Not all far-infrared heating is created equal However, these panels become extremely hot to the touch when they're in operation – which makes the dangerous if children, elderly people or anyone else accidentally fall against them.
Infrared panels operate most effectively at surface temperatures of around 90 ˚C. The panels will be hot to the touch but you will not burn from simply brushing against the surface. The panels should never reach temperatures of 100 ˚C or beyond.
A: As with all types of heater, the surface of an Infrared Panel Heater becomes hot during operation. This temperature is around 70° to 90°C, so it isn't hot enough to actually burn anyone touching the panel's surface, but sufficiently hot to give them a jolt of surprise.
Everything You Need: This infrared heating pad comes with a hand-held temperature controller, so you can customize your experience. The heating pad gets up to 149 degrees Fahrenheit and conforms to your body for targeted relaxation.
Infrared is radiated heat: the feeling of warmth from the sun on your face; the heat from a coal fire, or a toaster. It is even the same form of heat emitted by your own body.
Runs on expensive electricity – Infrared panels use electricity, which is currently more expensive than gas (from 1st January 2025 to 31st March, costs will be 24.86p/kWh vs. 6.34p/kWh respectively). While their efficiency can lower energy bills, electricity prices may still impact overall savings.
The precise surface temperature of panels can vary depending on the specific product, but it's safe to say they'll feel hot to touch. However, because IR panels have lower 'watt densities' than equivalent heaters, you won't burn yourself from quick touches and glances by.
Infrared grills generate substantially greater temperatures than conventional gas burners. It is not uncommon for infrared burners to achieve temperatures above 700°F.
To give you the quick answer, the majority of good infrared heating panels are designed with safety and efficiency in mind, allowing them to be left on throughout the day without major safety issues or costing you a small fortune.
In the bedroom, it's better to place a panel on the wall opposite your bed, or to the side, rather than immediately behind your head. This will allow the infrared heat to disperse across your whole bed and gently warm you.
The upfront cost of installing infrared heating can also be a deterrent for some homeowners. While infrared heating panels are competitively priced when compared to installing boilers or central heating systems, people may still see them as more expensive than traditional convection heaters or electric radiators.
Although radiant heaters do get very hot to the touch, when they heat up infrared light leaves the heater and transfers to the cooler objects around it, like how the sun warms the earth.
Infrared panels perform much better when either ceiling mounted or mounted at picture level on walls. The other thing to be aware of is the surface temperature. Herschel infrared heating panels have surface temperatures of around 85-100C.
Near IR can be harmful to the eyes because it penetrates as far as the cornea (Voke, 1999). Uncontrolled, frequent, or long-term exposure to Near Infrared can also cause thermal burns and ageing effects such as “Bakers Arms” or “Glassblowers Face” (Cho & others, 2009).
2. Myth: Infrared Panels Overheat and Cause Fires. Fact: High-quality infrared heaters and panels are equipped with safety features such as temperature regulators, overheat protection, and automatic shut-off systems to prevent overheating.
Potential health issues
Indeed, if you sit too close to an infrared heater, you can experience blotchy skin, so there is damage occurring at a cellular level. Also, if you overheat, you sweat. While this isn't an issue with convector heaters that gently heat and circulate the air, it is a problem with infrared heat.
Infrared panels are suitable for all-day heating.
Using far infrared, they deliver a deeply soothing heat that penetrates walls and is absorbed and radiated back by the people, surfaces, and objects in its path.
Fire Hazard: One of the foremost concerns surrounding infrared heaters is the risk of fire hazards. Improper usage, flammable materials placed too close to the heater, or malfunctioning components can all lead to catastrophic consequences, posing a significant danger to life and property.
Even though infrared radiation cannot be seen by the human eye, it can definitely be felt. Infrared energy is felt as heat because it interacts with molecules by exciting them, causing them to move faster which increases the internal temperature of the object absorbing the infrared energy.
The deeper heat provided by a infrared heating pad is typically no more than 112 degrees at the skin's surface, thereby reducing any chance of skin burns, yet FIR will also provide longer lasting relief, many times up to six hours relief after the end of treatment.
We understand why people look at infrared heating—it sounds energy efficient. But in reality, infrared heaters need to stay on longer to maintain warmth, and because they only heat what they directly touch, they often end up using more energy than expected.
Vents Feel Hot: Your furnace might feel warm to the touch, but your vents should not. Hot vents indicate improper venting. With no place for the heat to go, the furnace's warmth will linger around the unit and vents and cause overheating.
No combustion or open flames: Unlike many heating systems, infrared heaters don't burn fuel in the open air. This means they don't produce carbon monoxide or other harmful gases as a by-product.