FAR INFRARED HEATING…
the benefits of sunshine – indoors!
Welcome to InfraredHeat.ca! We hope you’ll learn something new, or perhaps just reinforce what you’ve already begun learning about. Either way, we’re glad you’re here, and we welcome you to the world of far infrared heating, where you’re warmed by the exact same method that sunshine warms you… only comfortably, efficiently and effectively with absolutely no harmful effects. Far infrared “light” is good for you!
Far infrared radiant heating panels from Ducoterra LLC and Spectrum Infrared are energy efficient, healthy and cost-effective. Far infrared radiant heating panels heat objects such as floors, walls and furniture, and not the air. Because they do not heat the air… people and animals experience comfortable warmth via radiant heat. There is just no other heat source like it, with the exception of the sun itself. Far infrared heat literally feels like being in sunshine but in the comfort of your home, office or any indoor space.
Some further advantages with using far infrared radiant heating, beyond “just” the energy savings and efficiency –
If you heat a bathroom with a far infrared radiant panel, it will inhibit mold growth in the bathroom! A bathroom heated with far infrared panels will warm a tile or slate floor similar to that of having in-floor heating, but without the high installation costs and also providing much better effectiveness and efficiency than in-floor heating provides.
Far-infrared radiant heat is by far the most efficient and healthy heating method available on the market today, in its price range. Traditional gas-fired forced air and oil-burning heating systems operate through an antiquated combustion process that emit harmful pollutants and exhaust into the environment.
Our far infrared radiant heating systems operate free from harmful combustion processes; provide simple and direct radiant energy without any of the traditional heating methods’ waste and pollution.
Typical energy savings over traditional heating methods range from 15 to 50% (Depending on placement and building conditions). The far infrared heating panels are fully compatible with renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind-power.
Si Series and SolaRay far infrared radiant heating panels have NO moving parts, and are expected to last more than 30 years! They never degrade in far infrared output, and because they are not made with any ceramic elements, they operate in much colder conditions, too.
Our far infrared radiant heaters are maintenance free… for life!
Ducoterra far infrared heating panels come in a variety of sizes and power options, all are 2 feet wide, but vary from 2′ x 2′, to 2′ x 6′ and offer wattage ranging from 250 watts to 1000 watts. Ducoterra offers an industry leading LIFETIME WARRANTY on their SolaRay far infrared radiant heat panels!
Si Series Aluminum far infrared heating panels come in three sizes:
- 2′ x 2′ @ 400 watts
- 2′ x 4′ @ 800 watts
- 41″ x 41″ @ 1100 watts
Our Si Series Glass far infrared heating panels come in four sizes:
- 16″ x 48″ @ 500 watts
- 24″ x 48″ @ 800 watts
- 16″ x 72″ @ 800 watts
- 24″ x 72″ @ 1100 watts
HOW MUCH DO THE PANELS COST TO RUN?
FIND OUT WITH OUR CONSUMPTION CALCULATOR
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EFFICIENT
Far infrared radiant heating panels heat objects such as floors, walls, and furniture (not the air) which makes them a far more efficient heating system.
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COST EFFECTIVE
Typical energy savings over traditional heating methods range from 15 to 50% (depending on panel placement and building conditions).
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HEALTHY
Traditional gas-fired forced air and oil-burning heating systems operate through an antiquated combustion process that emit harmful pollutants and exhaust into the environment.
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NATURAL WARMTH
Far infrared heat literally feels like being in the sunshine but in the comfort of your home, office, or any indoor space.
It’s hard to narrow down just a few “frequently” asked questions, so we’ve noted just a few common ones below, and you’ll find a much more extensive list on our FAQ Page.
We hope our website provides a useful resource to learn more about the absolute best method of heating your space in terms of purchase costs, effectiveness and efficiency.
How does far infrared heat actually work?
Here’s a common way we use to describe what’s actually going on…
Far infrared heating (indoors) consists primarily of two parts:
Part 1) Is the immediate effect of feeling the infrared heat directly from the panel(s). Once the surface temperature of the panels reaches 90-95 degrees Celsius, they are then emitting their full far infrared, and will continue to do so until they are turned off (usually by a thermostat). This “immediate effect” is felt within about 10 minutes of turning the panels on by people and animals (because we’re water-based), which is about the time it takes the panel to warm up to 90-95 degrees. Again, this is immediately felt if you were to walk into a room heated with far infrared, or if you turned on panels and waited for them to warm up. Remember, far infrared invisible light does NOT heat the air at all, but you certainly feel the warmth!
Part 2) After time, the floor, walls, furniture etc. will warm up from the far infrared light, and in turn those objects will radiate heat (hence the name “Radiant Heat” or “Radiant Heating”) into the space, and THAT is what warms the air in the space.
- Part 1 – Is the immediate warmth felt (directly) from the panels themselves.
- Part 2 – Is the “radiant heat” aspect of far infrared by warming the floor, walls, objects and people and then (indirectly) the air in the space.
- Part 2 takes considerably longer to occur than Part 1.
One thing worthy of note, you will not require the air temperature in the space to be as warm as you’d normally have it with regular convection heat, or even any other electric heat. Whenever the panels are powered on, you will feel much warmer than the air temperature indicates, and why we always recommend that our hot yoga clients’ ensure their panels are “on” during classes. If they turn off, it feels like the sun has gone behind a cloud…it’s still warm, but not “hot”!
Can I decorate the Panels myself?
Ducoterra suggests that their SolaRay panels can be painted to match your décor, provided only a high quality paint is used. We do not recommend painting our SI Series panels.
Is there a difference in energy consumption between ceiling and wall placement?
Place the panel on the ceiling wherever possible for optimal heat distribution and lower energy consumption. In a radiant ceiling system, 80% of the energy is converted to Infrared, 60% for radiant wall-mounted systems and 50% for radiant in-floor systems. The dynamic efficiency of hot air systems (gas furnace and ducts) in comparison, is only around 35%.
What is the difference between Ducoterra’s SolaRay aluminum panels and Spectrum Infrared’s Si Series aluminum panels?
There are many similarities, and a few differences. Let’s look at the similarities first. Both SolaRay and Si Series panels are entirely made from 100% recyclable aluminum and are only 1/2″ thick. Both are very high quality professional grade far infrared heating panels, and you can expect decades of use from them both.
There are some notable design differences, however. Si Series panels come with a 3 – 6′ attached cord regardless of the panel voltage. In fact they can come with outlet plugs on the end of the cords as well, so they may simply be plugged in to use. Ducoterra’s SolaRay panels are designed to be hard-wired only. There is no cord attached, and therefore cannot be used as a more “portable” device.
The next largest difference is that the panels are mounted differently. SolaRay panels are designed to be mounted flush onto the ceiling surface, with no mounting brackets required. If screwed right onto the ceiling, they are very attractive and not obtrusive at all, and offer very clean lines. They are aesthetically pleasing because of the ability to be mounted “flush” onto the surface. Conversely, Si Series panels come with included mounting brackets. While the panels are also only a 1/2″ thick, they do not mount flush (by design), and will sit 1 3/4″ below the surface of the ceiling, or away from a wall. The spacing between the ceiling or wall and front of the panel is minimal, and truly hardly noticeable, but they don’t lie flat against the surface by design.
The next biggest difference is in the sizing of the panels. ALL SolaRay panels regardless of the length are 22.5″ wide with the exception of their “D” panels. The “D” series are designed for dropped ceilings and are therefore exactly 23.75″ wide. The other Ducoterra panels don’t fit neatly into a 24″ x 48″ drop ceiling grid. Our 24″ x 48″ Si Series are now exactly 23.75″ x 47.75″, meaning they DO fit into a T-Bar ceiling.
There are also internal design and component differences that are not visual. Our Si Series utilize a proprietary “thin film heating element” to generate far infrared energy within the panels. There is no wire coil inside. Ducoterra’s SolaRay panels are made with a wire coil spanning the whole area of the panel.
Please have a look in our gallery for the notable visual differences.
The last difference is the warranty. Both brands of panels have a life expectancy of decades! SolaRay panels have a stated life expectancy of 40 years, and our Si Series panels have a life expectancy of 30+ years…so it’s pretty close!
Ducoterra offers an industry leading Lifetime Limited Warranty on their SolaRay panels, and Spectrum Infrared offers a 30 Year Limited Warranty on our Si Series panels.
With both brands having life expectancies of over 30 years, the warranty really becomes somewhat moot.
They are superior products, and we proudly stand behind both!
Have a great experience you would like to share? We would love to hear about it!
News Updates
Hatha Yoga Room in Amherst, Nova Scotia selects InfraredHeat.ca
We're excited to announce that Hatha Yoga Room in Amherst, Nova Scotia has chosen InfraredHeat.ca to supply their studio with far infrared heating panels, providing them with "hot" yoga offerings. Hatha Yoga Room is the very first (and only!) studio in Amherst...
Spectrum Infrared Lengthens Warranty to 30 Years
Spectrum Infrared is pleased to announce it has increased the warranty length from our previous 20 Year Warranty, to a new 30 Year Warranty on all our Si Series panels. Our Si Series panels have a life expectancy of 30+ years, so this is in keeping with that...