| Radiant heaters are very common and | | | | Infrared Radiant Heaters |
| unfortunately actually cause a lot of confusion. | | | | These heaters use the same principles to heat |
| What people call radiant heaters actually fall into | | | | that the sun uses. They use a specific spectrum |
| two different categories that are vastly different. | | | | of light to transfer heat. In heating in this manner, |
| People fail to differentiate between hydronic | | | | the heat is produced when it is absorbed by |
| radiant heaters and the infrared radiant heaters. | | | | objects, it does not heat the surrounding air. |
| Hydronic Radiant Heaters | | | | People find that comfortable temperatures can be |
| These have been around since the days of the | | | | achieved with much a much lower energy |
| Roman empire. They are very simple and | | | | expenditure because the heating is inside out. |
| effective in some situations but often fail to | | | | People remain comfortable at cooler |
| produce much heat away from the heat source. | | | | temperatures. Imagine going outside on a cold |
| They work like by heating a liquid in a centralized | | | | sunny day. The temperature is cool but you can |
| location, the liquid is usually water or oil. Then the | | | | still feel the warmth of the sun on your skin. |
| heated fluid is circulated through a plumbing | | | | These two very different types of heaters |
| system. It may circulate through a coil heater | | | | inappropriately named can work very well |
| system in the area that is attempting to be | | | | together. Infrared heaters can be mounted high |
| heated or it may just pass through a series of | | | | on the walls and the hydronic heaters can be |
| piper. The heater or the pipes radiate their heat | | | | used to heat from the bottom up. Combine this |
| to the surrounding air which heats up in turn | | | | with rising heat and the fall heat and you have a |
| heating the objects in the area. No forced air is | | | | very comfortable environment. Your dog will love |
| used, so actual room heating can take a long time. | | | | you for heating the floor during the winter. |
| Hydronic radiant heating is commonly used to | | | | People are always looking for better ways to do |
| heat floors, ceilings or walls. This type of heat is | | | | things and these different options can be a great |
| popular because it requires little maintenance, it is | | | | alternative to other methods of heating which are |
| much safer than other alternatives, it does not | | | | often more expensive. Radiant Heaters can be |
| produce noise, and there is no combustion, which | | | | easily added to any home or included in |
| can be responsible for allergens. | | | | construction. |