Technically speaking, infrared heaters use a form of electromagnetic spectrum radiation to warm a room. Now, that might sound faintly alarming at first...but only until you rephrase it as ‘invisible light', which is essentially all infrared heat is.
What's the difference between infrared and other types of space heater?
- Apart from the fact that infrared light can't be seen with the naked eye, in all other regards, the mechanism of how infrared heaters work is much like any form of heat from light (the sun being an obvious example)
- This is why infrared heaters are often said to feel so much more ‘natural' on the body than other forms of space heater
- Unlike fan or coil-based heaters, infrared units don't rely on moving large volumes of warmed air around a room and don't continually lose heat to air movement, making them highly efficient
- Infrared light directly warms objects and surfaces in their path, more like a heat lamp or an open fire
- This means they tend to feel much less artificial or drying than ‘forced air' heaters, and don't move dust or other pollutants around
- Infrared heaters are considered more environmentally friendly than many other space heater types, although the vast range of different specifications and design options make absolute figures difficult to produce
- Electric infrared heaters don't release any emissions in the form of harmful gases, fuel residues or toxic fumes into the atmosphere, and in general safety terms they don't need to get nearly as hot as many coil-based space heater designs
- As with all space heaters, the overall economy of the model you choose will depend largely on the size, shape and type of room it's being used in, as well as the temperature settings you prefer
For other space heater makes, models and accessories, check out our full range of air conditioning and climate control units.
