A Complete Guide to Heat Lamps

Heat lamps are special types of incandescent bulbs. They are designed to generate as much heat as possible through infrared radiation, so they are often called infrared lamps, infrared heaters, or IR bulbs. Their ability to warm quickly, cheaply and efficiently makes them useful in many temperature-critical applications.

Nearly all bulbs of this type are incandescent. As their main purpose is to produce warmth rather than just light, there isn’t really such thing as an LED heat lamp:

• LED bulbs are much more efficient at turning electrical current into light than incandescent lamps, losing very little energy as heat during the process
• In practice, this means that LED lamps simply don’t get warm enough to be useful in this role
• Infrared LEDs do exist, but they are mostly used for remote controls and other communications devices

Incandescent bulbs, on the other hand, are relatively inefficient when used primarily for lighting:

• They lose a significant amount of infrared radiation as heat energy while converting electrical current into light
• In most cases, this is an undesirable side-effect of non-LED bulbs. In certain specific applications, though, it is a benefit
• Infrared heaters are designed to prioritise this effect, while light quality may be a lesser concern

Thanks largely to their unique characteristics, IR lamps are useful in several sorts of applications. Relative to other forms of space heaters and radiators, these include:

• Their ability to reach very high temperatures extremely quickly
• The potential to dial in their heat output to specific levels or temperature gradients
• The fact that their hot zones can be focused towards a small concentrated area, unlike with some alternative methods such as open fires or convection heaters
• Their overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness as an electrical heat source
• Their ability to heat without making direct contact or disturbing the subject. In contrast, conductive, combustion or convection heaters can all affect the subject in various ways

When compared with many other types of heaters and heat sources, the above qualities often make IR heaters a preferred solution for a wide range of tasks.

Everyday examples include:

Animal Heat Lamps

Vivarium and hatchery use is one of the most common reasons for buying these bulbs online. In particular, many people choose heat lamps for chicks and reptiles that are being raised. So-called brooder lamps are often installed near hatchling chickens to help mimic warmth from a nesting parent. In a vivarium, the lamp simulates the sun’s warmth, helping to regulate body thermals or metabolism.

Catering Heat Lamps

Food heat lamps for commercial use are found in a wide range of cafes, restaurants, self-service diners and takeaways. You will often see them installed where hot food needs to be available over an extended period. They are also commonly installed alongside other retail food cabinets.

Heat Lamps for Plants

Terrarium and grow room use is another reason people shop for IR bulbs. They are used to exercise accurate temperature control. IR can simulate warmer climates and biomes or mimic the day-night cycles required by many types of non-native plants.

Other common uses for these types of bulbs include:

Heat Lamps for Bathrooms

These help to warm the area prior to use, and clear condensation from mirrors, walls and other surfaces. This gives a better overall experience and reduces the chance for mould and mildew to grow in damp rooms. They are quite common in hotels and guest houses and are also becoming more popular with homeowners.

Infrared Paint Curing Lamps

These help paint to dry (and, for some finishes, to harden) after it has been applied. They are most often associated with body shops and automobile spraying, where it is essential to properly cure the paintwork.

Many decorators also use drying and curing lamps for speedier job completion, especially in large or busy areas. They can give a more even, hardwearing and professional-looking finish than air-drying alone. These specialist lights should not to be confused with regular work lights or painters lamps.

Medical Uses

People with chronic conditions or short-term injuries may use IR warming technology as treatment for physical flare-ups and symptoms. They can help with soothing all manner of sore or swollen joints and muscles. An infrared heat lamp for back pain is a popular choice as a convenient, fast-acting alternative to hot water bottles or heat packs.

Short Wave Heat Lamps

Which light bulbs give off the most heat? Short wave infrared is basically the hottest and brightest type of lamp. It is best used for more intensive and direct heating tasks, as well as for covering greater distance outdoors.

They come up to temperature almost instantly and are good for an intensive burst of comfort warmth aimed straight at a subject. They lose very little of their energy to warming the air around the bulb, so almost all of it arrives as direct heat.

Ideal uses include outdoor patio heating, where the radiated warmth needs to travel over a longer distance quickly to hit an object or person. Short wave infrared copes well in wind and makes quick work of highly focused heating tasks like curing and drying paint.

As it has little effect on areas of low molecular density, it is less good at raising ambient air temperature. It is also unsuitable for prolonged close-range or indoor use, due to the intense heat and light it produces.

Medium Wave Heat Lamps

Medium wave infrared heaters are better at warming a room than short wave versions. Their heat is more easily absorbed by people and objects, but it is less transmissible at distance.

They ramp up a bit more slowly, usually around 30 seconds to a minute. They are roughly as good at dispersing warmth to the air as they are at directly heating solid surfaces.

Around 60% of their output arrives as direct heat, with 40% used to warm the space around the lamp. They are not effective in windy conditions, making them less suitable for most outdoor uses.

Long Wave Heat Lamps

Only about 40% of the energy output by far-infrared lamps arrives as direct heat, with 60% lost to the surrounding air. A long wave infrared heater is therefore a better choice for more gradual heating of enclosed spaces.

They can take 5-20 minutes to reach relatively low peak temperatures of around 300 Celsius. They emit very little light compared to a short-wave IR lamp, making them far less obtrusive. They are often preferred for indoor panel heating arrays. Since they are highly vulnerable to wind, they tend to be ineffective for outside use.

Are Heat Lamps a Fire Hazard?

Good quality products are designed and built with safety in mind. Even so, when used irresponsibly, they can be a potential hazard. General safety tips for proper use include:

• Ensuring you buy quality products, using suitable housings and materials for the wattage they run at
• Using an appropriately certified bulb cage (a bail)
• Making sure the entire setup is positioned well out of reach
• Ensuring they are firmly secured, ideally with a secondary anchor point as a failsafe
• Keeping all wires, cables and connectors well maintained and out of reach
• Removing all combustible materials, including regular clearing of any dust and debris
• Keeping away from any sources of liquid, moisture or damp
• Regularly checking for signs of wear or damage, and promptly repairing or replacing if necessary
• Keeping smoke alarms and fire extinguishers close at hand
• Ensuring they are not used in locations blocking an exit or escape route in the event of a fire

Are Heat Lamps Safe to Leave on All Night?

You should avoid leaving most high-power draw electricals switched on around the clock, especially if they are unmonitored. High-powered bulbs are no exception.

Relatively few scenarios will require you to leave them on overnight, since many are bought to mimic sunlight. If you absolutely must leave a lamp on while unattended, try to set up a way of monitoring the area remotely, such as a CCTV camera.

You must also maintain an operational smoke detector and fire extinguisher nearby.