Why infrared instead of warm air
Warm air has to fill the whole space before anyone feels it, and it escapes through every open door and rises into the roof. Infrared travels in a straight line and warms whatever it lands on, so people feel it directly, even in a draught or outdoors. That wins in high-roofed workshops, open doorways, terraces and spots where people stand still, while a warm air heater still suits a closed room used for hours.
Mounting height and coverage
Infrared heat falls on a patch in front of the heater and fades quickly outside it, so aim it where people sit or work. Wall and ceiling models usually go around 1.8 to 3 metres up, higher for more powerful ones, and the higher they go, the wider but gentler the patch. Fixed wiring is a job for a qualified electrician, outdoor heaters need a weatherproof rating, and diesel and gas models release combustion fumes, so the space must be well ventilated.
Carbon, quartz or ceramic
Quartz and halogen lamps give intense heat almost instantly with a bright glow, which suits a workshop, a site or a terrace more than a living room. Carbon elements give a softer orange glow and gentler heat. Ceramic heaters glow less than either, suiting rooms where glare would be a nuisance, and a clean reflector keeps a heater's warmth going where it is aimed.
