Infrared vs Ceramic Heaters: Key Differences & Benefits

Infrared and Ceramic heaters stand out as efficient and versatile solutions for providing secondary or primary heating in various residential, commercial, and industrial settings among HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems. Knowing the features, advantages, and uses of both ceramic and infrared heaters is crucial as the market for energy-efficient heating solutions expands. This article highlights the key differences between the two heaters which would help you in selecting the heater that fits best for your demands.

What Are Infrared Heaters?Infrared Heaters

Infrared Heaters ensure rapid and effective warmth by releasing infrared radiation that concurrently heats surroundings. Spaces that are poorly insulated or open spaces employ this method of heating as it does not rely upon heating the air, which escapes easily.

Infrared rays provide instant warmth owing to their direct penetration. These heaters do not rely on air for the transmission of heat and thus help resist wind and drafts Making them great to use in outdoor conditions like lawns, gardens, and garages that require targeted heating.

Major Features:

  • Infrared heaters offer quick and effective warmth in the surroundings.
  • They convert energy into heat at a greatly optimized and efficient level.
  • Infrared heaters are environment-friendly as they maintain natural humidity levels, unlike traditional heaters.
  • They are silent in operation and effective in varied environments including windy and drafty areas.

What are Ceramic Heaters?

 

Ceramic heaters rely on their ceramic heating component to disperse heat and then use a fan to spread the heat around the space. Ceramic fans provide a quick and uniform rise in temperature throughout the space.

Ceramic heaters can provide heat for a substantial amount of time even after being turned off because ceramic can retain heat excellently. This added benefit makes them great for longer and economic uses at home. Ceramic heaters come packed with a ton of safety features to ensure your homes stay perfect.Ceramic heaters

Major Features:

  • Ceramic Heaters employ fans to distribute heat around the spaces uniformly and quickly.
  • Ceramic Heaters come bundled with safety features including cut-off and tip-over switches preventing your home from unwanted burns.
  • Ceramic Heaters are cost-effective devices as they can continue to heat our spaces even when turned off.
  • They are available in a multitude of different designs and sizes fitting to the customer’s needs and demands.

Infrared vs Ceramic heater: which one to go for?

  • Energy Efficiency:

Infrared Heaters, relying on their specialized method of heating are seen as a powerhouse in terms of energy efficiency. The method of heating surroundings directly rather than the air ensures minimum energy loss. This energy conversion is almost 100%. This is particularly beneficial in outdoor spaces, large poorly insulated spaces, or areas that require targeted quick heating zones.

Ceramic Heaters rely on a fan to distribute the warm air uniformly that is generated from the heating component. This method offers consistent and systematic heating which results in great energy to heat conversion. This is beneficial for closed-off spaces like an office cabin or a room that can trap warm air and circulate it efficiently.

  • Design and ease of relocation:

Infrared Heaters are available in various designs that include lightweight materials and sleek profiles to fit your spaces and allow relocation. They also offer freestanding units that can be easily placed in different rooms while also providing permanent installations for the same. Models that are used in outdoor settings are designed such that they are resistant to moisture and temperature fluctuations.

Ceramic Heaters are offered in a more compact and portable design in order to provide better adjustments and movements around the space. They are provided with tactical handles by the sides to facilitate ease of relocation. These heaters follow the plug-and-play principle to curb the hefty installation process while also maintaining their aesthetics and sleek profiles of design.

  • Cost-friendliness:

Infrared Heaters’ prices can range anywhere between 50$ and 300$ depending upon the features offered. Since they heat the objects around them directly excel at converting energy to heat, making them the most cost-effective equipment for targeted zones or large outdoor spaces. The operational cost for these heaters can range from $0.06 to $0.36 per hour with almost no maintenance cost.

Ceramic Heaters’ prices can range between 30$ and 100$ depending on design, size, and portability. These heaters come with energy-saving mode out of the box in order to conserve energy and save money. The operational cost can be expected to be somewhere between 0.18$ and 0.30$ per hour. The maintenance cost is considerably low owing to the components and their excellent qualities.

  • Sustainability:

Infrared Heaters are recognized as one of the most environmentally friendly heaters. All because of their specialized heating process they help in reducing carbon footprint and maintaining natural humidity. They also make use of recyclable materials for their manufacturing thus promoting a conscious and eco-friendly view.

Ceramic Heaters use ceramic heating components for generating heat which is also to an extent a pro-environment approach. They do not burn fuel or emit any toxic gases like their traditional counterparts do. Ceramic Heaters are also manufactured using non-toxic and recyclable waste materials to promote environmentally friendly causes.

Conclusion

Ceramic and Infrared heaters both provide a superior and more optimized output when compared to their traditional counterparts. Infrared heaters have been proven to be more useful and appropriate for large outdoor or poorly insulated spaces while ceramic heaters can be best utilized in closed-off smaller spaces that can trap the warm air. Depending upon a fair understanding of the prerequisites of the surroundings, you can decide which heaters fulfill your demands better and make an informed choice.

HAVE A QUESTION?

At Wattco, we have a dedicated team of experts ready to provide you with the answers and assistance you need. Whether you're a seasoned professional looking for technical specifications or in maintenance inquiring about our products, our team of knowledgeable professionals is here to help.