An infrared panel is an electric heating panel that gives off heat in the form of infrared radiation, so that it warms the objects, walls and people in the room rather than the air. This works much like the warmth of the sun or a wood stove: you feel the heat directly, even though the air has not yet warmed up.
How does it work?
An ordinary radiator or convector mainly heats the air (convection). An infrared panel emits radiant heat that is absorbed by solid surfaces. Those surfaces then slowly release the heat again, which is experienced as pleasant and even. Panels come as wall or ceiling models and are often made flat and slim.
Application
- Supplementary heating — bathroom, home office or hobby room that needs to warm up quickly
- Rooms that are hard to heat — places without a central heating connection
- Renovation — as a supplement where laying water pipes is difficult
- Well-insulated homes — in combination with a low heat demand
Pros and cons
- Advantage — simple installation, no pipework, quickly noticeable warmth and a slim appearance
- Advantage — no air circulation, so less dust movement
- Disadvantage — electricity is more expensive per unit of heat than gas or a heat pump; for heating a whole home it is usually not an economical choice
- Point to note — the efficiency depends on good insulation and a clear “line of sight” from the panel to the zone to be heated
Related terms
- Radiator
- Convector
- Insulation
- Energy saving
- Low-temperature heating
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