What is a radiant heater how it works?

Category: home and garden indoor environmental quality
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As the name implies, radiant heaters work by generating infrared radiation. All objects radiate energy in some form, at a rate proportional to their temperature. The infrared energy from radiant heaters travels out in the invisible, electromagnetic waves that get absorbed by the objects in their path.



Also, how does a radiant heating system work?

Radiant floor heating (RFH) involves installing electric heating coils or water-heated tubing under your home's floors. With an RFH system, the heat from the floor warms everything it touches and radiates throughout the room from the ground up. This is how radiant floor heating works.

Also Know, what is meant by radiant heat? Radiant heat, also known as thermal radiation, is the transfer of electromagnetic radiation which describes the heat exchange of energy by photons. Radiant heat is a mechanism for heat transfer which does not require a medium in which it propagates (unlike convection and conduction).

Similarly, you may ask, is infrared and radiant heat the same?

Infrared (IR) or Radiant Heating is a form of heat energy transfer from an Infrared radiant energy source. Radiant heating energy is in the form of electromagnetic waves. Infrared radiation (IR) has a wavelength that is longer than visible light, however shorter than microwaves.

Does radiant cooling work?

The process of radiant exchange has a negligible effect on air temperature, but through the process of convection, the air temperature will be lowered when air comes in contact with the cooled surface. Radiant cooling cools a floor or ceiling by absorbing the heat radiated from the rest of the room.

39 Related Question Answers Found

What are the pros and cons of radiant heat?

Pros and Cons of Radiant Heat
  • Uniform heating. The biggest benefit of floor-heating systems is their ability to uniformly heat a room and floor.
  • No maintenance. Electric floor-heating systems do not require maintenance.
  • No noise.
  • Non-allergenic.
  • Energy efficient.
  • Easy to install.

Do radiant heaters use a lot of electricity?

Infrared heaters heat in a different way to convection heaters. Infrared heaters work by not heating the air, but by heating the objects, people and the structure of the space. So if you're asking the question, do infrared heaters use a lot of electricity, then the answer is no.

Is radiant heat cheaper than forced air?

Radiant heat is much more efficient than forced air, and after the initial cost of installation, these systems will save you money on your energy bills every month. You'll also get increased comfort because temperatures stay consistent.

Is Radiant Heat expensive to run?

Electric radiant floor heating costs about $6 per sq. ft. for materials but is often less expensive to install because of lower labor costs. Unfortunately, it's far more costly to operate and therefore generally makes sense as a supplemental, not primary, heat source.

Is radiant heat worth the cost?

(And these costs can be significant. According to figures collected by Angie's List, homeowners can expect to pay between $6 and $16 per square foot, not including tax and labor, for a radiant heating system.) Because they heat surfaces and not the air itself, in-floor heating systems are not prone to this issue.

Can radiant floor heating be used for cooling?

A hydronic radiant floor heating and cooling system heats and cools a structure by circulating warm or cool water through flexible PEX (crosslinked polyethylene) tubing located underneath or within the floor. Hydronic radiant floor heating can be used alone or in conjunction with traditional forced-air heating systems.

Should I turn down radiant heat at night?

Does it pay to turn down the heat at night when you have a radiant-floor heating system? “My opinion is that lowering the setpoint at night is a good thing, as the system will put fewer BTUs into the house, saving energy. When the system ramps up in the morning, it will reheat the slab without any loss of efficiency.

Can infrared give you cancer?

The ICNIRP statement on the biological effects of infrared radiation (IR) indicates that thermal injury (heat) is the dominant risk. Skin cancer is not expected from exposure to IR. However, increased skin temperature can reduce DNA repair efficiency, and promote skin cancer that is initiated by other agents.

Which type of heater is cheapest to run?


The 5 Cheapest Types of Electric Heater to Run… & Why.
  • Infrared Heaters – the lowest wattage per heat provided makes these the cheapest to run.
  • Oil-Filled Heaters – their long-lasting heat makes the most out of the electricity.
  • Storage Heaters – saves in running costs by using off-peak electricity tariffs.

Is infrared heating dangerous?

Since no ultraviolet radiation is produced, this is safer than other options such as sunbathing, but infrared radiation still produces dangers of its own, especially in a sauna environment where the heat is intense. Infrared heaters can cause burns, eye damage and dehydration.

What type of room heater is best?

Top Oil-filled room heaters:
Room Heater Price Ratings
HAVELLS OIL FILLED RADIATOR 2500W ₹ 8,828 4.5/5
Bajaj Majesty Rh 13 F Oil Filled Room Heater ₹ 10,999 4.3/5
Orpat OOH-9F 2500-Watt Oil Heater ₹ 5,262 5/5
Optimus 700-Watt Electric Portable Oil-Filled Radiator Heater ₹ 7,703 3.8/5

What is the best infrared heater on the market?

View the Best Infrared Heater on the Market, Below.
  1. Dr.
  2. EdenPURE A5095 Infrared Heater.
  3. Lifesmart Element Large Room Infrared Heater.
  4. Lifesmart Room Infrared Heater with Remote.
  5. Dr.
  6. Homegear Pro 1500w Infrared Space Heater.
  7. Homegear Wood Electric Infrared Fan Heater.
  8. Heat Storm Deluxe Infrared Wall Heater.

Are radiant heaters safe?

Like space heaters, radiant panels get very hot in order to warm up a room — they are not safe to the touch. Unlike space heaters, radiant panels do not blow heated air throughout the room. Radiant heat uses electromagnetic waves to transfer heat to the people and objects in the room.

How is radiant energy produced?


The energy from the sun is called radiant energy, or energy possessed by vibrating particles. Vibrating particles in the sun create waves that travel through space and time. We call these waves created by vibrating particles electromagnetic waves.

How well does radiant heat work?

Radiant floor heating keeps rooms warm, doesn't make any noise and it's energy efficient. You can heat all of your house or supplement just a room or two. With a radiant heat floor, the warmth rises evenly from below, so the temperature of the room is uniform from top to bottom — and your tootsies never get cold.

What is radiant heat source?

Radiant heating systems supply heat directly to the floor or to panels in the wall or ceiling of a house. Hydronic systems can use a wide variety of energy sources to heat the liquid, including standard gas- or oil-fired boilers, wood-fired boilers, solar water heaters, or a combination of these sources.