Infrared Heating: Efficient, Modern, and Flexible Heating 

Infrared heating is a modern heating solution for the home that is becoming increasingly popular, especially in energy-efficient living concepts. Are you longing for a gentle heat source that ensures a particularly pleasant temperature? Then infrared heating might be just the right heating method for you. Infrared heat provides a pleasant feeling of well-being and, when used correctly, can be particularly energy-saving. Opt for a radiator that operates using infrared technology. In well-insulated buildings, such as modern new builds, infrared heating can be used as the primary heating system, while in other cases it serves ideally as a supplementary system. Therefore, this heating system can be used without any problems in both new and existing buildings.

Heating with Infrared Made Easy: How Does Infrared Heating Work?

Infrared heaters work differently than the heating methods commonly known today. Compared to conventional gas heating, infrared heating operates without combustion and requires no fossil fuels or complex heating technology. Infrared radiators consist of a steel heating panel that is powered by electricity. The flat panels integrate seamlessly into any living space, creating a modern and space-saving look. Infrared heaters emit infrared waves, which are below the visible spectrum. These waves are capable of causing even the smallest particles to vibrate, thus generating energy. Infrared waves are very similar to those of sunlight, which is why we humans perceive infrared heat as significantly more pleasant than conventional heating. A special feature of infrared heaters is that, unlike conventional heating systems, they don't heat the air in the room. Instead, they focus the heat on the room's surfaces and objects. The radiation warms the ceiling, floor, walls, and numerous objects, which then store the heat and slowly release it into the surrounding environment. Besides the positive effect of a significantly more comfortable indoor climate, the walls remain dry, preventing mold growth. Another advantage is that, unlike conventional heating systems, infrared heaters don't circulate the air, thus preventing the stirring up of dust.

Advantages of Infrared Heating

Infrared heaters offer numerous advantages that make them particularly attractive for modern living concepts:

• Fast Heat: The heating effect occurs immediately after switching on – without a long warm-up phase.
• Pleasant Indoor Climate: Since there is no air circulation, less dust is stirred up. This is ideal for allergy sufferers. The even heating of walls and surfaces can help reduce mold growth in living spaces.
• Low Purchase Costs: Compared to conventional heating systems, infrared panels are usually less expensive to purchase and install.
• Maintenance-Free: There are no moving parts, no burner, and no chimney – resulting in virtually no maintenance costs.
• Flexible Application: Whether wall, ceiling, mirror, or picture heater – infrared heaters can be integrated in a variety of ways.
• Quality: Infrared heaters are characterized by a very long lifespan because they operate without moving parts, resulting in minimal wear and tear.

Disadvantages of Infrared Heating

• Despite its advantages, there are also important limitations and disadvantages:
• High electricity consumption: Operation is exclusively via electricity, which can become expensive with high heating demands.
• Dependence on insulation: Efficiency depends heavily on the building's insulation. Heating costs increase significantly in poorly insulated buildings.
• Not a replacement for a complete heating system in every case: In many existing buildings, infrared heating is more suitable as supplementary heating than as the sole heating solution. Proper placement is crucial: Furniture or obstacles can impair the effectiveness of the radiation. For optimal performance, the heating panels should be positioned so that they directly radiate heat into open areas and, in particular, exterior walls.

Applications of Infrared Heating

Infrared heaters are particularly suitable for:

Bathrooms (quick additional heat; infrared radiation penetrates the walls, preventing condensation and therefore mold)

• Home office or study
• Vacation homes and garden sheds
• Well-insulated new buildings
• Targeted heating of individual rooms
• They are also frequently used in commercial settings, such as workshops or halls.

Infrared Heating vs. Conventional Heating

• Infrared heating differs fundamentally from gas or oil heating systems:
• No combustion - no local emissions
• Direct heat instead of heating the air
• Easier installation
• Higher operating costs with continuous use
• This makes it particularly attractive in combination with photovoltaic systems, as self-generated solar power can significantly reduce operating costs and thus the electricity price.

Infrared Heating vs. Heat Pump

Compared to heat pumps, infrared heating scores particularly well in terms of acquisition costs and ease of implementation. While a heat pump requires extensive planning, complex installation with an outdoor unit, piping, and often structural modifications, an infrared heating system is quick and easy to install. In many cases, simply attaching the heating panels to the wall or ceiling and connecting them to an electrical outlet is sufficient. This results in significantly lower investment costs than for a complete heat pump system. Regarding ongoing operating costs, heat pumps are generally more efficient, as they utilize ambient energy and can generate many times more heat from one kilowatt-hour of electricity. Infrared heating converts electricity directly into heat, which can result in higher operating costs or heating bills if the system is used continuously at full capacity. However, it also offers advantages such as zoned heating, rapid heat generation without a warm-up time, and the ability to heat individual rooms. This makes it a particularly economical solution in well-insulated buildings, for rooms that are rarely used, or as a supplement to existing heating systems.

Choosing the Perfect Heating Output

The correct heating output of an infrared heater, or rather the required heat output of a room, is crucial for efficiency and comfort. Output is generally specified in watts and should always be appropriate for the room size, insulation, number of exterior walls, and intended use. As a rough guideline: Well-insulated new buildings require approximately 50-70 watts per square meter, while older or poorly insulated buildings should plan for 80-120 watts per square meter.

For small rooms such as guest bathrooms or storage rooms, infrared heaters with 300-500 watts are often sufficient. Bathrooms, depending on their size, usually require models in the 500-900 watt range, especially if rapid heating is desired. Living rooms and bedrooms of 10-20 square meters are typically equipped with heating panels between 600 and 1200 watts, depending on insulation and ceiling height. For larger rooms such as living rooms of 25 square meters or more, multiple panels or more powerful units with 1200-2000 watts can be beneficial to ensure even heat distribution.

It's not just the wattage that's important, but also the correct placement of the heating element. Infrared heaters should be mounted so that the heat radiation reaches unobstructed surfaces as much as possible. Furniture or curtains in the radiation field can significantly reduce efficiency. Therefore, when planning, not only the room size but also the room layout is a crucial factor for optimal heating performance.

Controlling infrared heaters with a thermostat

Infrared heaters can be very effectively controlled via a thermostat, allowing the desired room temperature to be maintained at a constant level. This increases living comfort and simultaneously helps to use energy more efficiently and reduce electricity costs.

Many models already have integrated thermostats or can be combined with external room thermostats. Digital or smart versions are particularly practical, allowing you to program heating times or control the devices.

This prevents rooms from being unnecessarily overheated, while the infrared heater's fast response time ensures a pleasantly even warmth.

A thermostat makes using the heaters even more convenient. The desired temperature can be precisely set using the thermostat. A thermostat with smart home technology offers further advantages. Using a suitable device such as a smartphone, tablet, or PC, the temperature emitted by the infrared heater can be controlled from anywhere. Especially if you are frequently away from home, you can set your desired room temperature and arrive back feeling completely comfortable.

Infrared heaters that are powered via a wall socket are usually plug-in thermostats. In this case, the thermostat is installed between the plug, the infrared heater, and the wall socket. This way, the unit is directly powered and acts as a pass-through outlet. The thermostat typically offers various settings for effective use.

How does infrared heat work?

As mentioned earlier, infrared heaters don't heat the air, but rather the room's surface and the objects within it. Therefore, it's important that the heat emitted by the heater can penetrate the room effectively. However, the distance between the infrared heater and the nearest wall or piece of furniture shouldn't be too great – a maximum distance of about 4 meters is recommended. Infrared radiation from glass surfaces should also be avoided, as these materials are not very heat-retaining due to their density. In this case, a significant amount of heat would be lost. Furthermore, it's important to note that a single infrared heater cannot heat large rooms on its own. Generally speaking, wood, plaster, and parquet flooring are considered good heat insulators. Glass, PVC, and other plastics are less suitable. In addition to its warming effect, infrared radiation also has other effects on the body. It promotes blood circulation, stimulates metabolism, and helps eliminate toxins. People with rheumatism or asthma, in particular, find the air circulation in conventional heating systems especially unpleasant, while the constant humidity of infrared heaters is particularly comfortable. Allergy sufferers also benefit from the lack of air circulation, as mold spores, bacteria, house dust, and pollen are not stirred up.

In summary:

• It doesn't primarily heat the air
• Heat is transferred directly to objects
• These objects store the heat and release it slowly
• This creates a consistent and comfortable indoor climate

Flexible heat as needed

A key advantage of infrared heaters is their flexible heat output. Instead of continuously heating entire buildings or heating circuits, heat can be directed precisely where it is needed. This allows individual rooms or zones to be controlled independently – ideal for varying usage patterns in everyday life. The infrared heater reacts immediately after being switched on and delivers pleasant radiant heat without any warm-up time. The targeted emission of radiant heat allows for efficient heating of specific areas. For example, bathrooms can be heated only in the mornings and evenings, or home offices exclusively during working hours. This demand-based approach not only ensures high comfort but also helps to use energy efficiently and avoid unnecessary consumption.

Installation: Where should you place an infrared heater?

The special thing about an electric heater is that it can be placed almost anywhere – even retrofitted without any complications. Whether on the ceiling, on the wall, or as a freestanding unit in the middle of the room: the heating elements can radiate pleasant warmth from anywhere. There are also many different options for the appearance of an infrared heater. Whether a stylish picture heater for the bedroom wall, a ceiling heater for the living room, or a portable and adjustable freestanding model: your personal requirements can most likely be met by the possibilities offered by an infrared heater. Installation is incredibly simple: place the wall heater near an electrical outlet, switch it on, and the electric heater will immediately take care of the desired room temperature.

Various Types of Infrared Heaters

Infrared heaters are no longer just simple heating panels. Today, they are available in numerous designs and functional variations that can be perfectly integrated into different interior styles and applications.

Classic Infrared Panels

The most well-known type is the flat heating panel for walls or ceilings. These models are particularly eye-catching, efficient, and available in many sizes. They are ideal for living rooms, offices, or bedrooms.

Mirror Infrared Heaters

A particularly popular option in bathrooms is the mirror heater. It combines functionality and design: While the mirror doesn't fog up, it simultaneously provides pleasant warmth in the room. This makes it especially practical in damp rooms.

Picture and Designer Heaters

Infrared heaters can also be designed as decorative elements. With so-called picture heaters, the heating surface is printed with motifs, individual photos, or artistic designs. This makes the heater a visual highlight in the room and blends harmoniously into the decor.

Chalkboard and Writing Heaters

 Chalkboard infrared heaters offer a creative solution; they can be written on with circles or special markers. They are particularly suitable for kitchens, hallways, or children's rooms, combining warmth with everyday functionality.

Ceiling Heaters

Ceiling-mounted infrared heaters are especially efficient because the heat is radiated evenly into the room from above. This option is ideal when wall space is limited.

Infrared Heating from Redwell

Picture heaters are popular for bathrooms, bedrooms, and other living areas. From a wide selection of different motifs, you can choose a heater that matches your personal interior design style. Picture heaters, in particular, are very popular. Depending on the interior design style, a picture heater can be individually adapted to the respective decorative elements. Many motifs for your wall heater are waiting to be discovered and spread pleasant warmth in your home. The surface of the frameless picture is always printed with sheet steel. The smallest heater in this series measures 706 x 306 mm. With 250 watts and a voltage of 230 volts, it is ideal for any home. The heating elements are also available in larger models – up to a size of 2006 x 806 mm. In this size, the infrared heaters require 1600 watts.

Whole-House Warmth: Infrared Heating as the Main Heating System

Redwell has calculated this as an example, examining a single-family home with several rooms. For a living/dining room, bedroom, two children's rooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, a guest bathroom, and a hallway, a heating requirement of 6400 watts was calculated, which, as of April 1, 2016, corresponded to an investment of approximately €8000 for infrared heating systems (depending on the model, +/- 10%). This example calculation serves only as a guideline. The costs depend on various factors, such as location, building construction, and desired features. Purchasing a heat pump, a gas or even an oil heating system with radiators or heating elements is considerably more expensive. Redwell even went so far as to compare the energy consumption of nine infrared heaters with that of an oil heating system. While the oil heating system consumed approximately 3,000 liters of oil in 2011 (costing around €2,870), the electricity costs for the nine infrared heaters, without any additional heating, amounted to €1,700 in 2012. The consumer who switched from oil to infrared heaters thus achieved annual savings of €1,170, resulting in a return on investment of about four years. As this example demonstrates, it's definitely worth considering switching from traditional oil heating to infrared heating. We offer the perfect heating solution for your bathroom or living room. An infrared heating panel provides pleasant and healthy warmth. Do something good for yourself and your health! We are happy to advise you and help you find the right heater.

Buy infrared heating in the b-cube online shop

Infrared heating is particularly worthwhile for anyone looking for a flexible, maintenance-free, and readily available heating solution that is also affordable. It is ideally suited for well-insulated buildings, modern new builds, individual living areas, or as a supplement to existing heating systems. It can also be particularly attractive in combination with a photovoltaic system, as self-generated electricity can be used efficiently for heating. Compared to conventional gas heating, infrared heating offers a simple, flexible, and low-maintenance alternative for modern living concepts. In our online shop, you will find a wide selection of modern infrared heaters in various designs from the Redwell brand, all with a 10-year manufacturer's warranty. These include classic heating panels, mirror heaters, picture and designer heaters, as well as practical table-top versions and ceiling-mounted heaters. The WE-Line and Redwell Middleround infrared heaters are especially popular. This ensures that the right solution can be found for almost any living space and interior design style – whether for a house, a new build, or individual rooms.