Far infrared heating is a form of electric radiant heating.

Instead of relying mainly on warm air moving around a room, a far infrared heater sends radiant heat towards people, walls, floors and other surfaces.

These surfaces absorb the heat and gradually release it back into the room.

This creates a different heating experience from traditional convection-based systems.

Far infrared heaters produce radiant energy.

When this energy reaches a person or surface, it is absorbed and converted into heat.

This means you can begin to feel warmth without waiting for all the air in the room to heat first.

The surfaces within the room also warm gradually and help maintain a comfortable temperature.

Yes, when the system is correctly specified and installed.

Far infrared is non-ionising radiation. It is different from ultraviolet radiation and X-rays.

Infrared is simply one of the natural ways that heat moves from one place to another.

As with any electric heater, the surface can become hot. Installation heights, clearances and manufacturer instructions must therefore be followed.

Flexel EcoSun far infrared space heaters do not need to glow red to produce radiant heat.

The bright red or orange glow seen on some patio and industrial heaters normally comes from different types of higher-temperature infrared technology.

Far infrared heating works without producing visible light.

Yes, a correctly designed far infrared heating system can provide whole-room heating.

The radiant energy first warms people and surfaces within its coverage area.

Those surfaces then release heat into the surrounding space.

Correct heater output, quantity and positioning are important if infrared heating is being used as the main heating system.

No.

You may feel radiant warmth directly from the heater, but the system also heats surfaces around the room.

Walls, floors, furniture and other surfaces can absorb the radiant energy and gradually contribute to the temperature of the room.

Good heater positioning helps provide even coverage.

A conventional radiator transfers a large part of its heat to the surrounding air.

The warm air rises and circulates around the room.

Far infrared heating transfers more of its heat directly towards people and surfaces.

This can be particularly useful in large, high or difficult-to-heat spaces.

Not automatically.

A 1kW infrared heater and a 1kW conventional electric heater both use 1kW of electricity while operating at full power.

The potential advantage of infrared heating comes from how the heat is delivered.

A well-designed system may allow better zoning, shorter heating periods or lower installed wattage in some applications.

The actual running cost depends on the building, controls, insulation, energy tariff and heating pattern.

The basic calculation is simple:

Heater output in kW × electricity cost per kWh × operating time

For example, a 600W heater has an output of 0.6kW.

The exact cost will depend on your electricity tariff and how long the heater is switched on.

A thermostat can reduce unnecessary energy use by switching the heating off when the required temperature has been reached.

Only while it is fully energised.

A thermostat can switch the heater on and off as the room reaches the selected temperature.

This means the heater does not necessarily consume its full rated output continuously throughout the day.

Good time and temperature controls are an important part of any electric heating system.

Direct electric heaters convert virtually all of the electricity they use into heat at the point of use.

However, this does not mean every electric heating system costs the same to operate.

System design, control, heater positioning, building heat loss and occupancy all affect energy consumption.

Heat pumps work differently and can provide more heat energy than the electrical energy they consume because they move heat rather than producing all of it directly.

There is no single answer.

Gas and electricity have different energy prices, and every building has different heat losses and usage patterns.

Infrared heating can be particularly useful where only certain rooms or occupied areas need heating.

It can also suit buildings that are used for limited periods rather than being heated continuously.

Flexel recommends assessing the building before estimating potential energy savings.

They are different technologies.

Heat pumps can be very efficient for buildings that require regular whole-building heating.

Far infrared heating can offer advantages where simple installation, fast radiant comfort, individual room control or zonal heating is important.

The best option depends on the building, its insulation and how it is used.

Radiant warmth can usually be felt relatively quickly.

This is because infrared heating does not need to warm the entire volume of air before occupants begin to feel heat.

However, the time required to bring the whole room up to temperature will depend on the building and the heater output.

The number of heaters should be calculated from the heating requirement of the room.

Important factors include:

• Room length and width
• Ceiling height
• Building insulation
• External walls
• Windows and doors
• Required room temperature
• How the room is used
• Heater mounting position
• Available electrical supply

For larger projects, Flexel can help calculate the required heating output and recommend suitable heater positions.

Mounting height affects how radiant heat reaches the occupied area.

A standard panel may be ideal for an office or domestic room but unsuitable for a high warehouse or church.

Higher spaces often require more powerful EcoSun bar heaters that are designed to project radiant heat over a greater distance.

This is why Flexel considers room volume and mounting height when designing larger systems.

The heater should have a clear path towards the area that needs heating.

Ceiling mounting can provide excellent coverage because furniture is less likely to obstruct the radiant heat.

Wall mounting can also work well when the heater is positioned correctly.

Large furniture or other objects directly in front of the heater may reduce its effective coverage.

Yes.

Many Flexel EcoSun heaters are designed for ceiling installation.

Ceiling mounting can provide good radiant coverage while leaving wall and floor space clear.

However, mounting options vary between products.

Always follow the installation instructions for the specific EcoSun heater.

Yes.

High ceilings are one of the applications where radiant heating can be particularly useful.

Convection heating warms air, which naturally rises towards the ceiling.

Radiant heaters can instead be positioned to direct heat towards occupied areas.

Flexel offers higher-output EcoSun bar heaters for churches, warehouses, factories, sports halls and other high spaces.

Yes.

Churches can be difficult to heat because they often have high ceilings, large internal volumes and limited occupancy periods.

A radiant system can direct heat towards the congregation instead of relying only on heating the entire volume of air.

Flexel provides heating surveys and system recommendations for church and heritage projects.

Yes.

Infrared heating can be used for whole-area heating or zonal heating.

Zonal heating allows heat to be focused on occupied work areas instead of heating an entire warehouse unnecessarily.

This can be useful in factories, workshops, distribution buildings and spaces with regularly opening doors.

Yes.

Infrared panels can provide comfortable heating for offices, meeting rooms, reception areas and home offices.

Individual room or zone controls can also help prevent unused areas from being heated unnecessarily.

Yes.

Far infrared heating can be used in classrooms, offices, halls and other educational spaces.

The correct product depends on the ceiling height, room use and required heating output.

Heating can also be divided into separate zones to improve control.

Some infrared heaters are suitable for bathroom use.

The product must have the correct IP rating and must be installed in an appropriate location.

Bathroom installations should always comply with current electrical regulations.

A qualified electrician should confirm the correct product and installation position.

Infrared heating can increase the temperature of walls and other surfaces.

Warmer surfaces may reduce the likelihood of condensation forming in certain situations.

However, condensation can also be caused by poor ventilation, water ingress, thermal bridges or high humidity.

Heating should not be treated as a cure for an underlying damp problem.

Infrared heating should not be described as a guaranteed cure for mould.

By helping to warm cold surfaces, it may reduce some of the conditions that allow surface condensation to occur.

However, persistent mould should be investigated properly.

Ventilation, insulation, moisture levels and the condition of the building must also be considered.

Far infrared heating relies less on moving warm air around a room than fan-assisted heating systems.

This can reduce air movement within the space.

However, Flexel does not make medical claims about infrared heating or suggest that it treats allergies, asthma or other health conditions.

Far infrared heating does not need fans or large amounts of moving warm air to provide comfort.

Many people therefore experience radiant heating differently from strong convection heating.

Normal ventilation is still necessary to maintain good indoor air quality and control humidity.

Yes.

Suitable Flexel systems can be combined with Flexel Touch WiFi controls.

This allows compatible heating zones to be programmed and controlled using smart devices.

Wireless control can also be useful where running additional control wiring would be difficult.

Electric infrared heaters generally require very little routine maintenance.

They do not need boilers, pumps, flues or combustion servicing.

The heaters should still be kept clean, unobstructed and inspected as part of the building’s normal electrical maintenance.

Far infrared heaters are normally silent during operation.

They do not require fans or motors to distribute the heat.

This can make them suitable for offices, homes, churches, meeting rooms and classrooms.

There is no combustion, so infrared heaters do not produce exhaust gases or combustion smells.

Some new heaters may produce a temporary smell during their first few heating cycles.

This normally disappears after initial use.

Far infrared heating produces no combustion emissions at the point of use.

Its overall carbon impact depends on how the electricity is generated.

Using renewable electricity, solar PV or an increasingly low-carbon electricity supply can reduce the associated operational carbon emissions.

In some buildings, yes.

A properly designed infrared system can be used as the main heating system.

In other situations, infrared may be better suited to individual rooms, extensions, workspaces or specific heating zones.

The system should always be sized around the actual heat requirement of the building.

Yes.

Infrared radiation travels from the heater until it reaches a surface.

A large cupboard, sofa or other obstruction directly in front of a heater can therefore reduce its coverage.

Correct heater positioning is important when designing the system.

Not always.

Several correctly positioned heaters can often provide more even coverage than one large heater installed in a single location.

A good infrared design considers both the total wattage and how that output is distributed around the room.

Opening doors and windows increases heat loss from the building.

Radiant energy is not carried away by moving air in exactly the same way as warm air from a convection heater.

However, an open building will still require more energy to maintain a comfortable temperature.

Yes.

This can be one of the strongest applications for infrared heating.

Churches, meeting rooms, workshops, community halls and other occasional-use spaces may not need continuous heating.

A programmable infrared system can provide heat only when the area is required.

Comfort is affected by more than air temperature.

The temperature of the surfaces around us also influences how warm we feel.

Radiant heating warms people and surrounding surfaces directly.

This means comfortable conditions can sometimes be achieved without relying only on increasing the air temperature.

Infrared heating is not the right solution for every building.

Important factors include:

• Correct heater positioning
• Clear radiant coverage
• Electrical running costs
• Available electrical capacity
• Surface temperatures
• Building heat loss
• Suitable controls

Furniture and other objects can also obstruct radiant heat.

For some well-insulated buildings that require continuous heating, a heat pump may use less electricity.

The heating system should therefore be selected according to the building and how it will be used.

Flexel has been developing and manufacturing electric heating products for decades.

Our EcoSun range includes solutions for homes, offices, schools, churches, commercial buildings, warehouses and industrial environments.

We can help identify the correct:

• Heater type
• Heating output
• Number of heaters
• Mounting positions
• Heater spacing
• Heating controls

For larger projects, Flexel can also provide a heating survey and system recommendation.