Infrared heater options: Infrared heaters and heating panels can extend your outdoor time on your porch, screen porch, deck, or three-season room.
Depending on your geographical location, you may even be able to turn your enclosed porch into a four-season room conveniently and
fairly inexpensively.
Heating a screen porch with an infrared heater will definitely extend your outdoor time, allowing you to enjoy outdoors in total comfort.
If you have an enclosed porch, insulating it with foam or fiberglass insulation can add lots of additional comfort and make the most
of your new radiant heat.
Infrared heater installed in screened porch Photo courtesy of The Porch Company
What Exactly Is Infrared Radiant Heating?
The beauty of infrared heaters is they heat people and fixtures which then radiate back and keep the environment warm around you, not the air.
You know if you've ever been outside on a freezing but sunny day, you can feel warmth from the sun or infrared rays.
The heat is directed to your skin by reflected rays.
When infrared rays touch a surface, heat energy is expended regardless of the air temperature around you.
Convection heaters conversely heat air, which retains heat poorly and is more difficult to control.
That is why can you still feel cold in a room heated by a central air system.
Central heat only warms the air and thus the walls, furniture, and fixtures remain cold.
Radiant heater perfectly located for maximum effect Photo courtesy of The Porch Company
That makes infrared heaters an effective means of heating an area of your porch, screened porch, patio, or enclosed outdoor space.
The heated quartz elements contained in the heaters emit specific rays that not only heat individuals but also distributes heat to within the room.
Watch This Short Explanation of Infrared Heating
This short video explains how infrared heaters work:
Surprising Benefits of Infrared Heating Systems
Here are a few notable benefits of an infrared heating systems over traditional fireplaces, space heaters, and conventional options:
Wind Resistant: The radiant energy emitted isn't affected by wind which means they are an ideal solution for your screened porch.
Environmentally Friendly: Infrared heaters do not emit carbon monoxide or other hazardous gases or odors making them safe for both outdoor and indoor use.
Invisible: Halogen and short-wave heaters can emit a harsh light whereas infrared heaters are almost invisible.
The light is actually absorbed by skin, clothing, and other materials which are then warmed to a comfortable temperature.
Cost Effective: Many infrared heaters have been known to convert more than 90 percent of their energy into heat which
obviously makes them cost-effective and may be an efficient alternative to other types of space heaters.
An inviting screened porch complete with an infrared heater Photo courtesy of The Porch Company
Consider These Infrared Heater Tips
Before installing an infrared heating system in your screened porch or three season room, consider these tips.
What Size Infrared Heater Do You Need?
If your screened or three-season porch is relatively small, a single-element infrared heater may be ideal.
A single space heater can typically provide heat for a 10 by 10-foot radius.
For larger areas, consider installing a larger-dual element model or two or more smaller units.
As a general rule, multiply your square footage by 20 to determine how many BTU's you will need.
Under most conditions, you will want to warm seating or congregation areas, not the entire room.
We recommend you calculate the square footage of your seating areas in lieu of the entire space, in most cases.
A 10 by 15 foot space is 150 square feet. Multiply that by 20 to get 3000 BTUs.
A 1500 watt infrared heater (a standard size) can emit 5100 BTUs heating 150 square feet which would be very adequate for that space.
Be strategic about where you install your infrared heaters.
Preferably, install them just above or near seating areas and locations most enjoyed by family and friends.
Radiant heater positioned above seating area
Infrared Heater Options for Your Outdoor Room
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Mary and I discovered two infrared heater options we believe may be ideal for your porch.
They have sufficient wattage to heat most seating areas and come with a few amenities. Take a look!
Infrared heaters are definitely a heating solution to consider.
They offer many advantages over space heaters and can make your porch time so much more pleasant for family and friends.
Photo courtesy of The Porch Company
As premier custom designers and builders of porches, our sponsor The Porch Company here in Nashville, employs the use of infrared heaters on their beautiful porches.
You can read more about The Porch Company here.
We are proud to show you their beautiful porches!
We hope this page helped you become more informed about infrared heater options.
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