How do Infrared Heaters Work?

You’ve made the jump and invested in an infrared heater that has efficiently managed to heat your home and cut down on your electricity bill – but have you ever wondered how it manages to work so quickly and efficiently? The answer is actually fairly simple – and extremely intriguing. You may never have guessed it, but your infrared heater actually warms you up by harnessing the energy of the sun.

My Heater Doesn’t Really Use The Sun’s Energy Does it?

Well…not exactly. But it was inspired by using the same energy delivery system that the sun uses. It works like this: The sun puts off a combination of different energies and lights as it burns in the sky and one of those energies is called infrared rays. These rays carry a great deal of energy with them and are an electromagnetic form of radiation. Don’t be startled by the word ‘radiation’ though – it is the same energy that helps to create the natural light that we are able to see with and is completely harmless.

This energy travels throughout space and warms up every object in its path. These objects are warmed up by absorbing energy from the infrared rays. Once the object has absorbed enough energy, it puts off heat of its own which spreads to the environment around it and creates warmth.

This same principle applies to an infrared space heater that you use in your home. When you turn the heater on, it’s actually emitting a form of light that is unable to be detected by the human eye. The light energy travels throughout your home, transferring energy to objects (like you, your floors, and your furniture) until everything in your home is warm. This energy eventually builds up until all the objects in your home are putting off their own heat and you’ve created a warm and cozy environment capable of warding off the winter wind.

So How is This Different From Other Heating Options?

You may not realize it, but traditional heaters don’t work nearly as effectively as infrared heaters – click here to read our top guide. Traditional heaters work by heating up the air around them and then letting the air spread to the surrounding objects and rooms. However, there are a few problems with this. The first is that heat transmitted by air rises. This means that any warmth generated by a traditional heater will go to your ceiling before it reaches the rest of the room.

In addition to this, you’ll also be subject to dry and humid air because the traditional heater tends to suck up all the moisture in the air and make things uncomfortable and stuffy. In short? Using an infrared heater will solve many issues that traditional heating options can’t touch, and will create an environment that you and your family will be comfortable in.