How Do Infrared Heaters Work? The Science Behind How They Heat Up Your Home

It is more important than ever to find ways to save money on our energy bills in this day and age.

Heating your home can be a considerable expense, especially during winter.

Infrared heaters are the solution you’ve been looking for. Infrared heaters use less energy than traditional heating methods, and they provide instant warmth that will keep you comfortable all winter long. And they come with a lot of health benefits.

But how do infrared heaters work? If this is the question that brings you here, you have come to the right place.

Infrared heaters work by emitting long-wave radiation, part of the electromagnetic spectrum. This type of radiation can penetrate the objects in front of it, warming them up. The object then emits its own infrared radiation, which heats up the surrounding area.

In the rest of this article, we’ll take a closer look at how infrared heating works and the science behind how it warms up your home, plus the health benefits (backed by research).

But, before we jump into understanding the working of infrared heaters, let’s quickly understand what infrared heating is.

What is Infrared Radiation?

Infrared light, or infrared waves, are a type of electromagnetic radiation. The word “infra” is derived from Latin, meaning “below” and hence infrared meaning below red, as that’s where this spectrum of waves lies.

Infrared radiation has a longer wavelength than visible light and is invisible to the human eye.

When this invisible light hits an object, it is absorbed and turned into heat. It is the direct transfer of heat energy from the infrared heater to anything the radiation hits.

This is why you feel instant warmth when standing in front of an infrared heater.

All objects emit infrared radiation based on their temperature. The hotter an object is, the more infrared rays it emits.

How Do Infrared Heaters Work?

The science behind infrared heating is quite simple. Once an infrared heater is turned on, the heating element converts electric energy into radiant heat and begins emitting the same type of infrared waves that the sun emits. The rays only come into contact with objects and materials in the room that are in sight of the heater and heat them. That’s how infrared heaters work and heat a room.

As I mentioned above, Infrared belongs to the electromagnetic spectrum and is a type of invisible light that is emitted by hot objects.

The sun, for example, emits large amounts of infrared radiation. This type of radiation is what makes it possible for us to feel its heat from such a great distance.

Television screens also emit infrared waves, which is why they can be so warm to the touch. Even your own body emits invisible infrared rays (source).

People and animals in the room feel the heat from these objects and the infrared heater itself.

Is Infrared Heating Safe?

Yes, infrared heating is entirely safe. This is because the heat produced by infrared heaters is the same type of heat that we receive from the sun.

In fact, the sun is the largest infrared heater in the entire solar system.

The sun emits electromagnetic energy in the form of visible light and invisible heat rays called IR radiation (infrared). This type of radiation is what infrared heaters use to generate heat, and they are completely safe.

When you stand in the sun, your skin feels warm because infrared radiation from the sun is heating up your skin.

The harmful bit in the sun’s rays is ultraviolet (UV) radiation, a type of electromagnetic radiation harmful to the skin and can cause cancer. Infrared heaters do not emit ultraviolet light.

You’ll be surprised that it’s the infrared radiation at work for warming things up when the sun isn’t shining! For example, when you feel the warmth of a campfire on a cold night, that’s infrared radiation warming you up.

Infrared radiation is also known to be beneficial to your health, so you can feel good about using one of these heaters in your home. You don’t have to worry about being exposed to any harmful radiation. These heaters are safe for both adults and children.

Curious to find out more information about the safety of infrared heating? Check out: Are infrared heaters safe?

Do Infrared Heaters Really Work?

Yes, infrared heaters really work and deliver instant warmth to a room. I can confirm that from my experience of using a 700 Watt far infrared heating panel to warm up a 14m2 outhouse room.

Infrared heaters emit rays of light called electromagnetic radiation that heats up objects in their path. When your body absorbs this type of energy, it generates heat which is why it feels warmer after using one of these heaters.

The best thing about them is that they are energy efficient and can save you money on heating bills in the long run.

Depending on your requirement and the area you want to heat, you can choose from far-infrared or near-infrared devices.

What Are The Benefits Of Infrared Heaters?

If you’re looking for an energy efficient heater that will save you money on your energy bill, then infrared heating is the way to go. Not only do they use less energy to heat up a room, but they also evenly distribute the heat so that there are no cold spots.

Another benefit of infrared heaters is that they are much safer than other heaters. Since they only emit light and not fumes, there is no risk of fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. They are also very quiet, so you won’t even know they’re on.

Want to know more about the benefits of infrared heaters? Check: Pros and Cons of Infrared Heaters

Infrared Heaters vs Other Heating Systems

So what makes infrared heaters any different from other heating systems?

They work by heating objects and people directly instead of the air around them. This results in quicker heat transmission than regular space heaters that rely on convection currents to distribute warm air throughout your home or office building’s rooms.

Unlike other heating systems, infrared heaters do not dry out the air or create drafts.

Final Thoughts: How does Infrared Heater Work?

So there you have it.

I hope this guide helped you understand how infrared heaters work, the underlying concept, and the science behind it.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask in the comments below, and I will be more than happy to answer.

As always, stay safe and healthy!

FAQs about How Infrared Heaters Work

What are infrared heaters?

Infrared heaters are heaters that emit infrared radiation to create heat. Infrared radiation is a light invisible to the human eye. It’s the same type of light emitted by the sun and even your body.

How do infrared heaters heat a room?

Infrared heaters heat a room by converting electricity directly into radiant heat by emitting infrared radiation. The IR waves then warm up people, objects and materials in the room.

Do infrared heating systems really work?

The answer is a resounding yes. I’ve experienced the benefits of using an infrared heating panel in my own home and can attest to its effectiveness.

Are electric infrared heaters cost-efficient?

Yes, electric infrared heaters are very cost-efficient. They use less energy to heat a room than other heating systems and can save you money on your energy bill in the long run.

How well do infrared heaters work in a garage?

It depends on the size of your garage and how well insulated it is. If your garage is oversized and has poor insulation, you might need more than one infrared heater strategically placed to get the best results. However, if your garage is small and well insulated, an infrared heater can work very well to warm up the space.