so naturally one of the first questions we’re asked is ‘where can I use it?’ Don’t be daunted by the science – infrared offers some of the most versatile heating solutions available on the market, so once you get to grips with how it works, the benefits soon become clear. We won’t go into the nitty-gritty of infrared in this particular blog – though by all means, take a look at our exceptional primer here for further reading – but we’ll certainly be looking at its best and most common applications. If you’re wondering what infrared heaters are good for, it turns out that it’s quite a lot…

1) Whole-home heating

Infrared heaters can be used throughout the home (including bathrooms) for energy-efficient everyday heating, and what’s more, they look good doing it too. Infrared panels are some of the slimmest heating solutions available, just millimetres thick, and can be wall or ceiling mounted as you see fit so you don’t need to resign yourself to bulky or intrusive heaters. Aesthetics aside, let’s get down to brass tacks: how do they heat? Infrared heaters only use radiant heat so they’re quite different to conventional systems, like radiators, which mainly warm spaces by heating the air. This means that infrared heaters do take longer on initial heat-up because they need time to warm the fabric of the building, but they offer a much more uniform heat from floor to ceiling, creating a more comfortable environment. It’s such an efficient distribution of heat that most users find they can turn down their heating by a few degrees and achieve the same level of comfort as they would with a traditional heating system – an excellent way to save energy and slim down running costs.

Commercial Infrared Heaters2) Large commercial interiors

The biggest problem with large commercial or public interiors is that they often have high ceilings and a very large air volume so conventional systems rarely pass muster. This is exactly where infrared can help. Where a normal convector heater would waste energy heating the air, which invariably gets trapped toward the ceiling, infrared allows you to direct heat toward living levels, ensuring they’re kept at the right temperature. It doesn’t matter whether you’re trying to heat a church, a warehouse, a factory or a showroom, the strong heat from a commercial ceramic heater will reach over large areas for effective heating in any spacious interior. Much in the same way a spotlight will illuminate the space it’s pointed at, an infrared heater will warm the area it’s directed toward, which also allows you to select specific areas you want to keep heated. By zoning your heating in large commercial spaces, you can warm workbenches or warehouse isles, without having to waste energy also heating unoccupied areas like storage bays and machine lines. Commercial heaters come in a range of styles, from elegant pendant fittings that would suit customer-facing retail spaces, to more robust, utilitarian designs.

3) Damp prone spaces

Rooms that suffer with persistent damp and moisture issues can be a draining vexation, especially if you’re constantly having to run extractor fans or replace condensation catchers. If that sounds like a familiar irritation in your life, it’s well worth considering an infrared heater. Damp problems usually occur when water vapour comes into contact with a cold surface, which causes it to condense into droplets. Here’s how infrared can help: by heating your room’s surfaces, infrared heaters deter condensation from forming and help to keep the water in its vapour form so it’s much easier to get rid of any moisture build up. You can open a window and aerate your room to get rid of any vapour, all without losing the bulk of your heat, which is retained by the fabric of your property.

Infrared Outdoor Heaters4) Outdoor heating

Radiant heat is really the only way to effectively heat outdoor spaces. Just imagine trying to heat your patio with a convector heater – all of the warm air would be dispersed the moment the slightest of slight breezes rolled in. All outdoor heat sources use radiant heat, whether it’s in the form of an open fire, chimenea or a gas heater, so why choose an infrared patio heater? The main reasons are convenience and efficiency: once an infrared heater is installed, you can enjoy a warm patio with just the flick of a switch, with no messy preparation needed. There’s no soot, no emissions and no faffing around changing gas canisters – an electric patio heater produces instant and reliable results every time. As they’re also 100% efficient at point of use, you can rest assured that every penny spent is going towards your outdoor comfort so why choose anything else?

5) Heating for allergy sufferers

Some heating systems, like storage heaters and panel heaters, can exacerbate issues for allergy sufferers because they create a warm air current which pushes dust, pet hair and other debris around the room. While there is no substitute for a good dusting, infrared heating can certainly help to minimise the effects of airborne allergens with its gentle form of warmth. Infrared radiant heat warms you, not the air so allergens aren’t disturbed and you can breathe easy. An additional boon to these heaters is that, as they don’t have vents, fans or any moving parts, there’s no grubby grilles and dirty ducts to contend with – they’ll only need the occasional wipe down with a cloth, just like a picture frame.

Infrared heaters – adaptable and efficient solutions

Indoor or outdoor, domestic or commercial, infrared heaters offer solutions for every situation, so if you’re considering making the move to a more efficient system, be sure to take a look at our extensive range. Not sure which product is suitable for your space? Just call us on 0330 880 8383 and speak to our Sales team who are always on hand to provide guidance and expert recommendations.