Recently, there has been a lot of controversy about heating methods and the amount of savings that can be achieved. The main claim, which we will touch on and mark as myth or truth, is that IR heating is the most expensive heating method in Ireland. Although IR heating has been around for long time with the original type in the form of the red lamp over the newly born chickens product development has brought us to the new generation of IR Sunlife one along side our IR Sun Regulator controller. Many people today have are not familiar with infrared but we are pleased to see this change. Today we have many installations across Ireland.
One thing we are of our client is ensure to talk to a specialist in the field of IR Heating or one of our cleints that using IR to heat their home or business. This will give you all the answers.
The first rule is that we should not equate convection heating with radiant heating, as it is a different transfer of heat into the room. Compared to central systems, radiant is without pipe work and heat loss losses in the system itself.
Why IR heating is mostly the cheapest, but it can also be the most expensive
We notice that there are frequent problems with new companies providers of IR heating systems who do not have enough experience in this field. It may happen with a strong successful sales person with poor knowledge about the operation of IR-heat or selling a poor quality infrared panel made from low quality materials, customers are given inadequate advice and as a result sell heating that brings higher costs instead of savings.
In the world of IR heating, there are certain laws that make it the cheapest way of heating, if you take them into account.
The first rule is that we should not equate convection heating with radiant heating, as it is a different transfer of heat into the room. Compared to central systems, radiant is without pipe work and losses in the system itself.
Considering the legality, IR-heating is mostly one of the cheapest systems, especially when we compare the total costs over a longer period (20, 40 years), i.e. with investment, consumption, services and maintenance taken into account, which are not present in a quality IR-heating system. A heating system with IR panels can also be more expensive than oil or other heating systems if the principles are not considered. IR-heating has some specifics rules required and if not factored can significantly change the performance and electricity consumption of the Infrared Heating System. If the IR-panels have insufficient power or underside for the room or if they are incorrectly positioned in the room, made of low-quality materials and with standard on/off thermostat , consumption will be high and the quality of room heating will not satisfy the needs of the customer. We see persons that purchased without talking to specialists with Infrared have a negative experience.
Adequate panel strength
One of the main factors that bring savings is the adequate power of the panels in the room. It often happens that providers advise the customer to reduce the power of the panels in the room, due to derivative sales or ignorance, and the result is the constant operation of the panels at the upper limit of productivity and thus high consumption. The solution to this is, of course, the appropriate strength of the panels in relation to the size of the room, insulation, the presence of glass surfaces, the number of external walls...
Adequate regulation
The next reason is proper regulation. Very few thermostats or of regulators on the market are intended exclusively for IR heating. Conventional thermostats are usually made for several types of heating, which does not allow for the optimal supply of energy needed to heat the room. Classic thermostats work on the principle of hysteresis, which means that the IR-panel, which is connected to the thermostat, works at full power (100%) or is switched off. This type of heating is not the most comfortable, as the temperature in the room fluctuates, and even more so the feeling of heat. For maximum efficiency, it is therefore necessary to install the IR Sun WiFi regulator, which does not work on the principle of hysteresis, but constantly monitors the temperature in the room and detects the object's response to the supply of heat to the room. It calculates very precisely how much heat needs to be brought in to maintain the desired heat and maximize savings at any moment.
Panel positioning
It is important that the panels are correctly installed in the room, which can only be arranged by experts. Therefore, before installation, it is good to have knowledge or an expert who will place the IR panels in your room as it should be. It is best that the IR-panels are installed on the ceiling, because then the efficiency and even distribution of heat is the best. If this is not possible, they are mounted on the wall, but in optimal places. Unfortunately, without knowing where to place the IR panels in the room, we can significantly increase consumption and reduce the heating efficiency - for example, if we point them towards window surfaces, etc.
Trust the experienced IR heating providers on the market
It is already true that other companies usually offer more favorable and less expensive prices, We also see new companies who see the opportunity to sell or add IR Heating to their product range enter the market for the wrong reasons . Unfortunately, this can be the result with unwanted problems with heating due to the provider’s lack of experience. The use of poor-quality materials in the manufacture of IR panels and poor control regulation, which result in not suitable for a primary heating solution.
Ekosen is the first company in Ireland in the field of infrared heating and has been the market leader for more than a decade. Many years of experience have brought feedback from users, which Infrared Ireland is happy to take into account when constantly investing in the progress and improvement of products manufactured. We are pleased to work with our partners Ekosen who manufacture under own license and with its own development team, which ensures high production control and the highest quality of final products. Infrared Ireland and Ekosen IR heating panels are a combination of quality, performance and price.
At the same time, they realize how important it is for the company’s team to be professionally knowledgeable, which is why they regularly organize training for employees, consultants and installers. The result is satisfied users and a long service life of the IR heating system.
Want to learn more about IR heating?
To prepare a solution with the Infrared Ireland IR heating system, call us on number 0863853000 or write to the e-mail address info@infraredheat.ie .
You can also call one of our local agent:
- Dublin
- Cork
- Waterford
- Portlaosie (head office)
IR-heating system compared to heat pump
The air-to-water heat pump is an inverted/Reversed cooler system. In cold periods of the year and in poorly insulated buildings can possibly result in increased running cost. There is a fine line between the heatpump work very effectively or becoming very expensive on electric. We see people more conscious of this because electricity pricing have increased to an all time high.
Factors also to be considered is the maintenance of the heat pump. The yearly cost to factor is approximately 150 euro per year.
The Heat pump has many moving parts including the main component the compressor with on average, after 8 to 10 years of operation, the compressor begins to deteriorate and reduced efficiency.
With a reduced amount of professional trade people this may result in the quality of install and commissioning of the heat pump system compromised result in a reducted lifespan or higher electricity consumption.
These above points soon erode the running cost of a heat pump.
Also consider investment of the heatpump when factor in material’s and increased labour cost. This can be seen in an average size property of 220SM new property costing approximately 30,000 euro to supply and install a complete heat pump heating system. Lets now compare to IR heating panels in new build is at least 2 to 3 times lower, if we compare a high-quality heat pump and high-quality IR heating panels. At the same time, we must not forget that there are no maintenance costs with IR panels, as they do not consist of moving parts.
If we touch directly on the heating method, the difference is that the walls and objects with IR-panels are warmer by at least 2-3 degrees – that is, approximately at the temperature of the air in the room, which gives a greater feeling of warmth.
A very important advantage is that we extend the life of the building with IR panels.
The warranty for high-quality IR-panels is 3 times longer, because there are no moving parts, pumps, fans, liquids, etc.
The main advantages of Infrared Ireland heating system
- Environmentally friendly, as there are no unwanted emissions.
- Heating consumption is lower by up to 60% compared to heating oil.
- Taking into account investment, services and maintenance, which is not the case with high-quality IR heating, it is one of the cheapest systems and mostly cheaper than an air-to-water heat pump.
- The degree of protection is IP 54.
- The conversion of electrical energy into IR-heat is almost 100%, there are no losses at the junctions, in the furnace, in the chimney…
- A very long warranty and a lifetime that is longer than other heating systems.
- Aesthetically, they go into any room.
- Only minimal construction interventions are required during installation.
- It reduces the possibility of mold formation.
- Possibility of remote control with IR Sun WiFi controller.
- Additional savings when combined with photovoltaics.
Ekosen is the first company in Slovenia in the field of infrared heating and has been the market leader for more than a decade. Many years of experience have brought feedback from users, which Ekosen is happy to take into account when constantly investing in the progress and improvement of products manufactured under its own license and with its own development, which ensures high production control and the highest quality of final products. Ekosen IR heating panels are a combination of quality, performance and price.
At the same time, they realize how important it is for the company’s team to be professionally knowledgeable, which is why they regularly organize training for employees, consultants and installers. The result is satisfied users and a long service life of the IR heating system.