Infrared heaters are an excellent choice when you want efficient heating in your home. To understand why they are ideal, you should understand what infrared heaters are and how they work.
What Is Infrared Heat?
Imagine how hot it feels whenever you are out in the sun. The sun’s heat is a mix of UV and infrared rays, with the latter warming you up while the former causing damage to your health. We all feel the heat from the infrared light but cannot see it because it is in a spectrum that’s not visible to the naked eye ( in wavelengths of 0.78 and 2.5 microns or micrometres).
The infrared heaters woke based on the same principles, converting energy into radiant heat, which travels in a straight line without being absorbed by the air. As a result, the infrared radiation heats objects it meets. Therefore, the infrared heaters provide direct heat. If you are reading this and are in the UK then see UK electric radiators.
The Advantages Of Infrared Heaters
• Instant Heat
Infrared heaters warm up an area within thirty seconds; that is practically an immediate delivery. The heaters warm the air rapidly because they convert the energy particles around them into heat. That means that they are faster than convection heaters designed with heating coils that warm up the surrounding air before pumping it into the room.
• Quiet And Efficient
Since infrared heaters generate direct heat, they are relatively silent and more energy-efficient compared to electric radiators. Therefore, they are an excellent choice for installation in areas like study rooms and bedrooms. The conventional gas-fired heaters are noisy because of the flow of water and rumbling pipes coupled with the running radiators, all working collectively to heat up a room. The fans on these appliances can also be noisy. That is why the gas-fired heaters are not suitable for bedrooms and other areas in a house that people want to enjoy some quiet time.
• Health Benefits
While the infrared heaters do shoulder some safety concerns which cannot be overlooked, they also can prove helpful to your health. The lack of air movements means they will not impact humidity levels in a room, unlike their fan heater counterparts and forced air systems. Therefore, users will not spend more on humidifiers to help balance moisture levels in the indoor air.
The Pitfalls Of Infrared Heaters
• Safety
Infrared light travels in a straight direction; hence it excels in delivering direct, targeted heat. But the heating elements in an infrared radiator can get extremely hot, generating intense heat. Therefore, it is best to keep the surrounding areas free from any object. Since they generate extreme heat, they also are a risk for pets and small children. That is why you should take the time to plan the installation and where you want to use them, considering if they are the safest option for your home.
• Potential Health Risks
UV rays are damaging to our health compared to infrared rays, but long-term exposure to the latter can also have its toll on your health, especially the skin and eyes. You might not experience this from your home heating unity, but it is an issue worth contemplating. Sitting too close to the infrared heater can lead to blotchy skin, meaning you experienced some damage at a cellular level. Moreover, exposing yourself to too much heat will cause you to sweat while in a room. Too much sweating can lead to dehydration and dry skin. Such an issue is not common with the convector heaters that heat and circulate the air significantly slower.
• Isolated Heating
Infrared heaters are ideal if you want zonal heating but are not the right pick when you want to use them in large spaces. The units are designed to generate direct heat that warms up surrounding objects instead of the air. You also must be relatively close to the unit to enjoy the benefits. That is why convection heaters are excellent for maintaining desired ambient temperatures because they circulate warmed air through the living spaces using electric radiators.