What is Infrared
Infrared (IR), sometimes called infrared light, is an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than those of visible light, invisible to the human eye and perceived as heat.
Infrared waves transmit large amounts of energy (defined as heat) in a short time without direct contact or the need of any intermediate conductive matter.
Three types of heat
Heat is transferred through three ways:
Conduction - is the transfer of energy through matter from particle to particle. For example, a spoon in a cup of hot soup becomes warmer because the heat from the soup is conducted along the spoon.
Convection - Convection is the transfer of heat energy in a gas or liquid by movement of currents. (It can also happen is some solids, like sand.) The heat moves through the fluid. An example is an airconditioner heating the air in a room.
Radiation - Electromagnetic waves that directly transport ENERGY through space. Sunlight is a form of radiation that is radiated through space to our planet without the aid of fluids or solids.The energy travels through nothingness! Just think of it! The sun transfers heat through 93 million miles of space. Because there are no solids (like a huge spoon) touching the sun and our planet, conduction is not responsible for bringing heat to Earth. Since there are no fluids (like air and water) in space, convection is not responsible for transferring the heat. Thus, radiation brings heat to our planet.
When radiation from Infrared heater hit an object (walls, ceilings, floors, interior objects), the rays cause molecules they strike to oscillate. In other words, all objects in a room become heaters.
Infrared Heat is radiated heat
Infrared heat is invisible light with lots of energy. When the "light" hits an object, heat is created.
- Instant: Heat is immediately available. No pre-heat. No energy is wasted by heating up the air.
- Focused: You can focus or direct the heat just as light.
- Healthy: Does not dry out the air and contains no UV.
- Economical: A quarter of the price of LP Gas
Infrared energy is transported using Radiation. It is the most effective manner in which to transport energy since you don't lose any of the energy.
Infrared lies just under the visible light range beyond the "Red" end of the visible light spectrum. These wavelengths are longer ("infra") than waves in the visible light spectrum. The longest of these wavelengths is Red. Hence the name "infra red". Even longer-wavelengths in the Infrared Spectrum are called "Far Infrared", which therefore also explains why you may hear this term.
What is the difference between Ultraviolet (UV) and Infrared (IR)
Infrared is the heat you feel in the sun and UV is the burn you get in the sun. Ultraviolet radiation is more energetic than infrared. But “hotter” is a somewhat informal term. A photon of UV radiation has a lot more energy than a photon of IR, but the total energy has to take into account the number of photons as well.
When we are near a warm source like a fire, we feel a flood of infrared light as warmth. When we walk into a hot room such as a greenhouse, heat in the warm air is transferred to our bodies, again perceived as warmth. But we don't directly perceive ultraviolet radiation. It slams into our bodies and sometimes breaks molecules, but very little of it is converted into heat. The heat we feel from sunlight is infrared.
So infrared feels hot because we sense it as heat, and because when we feel its heat, there is a lot of radiation, which makes up for its lower energy content. We don't feel ultraviolet radiation, which is usually less abundant, at least until we get a sunburn.
Under some overcast conditions, the proportion of ultraviolet light from the sun is higher than that from visible or infrared light, because more of the UV passes through or around the clouds. This can cause us to squint, even though it doesn't seem excessively bright. So although we cannot directly perceive ultraviolet radiation, we can sense the overall level in some way.
Our heaters do not emit any UV.
The infrared difference
Think of an infrared heater as a floodlight
The size of the heater is not equal to its heat output
Infrared heat is light. The actual wattage of the element, as well as the effective reflection of the heat, determine the heat you feel. A small source with a bright LED is much brighter than a large old torch.
The reflector is a critical component
The heat generated by the element must be reflected onto objects. Our Miro reflector has as a tested deflectability of 96%. That means nearly all heat generated leave the heater body as reflective heat.
The height of the heater determine the size area
Our reflectors determine the heated area. The higher you install the heater the larger, but cooler the heated area.
You warm people, not the room
You do not want to heat up "the room". We don't care if "the room" is getting cold. We worry more if you, your family and guests are getting cold. You use Infrared heat the same as you use a light. Switch on when you there - switch off when not. The heat is instant. That's how you save energy.
Infrared has a dark side…
As with any light, there is a "shadow side". If you look at the heater your back is not getting heat. In some situations e.g. patio you want to either have the heat from above (that is why the 12 o clock sun feels warmer) OR from both sides.