Let’s Talk About Outdoor Infrared Heaters
We built these heaters for a very specific, very annoying problem: that bone-chilling feeling you get in outdoor changing areas or on a poolside deck. Most heaters try to warm up the air. The problem is, if you’re outside, the wind just blows that warm air away. It’s a waste. Our approach is different. We use short-wave infrared, which means the heat goes straight to the person, not the air. It’s like stepping into a patch of sunlight on a winter day. The secret is in the quartz-halogen elements. They don’t need twenty minutes to “warm up.” They hit their peak temperature in seconds. So, when someone walks into a cold changing zone, they feel the heat immediately. No shivering while waiting for a machine to kick in. But putting electronics outside is always a gamble. Water and electricity don’t get along. To stop the weather from ruining everything, we seal the electrical junctions and the lamp housing tight. We use powder-coated aluminum or stainless steel for the frame because rust is an absolute nightmare in humid spots. Just a heads-up: make sure your wiring is rated for damp areas. If a seal leaks, you’re looking at a short circuit or a cracked lamp from the temperature shock. Not a fun Tuesday. Now, there are a few things to keep in mind when you’re actually putting these in. These units pack a lot of punch in a small box. That “luxury” feel comes at a price—they pull a lot of power. You’ll want to double-check your breakers to make sure they can handle the peak wattage. And then there’s the height. If you mount them too low, it’s too intense. You’ll practically cook whoever is standing underneath. Too high, and the heat dissipates before it reaches the ground. We usually find the “sweet spot” is around 2.5 to 3 meters. It keeps people cozy without making them feel like they’re standing on a grill.