How do I know if my heater is infrared?

Author: Rosella Adams  |  Last update: Thursday, October 9, 2025

Surface temperature An infrared panel heater should have a surface temperate of at least 80-90degrees so that it can be effective. If the surface temperature is only 40-50degrees, it's probably not a real infrared heater.

How can you tell if something is infrared?

Though we cannot see infrared light, we can still use it. For example, a TV remote control uses infrared light to change the channels. You can use a digital camera to detect its presence. Aim a remote at a smartphone camera and press a button; you may see a light on your camera screen.

Are all electric heaters infrared?

Infrared heaters are also classified as electric heaters as they are also powered by electricity. This, however, is all they have in common. Most electric heaters work with convection and infrared heaters with radiant heat. Using real examples, we will show you how the various electric heaters compare.

What does infrared heat look like?

You might remember that infrared light isn't visible because it's beyond the spectrum we can see. That's the gist of an infrared heater: The heat is a product of light that is invisible to our eyes.

What makes an infrared heater?

An infrared heater or heat lamp is a heating appliance containing a high-temperature emitter that transfers energy to a cooler object through electromagnetic radiation. Depending on the temperature of the emitter, the wavelength of the peak of the infrared radiation ranges from 750 nm to 1 mm.

How to Check Bulbs in Infrared Heater

Why is infrared heating not popular?

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.

Are infrared heaters safe to leave on overnight?

The good news is that modern infrared heaters are very safe to use even when left unattended during the night, even while you are sleeping.

What is an example of infrared?

The heat that we feel from sunlight, a fire, a radiator or a warm sidewalk is infrared. The temperature-sensitive nerve endings in our skin can detect the difference between inside body temperature and outside skin temperature.

Are infrared heaters safe indoors?

Yes, infrared heating is generally considered safe for both residential and commercial use. Far-infrared (FIR) heaters emit a gentle heat that does not cause burns or other health risks.

Do infrared heaters raise your electric bill?

But don't worry, infrared heaters are incredibly efficient. They're designed to keep a space warm while using as little electricity as possible. This makes them much cheaper to run than central heating, space heating, and air source heat pumps.

What is the difference between infrared and traditional heaters?

The main difference between infrared heating and space heating is that space heaters heat the air within a space, whereas infrared heaters heat objects, surfaces and people directly rather than the air.

Is a quartz heater the same as an infrared heater?

Actually, they are both infrared heaters, except quartz heaters emit higher temperatures with resistance wire inside a quartz tube. A quartz heater can reach the temperature for which it is designed in less than a second; however, this time and temperature can be hard to control.

How to tell if a heater is infrared?

How to distinguish real infrared heating panels from other panel heaters
  1. Wattage density. A real infrared heating panel will be around 1000-1200W per square meter of the heater surface. ...
  2. Surface temperature. ...
  3. Insulation level. ...
  4. Thickness.

What color does infrared look like?

Infrared radiation doesn't have a colour because our eyes aren't evolved to see it.

What is an example of infrared heating?

Here are a few examples: Quartz Heat Lamps – Quartz heat lamps were developed by General Electric™ in the 1950s. They produce intense heat with a temperature above 2,732 °F (1,500 °C) and emit medium- to short-infrared waves. They heat surrounding bodies quickly.

What devices are infrared?

More and more infrared-systems are also used for heating purposes in form of panels or foils, fixed to the walls or to the ceiling. Other applications are infrared cameras, night vision devices, infrared remote controls and infrared ports for computers.

What is an example of infrared appliances?

Answer:
  • electrical heaters.
  • short-range communications like remote controls.
  • optical fibres.
  • security systems.
  • thermal imaging cameras which detect people in the dark.

Can you leave infrared heater on all the time?

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.

Do electric heaters use infrared?

The Infrared Principle

Infrared electric heaters emit thermal radiation through infrared waves. The infrared waves act as radiant heat, which will warm objects they come into contact with. In a similar way to how the sun works.

What are common problems with infrared heaters?

Infrared Outdoor Heater Not Blowing Hot Air? Let's Dive In!
  • Common reasons why an infrared heater may not blow hot air. ...
  • Insufficient power supply. ...
  • Malfunctioning thermostat. ...
  • Blocked or dirty heating elements. ...
  • Issues with the fan or air flow. ...
  • Problems with the heating element itself.

Does an infrared heater use a lot of electricity?

Let us put your mind at ease – infrared heaters are incredibly efficient. In fact, they're designed to use as little energy as possible while still keeping your space comfortable.

What is the safest heater to leave on overnight?

Oil filled radiator space heaters are some of the safest on the market. 1500W is all the juice an outlet will provide (Roughly 5,000 btus).

What are the side effects of infrared heating?

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).

Previous article
How long does a fan blower motor last?
Next article
Why do I always fall asleep in the car as a passenger?