Infrared panel heaters with thermostat : What to pay attention to before buying?

Most infrared panel heaters are still sold without a thermostat, but did you know that according to the ecodesign regulation of the EU infrared heaters must now be sold with a thermostat? And there is a reason for that, without a thermostat you often heat too much and for too long until it gets so warm to the point where you turn off the heating because you feel uncomfortable. But per degree Celsius less you can save up to 6% energy and feel more comfortable! But with the number of thermostats and functions offered on the market today, it can get confusing. We clarify what to look for when buying the infrared heater with thermostat and what the different functions actually do.

How to connect the thermostat with an infrared heating panel?

When connecting a thermostat there are three options:

1. Plug-in thermostat: The plug of the infrared heating panel will be plugged into the thermostat, which will then be plugged into the socket. The advantage of this variant is that the thermostat can be set up easily and quickly without hiring an electrician. Also, the infrared heater can easily be removed from the wall since no wiring has been done. A disadvantage is that it looks quite bulky and all cables are visible. This version is available with and without a remote control thermostat.
2. Infrared heater with thermostat wired to electricity directly: Here, the infrared heater is wired directly to the electricity via the thermostat. Again, there is the choice between a remote control thermostat with a receiver or a simple thermostat, which is permanently installed on the wall. The advantage of this variant is that no cable is visible and no power socket is being used. A disadvantage is that the infrared heating panel can only be connected by an electrician and cannot be easily removed from the wall e.g when moving. This variant will usually be used for ceiling mounting since there is no socket to plug into.
3. Integrated thermostat receiver: Keeps all options open. This is the most innovative version of the infrared panel heaters with thermostats. The advantage of this version is that you do have all options of either plugging the heater directly into the socket or to wire the heater to the power mains. There are no clunky plugs that need and since the receiver is integrated you can choose to hardwire the panel or just plug the panel into the power socket. Hard-wiring means that cables are hidden but will again require an electrician. Here you have the choice between battery-powered or thermostats that need to be connected to the electricity either by plug or wiring. In this variant, you can control the infrared heater either via the wireless thermostat, via a smartphone app or directly on the heater. Also, ceiling and wall installation are equally convenient with this variant.

Infrared heater thermostat functions: What do they really do?

•  7-day programming: The 7-day programming makes it possible to set up an individual heating plan for each day of the week. Of course, this program can be interrupted with manual settings and later resumed. For the average consumer, this function achieves the greatest energy savings when heating with infrared panel heaters with thermostat. The initial settings take some time but users are then rewarded with massive energy savings.
• WiFi: This feature allows you to control your infrared heater through an app that communicates with your thermostat. This is ideal if you spontaneously come home early or if you forget to switch off the heating and it’s a must-have for holiday homes.
• Open window detection: Another feature that helps save energy! If the door or window is accidentally left open, the thermostat detects a sharp drop in temperature and automatically turns off the heating for a short period of time.
• Adaptive Start: This function allows the thermostat to start or stop heating according to the given conditions. It will learn to turn off or on the infrared heater sooner or later based on local conditions. Again a feature to save energy and to create a more comfortable room climate.
• Holiday mode: In holiday mode, the infrared heater heats up only to a minimum temperature, so that pipes won’t freeze. The perfect alternative instead of turning off the heating.
• Black Bulb Sensor: This function is used to measure the radiant temperature of heaters, rather than simply measuring the air temperature, allowing for more specific temperature measurement of radiant heaters.

In general, the above features bring significant energy savings as well as more convenience in use as well as a more comfortable room atmosphere. That is, of course, assuming you are actually using the functions and that your infrared heater is not only running in manual mode.

For a personal consultation, contact a Sundirect dealer who will help you find the right thermostat for your heating needs.