What is the difference between fan forced and infrared heaters?

Author: Dakota Romaguera  |  Last update: Tuesday, July 29, 2025

While fan-forced heating can successfully heat up to 400 square feet, infrared heaters are capable of heating up to 1,000 square feet. Also, because infrared isn't directional, it more evenly heats the entirety of a room, creating an ideal solution to warm the rooms you use most.

Which is better fan forced or infrared heaters?

Infrared heaters will give you an instantaneous sensation of heat on your skin as long as you stay in range of the bulbs or element. Fan forced heaters raise the temperature of the air in the room so it will take longer to feel the heat. You are restricted to the line of sight that radiant heat requires.

Is infrared heat better than forced-air?

The ability to effectively heat the desired area by using infrared heaters also means more energy efficiency. This type of focused heating means less heat lost therefore more energy saving. More comfortable temperature levels can be achieved with a lower thermostat setting rather than with a forced-air system.

What is the main disadvantage to infrared?

IR-A radiation with its excessive heat can cause irreversible damage (such as burns) to the retina and cloud the lens, which can lead to a cataract (also known as glassblower's cataract or infrared cataract). IR-B radiation can damage the blood vessels down to the fatty tissue.

Are infrared heaters cheaper to run than fan heaters?

Radiant-based heater types seen in the above examples (Bar fire, storage and Herschel Infrared panel) are always cheaper to run than any unit using convection as their heat transfer method – so long as proper controls are also used.

Ceramic Heater vs Infrared Heater - Which is BETTER for YOU?

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 cheapest room heater to operate?

Conclusion. So, after looking at the different types of electric heaters available, due to its lower power-output, halogen heaters are the cheapest electric heaters to run. Shop our range of Halogen Heaters here .

Why are infrared heaters not popular?

In older, draughty homes, infrared panels alone may not be enough to keep rooms warm. Rooms will feel nice and comfortable when they are on, but without good insulation, the room temperature will quickly cool down when the panels are switched off. Infrared heating works best in modern, highly insulated buildings.

Can I leave the 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.

What are the negative 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).

Are ceramic heaters better than infrared heaters?

Quartz infrared heaters offer very fast heat-up and cool down times. Ceramic heaters, however, require more time to heat circulating air and warm up the room via convection. Quartz heaters can be used to create quieter heating equipment as in most cases air movement from noisy convection blowers is not needed.

What type of infrared is best?

Far infrared energy has the longest wavelength of the infrared spectrum. This allows it to penetrate the body most deeply, affecting soft tissue and the cellular activity of those tissues. This is the type of infrared that is most associated with infrared saunas.

What infrared heater puts out the most heat?

A: The 1500W model that puts out the most heat is the DR-999.

Are fan forced heaters better?

Because fan-forced heaters use a fan to move the heated air, they are able to heat a room quickly and take up less space than convection heaters. This makes them ideal for entryways, bathrooms, and utility spaces where short bursts of heat are needed and space is usually at a premium.

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.

How many years do infrared heaters last?

Lifespan of infrared panels vs traditional heating

When considering heating options, longevity is a crucial factor. Infrared panels are known for their durability and should last around 20 years, but depending on the quality of the panel, this could be anywhere from 10 to 30 years.

What is the safest heater to leave on overnight?

What is the safest heater to leave on overnight? While it's not recommended to leave any space heater on if you're not monitoring it, oil-filled, radiant space heaters are considered safer than ceramic convection (hot air) types, according to Roberson. Both of these options are safer than open-coil heaters.

What are two disadvantages of infrared?

Disadvantages of Infrared sensor :
  • Infrared frequencies are influenced by hard articles (for example dividers, entryways), smoke, dust, haze, daylight and so on Thus it doesn't work through dividers or entryways.
  • Infrared waves at high force can harm eyes.

Where is the best place to put an infrared heater?

High up on the wall or ceiling are the best locations for infrared panels.

Is an infrared heater better than a fan heater?

Infrared heaters are ideal for large or open-plan areas where traditional convection heaters might struggle to provide consistent warmth. Their ability to heat objects and people directly ensures that even spacious rooms receive ample warmth without relying on air circulation.

Which type of heater uses the least electricity?

Infrared heaters are the most efficient type of heater available. They use very little electricity to generate heat, and they provide a lot of heat for their size. Infrared heaters are also very safe to use, as they do not emit any harmful radiation. Oil-filled heaters are another type of heater that is very efficient.

What is the cheapest heater for electric bill?

Halogen Heaters

This type of heat is ideal if you need to quickly warm up an area but won't be as effective in heating an entire room evenly. Halogen heaters are among the most cost-effective electric heater options, with a typical power output of 1200W.

What type of heater heats a room the fastest?

Convection heaters come in a variety of sizes and heat up quickly, making them a good option for warming up a room fast. These heaters use different types of heating elements internally, such as ceramic, to heat the air around them.

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