We have seen from the previous page that feeling warm or cold does not depend on the temperature of the air!.
These heaters heat the walls, objects (including people) within a room and NOT the air in the room So infrared heating is very different from convection based heating systems which heat the air in the vicinity the heater.
The main factor in deciding to use these heaters apart from taking up less room and being possibly a healthier alternative to traditional heaters is cost savings
1) As an infrared heater heats objects directly and not the air around them actual power requirement can be less
2) Heat loss due to draughts and other ventilation are lower as you are heating materials not air. The materials have a greater thermal mass which maintains heat over a longer period than air which has no thermal mass as such.
3) Human thermal comfort is perceived differently when heating the walls and objects in a room. Some people say this is as much as 3.5 deg centigrade less than with conventional convection heating
4) The design of these heaters and controls also results in potential savings.
5) Heating the walls directly means they stay dry giving mould and mildew less chance to develop and spread
6) As their is little air circulation ( as a result of no convection) then no dust is raised and bacteria spread less easily.
7) This is a natural form of warmth (like the heat from the sun) and is believed by some to have a beneficial effect on the immune system
