How Infrared Heaters Work – Direct Heating For Close Range
Unlike most heaters, infrared heaters are not designed to heat the air around them or to warm up an entire room. Instead, they are designed to heat the body or object closest to them that registers at a lower temperature than the internal temperature of the heater. Depending upon what kind of heat you are seeking, an infrared heater might be your best option. They are extremely energy efficient, making them favorites in the green, eco-friendly world, and they are perfect for anyone who has a hard time staying warm or maintaining body temperature mid-winter because the heat is so direct. However, if you’re searching for a heater to keep your bedroom or living room warm, than an infrared heater would not be the choice best suited for the room.
While they’re extremely popular to use, they’re also somewhat confusing to understand in terms of how they work without any prior knowledge. This article will walk through the basics of how an infrared heater works and how you can use it in your life to meet your heating needs.
Basics of Infrared
The basics of an infrared heater start with infrared rays. These infrared rays are of prime importance because they are what carry the heat that then gets absorbed by you. You cannot visibly see infrared rays, as they lie just under the color red in our visible light spectrum. However, all of us are familiar with infrared rays because that’s what we’re getting when we feel heat from the sun. The biggest difference is that infrared heaters do not also produce the dangerous ultraviolet rays that the sun does.
Heat Transfer
A thermostat is triggered when you turn your heater on that starts to heat an element. As the internal chamber of the heater reaches the desired temperature, those rays are then emitted out of the heater and directly towards whatever is nearest. The heat is always transferred from the heater to the objects around it that register at a lower temperature than it does through electromagnetic radiation.
Three Types of Infrared Heating
There are three basic types of infrared heating that you will come across. Depending upon what fuel sources you prefer or have available to you, you can make your choice accordingly.
- Propane: propane infrared heaters are fueled with propane, a processed liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) that has undergone intense pressurization. It’s nontoxic and colorless and used most often in vehicles and heavy equipment. Infrared heaters powered by propane do not need electricity, which makes them ideal for outside or portable use.
- Natural gas: Natural gas is a combination of hydrocarbon gases, most usually used in cooking and heating. Infrared heaters powered by natural gas do not need electricity either.
- Electricity: Electricity is the most common type of infrared heater used for personal use in homes or offices. No gas is needed, and most run off of a standard 120V wall outlet, so it’s as easy as plugging in and feeling the warmth!
100% Energy Efficient
Infrared heaters are one of only a few heaters to be considered 100% energy efficient. They can assume this title because they take electrical energy and convert it 100% to heat within the filament.
Energy Efficiency Overall
Because the heat that gets converted is then absorbed 100% by the closest object at a lower temperature than the heater, you are able to heat only what you want to heat. There is no heat loss in warming an entire large room, it’s specific and exact. It’s nearly impossible to beat this type of efficiency in heating an object with any other type of heater.
Designer Looks
As the popularity of infrared heaters has grown from their ability to heat nearby objects so well, the variety of styles and looks has dramatically increased to meet the ever growing demands. They are now even becoming popular just for their looks alone from those who know nothing of infrared. You can find infrared heaters for nearly every use, from outside on the patio, a small space heater for your feet, gorgeous wood heaters for the living room and even electric fireplaces. There’s a look to meet almost any style or any environment, whether it’s the lobby at work or the corner of your living room.
About the Author: Article provided by Jocelyn Anne from Air & Water, as part of their initiative to provide consumers with current, relevant information on how infrared electric heaters work and where to find them.