Last updated: February 2023
Infrared is one of the most efficient heating solutions on the market, effective in providing unmatched warmth for your property whilst conveniently trimming down on your heating bills. Whether you’re looking for a stylish heating solution for late-night garden gatherings, powerful industrial grade heating for commercial settings, or a smaller, modern radiant panel to match your homes interior design scheme, there’s an infrared heater for every requirement. With various styles and features available, and some even boasting innovative built-in smart control, let’s take a look at a few more of the benefits.
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What is infrared heating?
Unlike other systems, infrared heaters use radiation as a sole method of heat transfer, making them a highly efficient heating solution. 100% natural, it’s the same type of warmth our own bodies emit and absorb on a regular basis. Instead of heating the surrounding air like convection heaters, infrared travels in a wave, directly warming anything in its path without getting lost to draughts. It’s a deeper level of warmth that’s easily absorbed by people, objects, and surfaces, providing lasting, comfortable warmth with minimal heat loss. As a result, infrared heaters are ideal for a variety of spaces, including draft-prone areas around the home.
For everything you need to know about infrared heating, check out this video.
What are the benefits of infrared heating?
Infrared heating is an incredibly efficient way to heat your home and boasts many great benefits. Here’s a run-down of just a few of them:
Quick, even spread of heat
Highly responsive, infrared heaters provide lasting warmth within minutes of your switching them on. This is because they warm people and objects first, so you feel the effects nearly instantly. Other heating solutions on the market often use convection, which only heats the surrounding air. As the air warms, it rises to the top of the room, creating an uneven spread of warmth and causing you to crank up the temperature. This means it not only takes longer to reach your ideal level of heat but is also less efficient as it wastes more energy. Infrared heaters don’t have this problem. Their radiant warmth offers a more even distribution of heat, ensuring the temperature throughout the room is balanced, so you can say goodbye to cold, uncomfortable floors.
Efficient and cost effective
As infrared heaters are powered by electricity, 100% of energy drawn from the wall is converted into heat. So, no energy is wasted, promoting maximum efficiency. Infrared heat sinks deep into the walls, warming the very fabric of your home and then reradiating that warmth back out into the room, creating 360ᵒ heating. This means a lower wattage and less power is needed to heat a room, which can help to minimise running costs. For ultimate eco-friendly home heating, infrared systems can even be paired with green tariffs or self-generated energy, providing complete energy-efficient warmth from start to finish.
Heating tailored to you
For convenient home heating, many infrared heaters can be paired with an external thermostat, which allows you to program your system more effectively. These thermostats offer precise temperature control, enabling you to create custom heating schedules and set specific heat levels tailored to your daily routine – for more personalised heating in your home. Manage your entire system collectively or program unique settings for every room, creating heating zones throughout your property. So, if you spend more time in your living room than your home office, a separate schedule can be set for each space to reflect your needs perfectly, meaning less energy wasted and more money saved.
Maintenance free
Another money-saving benefit for radiant panels is the fact that they require little to no maintenance. As there’s zero plumbing involved, annual callouts aren’t required, saving you a lot of cash in the long run. All they really need is a simple dusting occasionally to keep them in tip top condition.
Intuitive smart control features
Some infrared heaters, like the Ecostrad Opus iQ panels, come with built-in WiFi control, so you can manage your heating from anywhere in the world. All you need to do is set up the Smart Life app onto your smartphone or tablet and you’re good to go. Providing you’re connected to WiFi you can adjust temperatures, set heating schedules, and change start and finish times on a minute-by-minute basis, with just a few simple taps on your phone. Smart programming also gives you access to an array of extra energy-saving features such as voice-activated control, for hands-free heat management. Intelligent and convenient, smart infrared heaters are the perfect fit for any modern home.
A range of designs
Infrared heaters come in a range of shapes and sizes. From outdoor patio heaters for the garden, to sleek, radiant panels for indoor use, there’s something for every space. Slim and discreet, they integrate seamlessly into both modern and traditional design schemes, with white, black, mirror and glass finishes available. Many of them even come with wall mounted, freestanding or ceiling mounted installation options, for ultimate versatility over your heating.
Powder-coated infrared panels
Mirrored infrared panels
No glare infrared heaters
Infrared patio heaters
Doesn’t trigger allergies
Radiant warmth doesn’t disturb the air, which means it also doesn’t circulate any dust. This makes infrared heaters an ideal solution for those who suffer from asthma or allergies, so you don’t have to worry about any flare ups.
Reduce mould and damp
Infrared heating is effective in preventing damp and mould because it keeps the walls warm, which ultimately deters moisture from settling. This warmth is long lasting too, so even when you’ve switched your infrared heaters off, it’s still helping to prevent condensation. So, for rooms that are draughty or often prone to damp, such as bathrooms or utility spaces, infrared heaters are an ideal heating solution.
This or that? Check out our infrared heater buying guides
Heat your home with infrared
A prize addition to any property, infrared heaters feature several advantages. They make a great alternative to heating your home, combining intuitive functionality with comfortable and effective warmth. So why not take your heating to the next level with our wide selection of infrared heaters. With several features, finishes, and designs to choose from, you can rest assured that there’s a heater perfect for you.
Key learnings
- Unlike other systems, infrared heaters use radiation as a sole method of heat transfer, making them a highly efficient heating solution. Their radiant warmth offers a more even distribution of heat, ensuring the temperature throughout the room is balanced.
- Infrared heat sinks deep into the walls, warming the very fabric of your home and then reradiating that warmth back out into the room, creating 360ᵒ heating.
- Many infrared heaters can be paired with an external thermostat, which allows you to program your system more effectively. For even greater levels of control, some infrared heaters are WiFi app compatible, for heat management when you're on the go.
- Radiant warmth doesn’t disturb the air and prevents moisture from settling - this makes it gentle on allergies and naturally combats damp and mould.