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Infrared Heating Made Simple
Infrared heating may sound complicated, but the principle behind it is actually very simple. It doesn’t involve “special air” or heat that’s blown into the room. An infrared panel emits radiant heat much like the sun—it warms people and surfaces in the room directly, and only then does the heat gradually spread throughout the room. As a result, you often feel comfortable at home even without overheating; the heat is distributed more evenly and is easily controlled by a thermostat. In this article, we’ll explain—without using complicated terms—how infrared heating works, what to expect in practice, how it affects energy consumption, and what to consider during installation.
infrared heating infrared panel radiant heat How It Works Energy consumption and savings thermostat
1) The very basics
What Is Infrared Heating?—One Sentence You’ll Remember
Infrared heating is a heating system that, instead of heating the air, “sends” heat directly to you and the objects around you. More precisely: an infrared panel emits long-wave infrared radiation, which turns into heat upon hitting a surface. That’s why you feel warm even when the air in the room isn’t overheated. It’s similar to when the sun is shining in winter—it may be cold outside, but it’s pleasant in the sun. In a room with infrared panels, the walls, floor, and furniture warm up, and they then gradually “reflect” the heat back into the room. As a result, the heat doesn’t feel sudden, and many people perceive it as more soothing. You can find practical information and an overview of solutions at https://infratherm.cz.
2) What is the difference?
A radiator heats the air, while an infrared panel heats you and surfaces
With a radiator, heat is mainly distributed by warming the air. Warm air rises toward the ceiling, while cooler air sinks, creating circulation in the room. That’s why it sometimes happens that it’s warm near the ceiling and cooler near the floor. An infrared panel works differently: it emits a large portion of its energy into the room as radiant heat. This heat hits the walls, the floor, and you, so it warms the “surroundings” as well, not just the air. The result is a more uniform sense of comfort. In practice, people often describe infrared heating as not sounding “like a space heater,” but rather like a pleasant warmth throughout the room. And because the system doesn’t require such strong airflow, dust circulation is often reduced as well. For more information and inspiration, visit https://infratherm.cz.
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3) Feeling of warmth
Why You Can Still Feel Comfortable Even When the Air Temperature Is Lower
How warm you feel doesn't depend solely on the number on the thermometer. The body also senses whether the walls are cold, if there’s a draft, and what the surrounding environment is like. When surfaces are cold, the body transfers heat to them, and you feel colder, even if the air temperature is 22 °C. An infrared panel gradually warms the walls and floor, reducing this “chill from the walls.” As a result, the perceived temperature often improves, and there’s no need to overheat the space. For the layperson, it’s simple: instead of heating mainly the air, the system heats the room as a whole. That’s why people sometimes set the thermostat 1–2 °C lower and still feel comfortable. Of course, it depends on the insulation and usage patterns, but the principle of radiant heating gives the heating a different character. You can find practical tips at https://infratherm.cz.
4) Consumption
How Much Does It "Consume": Why Operating Mode and Control Are the Key Factors
The most common question from laypeople is about energy consumption. It’s fair to say that no electric heating system can work magic—costs always depend on the home’s heat loss, insulation, room size, and the desired temperature. What’s important, however, is that an infrared panel converts electricity into heat very efficiently, and how much energy you actually use depends primarily on the thermostat and the selected mode. If you heat only when it makes sense to do so and maintain a stable temperature instead of allowing large fluctuations, the panel won’t waste energy. In practice, a simple rule applies: good temperature control often makes a bigger difference than chasing the “highest” output. If you’d like a general recommendation for your space, you can find it at https://infratherm.cz/pages/contact.
5) Controls
How Is Infrared Heating Controlled, and Why Does the Thermostat Play a Key Role?
In practice, an infrared panel isn’t controlled “manually” by constantly turning it on and off. Control is handled by an external thermostat, which monitors the room temperature and turns the panel on and off according to the settings. This helps you maintain a stable, comfortable temperature without unnecessary overheating. For those unfamiliar with the system, it’s helpful to know that the thermostat isn’t just an accessory—it’s a key part of the system that determines how often the panel heats. When you set programs for day and night or for times when you’re away from home, the heating system operates more efficiently. The thermostat’s location is also important: it shouldn’t be directly in the path of the panel’s heat to avoid inaccurate readings. If you’re heating multiple rooms, zone control makes sense so that each room can be heated independently. You can find more control options at https://infratherm.cz.
Would you like to recommend a power rating, number of panels, or ideal location?
Contact us via the online chat in the bottom right corner of this page, or click “I need help” and send us a message.
6) Installation
Where to Place a Panel So It Works Well: Simple Guidelines for Beginners
With radiant heating, the panel needs to “face” the room. It requires unobstructed space in front of it so that the heat can reach the areas you want to warm. That’s why the correct position and output are determined based on the room’s size and heat loss. In some cases, a single panel makes sense, while in others, multiple panels arranged in zones are preferable. The advantage of infrared heating is its simple installation without the need for water lines—it’s a clean solution suitable for both new construction and renovations. In addition to functionality, you can also customize the appearance: infrared panels can be printed with a custom design provided by the customer to match the interior. If you’d like a custom design, you can find contact information at https://infratherm.cz/pages/contact or https://infratherm.cz.
