What is the difference between a quartz and an infrared heater? Which one do you prefer? These are questions that many homeowners have. In this blog post, we will answer these questions and more! We will cover material, performance, efficiency, cost of operation, and safety. Whether you need to replace your existing heater or purchase a new one for your home or office space – this guide can help you make an informed decision.
What is a Quartz Heater?
A quartz heater is an electrical heater that uses infrared light to produce heat. The heat is then radiated outwards and into the room. Quartz heaters can be either portable or mounted to a wall. They are typically minimal, making them easy to move around, and some even come with wheels for added mobility.
How Do Quartz Heater Work?
Quartz heaters are designed to imitate the heating effect of the sun. They use infrared light waves to warm objects and people in the room, similar to how sunlight works. The name quartz heater comes from the quartz used in its heating element.
The heater uses electricity to heat the quartz into an infrared ray, warming surfaces around it. The fantastic thing about quartz heaters is that they are extremely energy efficient and environmentally friendly because they don’t emit any emissions or harmful gases like traditional space heaters do. This makes them more sustainable for our planet as well as your wallet!
A quartz heater does not emit any flame or smoke that can be dangerous for your health if you stay at close range while it’s turned on. The energy requirement of a quartz heater is high, so these machines consume more electricity than other types of space heaters available today.
Quartz heaters do not come with fans or blowers like electric furnaces, but they produce some noise when working because their parts move very fast due to friction caused by high temperatures within them.
What is an Infrared Heater?
An infrared heater is a type of electric space heater that uses radiant heat to warm objects in the vicinity of the heater. The term “infrared” refers to the part of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths just longer than visible light.
How Does an Infrared Heater Work?
The heating elements in an infrared heater produce infrared radiation, which is then emitted from the surface of the heater. This radiation warms anything within its line of sight, including people and furniture.
Since infrared radiation is not absorbed by air, it can penetrate deep into materials and objects, providing more effective heating than traditional convection heaters.
Why Are Infrared and Quartz Heaters the Same?
The short answer is that infrared (IR) and quartz heaters are the same because they both use radiation to produce heat. IR radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation that includes visible light, ultraviolet light, microwaves, and radio waves. Quartz heaters work by heating the quartz element inside the heater.
This causes the air around the element to heat up and then converts or spreads the heat throughout the room. IR heaters work similarly, but instead of using an element made of quartz, they use an emitter made of silicon carbide or other materials that emit IR radiation.
Pros and Cons of Infrared Heaters
Here’s a look at some of the pros and cons of infrared heaters:
Pros
- Infrared heaters are very energy efficient – they convert up to 95% of their energy into heat, compared to just 60% for traditional electric heaters. This means they can save you money on your energy bills.
- Infrared heaters don’t blow air around like other heaters, so they are ideal for people with allergies or asthma. They also provide gentle, even heat.
- Infrared heaters are very quiet. Most models don’t have any moving parts or fans, so you can use them in areas where you want to avoid noise pollution (e.g., your bedroom).
Cons
- They do not work well for large spaces. It is recommended that these types of heaters only be placed in smaller rooms (i.e., less than 400 square feet) at a maximum distance of three feet away from objects like walls and furniture. This way, it will heat the room more effectively.
- Infrared heaters emit no visible light to make the room appear dark and gloomy during daylight hours. This may not matter to people who prefer a darker environment in their home or office space (e.g., sleepers).
- They do not have any fans that cool you down when the temperatures get too high; therefore, they cannot be used as air conditioners even though they produce warm air like other types of heaters.
- When purchasing an infrared heater, you should take care because many emit ultraviolet rays that can cause skin burns and cataracts over time.
In-Depth Comparison Between Quartz and Infrared Heaters
Both quartz and infrared heaters serve the same purpose – to provide warmth and comfort. They both release a similar amount of radiant energy that helps heat a room. However, there are differences between these two types of heaters which you need to know about before deciding on an appliance for your home. Here’s a closer look at how quartz vs. infrared heaters differs from each other:
Cost of Running the Heaters
Infrared heaters are more efficient than quartz. Quartz heats objects and people in the room, while infrared only warms the things directly without heating surrounding air as much. This means that you will save on electricity costs since it takes less energy for an infrared heater to do its job compared with a quartz one.
However, this also makes them less green and eco-friendly – something that is very important these days where we all want our homes to be kinder to Mother Earth! So, if you’re looking for an affordable and eco-friendly heater, go for infrared. If you don’t mind spending more to have a warmer room, go with quartz.
Energy Efficiency
This is another essential factor to consider when choosing between quartz and infrared heaters. Infrared heaters are more efficient because they waste less energy heating up the air in a room, as mentioned earlier. This means that you will save on your energy bills if you decide to go with an infrared heater.
However, remember that not all infrared heaters are created equal – some models are more efficient than others. On the other hand, quartz heaters are not as efficient as infrared ones, but they do provide a higher level of warmth. So, if you’re looking for a heater that will warm up your home, go with quartz.
The Safety Factor
While the primary purpose of infrared and quartz heaters is to provide warmth, safety should also be a concern. There is a big difference between the two in terms of safety. Infrared heaters produce infrared radiation, which is a type of electromagnetic radiation.
This kind of heater is safer than other types because it doesn’t produce sparks that could potentially ignite a fire. On the other hand, quartz heaters use quartz rods to create heat. While they are generally considered safe, some reports of these heaters causing fires. So, when it comes to safety, infrared heaters come out on top.
Heat Benefits
Quartz takes the win when it comes to heat benefits. It emits long-wave radiation, ideal for heating a room quickly and evenly. This means that you won’t have to spend as much time waiting for the space to warm up. There will also be a lesser chance of cold spots in the room. Infrared heaters also produce heat, but it is shorter-wavelength radiation.
This type of radiation can be beneficial when used alongside other forms of heating, such as electric or gas furnaces. Reason being. This helps to circulate the air more effectively. However, infrared heaters do not generate as much heat as quartz heaters, so they may take longer to warm up a room.
Short Wave Infrared Radiation Concerns
The length of short-wave radiation makes it appealing to consumers because these types of heaters emit more infrared energy than other heating devices, which means their units will feel hotter during operation while using less electricity overall. But short-wave radiation has some drawbacks as well.
First of all, short-wave radiation can cause eye damage if exposed directly. Because these waves can penetrate certain materials more quickly than others, this poses a severe concern for units that come into close contact with clothing or furniture where someone could be at risk for injury.
Also, because these rays do not heat objects very quickly (or evenly), there may be pockets of cold air in some areas, making them feel colder even though the surrounding area might be warm enough.
This factor becomes more pronounced depending on what color an object happens to be since darker colors absorb light and heat faster than lighter ones like white or silver. And lastly, many people claim that short-wave heating systems produce a buzzing noise during operation.
Life Expectancy
Life expectancy means more than just how long they will keep working before failing when it comes to heaters. It also refers to the life of heating elements, which are more critical for quartz heaters than infrared.
Infrared emitters have no moving parts. Their life expectancy is limited only by the element’s strength—typically around five years on average (although it’s still possible to get a longer-lasting one).
On the other hand, quartz heaters have heating elements that move and thus can wear out after several years of use. The average life expectancy for quartz is around three years (although you should never expect more than five from it), but this varies depending on manufacturer and model.
When it comes to operation, infrared heaters are very reliable. Quartz heaters may operate for around 20,000 to 60,000 hours, and carbon heaters have been shown to endure at least 10,000 hours.
On the other hand, infrared heating panels can endure for 100.000 hours and outlast any other type of heater. That means it will run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for approximately 11 years!
Noise
As much as we want warmth in our homes, the noise from our heaters can make us uncomfortable. It can even be a pain if the heater is too loud that you cannot listen to music or watch TV properly. Fortunately, modern heaters have been improved to reduce noise.
Both quartz and infrared heaters are less noisy compared to other options. However, both have different noise levels. A quartz heater is proven to be much quieter than the infrared one. Additionally, some infrared heaters come with a fan that can be pretty loud. If you are looking for a heater with low noise levels, then go for quartz.
Outdoor vs. Indoor Use
When it comes to outdoor use, infrared heaters are better because they don’t blow out cold air as quartz heaters do. They also work faster than quartz at heating an area. However, if you’re looking for an indoor heater, a quartz heater is the better option. Although they take a bit longer to warm up a room, they are safer than infrared heaters.
So, to summarize:
- Outdoor use: infrared is better than quartz.
- Indoor use: quartz is more effective than infrared.
Quartz vs. Infrared Heaters: Which is the Better Option?
Both infrared and quartz heaters have their benefits and drawbacks. They are both effective at heating a room, but the type of heater you choose will depend on your specific needs. If you’re more inclined to want a quick heater to heat a room, infrared is the better option. It also gives off less dry heat, which can be more comfortable for some people.
However, if you’re looking for something more efficient and doesn’t require frequent replacements, quartz might be the better choice. It’s important to remember that when buying a heater, you should also consider where the heater will be located in your home. The size and design of the room that needs to be heated can affect which type of heating system is best for you.
Conclusion
Choosing between quartz or an infrared heater can be difficult. Both have their benefits and drawbacks. However, when selecting the most effective type of heater, infrared heaters come out on top. Quartz heaters are good at heating large spaces quickly. They also produce a consistent heat level, making them suitable for smaller bathrooms and bedrooms.
However, they do not transfer heat to objects in the room very well – this means that you will feel cold even if the heater is on. Make sure to consider all your needs before deciding on a heater.