What is Infrared Heating and How Does it Work?
Infrared heating is a type of radiant heat the same type of heat you get from the sun. It transfers heats objects, surfaces, and people, without heating the air between.
This makes it an incredibly efficient way of heating your home, office, and outdoor spaces.
How Infrared Heating Works
Far infrared operates outside of visible light on the electromagnetic spectrum. It has very low frequency and so uses very low energy levels.
Infrared heat passes through the air. It travels around molecules instead of colliding with and heating them. Then, when it collides with a solid object, like a wall, furniture, or a person, it heats it up.
The sun works in exactly the same way. Even though it’s 93 million miles away, we can still feel its warmth. This is because its radiant heat isn’t lost heating the molecules in space on its way to us. It only gets hot heats when it hits a surface – the earth.
Thankfully, infrared heaters don’t emit UV light like the sun. This makes them perfectly safe to use.
Infrared Heating vs. Convection Heating
Infrared Heating
As we have already discussed, infrared heat warms objects directly through radiation.
Radiation is the transferring of heat between two objects through the electromagnetic spectrum. Heat travels from the source to the target.
No energy is wasted warming the air. You feel the warmth on your skin.
Convection Heating
Convection heating is the transfer of heat between objects using the air as the vehicle.
The heat source (usually a radiator) warms the air around it. The warm air then rises, forcing the cold air lower. As the warm air cools, it falls while the air around the radiator warms up and rises. This is called a convection cycle.
Why Infrared Heating is Better Than Convection Heating
Infrared heating has several advantages over traditional convection heating systems;
You’ll Feel Warm Quicker
Because infrared warms objects directly, you don’t have to wait for the air to heat up before you feel the benefit. This means you feel the warmth much quicker.
No Loss of Heat
With convection heating, the air rises to the ceiling. This is where you don’t want it because you’re usually closer to the floor. This not only means you have to wait longer for the whole room to warm up, but heat can also get lost through ceilings, windows and though draughts.
Cheaper to Run and Maintain
Infrared heaters don’t use fans, buttons or other moving parts. This means the conversion rate from electricity to heat is 98.5%.
As a result, they’re cheaper to run than convection heaters and central heating.
Also, because they have no moving parts, they don’t need servicing or inspecting. The carbon crystal elements on the inside are made to last for around 100,000 hours. That’s around 11.4 years of constant use!
Better For Your Health
Because convection heating relies on the movement of air, it can circulate dust and other allergens around your home.
Infrared heaters warm objects directly and don’t rely on air circulation. As such they’re much better for those that suffer from respiratory problems.
Infrared heaters have other health benefits, including;
- Improved heart health and blood circulation
- Muscle relaxation
- Reduced joint pain and stiffness
The Type of Heat We’re Designed For
Because infrared heat is the same type of heat emitted by the sun, it’s perfectly safe for us to absorb. We even emit it when we get too warm.
Radiant heat gain or loss is responsible for over 60% of the comfort or discomfort we feel. Less than 15% of our comfort comes from air temperature.
Most of us feel most comfortable when the temperature around us is between 16°-26° Celsius. If you set your temperature between these, your body will feel warm and comfortable.
Browse Our Range of Infrared Heaters
Infrared heating is a perfectly safe way to heat your home, office, and outdoor areas. We have a wide range of infrared heaters including wall mounted heaters, ceiling heaters as well as mirror and picture heaters as well as outdoor heaters.
