
How do Infrared heaters work?
We describe what infrared heat is, how it works and why it's different from other forms of heat transfer.
Radiant Heat is the Most Basic Form of Heating Known to Man
Infrared heaters work by converting electricity into radiant heat. Infrared is part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The heat is the same feeling of warmth as the winter sun on your face and the heat from a coal fire.
Infrared is the direct transfer of heat from the heater to the object (you and the room around you) without heating the air in between. It’s the same heat we feel from an environment warmed by the sun, and the wavelength most efficiently absorbed by the body.
Today, new technology, in the form of our 100% energy efficient, Herschel Infrared heating, allows us to use infrared radiant heating in a stylish, comfortable and highly controllable way.
Watch our video to understand how infrared heaters work

There are three different types of heat transfer: Conduction, Convection, Radiation
Far Infrared is Radiant Heat

Conduction
Heat transfer through contact between objects

Convection
Heat transfer through the heating of the air

Radiation
Heat transfer through direct warming of the environment and thermal mass

Make your room a 360° radiator
Radiant heat is invisible light. In the same way that lights are sited to light a room, Herschel Infrared heaters emit heat to directly warm the walls, floor and ceiling of a building (the ‘thermal mass’). Once the thermal mass is warm, the building itself retains the heat for a period of time, so the heater only needs to be on to top up.
Most of other forms of heaters are convection heaters which primarily heat volumes of air, which then has to transfer its heat to the building in order to warm the thermal mass. The problem is that hot air rises to the ceiling (where you don’t want it) and easily escapes with draughts and open doors. The direct transfer of heat to the building is why Herschel is more efficient and saves energy compared to convection heating.
It also more comfortable because you don’t have cold floors and stuffy air.
Radiant Infrared Heating Enhances Comfort and the Health of the Indoor Environment

Heat we were designed for
Infrared is completely safe and is, in fact, the same wavelength that our bodies absorb and emit. Humans are radiant objects.
More than 60% of our sense of comfort or discomfort is governed by our radiant heat gain or loss. Only 15% of our sense of comfort is governed by air temperature and movement.
This means we usually feel warm if we’re absorbing heat from our environment and often feel cold if we’re radiating out our own body heat to the outside world.
For most people, if the environment around us is more than 26C or less than 16C, we feel discomfort, because we are either gaining or losing too much body heat.
So, if we warm the walls, ceiling and floor of the room we are in (not the air) to at least 17c and ideally to around 22c, our bodies will stop perceiving that we are losing heat and we will feel warm and comfortable.
This is the objective of infrared heating: to build up “thermal mass” in an environment and let it keep you warm.
The Discovery & Science of Infrared Heat
Robert Fosbury, Astronomer and Professor of Ophthalmology, explains how William Herschel made his discovery of infrared back in 1800. Herschel made his incredible discovery using a prism to study the heating effect of different colours of light. Watch as Robert uses a prism to produce a spectrum of colours on the wall of William Herschel’s very own home – the very home from which William Herschel also discovered the planet Uranus in March 1781 (now The Herschel Museum of Astronomy).

Is Infrared Heating Efficient?

Air is an unnecessary link in the chain
Convective heat sources only heat the air and not the environment. Air has a lower ability to transfer thermal energy to a surface and warm the environment, radiant heat has a higher rate of heat transfer per kilowatt than convection, so you need less of it. This results in a lower kW requirement and lower running times and is why infrared heating saves energy.
Our latest testing at Salford University Energy House has carried out an identical test comparing a Herschel Infrared panel to both an air source heat pump and a standard electric convector heater.
The results highlight how infrared can offer high levels of thermal comfort at lower air temperatures. When total costs of ownership are also considered over the lifetime of the heating (purchase, installation, running, maintenance, replacement) infrared presents a very compelling picture. Full details are on the below link.
Find out more on our test resultsChoose your Infrared Heaters – Helping Deliver Sustainable Buildings for the Future
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Infrared heating Panels
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Select XLS – White Frameless Infrared Panel Heater
Rated 4.95 out of 5 based on 20 customer ratings(24 reviews)5 Year Warranty5 SizesFROM £238.00View Range -
Comfort – white infrared heating panel
10 Year Warranty8 SizesFROM £309.00View Range -
Select XLS – Easy DIY heater & control combination
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 2 customer ratings(2 reviews)5 Year Warranty4 SizesFROM £319.00View Range -
Select XLS – Round
5 Year Warranty2 SizesFROM £319.00View Range -
Select XLS – Mirror Infrared Heater
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 3 customer ratings(7 reviews)5 Year Warranty3 SizesFROM £378.00View Range -
Select XLS – White Infrared Towel Heater With Integrated Controls
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 8 customer ratings(9 reviews)5 Year Warranty2 SizesFROM £449.00View Range -
Select XLS – Black Infrared Towel Heater With Integrated Controls
5 Year Warranty2 SizesFROM £449.00View Range -
Krystal Black 600 – 1000W
5 Year Warranty2 SizesFROM £659.00View Range -
Krystal White 600 – 1000W
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 1 customer rating(1 review)5 Year Warranty2 SizesFROM £659.00View Range -
Inspire – White Frameless Infrared Panel Heater
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 4 customer ratings(11 reviews)10 Year Warranty9 SizesFROM £379.00View Range -
Inspire – Mirror Infrared Heater
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 4 customer ratings(8 reviews)10 Year Warranty7 SizesFROM £515.00View Range -
Inspire – Infrared Picture Panel
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 3 customer ratings(6 reviews)10 Year Warranty7 SizesFROM £539.00View Range
Commercial ceiling heaters
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Select – Infrared Ceiling Tile Heaters
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 1 customer rating(2 reviews)5 Year Warranty1 SizeFROM £179.00View Range
Patio heaters
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Malibu 2000W ON SALE
2 Year Warranty1 SizeFROMView Range£379.00£299.00 -
Florida 2000W ON SALE
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 13 customer ratings(13 reviews)2 Year Warranty1 SizeFROMView Range£345.00£199.00 -
Hawaii Wave 2000W ON SALE
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 3 customer ratings(3 reviews)2 Year Warranty1 SizeFROMView Range£599.00£399.00 -
Colorado 2500W Old Model ON SALE
2 Year Warranty1 SizeFROMView Range£378.00£278.00 -
Colorado 2500W
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 10 customer ratings(11 reviews)2 Year Warranty1 SizeFROM £378.00View Range -
Colorado Remote 2500W & Stand ON SALE
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 2 customer ratings(2 reviews)2 Year Warranty3 SizesFROMView Range£478.00£399.00 -
Manhattan 3000W
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 4 customer ratings(5 reviews)2 Year Warranty1 SizeFROM £439.00View Range -
Hawaii 2000W ON SALE
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 5 customer ratings(5 reviews)2 Year Warranty1 SizeFROMView Range£249.00£199.00 -
Havana 800W ON SALE
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 3 customer ratings(3 reviews)2 Year Warranty1 SizeFROMView Range£149.00£99.00 -
California Black 2000W ON SALE
Rated 4.50 out of 5 based on 6 customer ratings(6 reviews)2 Year Warranty1 SizeFROMView Range£319.00£299.00 -
California Black 2000W & Stand ON SALE
2 Year Warranty3 SizesFROMView Range£419.00£329.00 -
California Gold 2000W ON SALE
Rated 4.57 out of 5 based on 7 customer ratings(7 reviews)2 Year Warranty1 SizeFROMView Range£319.00£299.00
Zero light heaters
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Summit White 2600W
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 1 customer rating(2 reviews)2 Year Warranty2 SizesFROM £549.00View Range -
Summit 2600W
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 8 customer ratings(8 reviews)2 Year Warranty2 SizesFROM £519.00View Range -
Aspect XL 1300W / 1950W
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 1 customer rating(2 reviews)5 Year Warranty2 SizesFROM £429.00View Range -
Halo 4.8 – 7.8kW Infrared Heater
5 Year Warranty8 SizesFROM £5,999.00View Range -
Halo Horizon 2.4kW – 3.2kW Infrared Heater
5 Year Warranty6 SizesFROM £1,799.00View Range -
Pulsar 1800 / 2400 Watts
Rated 4.75 out of 5 based on 4 customer ratings(4 reviews)1 Year Warranty2 SizesFROM £1,679.00View Range
Industrial heaters
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Advantage IR 1300 / 1950 Watts
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 2 customer ratings(3 reviews)5 Year Warranty4 SizesFROM £346.00View Range -
Power 3.2 – 6.4kW Workshop Heater
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 1 customer rating(5 reviews)5 Year Warranty3 SizesFROM £839.00View Range -
Vulcan 6 -12 kW Warehouse Heater
2 Year Warranty4 SizesFROM £1,049.00View Range

The Discovery & Science of Infrared Heat
Robert Fosbury, Astronomer and Professor of Ophthalmology, explains how William Herschel made his discovery of infrared back in 1800. Herschel made his incredible discovery using a prism to study the heating effect of different colours of light. Watch as Robert uses a prism to produce a spectrum of colours on the wall of William Herschel’s very own home – the very home from which William Herschel also discovered the planet Uranus in March 1781 (now The Herschel Museum of Astronomy).