If you’re like most people, you hate to be cold. However, you also hate how much it costs to heat your home or workplace when you only use certain parts of it. And you hate leaving the rest of the heat that you don’t use go to waste. If you and your family have ever had an issue with someone being cold while the others are warm, you know what I’m talking about! And it sounds like you may be in the market for one of our best infrared heater options.
Does your home or workspace have “cold zones” where it seems like the heat just doesn’t reach or it dissipates quickly? Or, do you use your garage as a recreational room, but can’t during the winter because it just gets too cold to be tolerable? If so, then an infrared heater may be for you!
What is an Infrared Heater?
An infrared heater is an object that acts as a heat source. The way an infrared heater works is through radiation. Invisible infrared waves emit from the heater and are absorbed by the objects around it.
Think of the process as something similar to the sun. The sun uses sun beams to heat the objects it touches. Some find this to be a cleaner way to heat a space due to the lack of emissions, ash, and smoke caused by wood or pellet stoves.
Type of Infrared Heaters
There are two primary types of infrared heaters: gas heaters and electric heaters. Because this article is primarily for residences, we’ll focus strictly on electric options after discussing gas heaters.
Gas Infrared Heaters
These are usually used in more commercial or large-scale settings. They are pretty complicated machines. This is due to the multiple moving parts and burners. Overall, gas heaters are more powerful and therefore best for larger spaces.
On the other hand, they are more dangerous because they ignite gas to produce heat. They are still a good option if you have the space, time to upkeep them, and need for large-scale heating capabilities.
Electric Infrared Heaters
These types of heaters are typically the primary choice for those looking to heat residential buildings. In particular, if you’re looking to heat one room in your home, this is a great choice. While they aren’t as strong as their gas counterparts, they much easier to set up, operate and maintain.
In addition to this, since heat is generated by electricity there is no odor and they do not pollute the air surrounding them. This makes them ideal for rooms that may be poorly ventilated. Lastly, because they use electricity they are cheaper and easier to control than gas heaters.
Best Infrared Heater Options 2020
With all the types and options of heater available, it can be hard to decide which one is best for you. Here we’ve compiled a list of heaters and why you may choose them to heat your space.
Dr Infrared Heater Portable Space Heater
This heater by Dr. Infrared is an average 1500- watt mid-tier priced option with many of the aforementioned features. It comes with a remote, a blower for heat distribution, a timer and a thermostat. Although it has a blower, it is exceptionally quiet. Perhaps the best feature of this model is the 3 year, 80,000 hour warranty.
Lifesmart 6 Element Large Room Infrared Quartz Heater
A great value, the Lifesmart model is the cheapest of the recommendations, however it does not sacrifice much for the discount. It is a 1500-watt model with a remote, a 12 hour timer and thermostat. This model does not include a blower, but boasts a stylish wood cabinet look that will fit a room better than its metal counterparts.
Lifesmart Large Room 6 Element Infrared Heater
Similar to its wooden alternative, this heater also has 1500-watt capabilities, a remote, wheels for portability, a thermostat, and a timer with a cool metal finish. It is priced towards the upper range of the models listed.
VonHaus Wood Electric 4 Element Infrared Fan Heater
Another model with a fan, this wood-finished heater has wheels, a thermostat, a timer, a long range remote, and 2 settings for either 1500 or 500 watts of power allowing for easy temperature control. It also has advanced safety features built in so that if the model tips, there is no fire hazard from heat accumulations for another upper mid-range price.
Duraflame Portable Electric Infrared Quartz Heater
This heater is on the upper end of the pricing scale. But this portable heater can support up to 1,000 sq. ft. while still staying cool to the touch. It has a thermostat for monitoring temperatures, a remote, and a timer for even more convenient use.
Ivation Portable Electric Space Heater
A great deal in the middle range of the heaters, this model also offers 1500 W with an easy to use LCD display panel that also works with the remote to allow for setting timers and the thermostat. It also includes wheels for portability and a dark wood look.
What to Look For in an Infrared Heater?
While many electric infrared heaters share similarities in the way that they work to produce heat, there are also a number of features and distinctions that set them apart from each other. This ranges from useful features like built in thermostats to how strong they are, and these considerations are vital to deciding which is best for you.
Power
When comparing heaters, how powerful it is will likely be the most important factor of determining the best option for you. You should measure the dimensions of the room(s) you plan to use the heater in, and then choose a heater recommended for your sized room at the minimum.
Thermostat and Timer
Some models come with a thermostat that will turn off when the desired temperature is reached, while others may also (or separately) include a timer so that you can have it turn itself off while you sleep or while you’re away.
Fan
Some heaters included a fan in order to disperse the heat better throughout the room. This can usually effect how quiet the heater is when operational and leads to a more convection based method of transferring heat because a heating element is superheated and then the air is heated and blown out by the fan.
Remote and Portability
If you plan to move the heater often, a model with wheels may be useful for you. Also, if you’d like to adjust the heat from a distance, a remote model may prove helpful as well.
Price
Price is perhaps the most obvious of the deciding factors. The price varies depending on the features above, as well as aesthetic features and where you buy it from. Amazon has some great deals which we’ll talk about in the final section.
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