How Infrared Heating Works

Infrared heating works because feeling warm or cold does not actually depend on the temperature of the surrounding air. For example, skiers and mountain climbers do not freeze even in extremely cold air. They are bathed by infrared rays from the sun. We experience this heat directly on our skin and by rays reflected by the environment (snow, stones, earth etc.). When infrared waves touch a surface, heat energy is released regardless of the surrounding air temperature. So people on a winter sports holiday are able to sunbathe despite the low temperatures - all thanks to IR.

What are Infrared Rays?

Infrared lies just under the visible light range in the electromagnetic spectrum. IR rays cause molecules they strike to oscillate. Humans feel this as warmth. Unlike shorter waves such as UV, infrared waves have a beneficial effect on humans. It is warmth we were designed-for! IR waves do not need medium such as air or water to travel through. They travel as easily through air as through the depths of space, producing heat only when they strike a surface such as the earth or a wall of a house.

How do Infrared heating units heat you?

When radiation from Infrared panels hit an object (walls, ceilings, floors, interior objects) it is either absorbed or reflected. IR waves continue to radiate through a room until all their energy is absorbed and all objects warm up.

Imagine the absorption of infrared radiation as being similar to throwing a handful of rubber balls into a room. They jump around uncontrollably in all directions. Each place they touch absorbs part of their energy. The rubber balls (the infrared waves) jump around until their energy is absorbed throughout the room.

The infrared waves first heat the upper-most layer of masonry. Most of this energy is reflected back into the room. Only approximately 1/6 of the energy is lost by absorption into the masonry itself.

Is Infrared Heating new?

No it is not. Heating by infrared radiation is as old as the use of fire by man. Stone, clay and tiled stoves all make use of Infrared.

The Roman hypocaust heating system was the first central heating system! It functioned solely by infrared. The Romans constructed a chamber to enable the passage of steam under the floor tiles. The floors warmed up and radiated heat into the room, whilst leaving the actual air temperature of the room unaltered and fresh.

The tiled stove is another legendary example of radiated heat. A correctly placed tiled stove warms up the inside surface of a house's external walls, increases their surface temperature, leaving the temperature of the air in the room cool.

Infrared: A return to more natural ways of healthy living

With the return to more natural ways of life and healthy living, long forgotten heating methods are reentering today’s modern homes. Only the manner in which the infrared radiation is produced - with electricity - is new. Clean, healthy and energy-friendly heating can be achieved with the help of ecological products.

What can you do now?

If you wish to find out more, contact us now.