Infrared heat panels

Stiv

Hi everyone,

I've been renting an apartment for just over a year. It's an old building with some damp issues - last winter was tough and expensive with regards to heating. This year I really want to be ready for the winter. I've looked into some heating alternatives but some are just not practical since I'm renting.

A company recommended infrared heating panels. They are costly to buy but if they really work I'd go for it. And that's my question: is there anyone out here that has first hand experience? I searched the web and I have found many debates and lots of publicity but no reviews from people who use this type of heating in their home.

I would really appreciate to hear from anyone who actually uses it in their home.

Thank you!

matelodave

Are you talking about the illuminated red panels that give out directional heat?. They may be more comfortable to sit in front of, but your back will be cold and they don't do much to heat up the surrounding air and you get very cold very quickly when they are turned off.

forgotmyname

As above anything like the cheaper heaters being sold then they are OK if your close to them. No excess heat to warm the actual room etc.

Cardew

You can get exactly the same effect from infrared heaters costing a few tens of pounds.

The post above describes the downside of infrared heating.

Remember they give out no more heat, for the same running cost, than any other electrical heater.

The best analogy is to compare them with a desk reading lamp, they give sufficient illumination to read at the desk , but little light to the rest of the room.

The used to be used in the days before central heating was widespread, my grandparents had one directed at the toilet, and some people use them working at a bench in an unheated garage.

Stiv

The "heaters" I'm talking about don't give out light. They're about the size and width of a whiteboard. I can't paste a link put if you search 'infrared panel heater' it'll come up. I knew here do I don't know how to post a photo. And yes, it directional heat. You can put them on the ceiling so they heat the walks and floor. I want to be, but I'm not convinced.. Yet!!

Stiv

..sorry for all my typing errors! On a mobile!

fishybusiness

There are plenty of debates on this forum about infrared panels.

I was part of some of those debates, as was Cardew, who has posted above, search the forum and you will find just about every angle of the ´for and against´.

How much does it cost you per month to heat your home, how much electricity do you use, also, what are your levels of insulation in the roof, walls, and windows?

Stiv

Thanks, I'll have a look. It's a very old building. Walls are thick but badly insulated - damp - but there is double glazing. I'm on a top floor with a flat roof so after heavy rain I think the walls are just soaking up the water.

I bought an electric oil heater last year and one month I paid as much as 105€ for a month, but that also included heating the waster. I live alone and work from home. The heating was all spent in my office, I didn't actually get to heat any other room. I live in the south of Spain so the temperature is not usually lower that 5 degrees.

The infrared panels promise a lot but I don't think I can make a proper decision until I actually experience the effect.

Stiv

Thanks, I'll have a look. It's a very old building. Walls are thick but badly insulated - damp - but there is double glazing. I'm on a top floor with a flat roof so after heavy rain I think the walls are just soaking up the water.

I bought an electric oil heater last year and one month I paid as much as 105€ for a month, but that also included heating the waster. I live alone and work from home. The heating was all spent in my office, I didn't actually get to heat any other room. I live in the south of Spain so the temperature is not usually lower that 5 degrees.

The infrared panels promise a lot but I don't think I can make a proper decision until I actually experience the effect.

matelodave

I'd use a fan heater if I was just trying to heat one room with me in it