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.
The principles of radiant and infrared are similar but the difference really lies in the temperature. The shorter the electromagnetic wave length the higher the heat source.
Potential Cons of Infrared Heating
One of the biggest concerns is that this type of heating may not provide enough warmth for homes with high ceilings. This means supplementary heat sources may be required to supplement the infrared heaters, making it less cost-effective than originally anticipated.
Infrared heaters are particularly well-suited for enclosed indoor spaces with little airflow, like garages. Radiant heaters, in contrast, are more effective in rooms with regular airflow as they heat the air, facilitating even distribution of warmth throughout the space.
Furnace and Boiler Systems
The U.S. Energy Department says furnaces and boilers are the most common heating systems in the country. According to David, they're also the most economical – at least those powered by natural gas. “Natural gas is still the least costly form of energy in most of the country,” David says.
That means it has the potential to burn, and exposure to near infrared has been found to burn the retinas of the eyes. Far-infrared, by contrast, is completely safe. It's known as the 'light of life' – we said earlier that 49% of the light from the sun is infrared.
But don't worry, infrared heaters are incredibly efficient. They're designed to keep a space warm while using as little electricity as possible.
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.
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.
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.
Results: Detrimental effects such as thermal burns, photocarcinogenesis, and photoaging have been reported, though evidence suggests that these may be due to the thermal effects produced secondary to IR exposure rather than the isolated effect of IR.
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.
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.
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.
So the 1500 watt will usually heat up to 150 square feet.
Infrared heaters aren't just effective at heating—they're also budget-friendly. Since they use 30-40% less energy than traditional heaters, you'll see the difference in your electric bill.
Do not use if pregnant, have serious inflammation, a fever, a communicable disease, acute bleeding, or intoxicated.
Excessive exposure can result in damage or even burns. In general, thermal burden can lead to disturbances in the heat balance of the entire organism. The eyes are particularly sensitive to thermal effects. Suitable protective goggles can protect the eyes against excessive exposure to infrared radiation.
This shows natural gas is the cheapest type of heating to run and heating oil is the most expensive way to heat a home.
The majority of North American households depend on a central furnace to provide heat. A furnace works by blowing heated air through ducts that deliver the warm air to rooms throughout the house via air registers or grills. This type of heating system is called a ducted warm-air or forced warm-air distribution system.
There are two types of heat pumps capable of heating homes across the State: geothermal (ground source) heat pumps, which extract heat from the ground during cold weather, and cold-climate air source heat pumps, which extract heat from the air outside and distribute it inside the home.