What Is Infrared Heating and How Does It Work?
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TL;DR: Infrared heating works like sunlight. Energy travels in a straight line and is absorbed directly by people, furniture, and surfaces — not the air. Wind cannot steal the warmth because there is no hot air to carry away. This is why infrared heaters work outdoors when gas and convection heaters fail. Far infrared contains zero UV radiation. Carbon fibre elements deliver the best combination of instant heat, long life, and soft ambient glow.
Table of Contents
- The Short Answer: What Is Infrared Heating?
- How Does Infrared Heating Work?
- Why Infrared Works Outdoors When Other Heaters Don't
- What Does Infrared Heat Feel Like?
- Carbon Fibre vs Quartz vs Halogen: How Element Type Affects Performance
- Is Infrared Heating Safe?
- FAQ
- Conclusion
- Related Articles
The Short Answer: What Is Infrared Heating?
Infrared heating is radiant heat — the same type of energy that makes sunlight feel warm on your skin. An infrared heater emits electromagnetic waves that travel through the air without heating it. When those waves hit a person, a table, or a floor, they are absorbed and converted into warmth on contact. No air is heated. No warmth is wasted.
How Does Infrared Heating Work?
To understand infrared, it helps to know where it sits on the electromagnetic spectrum.
Where Infrared Fits on the Spectrum
The electromagnetic spectrum is a continuum of energy wavelengths. Radio waves are at one end, gamma rays at the other. Visible light — the colours we can see — sits in a narrow band in the middle.
Infrared sits just beyond visible red light, between visible light and microwaves. The name literally means "below red" — wavelengths longer than red light, invisible to the human eye, but felt as heat.
There are three sub-categories within the infrared range:
- Near infrared (short wave): High temperature, visible glow. Used in industrial heating and some commercial heaters. The harshest type.
- Medium infrared (mid wave): Mid-range applications. More glow than necessary for home heating.
- Far infrared (long wave): Lower temperature, gentle warmth. Absorbed efficiently by the human body. This is the type that quality carbon fibre heaters emit.
All three types of infrared contain zero UV radiation. None carry ionizing radiation. They sit on the completely opposite end of the spectrum from ultraviolet.
Straight-Line Energy, Absorbed on Contact
An infrared heater works by emitting radiant energy in straight lines outward from the element. When those waves reach a solid surface — your skin, a timber deck, a dining table — the energy is absorbed and converted into heat.
This is the same process that happens when you stand in sunlight on a cold winter morning. The air around you might be 5 degrees. But the sun on your face feels warm. That warmth is infrared radiation being absorbed by your skin.
An infrared heater replicates this process electrically. The heating element inside the unit emits infrared wavelengths that travel through the air — without heating it — and warm whatever they strike.
What Infrared Does Not Do
Infrared does not heat the air. This single fact changes everything about how it performs outdoors. A convection heater warms the air molecules around it. Infrared passes through the air and delivers warmth directly to solid objects. The air between the heater and you is not warmed at all.
Why Infrared Works Outdoors When Other Heaters Don't
This is the most practical point in this entire article. If you remember one thing, make it this.
The Convection Problem
Gas patio heaters, fan heaters, and most traditional heaters work by convection. They heat the air. That heated air then carries warmth to you.
The problem: hot air rises. Outdoors, it rises and escapes immediately. Add any wind at all, and the warm air is carried sideways before it reaches you. On a Wellington deck in a northerly, a gas mushroom heater is burning through a $37 LPG bottle while the warm air disappears overhead.
Convection heating outdoors is paying to heat the sky.
The Infrared Advantage
Infrared energy does not travel through air the way hot air does. It travels in straight lines, like light. Wind cannot pick it up and carry it away because the energy is not stored in air molecules — it passes through them.
When infrared waves hit your body, they are absorbed and converted to warmth on contact. Wind might cool the exposed side of your face, but the infrared warmth on the heated side stays constant. The heater warms you directly, regardless of what the air is doing.
This is why infrared is the standard for outdoor heating in commercial settings — restaurants, event venues, sports stadiums. It is the only heating technology that works reliably in open and semi-open spaces.
What Does Infrared Heat Feel Like?
Stand outside on a clear winter day. The air temperature reads 8 degrees. You are cold. Then the sun comes out from behind a cloud. Immediately, you feel warmth on your skin — even though the air temperature has not changed.
That is infrared. The sun's infrared wavelengths travel 150 million kilometres through space, pass through Earth's atmosphere, and are absorbed directly by your skin. The warmth you feel is not the air warming up. It is infrared radiation being absorbed by your body and converted into heat.
An infrared heater does the same thing from two metres away.
The Difference From Sunlight
Sunlight contains the full electromagnetic spectrum: UV, visible light, and infrared. The UV component is what causes sunburn and skin damage.
An electric infrared heater emits only the infrared portion. Zero UV. Zero visible light beyond a soft ambient glow (in carbon fibre units) or the harsher orange light of quartz and halogen elements. You get the warmth without any of the harmful radiation that comes with sunlight.
Far infrared wavelengths — the type emitted by carbon fibre elements — are absorbed particularly well by the human body. They penetrate the skin's surface and are converted to warmth efficiently. This is why far infrared feels gentler and more comfortable than the sharp, intense heat of a near infrared industrial element.
Carbon Fibre vs Quartz vs Halogen: How Element Type Affects Performance
Not all infrared heaters are equal. The heating element inside determines heat quality, efficiency, noise, glow, and lifespan. Three element types dominate the residential market.
| Feature | Carbon Fibre | Quartz / Halogen | Gas Patio Heaters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat-up speed | Instant (seconds) | Slower response | Slow (10-20 min warm-up) |
| Light output | Soft amber glow | Harsh orange glare | Visible flame |
| Noise | Silent | Quiet hum | Hissing / roar |
| Element lifespan | ~5,000 hours | ~2,000 hours | N/A (gas cylinder) |
| Running cost | ~$0.70/hr at 2000W | Moderate | High (gas refills) |
| Emissions | Zero | Zero | CO₂ |
| Settings | 9 levels + timer (typical) | Limited (2-4 settings) | On/Off only |
| Wind performance | Unaffected | Unaffected | Affected |
Running cost based on NZ average electricity rate of $0.35/kWh.
Carbon Fibre: The Premium Choice
Carbon fibre elements reach operating temperature in seconds. They emit far infrared wavelengths — the range absorbed most efficiently by the human body. The glow is a soft, warm amber. Silent operation. Element lifespan of approximately 5,000 hours, which at two hours of use per evening works out to roughly seven years before replacement.
Carbon fibre is the element type used in most premium residential infrared heaters. For a detailed comparison, see Carbon Fibre vs Quartz vs Halogen Heating Elements.
Quartz and Halogen: The Budget Options
Quartz elements are cheaper to manufacture and appear in most budget infrared heaters. They take longer to reach full output, emit a bright orange glare, and last approximately 2,000 hours — less than half the lifespan of carbon fibre. Halogen is similar but with an even harsher glow and shorter life.
The orange glare is not just an aesthetic issue. It represents energy being emitted as visible light rather than infrared — energy that heats your eyeballs, not your body. Carbon fibre converts a higher proportion of input electricity into usable infrared heat.
Gas: A Different Technology Entirely
Gas patio heaters do not use infrared. They burn LPG and heat the air by convection. The comparison is included because gas remains a common alternative in the NZ market. At approximately $4.11/hr in fuel costs (based on a 9kg LPG bottle at $37), gas is nearly six times more expensive to run than electric infrared — and it loses most of its heat output to wind. For a full cost comparison, see Infrared vs Gas Patio Heaters: Which Is Right for Your Deck?
Is Infrared Heating Safe?
Yes. Infrared heating is one of the safest forms of heating available. Here is why.
Zero UV Radiation
Infrared and ultraviolet are on opposite sides of visible light on the electromagnetic spectrum. An infrared heater emits zero UV. You cannot get sunburned. There is no risk of UV-related skin damage from any length of exposure to an infrared heater.
Zero Fumes and Emissions
Electric infrared heaters produce no combustion byproducts. No CO₂, no carbon monoxide, no fumes of any kind. This makes them safe for semi-enclosed spaces like covered pergolas and verandas — areas where a gas heater would produce fumes that linger under the roof.
No Moving Parts
A quality infrared heater has no fan, no motor, and no gas valve. Nothing spins, nothing ignites, nothing that can fail mechanically. This means zero operational noise and fewer potential failure points.
No Open Flame
No ignition source. No risk of gas leak. No ember risk. Safe around children and pets.
Certified and Tested
Quality infrared heaters sold in New Zealand are certified to AS/NZS 60335 — the Australian and New Zealand standard for household electrical appliances. They carry SAA, RCM, and CE certification marks. Look for these on any heater you are considering.
The safety profile of infrared heaters is straightforward: no UV, no fumes, no moving parts, no flame, no noise. They convert electricity into infrared energy and deliver it directly to the space. Nothing else.
FAQ
Is infrared heating safe?
Yes. Infrared heating produces zero UV radiation, zero fumes, and zero emissions. It uses the same type of energy as sunlight — without the ultraviolet component. Quality infrared heaters have no moving parts, no open flame, and are certified to AS/NZS 60335 electrical safety standards.
Does infrared heating work outdoors?
Yes — and it is one of the only heating technologies that does. Infrared energy travels in a straight line and is absorbed directly by people and objects. It does not heat the air, so wind cannot carry the warmth away. This makes infrared far more effective outdoors than gas or convection heaters.
What is the difference between infrared and convection heating?
Convection heaters (gas, fan heaters) warm the air around you. Hot air rises and disperses. Wind carries it away outdoors. Infrared heaters emit radiant energy that travels in a straight line and is absorbed directly by people and surfaces — the same mechanism as sunlight. No air is heated, so no warmth is lost to wind.
Is carbon fibre better than quartz for infrared heating?
For most residential applications, yes. Carbon fibre elements heat up instantly, last approximately 5,000 hours (vs ~2,000 for quartz), produce a soft amber glow instead of harsh orange glare, and operate silently. Carbon fibre also emits far infrared wavelengths that are absorbed more efficiently by the human body. Read the full comparison: Carbon Fibre vs Quartz vs Halogen Heating Elements.
Does infrared heating produce UV radiation?
No. Infrared sits on the opposite side of visible light from ultraviolet on the electromagnetic spectrum. Far infrared — the type used in quality carbon fibre heaters — contains zero UV radiation and is safe for prolonged exposure.
How much does it cost to run an infrared heater?
At New Zealand's average residential electricity rate of $0.35/kWh, a 2000W infrared heater costs approximately $0.70/hr at full power. At half power (1000W), the cost drops to $0.35/hr. Running costs are significantly lower than gas patio heaters. For full tables and a regional breakdown, see How Much Does It Cost to Run an Electric Outdoor Heater in NZ?
Conclusion
Infrared heating is simple physics applied practically. Energy travels in a straight line from the element to you, absorbed on contact, converted to warmth. No air is heated. Wind is irrelevant. UV is absent.
Carbon fibre elements deliver the best version of this technology for home use — instant warmth, long life, soft glow, silent operation. They emit far infrared wavelengths tuned to the range the human body absorbs most efficiently.
For outdoor use in New Zealand — where wind, rain, and coastal conditions are part of life — infrared is the only heating technology that reliably works in open and semi-enclosed spaces. It costs a fraction of gas to run and produces zero emissions on a grid that is already 85% renewable.
The technology is not new. It is well understood. The question is not whether infrared works — it is which element type and product best suits your space. For most NZ decks and pergolas, a 2000W carbon fibre infrared heater with IP65 weatherproofing is the right answer.
Related Articles
Fundamentals:
- Carbon Fibre vs Quartz vs Halogen Heating Elements
- Best Outdoor Heaters in New Zealand: A 2026 Buyer's Guide
Running Costs & Comparisons: