The crucial difference between our IR panels and any other source of heating is their use of radiant heating. Let’s take a look at some key facts about radiant heat.
If you’re used to traditional electric space heaters, the idea that an electric heater could help you save money is a bit of a weird one. Electricity is expensive, and if you put the same number of watts into an IR panel as a traditional space heater, you’ll get the same amount of heat energy out. How could you ever save money this way?
The explanation lies with radiant heating.
The Basics
Convection heaters create a current of hot and cold air, warming the room around them. Hot air rises while cool air sinks, creating a cycle that results in all the air in the room becoming warm.
This process is functional, but it’s not especially fast.
Our radiant IR heaters produce waves of infrared radiation, which gets absorbed directly by objects and people in the room. This warms them up directly, and you’ll feel the effects as soon as your panel is switched on.
There’s the basic run down of the differences, now let’s get into busting some myths!
Myth 1: Radiators Create Radiant Heat
The name would imply this is true, but it’s not. Despite their name, the classic household radiator produces convection heat, moving heat energy from within the radiator out into the room in a warm air/cool air cycle.
IR heaters are the quickest and simplest way to get true radiant heating into your home.
Myth 2: Radiant Heaters Actually Leave You Cold
If you treat an IR panel like an ordinary radiator, they won’t be as effective, which may be why you occasionally hear reports of people finding them underpowered. Remember: IR panels operate with line of sight, so placing them high on your walls or ceiling is the best option. We’d recommend against placing them hidden out of sight or under windows.
Likewise, if you use a panel that’s powerful enough for the size and insulation levels of your room, you’ll quickly find the entire space feels comfortable and warm. You won’t be a warm object sitting in a cold space.
It’s also important to note that IR heaters aren’t particularly affected by drafts, because they don’t warm the air, which makes them even more efficient.
Myth 3: Radiant Heaters Are Actually Too Hot
Counter to the above myth, this one is usually mentioned by people used to infrared patio heaters. We’re all familiar with having to cluster around a patio heater and getting a little too warm for comfort!
This is because these heaters have to be much more powerful than an indoor heater, because they have to account for the total lack of insulation as well as more extreme cold temperatures. That’s why sitting too close to them for a while can get a bit uncomfortable,
Infrared panels are a lot gentler in comparison, and use a less intense form of infrared heat.
Myth 4: Radiant Heaters Are Ugly
When infrared heating was still in its early stages, IR heaters were pretty bulky. Some of them even resembled old CRT TVs, as an example, and you can still find these models on the market today.
As any technology develops, it gets more refined. This has been the case with infrared heating. Now we have stunning, compact designs that are only 22mm thick. This has even paved the way for our image print panels, meaning IR panels aren’t just ‘not ugly’, they can be incredible style statements.
Myth 5: Infrared Is Dangerous
An important fact to keep in mind: the word ‘radiation’ simply means the emission of energy in waves. It doesn’t denote that something is inherently dangerous- visible light is also a kind of radiation!
There are dangerous forms of radiation out there. UV rays are the ones that you’ll experience every day when you step out into the sun (tanning is your body turning up its defences against this, and a sign you’ve been overexposed. A sunburn is the next step along).
X-Rays you’ll experience only rarely and usually in small controlled doses- usually in a medical context. Gamma rays are the most dangerous, they’re the kind that you’re thinking of when you think of nuclear waste.
Infrared radiation is closer to visible light. It’s completely harmless, and can actually be good for your health as it improves your circulation. Our IR Panels emit only infrared radiation.
Want to learn more about radiant heating? Just give us a call on 0116 436 2250 or send us an email to sales@mirrorstone.co.uk.
Better yet, you can have a FREE Mirrorstone Heating catalogue sent direct to your door by hitting the button below, letting you read all about how infrared heating can change your home for the better.