Infrared Heaters when working from home

Whiterosegaz

Hi everyone

With the new modern ways of working - work from home.
has anyone done any research into potential savings which could be made from the new infrared heaters which seem to becoming more popular.
Would these be a cheaper way to to stay warm when working from
home as they would only heat yourself so there wouldn’t be the need to have the heating on through the whole house?
has anyone any experience?

Gerry1

Unless you work through the night and have Economy 7, you'd be using the most expensive form of heating that's available, so avoid them like the plague, especially if you have gas central heating.

You can always use TRVs to turn unwanted wet radiators down or off.

Infra red heaters are only electric fires by another name, and are popular only with those who don't pay the bills or haven't yet done so.

Whiterosegaz

Thanks for the response mate - my thinking was it would be better as you’d only be “heating” one room - but I couldn’t find anything anywhere explaining about there usage.

Reed_Richards

Have a look at this thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6306330/wfh-heating/p1
I think the considered opinion was that a heated seat pad was the most economical way to keep yourself warm.

k_man

Gerry1 said:

Unless you work through the night and have Economy 7, you'd be using the most expensive form of heating that's available, so avoid them like the plague, especially if you have gas central heating.

You can always use TRVs to turn unwanted wet radiators down or off.

Infra red heaters are only electric fires by another name, and are popular only with those who don't pay the bills or haven't yet done so.

This isn't quite true, as they provide more directed heat, compared to a flat panel or convection heater.

As such may give more heat to the person in the focus area than other methods. Until the person moves.

Whether they are any more directed than a fan heater though, I am not sure

Gerry1

k_man said:

Gerry1 said:

Unless you work through the night and have Economy 7, you'd be using the most expensive form of heating that's available, so avoid them like the plague, especially if you have gas central heating.

You can always use TRVs to turn unwanted wet radiators down or off.

Infra red heaters are only electric fires by another name, and are popular only with those who don't pay the bills or haven't yet done so.

This isn't quite true, as they provide more directed heat, compared to a flat panel or convection heater.
As such may give more heat to the person in the focus area than other methods. Until the person moves.

I was thinking of a traditional electric fire !

Hadn't realised that they're almost obsolete, most searches only bring up electric stoves or fireplaces.  Presumably they were scuppered by Health & Safety concerns about fires caused if they were knocked over or came too close to clothing, curtains etc.

k_man

Indeed the original infra red heater!

That looks like a 2 bar heater there.

That used to be the unit of heat/power...
...uses as much as 1 bar fire....
...as much heat as a 2 bar fire...

Cardew

Infra Red heaters do have their uses. For example they were/are used by someone working at a bench in an unheated garage; they can 'direct' heat in a similar manner as a desk lamp will direct light to a point where it is needed.

Before central heating was common many bathrooms had infra red heaters directed at the 'throne'.

k_man

Cardew said:

Infra Red heaters do have their uses. For example they were/are used by someone working at a bench in an unheated garage; they can 'direct' heat in a similar manner as a desk lamp will direct light to a point where it is needed.

Before central heating was common many bathrooms had infra red heaters directed at the 'throne'.

I have thought about something like that for the bathroom, as heating all day by CH seems a waste.

I remember from the distant past, a light fitting with a IR heater built in.
May need to look at IR bulbs.

coffeehound

Gerry1 said:

I was thinking of a traditional electric fire !

Hadn't realised that they're almost obsolete, most searches only bring up electric stoves or fireplaces.  Presumably they were scuppered by Health & Safety concerns about fires caused if they were knocked over or came too close to clothing, curtains etc.

It's astonishing that those heaters are still manufactured virtually identical to those from the 1920s.  Not many other electrical appliances have endured for a century, unchanged

QrizB

k_man said:

I remember from the distant past, a light fitting with a IR heater built in.
May need to look at IR bulbs.

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