Understanding how infrared heating works will help you get a better understanding of what it can do for you. Here’s our quick and simple guide to the brass tacks of IR heating.
What Is Infrared?
Infrared is simply a type of electromagnetic energy that travels in waves at the speed of light. That might sound like a lot, but bear in mind that visible light is also a type of electromagnetic energy that behaves in much the same way.
Infrared radiation is totally natural- it’s the exact same kind of heat we feel from the Sun. The big difference is that our infrared panels don’t emit any UV rays- which are the harmful aspect of sunlight.
So How Do The Panels Work?
It’s pretty simple. IR panels generate infrared waves and send them out into the room. These waves fly around until they hit an object or a person. The thing they hit will absorb some of the heat energy the waves are carrying, and then re-emit those waves back into the room.
This process repeats itself until the wave runs out of energy, which causes the whole space to feel warm. However, it is the objects and people who will feel the most heat.
Infrared Vs Convection
Convection heating is the principle under which most traditional heaters operate. To sum it up, warm air rises, while cool air sinks. This pattern will cause air in a space to move in a current. This will slowly warm up an entire room.
The way IR heaters work described above is called radiant heating. This means people and objects get warmed up directly instead of the air. This makes for a more energy efficient, more comfortable and safer way to heat our homes.
Swapping To Infrared Heating
While electric heating can be more expensive than gas, infrared heating can save you a lot of money. Since they heat objects rather than the air, IR heaters are more effective at getting the heat they generate exactly where it needs to be.
All electric heaters are 100% efficient, because they all turn every watt they receive into heat energy. Radiant IR heaters are just particularly good at directing that warmth to you instead of letting it dissipate into the air around you.
Unlike other kinds of heating, IR panels require zero maintenance, as there aren’t any moving parts that can fail. That means you won’t ever have to stress about them suddenly letting you down during a cold snap, or unexpected repair bills.
IR panels are also a lot more flexible compared to other heaters. Their slender design means they can be mounted on walls and ceilings, giving you a lot more freedom to design your space on your terms.
If you think IR heating could be for you, then please feel free to get in touch with us on 0116 436 2250, or send us an email to sales@mirrorstone.co.uk.
You can also order a free Mirrorstone Heating catalogue too, which tells you everything you need to know about infrared and our whole product range. Simply hit the button below, fill out the form and we’ll have one sent out direct to your door.