Garden heating with IR (Infrared) patio heating for the pool house or on a covered terrace. The long models are the best known and easy to install. The hanging models are ideal for example above a table.
What exactly is an infrared and infrared heater?
Infra-red is a radiation invisible to the eye. There are 3 types
IR short wave
The short wave infrared heaters are most commonly used for patio heaters. These have the advantage that they have a good and fast heating effect, in other words, this radiation is very effective and generates heat within a second. The other side of the coin is the risk of burns if you get too close to the emitter. These short-wave radiators are therefore especially suitable for mounting and heating at a distance, eg on the ceiling or above a table.
IR MIDDLE WAVE
This medium IR radiation will also warm up the environment a bit. This garden heater emits a darker red light. There is also no risk of burns if you get too close to the radiator with your body. That is why these IR Mid wave radiators are used more for example for underfloor heating or heating of large buildings or for example the wall in the bathroom. This medium wave is included in our professional device: Sunred Professional Smart Heater 2500 patio heater
IR LONG WAVE
This long-wave infrared radiation will be used more in eg panels, mirrors or heaters. This long wave is also partly found in broad spectrum emitters in eg IR Saunas. Long wave infrared is rarely used in patio heating.
This radiation, for example, also comes to the earth via the sun and causes the heating of your body or objects. IR radiation is not the same as UV, microwave or eg X-ray radiation. Infrared radiation is SAFE, warm radiation and in some cases even therapeutic. The most commonly used short wave is very suitable for heating your patio or pool house and is recognizable by its bright orange color.
ATTENTION : The only caveat here is to maintain a certain distance to prevent burning.
What are the applications of infrared heaters?
Infrared heating is used in many applications. This technique is used
- in the covering of the car seats as seat heating
- if IR saunas for health treatment
- for panels in the wall, floor or ceiling heating
- but especially if heating in the garden in the form of patio heaters
These are also used on terrace in the catering industry. This energy-efficient heating ensures that you can enjoy summer and winter in your outdoor space.
Are there alternatives to infrared heating devices?
There are many alternative garden heaters available. All types of garden heaters have their own specific charm. The most evocative garden heating are the fire bowls and the tgarden fireplace. The plus of a fire bowl in the garden is the atmosphere and cosiness. The downside, of course, is the smoke and the work to keep the fire going.
A 2nd known alternative is of course the "mushroom" the heating systems with a propane gas tank. The downside of this one gas patio heater is that you have to replace the gas tank on a regular basis. Moreover, this heating, in contrast to the IR emitters, is with a flame. The advantage is the incredibly low purchase price.
If 3rd alternative are more and more pellet patio heaters. These heaters are incredibly economical and also do not give off the smoke that e.g. a garden fire or fire basket give.
How much electricity does an IR patio heater use?
The consumption of an IR patio heater depends on the number of radiators and their wattage. Here is a calculation example:
If you heat a 15m² terrace with a radiator of 2000W, this terrace heating will consume at an electricity price of €0.25/kWh: 2 x €0.25/kWh = €0.5/h
A terrace heating on electricity with infrared consumes at a maximum power of 2000 Watt 0.5 € / h.
What are the advantages of IR radiators as patio heating?
- These are easy to install
- Safe, fire-free and IP55 splash-proof
- Odorless - Noiseless
- Fast direct action and heating
- Energy efficient up to 95% of the energy is converted into heat
- Warming of people and materials (not the air)
- Wind does not affect proper operation
TIP : Would you like help with the choice of your infrared patio heating? read our selection guide here: How do I choose the best infrared patio heater?
Advantages of infrared heating compared to gas heating
- Infrared heating warms people up, regardless of whether there is wind this still works very well, gas heating, on the other hand, warms up the environment
- Heating with IR rays is odourless, noiseless and usually low in light
- Electric patio heating with a radiator is more economical than a gas burner: IR radiator consumes 0.5 €/h, a gas burner 2.5 €/h
- With a radiant heat heater, you don't have to carry around gas bottles like with the gas patio burner. The cord and the plug and you're done.
- You have IR emitters in different models; ceiling or wall mounting, hanging models or patio heaters on a stand
- The price of an IR heater is lower than that of a propane gas patio heater
- You can operate the Sunred Professional Smart Heater 2500 patio heater with an APP and an adjustable timer. Operate multiple heaters yourself with 1 APP.
Which infrared patio heating is the best?
There is a well-matched "BEST BUY IR HEATING" for every application and situation
For a terrace at a hotel, restaurant, café or bistro, the Smart Heater 2500 the best buy. This IR patio heater has a powerful power of up to 2500 Watt, adjustable in 9 positions. With the APP you can operate it or have it switched on and off based on a timer. You can control different "zones" with 1 single APP.
For heating a (small) balcony or small terrace, the most suitable infrared heater is the Fortune wall 1500 This heat radiator is suitable for 15m². Everything is included with this device, a cord of 1.8 m, a bracket for easy mounting on the wall, clear Dutch manual. There is a remote control for easy operation and the price is very reasonable.
It is best to work with a vertical IR garden heater on a garden set, lounge chair or garden table. The infrared standing radiator Dark Valencia Lounge 3000 Watts is the best choice IR heater for this application. This is a very powerful heater that is adjustable in 3 positions. The vertical radiation makes it an ideal heater for a garden lounge.
For a more intimate application at a garden table or a picnic table at the pool or in the garden, you can use the table model IR heating to use. These are small simple devices that you can place ON the table.
The infrared garden heaters with the most beautiful design are the Artix design infrared patio heaters. These are available as a standing model and as a hanging model. The "lampshade" models are very nice for in a pool house or above a table on a covered terrace.
How much light does an infrared patio heater give?
The light intensity of an infrared heater depends on the type of emitter.
The HALOGEN radiator gives a lot of light
The ROSE GOLD gives a less bright light orange / yellow glow.
ROSE GOLD CARBON (low glare IR heater) gives almost no light anymore.
The BLACK HEAT NO light at all.
The brightness is important to know. Many people find the light an annoying side effect and it can also be blinding. Usually, the heat with an infrared radiator that gives more light is also slightly more intense. So the more light the more intense the heat, the less light the weaker the heat development.
TIP : Would you like help with the choice of your infrared patio heating? read our selection guide here: How do I choose the best infrared patio heater?
How many infrared radiators can you connect to 1 socket circuit?
A maximum of 3680 Watt can be connected to 1 socket circuit with a 16A fuse (230V x 16A = 3680Watt - Watt unit for electrical power). In concrete terms, you can therefore connect 2 IR emitters of 1500W to 2 sockets of 1 circuit (usually 8 sockets).
There are a maximum of 8 sockets on 1 electrical circuit. You can therefore NOT connect 1 IR patio heater to every socket. This will take too much power from the circuit. If you connect too much power to 1 circuit, the fuse will "blow".
Usually there is 1 electrical loop per room. So, for example, 1 circuit in the outdoor area of the pool house and, for example, 1 circuit for the interior and then, for example, another circuit in the kitchen, etc ...
