Our view – infrared heating
If you are off gas grid, infrared heating can be a really effective, stylish and efficient way to heat your home. Compared to the convection based heating systems it offers a really great alternative. Unfortunately, the cost of infrared is a fair bit higher than standard electric panel heaters, but they will provide a much better heating of the home and save you money in the long run. Here are our top 10 advantages of infrared.
Three reasons to choose infrared heating
- They are clean and easy to fit.
- Take up less room and are much better looking than storage heaters or wall heaters.
- Heats surfaces rather than the air, making it great for allergy sufferers and producing a more even, efficient heating of the room.
How does infrared work?
There is an extensive blog here. The key point is that infrared heats surfaces rather than the air like a convection heater. This creates a more even, efficient heat than a standard heater.
How to size your infrared heating panels
It is really important to get the right size of panel. Too small and it won’t heat the room effectively, whilst too big and your room will overheat. Make sure you take a look at our sizing guide and get a good quality thermostat to help control the temperature. Remember that placement of the panels is really important. Some rooms will be suited to a wall mount, whilst others will be better off with a ceiling mount.
You also need to choose the right style for each room. There is a wide range of styles and finishes, as well as a budget and premium model of the panel, so decide carefully what will suit your home.
What is the cost of infrared heating?
Infrared heaters vary a lot in price, with prices starting at about £150 for a basic 300-watt panel to £1,500 for a bigger 1,200-watt mirror panel. If you are heating a whole house, the cost of infrared is going to be very similar to installing storage heaters but cheaper than a whole new wet central heating system. For a cost comparison with infrared heating and other electric heating with a new build, two-bedroom semi-detached house click here.
What funding is available for infrared?
Unfortunately, there is currently no funding available, but companies like Jigsaw Infrared are conducting studies to support the energy-efficient nature of the IR. You will need to self-fund if you wish to go ahead with infrared. To make the most of the efficiency of the Infrared panels it is possible to combine them with Solar PV panels. Solar PV currently qualifies for the VAT reduction as do the batteries when installed together.
Hi there, very interesting these panels. I have timber frame walls from 1970s and not sure about insulation. The property is situated in Enfield and the area is off-gas grid. We have an oil boiler and would like your advice on whether switching to infrared is potentially a good idea.
We just found a link on Smartertrends to this article and have found the rest of your website quite useful. We like on the Aland Islands, which gets fairly cold and dark this time of year. Although the property has 40cm of external wall insulation and we have triple glazing throughout, we would like to get a less involved way of heating the house. At the moment we have wood burning fires throughout and would like to get rid of 2 and potentially replace with the infrared options. Does your company sell this product? And would you deliver to the Aland Islands, Finland? Thank you
Hi Amal
Far infrared would be a great option for you especially as you have an off-gas grid. You will be able to have better control and comfort levels through the use of thermostats and infrared can be zoned to only heat the areas that are required. Through greater control you can save between 30-60% annual energy usage compared to traditional heating solutions including oil. Almost 100% of the electrical energy is converted into heat, so its very efficient, offering higher thermal comfort levels. The panels also look great too with lots of different styles.
We thoroughly recommend that you should look into it further.