Best Infrared Heaters 2022 – Buyer’s Guide and Reviews

You’ll find an automatic on/off function to regulate the heat output and ensure that no energy is wasted.  It also comes with a nifty timer function that will allow you to specify when the unit will turn off or on.  Practically, it means you can be out on some errands and then come back to a warm home.

11. Duraflame Portable Electric Infrared Quartz Oscillating Tower Heater – Best oscillating infrared heater

Yet another excellent entry from Duraflame.  This portable infrared quartz oscillating tower does exactly what it says – oscillate.

Whilst infrared heaters are great at heating a room, Duraflame have gone one step further to provide a heater that actually direct the hot air over a larger area.  The result?  Expect your room to heat up significantly faster.

On top of this, you’ll get the usual things expected of a heater in this price range including a remote, digital temperature display, timer and several temperature settings.  Combine this with a premium oak finish and we have one attractive infrared heater that will fit well in just about any room.

When it’s all said and done, this is a top performing infrared heater that will keep you warm during the long winter months.

12. Lifesmart Medium Room Infrared Heater – Easy to use and at an affordable price

Lifesmart really know what they are doing when it comes to infrared heaters.  This infrared heater is a great choice when it comes to affordably heating a small to large room (1000 sq. ft.) thanks to the 3 quartz heating elements.

At first look, we thought this heater looked more like a desktop PC than something to heat a room.  But when you think about it, there is some genius in the design.

The vertical front grill provides ample surface area for heat to enter the room.  The large LED display that sits angled on top is extremely easy to use and will display all the settings in plain sight.  In essence, this is a straightforward and practical design that forgoes the more finesse (but sometimes unpractical) designs of other heaters.

You’ll also get the typical things like a remote and 12 hour timer.  Don’t let the modest price fool you; you also get a bunch of safety features that will keep your family and home safe.  This includes a touch safe exterior, fireproof cabinet and tip-over switch which will shut down the unit in the event that it falls over.

Overall, this is a small little heater that is very easy to use and offers the features that are common at more premium prices.  If you need something that does a good job of heating a space, then this heater will get the job done.

Infrared Heater Buyer’s Guide

No list would ever be complete without a detailed buyer’s guide. After all, it’s all well and good to know what the best infrared heaters are but choosing the right one for you is a totally different ball game.

In order to make the right decision, it helps to understand what infrared heating is and how it works.

What is an infrared heater and how does it work?

The easiest way to explain how infrared heating works is comparing it to the sun. When you go outside on a sunny day and feel the warmth of the sun on your skin; that’s akin to how infrared heat feels.

The suns rays (including infrared radiation) heats whatever object it touches. In a similar fashion, infrared rays from an infrared heater warm whatever obeject they come into contact with, causing the molecules to oscillate and release heat.

This makes infrared heaters a very efficient and effective heating method for homes.

Commercially available infrared heaters are typically run on electricity and have several components. This includes an infrared generating source like an infrared light bulb, a heat exchanger to absorb heat, and then a component to release the heat like a fan or reflector.

Most infrared heaters that you can buy today use a quartz tube or ceramic element as the heat exchanger. These materials are extremely efficient and have a long shelf life. They can convert more than 95% of the input electricity to heat! Some infrared heaters even sport a 100% efficiency rating which exceeds many other heating methods.

Why is Infrared Heating a Good Choice?

There are numerous benefits of infrared heating that encourage people to make the switch:

• Efficiency. With convection heating, hot air rises and cooler air falls. This results in that cool air needing to be heated again. Not very efficient! As mentioned, infrared heating overcomes this by heating the objects directly and not the air itself. This achieves the desired temperature a lot more quickly. Even with infrared heaters that use a fan to blow heat out, the mechanism behind warming that air is a lot more efficient than traditional heating methods.
• Great for outdoors. While both types of heating can be used for enclosed spaces, infrared heating also excels in an outdoor environment since objects (such as yourself, a tent or chair) are warmed up instead of air which can easily escape the area you want warmed up.
• A Healthier Choice. Ever seen infrared heaters being used in a sauna or health studio? Infrared rays have numerous health benefits to the body including improving blood circulation, boosting the immune system and easing joint stiffness.
• Consistent Humidity and Cleaner Air. Infrared heaters are great at keeping the humidity levels consistent as the air isn’t directly warmed. This is especially advantageous during winter where traditional heaters make the air extra dry, forcing consumers to invest in a humidifier. They are also not pushing dust or allergens into the environment.
• Silent. Many infrared heaters operate in virtual silence as they have minimal moving parts. Even the ones with a built-in blower are generally very quiet.
• Easy to Maintain. Infrared heaters are a lot easier to maintain than convection heating. You don’t have to worry about things like a filter or exhaust. You pretty much just need to wipe down the unit from time to time when dust accumulates.
• Cost Effective. A high level of efficiency combined with the ability to warm a room very quickly mean that infrared heaters are a cost-effective solution compared to other heating systems.

While the advantages of infrared heating are enough to purchase a unit for yourself, it’s also important to understand the reason behind getting one in the first place.

Consider the following scenarios that would benefit from the use of an infrared heater:

Factors To Consider When Choosing Your Infrared Heater

Before choosing which infrared heater to buy, it’s important to consider all the factors that come in to play. Here is a checklist for you to go through:

1) Fixed or Portable?

The majority of infrared heaters made for consumers are portable by nature.  They are lightweight and relatively small and can be rolled or carried from room to room.  However; some are meant to be permanent fixtures.

A fixed infrared heater is generally larger and able to warm at least one room. It’s a good choice when you want a permanent heating solution.

It’ll typically come in a kit ready to screw onto a wall or ceiling. Therefore; it’s important to identify the heaters location in the room before you decide to purchase it.

A portable infrared heater will come with wheels and/or carry handles and is lightweight enough for you to move around the house. It’s perfect for room to room (or zone) heating.

2) What about Safety?

It comes as no surprise that heater manufacturers take safety very seriously.  After all, we are dealing with a device that can run very hot at times.  The last thing we want is someone getting burnt or worst still a house fire!

The majority of models (and most of the ones we have mentioned) come with the following safety features:

• A tip over safety switch which will turn off the heater when it is tipped over. It may not happen that often, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.  After all, you don’t want the exposed hot grates or reflector touching something flammable like carpet.
• A cool-touch exterior. Apart from the area that emits hot air or rays into the room, most of the heater will be cool to touch.  It’ll prevent yourself and anyone else in the house from getting a singed surprise.
• Auto shut-off is another safety element which typically comes into effect when a certain temperature is reached, or the heater is pushed over. This auto shut-off will either turn the heater off completely or turn it off temporarily until the temperature begins to fall, in which case it’ll switch the unit back on again.

3) Additonal Functionality

Nowadays, infrared heaters come with numerous functions to maximise their usability. Here are the ones you should look out for:

Remote control:  Who wants to have to get up from a comfy chair and change a setting on the heater itself?  No one!  Remote controls are the solution.  They usually allow you to set the temperature and timer as well as turn the unit on or off. Basically, they help cover most features you would find on the actual heater.

Heating settings:  Infrared heaters are already renowned for saving you money on your heating bills.  However; to squeeze the most out of this ability, many heaters come with 2 or more heating settings.  These can be at different watts.  This ensures you can get the most out of your infrared heater using the smallest amount of energy possible.  Many heaters also come with an eco-mode setting which will turn off the unit when the set temperature is reached.  The heater will turn back on again once the room temperature begins to fall.

Timer:  Timers are very handy from a usability point of view.  They allow you to either set when the heater will turn off or when it will turn on.  This is handy if you’re snoozing or are out for the day and want to return to a warm house.  Timers typically range from 1 to 24 hours.

Oscillation:  While the majority of infrared space heaters use a small fan to blow the heat out, other heaters also utilize an oscillating feature which rotates the heater and provides better heat coverage of a room.

Thermostat:  Typically displayed via a digital panel (or as a knob), the thermostat will ensure your heater reaches and maintains the desired temperature.

4) Location

The location of the heater within a room is also very important. If it’s portable, then you can just move it around till you’re happy. However; if you’re buying a unit that is more of a permanent fixture than consider its line of site.

If your heater does not use a fan, then ensure whatever you want to warm up has an unobstructed view as it requires a line of sight. Keep in mind that closer objects will be warmed faster and to a higher degree, than further objects.

For outdoor usage, garages, bathrooms and other environments where air is less contained, infrared heaters are a perfect option. They are even excellent for more practical applications, like drying paint.
Most heaters come with a setting to change power modes and therefore increase the amount of heat generated. This is perfect for fixed but especially portable units as you can change the setting based on the size of the room.

5) Size matters

This applies to the heater itself and size of the room.

In general, infrared heaters are best suited for small to medium sized rooms. The reason for this is that you’ll mostly feel the heat when the rays directly hit you.

So, a larger room with wider angles will make it more difficult for this to happen. Of course, you can always opt for a heater that emits rays over a larger surface area or one that also has a built-in fan.

In regard to the heater itself, a larger unit will obviously take up more space. You’ll also need to consider if it will sit vertically or horizontally.

6) Power

Generally, a larger unit will have more power than a smaller one. You want to try and choose the right amount of wattage for the correct room size. Most heaters range from 250 to 1500 Watts. The lower end of this scale is best for a small room. Closer to 1500 Watts is ideal for a medium to large sized room.

It’s best to read the manufacturers description of a product to see what they recommend. They’ll generally provide the power level and corresponding size of room (in square feet or metres) that is recommended.

That way, you won’t waste power on heating a room too small. Conversely, you won’t invest in a heater that simply isn’t powerful enough to adequately heat a larger room.

7) Design

Infrared heaters come in all shapes, sizes and materials. Some have 3D visual effects like flames to simulate a fireplace. Others are made from wood, plastic or aluminium, and coated in a variety of colours. Whatever type of room you have, there is an infrared heater that will surely look the part.

8) Warranty

Like many products you buy, infrared heaters usually come with a warranty that lasts a year or more. Make sure to read the warranty to understand what is covered.

FAQ

Are infrared rays dangerous?

A common misconception is that infrared rays can be dangerous to humans. This is because many people unknowingly lump together the damaging reputation of UV (ultraviolet) rays to also be associated with infrared rays.

The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) is an independent organization that provides scientific advice and guidance of these types of radiation on health and the environment.

Regarding infrared radiation, they concluded no risk of cancer or body damage. In fact, the main risk associated was thermal injury which can occur with most types of heaters.

Having said that, any type of radiation can be dangerous if concentrated enough (think of a laser). Of course, infrared heater manufacturers ensure their product doesn’t emit anything close to a dangerous level.

Just how much money can I save using an infrared heater?

There is no absolute way of determining how much you can save by using an infrared heater. Yes, infrared heating is extremely energy efficient, but money savings will primarily boil down to how effectively you use the heater.

Zone heating is the best option to maximise efficiency. Zone heating is when you heat the rooms you most often use. This is opposed to using a central heating system that warms the entire house, including rooms you may not be in.

Summing Up

Well that concludes our best infrared heaters reviews for 2022.  We hope this has made the process of choosing the right heater for yourself an easier one.  As always, feel free to leave a comment below!