Infrared heating systems

[Shack]

Hi, I've been asked by a customer to install an electric heating system. There is an old warm air system in there at the moment and no gas supply to the flats. I've had a look around and have seen infrared being raved about, has anyone installed or got any experience? Any help or advice would be appreciated. Cheers, Paul

 

[Outspoken]

Do you intend to utilize the warm air ducting for distribution of warmed air?

 

[Amp David]

What kind of building is it?

 

[dan86]

there was a thread a while back about infrared iirc. think it was to heat a church. do a search

 

[dan86]

here we go Shack. did the search for ya.
http://www.electriciansforums.net/showthread.php?t=72873
don't say I'm not good to you. feel free to thank me

 

[solarsavings]

Doesn't infrared heating only heat your body and not the surrounding air and building?

 

[Outspoken]

Doesn't infrared heating only heat your body and not the surrounding air and building?

This is a load of old cobblers that the anti IR people say, Heat is Infra-Red, it is energy at a lower wavelength that visible light. The way Infra-Red lamps work is tailored to a frequency that the human body responds most too, but surfaces etc would still be heated, just to a lesser degree than other frequencies of Infra-Red that they may absorb more.

 

[solarsavings]

I didn't know that.

 

[Dohnut]

I've only ever seen the infrared heaters used on patios, churches and warehouses where are you installing them?

 

[Shack]

Thanks for all of the replies. It is a smallish 2 bed ground floor flat, solid floors and double glazed so should be fairly well insulated. Don't really want to go the storage heater route. I have considered an electric combi style boiler but as it's solid floors pipework would have to go surface. Hadn't thought about utilising existing duct work to move the heat around, worth some thinking time. Has anyone installed any IR as I would be interested to know how it performed and what the customer thought?

 

[Richard Burns]

I would install electric radiators in the rooms for a two bed flat.
Generally warm air ducted heating is inefficient, but it may be installed well.
IR heaters is just a fancy electric fire!

 

[Dohnut]

Farho heaters are very good but it depends on the budget of your client.

http://www.farhouk.co.uk/

 

[Amp David]

I've only ever seen the infrared heaters used on patios, churches and warehouses where are you installing them?

This is why I asked what type of building they were going in. I've only ever seen em in places you mention too

 

[Dohnut]

Best off getting a decent electric heater, I don't think anyone would like to be sitting in their lounge watching TV in a red glow from an IR heater.

Modern electric heaters are a solid construction, have ducts/fins to guide the air through and are much more efficient meaning you can also go with a lower power output, just dont put some crappy convector heater in.

 

[atm84]

Infrared heaters only heat bodies and surfaces. They do not hear air. If you walked into a room it would seem cold then you would only warm up after a while with sitting in front of the infrared heater, then you would be too hot. You only ever see infrared heaters in warehouses or churches. Electric panel heaters can be good if the building is well insulated. Easy to install, no maintenance and can look neat and tidy.