FAQ’s
FAQ Commonly asked questions 2013 please click on the title to go to the PDF leaflet.
We hope that this website has covered everything you might need to know about infrared technology, our panels and heating your home or workplace. However we appreciate that the concept of infrared heating is new to the UK and there will always be queries or concerns in your mind that hopefully we can answer in our FAQ’s.
We are always happy to answer any of your questions by telephone or email.
What will be the energy savings on my heating bill?
Every home or situation will be different; all forms of energy costs will depend on the building quality and insulation and how flexible the controls can be, however infrared uses very little energy to heat a room and does not waste energy in fans or lights and for this reason is energy efficient. Infrared heating does not warm the air itself but efficiently warms people and objects which in turn warm the air.
As gas and oil fuel prices increase, the choice to have electric heating becomes more popular especially for those who are able to generate their own electricity.
In tests done in Germany by Prof. Dr Ing Peter Kosack two separate apartments were analysed, comparing our panels with a conventional gas central heating system. The average consumption for gas and electric per square metre was measured; the apartment using gas required three times more energy to heat the space. Now, depending on gas and electricity prices the savings may vary slightly but it is clear to see that our panels are more economical with energy and that considerable savings can be made.
In comparisons with other electric heaters our panels use far less energy to heat the same area. Many convection, oil filled or fan heaters are typically rated at 2000 watts that is more than double the consumption of our largest panel which will warm a room of 17 square metres from just 850 watts.
Experiment with your panel to ensure you get the most from infrared heating.
Experiment with the timer to find out how long it takes to warm the room from cold and how long it takes for the room to cool once the heating has gone off, by altering these periods you could be saving money on fuel costs.
Try leaving the heater on all day to feel the difference in overall warmth, especially in an older property, bathrooms often benefit from having the heating left on for longer periods. Your programmer can be set to have the heating on all day but at a lower temperature to prevent the house becoming too cold this will ultimately save money on fuel bills by maintaining gentle background warmth in the home.
Zone heating can save energy by only heating the rooms in use. Our heating panels can be wired up to a number of programmers rather than the usual one; this ensures that zones of the home can be heated separately. For example, in early evening it is important to have the sitting room and kitchen really warm and only background warmth in bedrooms, our programmers have four set points.
The light spectrum from the sun is not just the visible light that we see but also goes beyond at the blue end to UV rays, X rays and Microwaves and at the red end to near and far infrared. A very specific area of far infrared spectrum produces the maximum heating output.
Multiheat panels reach this optimum spectrum with a patented formula of a high grade Carbon Nickel mixture and a Nano Silver conductor coated from a dielectric layer and 100% PE protection. A unique reflector technology emits all infrared rays to the front of the panel however the reverse side may feel warm to the touch which is why the panel stands away from the wall to allow air to circulate.
Our heating panels have an even heat distribution across the entire surface.
Infrared radiant panels use the same principle as the sunshine, we have all felt the suns warmth on a cold crisp day, but once the sun disappears behind a cloud we feel cold, this is because the suns infrared rays are prevented from hitting our body because of the cloud. The sun’s rays do not warm the air but people and objects that in turn will give off heat to warm the air. The best infrared heating panels create the maximum amount of infrared rays from little amount of energy. A true infrared heater will only produce infrared rays and not waste energy with convection or storage and is therefore highly energy efficient.
Can I try a panel out before going to the expense of having the whole house fitted?
Of course! Buy one panel to try, simply make sure that the panel you chose is large enough to warm the room you are trying it out in. A 600 watt panel will warm a room of 12 square metres. Fit a UK plug to the cable, you can also use a cheap simple timer switch available from DIY shops, this will ensure the heating comes on to warm the room and goes off again at night to avoid wasting electricity. Make sure the heating panel is secure, we do have some “feet” available for this purpose, remember the surface will become hot once switched on and visitors will not expect this panel to be a heater and may try to touch it!
If you are not happy then please return the panel with all its packaging to us in good working order and we will refund the purchase price.
Most of our customers say they really like the "feel" of infrared warmth.
Can I use the heater in a bathroom?
Yes, the panels are IP54 rated for use in the bathrooms and wetrooms. The heater is splash proof and should be positioned in zone 3 away from the bath or shower. Ideally it should be above where you stand, fairly central to the room; the rays need to reach all areas of the room to warm the walls and floor which in turn will warm the whole room. If the heating panel is left on for long periods it will also help reduce condensation in the bathroom and maintain a cosy warm feeling. Mirror infrared heating panels are excellent in the bathroom.
Is it safe to use the heater near electrical equipment?
Yes, the infrared rays are very gentle; it will not overheat any equipment. Infrared has very gentle warming rays.
Infrared heating rays come from a different part of the light spectrum to infrared remote controls. Wavelengths are very specific to their job and infrared heaters will not interfere with any other electrical equipment and similarly remote controls will not affect your heater either.
The panel comes with all the instructions, fittings and a template for screwing to the wall or ceiling.
Please ask a qualified electrician to wire in the panel. Decide roughly where the panel will be on the ceiling, panels are not particularly heavy but do need a secure fitting, find out where the joists are and which way they run. The cable can be passed up into the ceiling space and your electrician can work out how best to connect the panel to the electrics and programmer. Or the panel can be fitted on the wall and the cable hidden behind plasterwork or trunking.
We supply thermostats and programmers so your panel can be turned on and off just like any other central heating.
The panel has standard electric cabling just the same as any other domestic electrical equipment; if you are not able to fully fit the heater then a simple UK plug can be fitted.
Ideally the heater should be above where you are sitting, so you get the most benefit from the warming rays. Imagine you are fitting a light bulb to shine over the whole room.
The ceiling is the most effective place for our standard white panels.
Glass and mirror panels can be fitted high on the wall like a picture although some warming rays are lost up to the ceiling and so it may not be as efficient, or you can fit and angle the heater downwards.
It is not recommended to place infrared heating panels low on the wall like conventional radiators as furniture will block the rays from passing across the room and it will not warm the whole area.
How do I know what size panel to choose?
The calculations are very simple really; we base it on 50 watts per square metre of floor space in a well built and modern insulated home with an average ceiling height of about 2.4metres.
Now if the room is particularly cold or damp and the building is very old it may be better to choose a larger heater than our recommendations, similarly cold draughty windows or doors constantly in use will also have an effect on the way in which the room can maintain a temperature.
A therapist studio may require 100 watts per square metre and Hot Yoga studios require 150 watts per square metre.
If a programmer is fitted this will ensure that the room is kept to the desired temperature and the panel will modulate to only draw sufficient power to maintain temperature it will not be wasting electricity, it is false economy to buy a panel which is slightly too small for the room especially when very cold weather arrives.
Important factors to guide you. Does my room get really cold without any heating on at all? Is there condensation when the heating is on and the walls are cold? Do my walls feel cold to the touch? Do you like to walk around in just a t shirt even in the middle of winter? If the answer is yes then please use 75+ watts per square metre for your calculations.
Can the panel be left on for long periods?
Yes. To keep your home warm, fit your panels to a programmer, this can be set to a lower temperature throughout the day and warmer in the evening or whatever suits you. Experiment - find out how quickly your room heats up from cold, or from a background warmth (16 degrees possibly) then later in the day see how well the building retains warmth, turn the heater off and see how long it takes for the room to cool. Then alter your programmer times to suit.
It is easier to maintain warmth within a warm house than it is to allow the building structure to get cold which will keep chilling any warmed air that radiators create.
Infrared rays warm the walls and furniture which in turn give off warmth and can create lovely welcoming background warmth. A small panel left on constantly is especially beneficial in older properties at helping to reduce damp and cold problems, this can be run alongside traditional heating systems, if need be, the electrical consumption is low and the general background warmth means less fuel is then used when bringing the temperature up to that required in the evening time.
Panels have thermal safety cut outs which prevent it overheating.
If infrared warms people and objects how hot do they become?
Infrared causes atoms within an object to vibrate which in turn creates warmth, these items then give off warmth to warm the air. This is very gentle warmth, but as all items in the room have been warmed the warmth will be a general all round warmth unlike electric fires or radiators which heat the air in one place within the room and create currents of cold air. When every item is slightly warm it is amazing how that lifts the general warmth of the room, similar to the sun shining into a room in spring.
As with any electrical item, for fire safety the panel should not be close to any furniture or curtains, remember the surface itself will become hot. The panel needs air circulation space around it and good space in front.
Under normal use items in close proximity will just become very slightly warm or largest panel can radiate warmth to about 2.5 metres away.
Panels reach a surface temperature of about 85 degrees C. Far infrared energy is given off within the guide wavelength range for optimum energy efficiency and comfortable warmth to the human body. Our panels provide excellent warmth from the minimum amount of energy necessary. Technological advancements mean the newer panels are even more efficient and reliable for years of good use.
If you were to stand in front of the heater you can feel gentle warmth but the surface is actually much hotter than you might expect and you would soon pull your hand away if touching the panel. There are no lights and the panel appears just the same whether it is switched on or off, this is part of the design appeal. This should not cause any problems as the panel is recommended for fitting on the ceiling or high on the wall like a picture, the infrared rays shine their warmth across the room, this should not be blocked by objects and therefore a high up position works most effectively.
This panel is cheaper than other makes does that mean it is inferior?
No, our panels meet all the same safety regulations as our competitors. We are very happy with the reliability of our products, new panels with the nano silver technology are of extremely good quality and we are happy to offer a five year warranty on these products.
News from the manufacturer…….”New heating element with outstanding performance and efficiency. The newly designed heating element developed in Austria and in co-operation with Japanese and German suppliers provides outstanding performance, greater efficiency, and higher stability for several years use. Developed for the European market.”
All of our infrared heating panels are made for the European market and therefore must meet the current high standards set out by the Safety Standards Authority. There is a page on the website that details the safety certifications. CE standard, TARIC , TUV Rheinland, EN 60335, EN50366, NEN1010/IEEE, IP54 rated for use in bathrooms.
Our panels carry the logo for TUV Rheinland this is a global provider of technical, safety and certification services and the CE marking.
We are an internet based company and do not have expensive showrooms, we keep our costs low by importing in larger quantities and supply builders, electricians, retailers and renewable energy companies who then install the heater for their clients.
Our panels come from an established Austrian supplier and are made for the European market, however they are made in China. We have been using this product here in our offices and in our own homes for a number of years and have been very happy with the quality and reliability.
Multiheat have trialled a number of infrared heating panels from various German and Austrian suppliers and found the Infrapower panel to be of similar quality, superior design, have excellent reliability and be more affordable.
This product is sold in huge quantities across many European countries and has had a good reputation for many years.
The TUV Rheinland safety certificate states the place of manufacture as China for the Austrian company Infrapower.
The manufacturer is continually working with Austrian and Japanese technicians to improve the efficiency and maintains the quality to German standards.
