Best infrared heaters buying guide
Infrared heaters are one of the most popular types of heaters available in the market these days. The best infrared heaters are very effective at warming up large amounts of space without having a big impact on your utility bills. However, with so many units available in the market, choosing the right one for yourself can become a little difficult. This guide outlines some basic features and functions of infrared heaters that might help you in selecting the best unit.
What is an infrared heater?
Infrared heaters, also known as radiant heaters, work by emitting infrared heat that helps warm up the area they are placed in. Unlike the majority of the heaters that warm up the air in a room, the heat emitted from infrared heaters is absorbed by objects and radiated back into the room. Hence, it focuses more on warming surfaces and objects rather than the air alone. As compared to traditional heaters, infrared heaters are much more cost-effective.
What are the uses of an infrared heater?
Infrared heaters are used for both; outdoors and indoors purposes, depending on the type of infrared heater you have. The majority of time these are solely used to keep rooms and objects warm during the winter season. However, infrared heaters are mostly used to supplement already existing heating systems in larger buildings. Let's check out some of the common uses of infrared heaters.
Changing Seasons
The most common use for an infrared heater is to provide warmth during the cold months. Having an infrared heater near you in a chilly season can be quite comforting.
Moreover, these heaters skip the air and directly warm physical bodies and objects. Therefore, they are quite useful for warming areas such as warehouses, airplane hangars, and garages. As the doors to these places tend to be opened and closed frequently, infrared heaters work great for keeping the objects at these places from cooling too much.
Individual Comfort
Not every temperature suits everyone. When it comes to using heaters in homes with multiple people in it, it can be a bit difficult to stick to one temperature, since some people are more sensitive to cold as compared to the rest. Infrared heaters can be used by individuals to heat up their room according to their liking.
Helping Cold Spots
Infrared heaters are very effective at warming up areas that don’t get enough insulation from the existing heating system. Because the heating systems at most of the homes are old, they are usually not very effective at warming up the entire place, which is why they can leave behind cold spots. So, if you notice that one of the rooms at your house is much colder than the rest, that’s when an infrared heater might come in quite handy.
Comfort at Work
Infrared heaters are also used at schools, workplaces, offices, and even factories to reduce the cost of heating bills. Since infrared heaters are cost-effective, a lot of companies like to place these units in each office room - which helps cut down the need to invest in a central heating system for the whole building.
How to choose the right Infrared heater?
Let’s have a look at some of the important features of infrared heaters that need to be considered before you make the purchase.
Wattage
The amount of heat an infrared heater delivers depends upon how much wattage it can support. This might not be the case for all types of heaters out there, but it's a general rule for these units. Infrared heaters that support a wattage of 1500 can easily warm up a small to medium-sized room. Other than this, some units also support up to 4500 to 5000 watts - these are suitable for large offices and warehouses.
Safety Features
When it comes to heaters - safety features are a must. All the best infrared heaters are not only equipped with high-quality safety features, but are also certified. If the infrared heater you purchase does not come with any certification, you must use it very carefully.
Every year, numerous house fires are caused due to leaving heaters unattended. Stats from the Consumer Product Safety Commission show that every year, more than 25,000 house fires are caused due to heaters. Therefore, always try to look for a heater that comes with an automatic shutoff feature.
Portability
Portable heaters usually come in compact sizes and are easily carried from one place to another. Moreover, you can even take these heaters with you if you are traveling from one place to another. Though not necessary, this feature can be very useful in the long run.
Capacity Rating
The capacity rating of a heater refers to the measurement of the area that can be heated by a heater. This area is usually measured in square feet and the rating is mostly mentioned on the unit itself. It can help you determine whether or not the infrared heater you are purchasing would be sufficient to warm up your house or office or not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are infrared heaters better than electric heaters?
As compared to space heaters, infrared heaters are much more cost-effective and safer to use. Also, the best infrared heaters are designed to keep heat loss as low as possible, hence they warm up rooms much quicker as well.
Do infrared heaters reduce electricity bills?
Since infrared heaters use less energy, they help to reduce the amount of bills that you would otherwise need to pay with using traditional heaters.
Are infrared heaters safe for health?
Yes, infrared heaters are quite safe for your health. These units emit the same radiation as a sun, so there’s really no health concern linked with infrared heaters. However, you might want to keep your distance from all sorts of heaters to ensure that you don’t burn yourself.
How long does it take for an infrared heater to work?
It takes around 30 seconds for the best infrared heaters to hit the optimal heating temperature.