10 Best Infrared Heaters

In the winter season, being out in the sunlight feels nice and toasty because of the sun’s infrared light, which is being absorbed by the skin and warms the body. That is why best-infrared heaters become a necessity in cold weather.

Now, you don’t need to worry about the harmful effect of infrared on your body, as it has been proven to be harmless and even helpful. It is hard for modern people with busy lifestyles to use traditional fires yet longs for the next best thing. Luckily, a machine can emit infrared light directly to warms up the surface, known as infrared heaters.

Top 10 Best Infrared Heaters for the Money

You know that you have a great infrared heater if it does two things very well. First, it warms you up no matter how large space is or even if it’s outside, and second, if it is energy-efficient. So to help you stop wondering which one to buy, here is a list of the best-infrared heaters in the market today.

1. Dr. Infrared Heater – Overall Best Infrared Heater on the market

This infrared heater has two heating systems with a fan to warm up a room and increase the heat distribution. It has a PVC heating element made out of ceramic composite to heat the surroundings, and the dual technology makes it energy-efficient. The Dr. Infrared Heater has a stylish design with wooden cherry-colored veneers with four caster support for portability.

Pros

• It has to overheat protection and tip-over.
• It can be controlled by remote control.

Cons

• The heater said to work up to 80,000 hours but only lasted up to 20,000 hours.
• The thermostat can start and stop when the temperature becomes either warmer or colder.

2. Lifesmart Fireplace – Best Looking Infrared Heater

This infrared heater is considered the best-rated infrared heater and outstanding design, which features a real-like flame and oak mantle fireplace. It uses three infrared heating elements that can warm a small to large space with a silent fan that distributes the warm air. The Lifesmart Fireplace has built-in casters so you can move it freely around the house since it is a bit heavy.

Pros

• It has a great design compared to others.
• It has a quiet fan, unlike other heaters.

Cons

• The heater is too small to look like a real fireplace.
• The control panel of the heater is too bright that stays on for a long time.

3. Comfort Zone Ceiling – Best Garage Mount Infrared Heater

This infrared heater can be mount on a wall or ceiling to provide extra safety, security, and space. It has an overheat protection and safety metal grille with 3-prong grounded for electrical protection. The Comfort Zone heater is controlled with a pull string, provide two heat settings and an adjustable angle halogen light.

Pros

• It has an adjustable halogen light and metal housing.
• It is easy to install that can be either mount on the wall or hang on the ceiling.

Cons

• The mounting bracket is not that sturdy.
• The plastic sides can be easily melted and deformed.

4. Lifesmart 1000X Infrared Heater

This infrared heater offers natural, quiet, and ultra-efficient heat for a large room due to its multiple quartz elements. It features an Eco Setting to adjust the heat depending on the room sizes that can heat up to 1400 cubic feet. The Lifesmart 1000X is designed with a stylish wood cabinet, cool touch, and easy-glide casters to move the heater effortlessly from one place to another.

Pros

• It has three heat settings with Eco mode with remote control.
• It features a washable lifetime filter.

Cons

• The buttons feel a bit cheap.
• The unit heats up very quickly.

5. Heat Storm HS-1500-IPR Infrared Heater

This infrared heater has a minimalist look that features a simple LED display to show the ambient temperature and regulate it easily. It has an Energy-Efficient mode that can reduce the wattage from 1500 to 750. The Heat Storm HS-1500-IPR has a patented heat exchanger with HMS Technology to give users a safe heat without reducing oxygen or humidity.

Pros

• It comes with an intuitive remote and durable high-density fiberboard
• It is a powerful heater that can heat up to 1000 square feet.

Cons

• The front design does not have lots of buttons.
• The thermostats seem to adjust on their own to maintain the temperature.

6. Homegear 1500 Infrared Heater

This infrared heater is perfect for providing warmth in large spaces up to 1500 watts. It has a modern design with a black and white exterior and comes in a more rustic and country feels with its wooden exterior design. The Homegear 1500 might be small, but it has the same power as any other bigger heater and has an eco-mode to reduce the power.

Pros

• It has an auto overheat that shuts off automatically for safety.
• It has two different heat modes with a fan mode that is perfect for the summer season.

Cons

• The buzzer is a bit noisier than others.
• The heater can have a hard time heating large spaces.

7. Duraflame Infrared Heater

This infrared heater is small and nice yet can provide comfortable heating without drying the air. It has a safety plug wherein if the temperature rises, the heater will automatically shut off, and once it cools down, it will start again. The Duraflame is built on the solid hardwood, oak finish, and caster’s support to be moved freely in any space.

Pros

• It is a nice portable infrared heater with casters that do not get stuck when moving.
• It is safe for children and babies as long as you do not directly point the heater at them.

Cons

• The fan blows cold air because it stops for a long time after the heating element, and so it tends to blow out some cold air as it runs.
• The fan is also noisy and can be a little annoying.

8. Lifesmart 1200 Square Foot Infrared Heater

This infrared heater is the most efficient list with its three different energy-saving settings to warm up smaller to larger areas. It has a digital thermostat that can be used manually or with remote control. The Lifesmart 1200 has a casing made out of metal that stays cool when the unit is running.

Pros

• It is very efficient at heating any rooms.
• It has safety features that are perfect for adults and children.

Cons

• The remote control could interfere with other appliances.
• The fan of the unit is noisy, especially on high settings.

9. EdenPure Gen 2 Infrared Heater

This infrared heater works at different heat levels that range from 1 to 20. It is operated using a remote control and has a timer set up for a specific time and turns the unit on or off. The EdenPure Gen 2 has an air purifier package that the manufacturer offers, making the air cleaner and a UV light that kills microorganisms to protect anyone who suffers from allergies.

Pros

• It is small and easy to carry from place to place.
• It has an upgraded air purifier that collects dust and dirt in the air with UV light to kill most germs.

Cons

• The heater does not allow you to set the thermostat. You have to choose between 1 and 20 until you find the right temperature.
• The unit says to warm up a room up to 1000 square feet but probably heat up to 600 square feet only.

10. Lifesmart Life Lux Infrared Heater

This infrared heater has 8 quartz heating elements that can warm up a huge room and a great outdoor heater. It has a digital thermostat, dual timer, and three energy-saving settings. The Lifesmart Life Lux has a wood casing and surface that does not warm up when the unit runs, making it a great model for everyone.

Pros

• It is a mighty unit that can heat large spaces.
• It is very safe, especially for children, with its safety protection like a heavy-duty power cable.

Cons

• The buttons on the remote beep loudly when pressing them that can be very irritating at night.
• The control panel screen is too bright even if you put it to dim mode.

Infrared Heater

In history, troglodytes heat themselves using fires, burning logs, and tile stoves. But in the last years, radiant heating was forgotten because powered central heating only warms up the air; all the objects and walls in the room remained cold. But with new technology today, radiant heating uses in the form of infrared heating panels are now introduced once more in a comfortable, modern, and easy way.

The radiant heat or infrared heat is the warm feeling from the sun, from a coal fire, and even from the heat produced by your body. Infrared heaters work just like the sun, it heats the objects in the surrounding, warms it up, and radiate back. When an infrared wave touches a surface, it releases heat energy regardless of the air temperature. To produce the infrared light needed, it uses a series of coils and a reflector to direct the light outward.

Types of Infrared Heaters

There are three types of heater that provides different temperature output. It depends on the peak wavelength of thermal energy that the emitter is designed to produce, materials used, and the thickness. The emitter works at the peak at the wavelength with the overall power supplied to it.

Near-Infrared Heaters

Also known as IRA, shortwave, or bright infrared heaters and heat lamps that produce 1300 degrees Celsius. Due to its high temperatures, near-infrared heaters are appropriate for high power applications like cooking, welding, and thermoforming plastics. The near-infrared risk is the thermal burns; it can affect human and animal skin if the heater is placed too close or too long exposure to skin.

Medium Infrared Heaters

This infrared heater emits temperatures between 500 to 800 degrees Celsius and produces deep red light like bar fires. It is usually used in smelting and glass-blowing methods where the quartz emitters are composed of heated wire coiled in a one-bar or two-bar electric fires. At this temperature, it can be used for certain applications like welding of plastic parts, curing of glues and coatings, adding PVC backing to materials, and Industrial Drying.

Far Infrared Heaters

Often called Dark Radiators, far infrared heaters function at a much lower temperature than typically around 100 degrees Celsius. This is a significant heating wavelength that is very safe to the skin because of its 80% water composition. It is usually used in domestic, commercial, and public comfort heating applications.

The Benefits of Using an Infrared Heater

Many people think that the infrared heater is another expensive technology because of the use of electricity. Little do they know that you can maintain your bill at a lower cost by lowering the thermostat’s temperature. You don’t need to buy the most luxurious infrared heater out there. You just have to look for an energy-efficient model with a thermostat.

• Safety

Most infrared heaters are safe for all users. It offers safety protection like the casing is not hot to touch even the unit is running. Manufacturers are making their heaters safe to prevent a fire hazard.

• Health

Choosing to use an infrared heater is way healthier than convection or electric heater. Infrared radiation preserved the air’s natural humidity, so users do not have to suffer from itchy eyes or throat with its heating technology. Because microorganisms are sensitive to infrared radiation, most of them die due to infrared light.

• Maintenance

Since infrared heaters do not have any moving parts, you don’t need to add lubrication aside from the fan. You can schedule a cleaning before the cold season to check the unit. Also, since it requires easy maintenance, you don’t need to spend more on keeping it working for a long time.

• Warmth

The infrared heater warms up the objects on its range, including the wall and humans. After that, it begins to radiate heat to the surrounding air that lasts longer than other heaters. When there is an opening, the warm air exits the room, yet the object remains some heat.

• Environment

This type of heater does not use carbon or any toxic that can cause an open flame. It does not have any fuel line that can leak and affect the environment. Therefore, it does not harm the air, which makes it totally environmentally friendly.

• Efficiency

The heating elements of infrared heaters is a reflective metal. It has the capability to transfer almost all the heat it creates. This only means that it can deliver the heat instantly to help users in saving energy.

Factors to Consider when buying an Infrared Heater:

If you decide to buy an infrared heater, there are certain things you need to consider. Whether you are looking for a small tabletop, portable, or fireplace-like unit, you should have a basis on which is better. To help you decide, here are some features must-haves:

• When you decide to use the infrared heater outside, you should try a unit that can cover large spaces. Heaters with a wider infrared radiation area have the ability to warm the whole surface.
• Most infrared heaters are very safe, even for children. But if you want to be extra safe, then find one that can be mount on the wall. This way, your kids will not reach it and will not directly be pointed to them.
• For heating the garage, you need a powerful heater for this one. The garage is usually insulated and large, so to warm the surface needs a great unit. Also, energy-wise, look for efficient heaters so it won’t blow up your electricity bills.
• The heating capacity is an essential factor in choosing an infrared heater. If you plan to leave it in a specific place, then make sure that it can heat the surface. However, if you wish to move it around your house, then it is suggested to pick a model with two or more heating levels to adjust to room sizes.
• It is also important to think through the infrared heater’s noise as different units created different noise levels. Some noise is unnoticeable, while some produce loud noise that can interfere with your activities like sleeping. But if you are going to place it outside, it is the last thing you should be bothered about.
• Portability is also a plus for some of the infrared heaters available in the markets today. If you plan to move it from one place to another, then having a portable heater is advantageous. Most manufacturers consider this and try to include handles and caster with the unit to make it more useful to owners.
• The size of the unit determines the heating elements it has. Usually, smaller infrared heaters have smaller heating elements that take a longer time to warm up. To make it energy efficient, better look for a larger unit with a larger heating capacity.
• As a general rule for each model, infrared heaters must have more than one heating element for efficiency. The more heating elements it has, the more infrared light is produced, creating more heat to warm up the surface. And when the unit heats space easily, it makes the user save more energy.
• Every appliance can have faults, so it is important to look for safety features like cool-to-touch exteriors, built-in thermostat, easy-to-set controls, fan, etc. Also, some infrared heater comes with premium features worthy of investments such as air filter, humidifies, operating light, modern design, and many more. If you have kids or pets in the house, more safety features are better.
• It would help if you avoided infrared heaters with short-life bulbs. Replacing the bulbs can cost you more and hard to find. Look for units with long-life infrared bulbs to save you from the hassle.
• While infrared heaters are proven to be energy-efficient, they have different constructions and materials which depend on the brands. Warranty returns or refunds are not always honored as you expect. Do not be swayed by claims of 50% energy savings, which can be overstated.

Useful Tips in Taking Care of Infrared Heaters

When it comes to energy efficiency, infrared heaters are quickly gaining popularity among many consumers. Most buyers consider heaters to help their main home’s heating system to be turned down to decrease energy costs. To make sure that you will use it effectively and efficiently, here are some helpful tips for doing:

• A large infrared heater with 1500 watts and above should be connected to a 20-amp. A 1500-watt heater will draw 12.5 amp, so a 15-amp circuit can overload if other devices are running on the same outlet. It is important to allocate an outlet dedicated only to the heater to avoid a fire hazard.
• Even though most infrared heaters have cool-to-touch exteriors that are safe for children and pets, you should never take for granted the fact that some clutter, such as clothes, paper, or any items, can have an issue with hot-coil heaters. To be extra careful, as with any electrical heater, ensure that the heat can freely spread into the room.
• Infrared heaters are created specifically to heat a room or space. Using it as a sole heating unit does not have the capacity like your central heating furnace. Instead, it should be used as a supplement heater to help you save

Conclusion

Infrared heaters are known to be an energy-efficient device that helps in warming up spaces. If you want to warm up your house and your family in the chilly season, then you must check the list of best-infrared heaters in this article. So to experience the incredible benefits of infrared heaters, check the nearest markets and find one that best suits your needs.