Why would you want infrared panels?

Heating with an infrared panel is a very efficient way of heating. Infrared heating can therefore be a good alternative to the traditional central heating system. Infrared panels are very efficient, give off heat very quickly after starting up and are easy to install. The best infrared panels are made of aluminum. Do you want to know everything about infrared panels and which ones are best for your situation? Then read this article and find out whether an infrared panel is the best solution in all cases.​​

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Convection or infrared​

Convection is the traditional way of heating. This is done with radiators. Convection is still the most used in homes. Infrared can be seen as a new variant to heat the home. This way of heating uses radiation energy. There is a big difference between convection and infrared heating systems. These differences are explained below.

Convection
In convection, the air is heated. Warm air rises naturally. When the air cools, it descends naturally. The descended air is reheated by the heater.

Infra-red

Infrared heating works via radiant heat. This method of heating heats objects in a room. The further you go from the radiation, the colder it will feel. Which infrared is best for you depends on the situation.

The two heating principles we discussed above are shown below:​

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Infrared heating bathroom

If you want to install infrared heating in wet areas such as the bathroom, you can choose from various options. You have infrared panels for the wall, against the ceiling, as a mirror version or as a towel heater.

Please note: The infrared heating in the bathroom must (just like any electrical appliance in a wet area!) meet the minimum IP protection rating of IP54 or higher. This is important because there is always a very high chance of moisture in the bathroom. Of course, this moisture is not that bad when brushing your teeth, but when showering (even if it is very short) the air does become very humid.

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Features of high-quality infrared panels

Good quality infrared panels can be recognized by the following characteristics:

• A minimum surface temperature of 90 °C.

• Sufficient and good insulation on the back of the panel.

Minimum surface temperature of 90 °C
The infrared panels must have a minimum surface temperature of 90 °C. From a surface temperature of 90 °C you may only call a panel a real infrared panel. This has to do with the infrared radiation, which only comes into being from this temperature.

Good insulation at the back

With an infrared panel it is really very important that all heat leaves the front of the panel. This is achieved by good insulation on the back of the panels. If there is no good insulation on the back of a panel, this will of course be at the expense of the efficiency!

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Benefits of infrared heating

Infrared panels (radiation) have a number of advantages over heating by means of radiators (convection), these are described below:

• The panel heats up very quickly
  The infrared panel takes very little time to heat up

• Infrared heating is much more efficient in use
  When using infrared heating, no energy is lost to unnecessary heating of the air in the house. The infrared panel mainly heats the area directly under or next to the heating.

• Infrared heating creates less draught
  By using infrared, an object or person standing directly in front of it is heated. The air in the house is not heated. Because the air is not heated, it does not circulate, which is the case with a normal radiator. Because this does not circulate, draught plays a less important role.

• Infrared heating creates less dry air
  The air does not become dry due to infrared heating, unlike the convection air from radiators.
  This is of course ultimately better for the respiratory tract and therefore your health.

• There will be less condensation and mold formation
  An infrared panel prevents mold in the bathroom. This is because the moist air is heated and less condensation is created.

• The stylish design adds something to your interior
  An infrared panel ensures that it fits well into any interior with its styling and design.

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Infrared panels as main heating?

Infrared panels (ir panels) can be a good choice as additional heating in the living room and in rooms that you rarely use. Using infrared heating as the only heating is difficult. As the main heating, the panels often cannot provide enough heat in the home or in larger rooms. For this, you already need very good insulation to ensure that no heat is lost.

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What are the consumption costs of an infrared panel?

Assuming an electricity price of €0.27 per kWh: 2 panels of 500 Watts = 1000 Watts total power.

1 hour of use of 1000 Watts = 1 kWh consumption. 1 kWh x €0.27 = €0.27 costs, so the 2 panels cost €0.27/hour.

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Would you rather heat your bathroom electrically in a different way? That is also possible of course.

Read more about it in this article: 'Electric heating in the bathroom'.

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