Infrared Panels & Heaters – 2024 Buying Guide

If we take into consideration how new the infrared heating technology is, it’s safe to assume that there aren’t many people that know a lot about it or how it even works. As you might assume, if you’re interested in buying any of these heaters, it might be the best to do a little research on the subject so you know how many you need and which ones to choose. For that reason, we’ve decided to compose a buying guide, so that you know what to look for.

1. How Does It Work?

Infrared panels heat purely by radiation. What does that mean? The easiest way to explain it is by comparing it to the sun. The sun radiates heat that travels millions of miles without losing any energy because the heat is only absorbed by the solid objects. These panels work in a similar way. Most conventional heaters warm up their source and warm up the air around it which raises the room temperature. Infrared panels, on the other hand, don’t warm up the air. The heat is transmitted from the source directly onto the objects – in this case, our bodies. This is infinitely more time-efficient than traditional methods because none of the energy is wasted on raising the temperature of the air in the room.

2. How Efficient Is It?

As we’ve said, the heat is absorbed by any object in the reach of the panel. That means our bodies or any other solid objects in the vicinity. The energy wasted in this process is almost non-existent and what’s best about it, as objects absorb the heat, they re-radiate it.  So, to sum it all up, this is as efficient as it gets.

3. What Size Do I Need?

As with any kind of heater, it’s important to know how powerful or large of a source you need in order to achieve optimal performance and maximum efficiency. The strength of these panels is measured in wattage. How powerful does your panel need to be is easily calculated and you can find an infrared wattage calculator online. In situations where you have the option of choosing a panel with a little less or more than the recommended wattage – always go higher. If you choose a heater that’s under the recommended wattage, you may risk shorter life-span as it will have to ‘work’ harder to heat up the rooms it is in.

4. Does Placement Matter?

Another thing to consider when installing an infrared panel is the positioning of the device. Since they radiate heat up to a certain point, they have to be properly positioned so that the whole room is within the heating span. Our advice to you would be to check the individual specification of each panel to determine its reach or consult with one of the experts such as www.futofolia.hu.

Depending on the size and shape of the room, you may end up benefiting from a few smaller units that add up to the recommended wattage. As for regular shaped, square and rectangular rooms can be efficiently heated from a single, central panel. Another great thing is, if you don’t want to warm up an entire room – you don’t have to. This is especially useful for large spaces with high ceilings such as those in factories.

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5. Are They Programmable?

In most cases, an infrared panel comes without built-in programming controls. This is mostly because the heaters have a long life span. However, there are numerous options if you’d like complete control over your system. It’s important to note that most of these are sold separately.

• Thermostat – As with any other heating device, a thermostat can be set to maintain your desired room temperature. In this case, it can be programmed to turn off the infrared panel when it senses that the desired temperature is met. It will turn it back on when it notices a drop in the temperature, as well.
• Timer – This gives you basic control over how long do you want your heater to run. It’s especially useful for rooms you don’t spend a lot of time in – such as the bathroom or a home office.
• 24/7/ Scheduling – This option gives you complete control over every room in your house. The most sophisticated devices enable you to set the temperature for each individual room, for every hour of the day or any day of the week. Complete control over the whole system is a great way not only to tailor to your needs but to cut down on energy usage and cut the costs.
• Wi-Fi/Remote Controlling – If you want to make it even easier, a remote controller/Wi-FI programmer is also available. Turn on the panel just as you’re about the enter the house or just have complete control over the whole system from your smartphone.

6. Are They Easy To Install?

In a word – yes. They are very DIY friendly. These panels can be mounted to a wall or a ceiling or they can be just placed on the floor. They are very simple to wall mount, as they’re essentially just hanged and plugged into a socket. If you’d like a more professional approach, for instance, wall or ceiling mounted without any cables showing, an electrician or a professional crew can do that for you. The bathroom heater however must have an appropriate IP resistance rating and must be installed by a qualified professional.

7. Are They Safe?

It’s not a secret that many people shrink when they hear the word ‘radiation’. However, there is nothing to be concerned about when it comes to infrared radiation heating. The panels use far-infrared radiation, which is the safest form on the infrared spectrum and is used in incubators for babies. On top of all that, as there is no air blowing out of it or anything of sorts, it’s especially gentle on those that suffer from allergies.

As you can see, the infrared panels are extremely efficient, carry no health risks whatsoever and can be easily installed and controlled. They’re absolutely silent and eco-friendly, as there’s no carbon as a by-product. With all this in mind, it’s safe to say that this just may be the future of keeping us warm and cosy during the cold days.