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What's the Difference Between Electric and Infrared Heat?

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When it comes to small heating systems, electric and infrared heaters are among the most popular choices for small rooms or for warming up a small space in a larger room. Small heaters mainly serve to supplement the central heating system of your home, concentrating it in one area. These heaters come in two primary types, and some people may prefer an electric heater over the infrared heater and vice versa. Is there really a distinction between the type of heat that electric and infrared heaters generate? Here's how the types differ.

Main Difference Between Electric and Infrared Heaters

As their name implies, electric heaters generate heat using electricity. To use an electric heater, you only need to plug it in and wait for it to do its job. Other electric heaters may connect directly to a fuse box, while some smaller ones are battery powered. Infrared heaters, on the other hand, can generate heat using electricity, but they can also get their power from propane or natural gas. This type of heater may directly connect to your home's existing utilities or to propane tanks that also power grills and similar appliances.

How Electric Heaters Work

Electric heaters work in a similar fashion to incandescent light bulbs in that they use a resistance-based heating element to generate heat. As electric current passes through the heating element, which is usually made of chromium or nickel, it produces heat. Electric stoves and ovens also have these same heating elements. To work, electric heaters need to have fans behind their heating elements to help distribute warmth in a room, which is why some electric heaters can oscillate. The length of heaters' cords limits the effective range of electric heaters, and some types take a while to warm up a room.

How Infrared Heaters Work

What infrared heaters do is radiate an invisible light, which in turn produces heat. Infrared heaters have quartz incandescent tubes to produce this type of light, which is below the visible spectrum. The type of heat that infrared heaters produce is the same kind of heat that the sun radiates. While infrared heaters work faster than electric heaters, they're only effective in heating what's in their direct paths. These heaters cannot effectively disperse heat in a room.

Choosing the Right Size

Both electric and infrared heaters can work well at keeping you warm during the cold months. The key is to use the right size to suit your needs. Smaller heaters can effectively warm just one or two persons, while larger ones can heat up a room. Check out the space heater's rating to guide you in purchasing the right heater size that fits your requirements. Heaters are also often rated by the square footage that they can heat in a specified amount of time.

Safety Concerns

One important consideration when purchasing a space heater is its safety features. Because these appliances produce heat, you have to make sure that the one you choose won't burn anyone in your household or become a fire hazard. One safety feature that's helpful to look for is a sensor that automatically shuts off the heater when it overheats or when someone tips it over. Look for testing certifications such as UL or ETL. Make it a point to check the power cord regularly for damage; this is a major cause of fires, injuries and deaths because of space heaters. Always make sure you place your heater away from furniture, drapes and other decor items to keep them from getting too hot.

Brereton Youldon