Carbon or Halogen – Which Infrared Patio Heater Is Best?

Infrared Patio Heaters

Spring is on the way and now, towards the end of winter, the urge to sit outside is starting to grow. Frico has a wide range of infrared patio heaters that give comfortable heat even on chilly evenings. What are the differences between the variants?

How Does It Work?

An infrared patio heater gives off infrared radiation, which in turn heats the surfaces that it hits. The radiated heat does not heat the air and is therefore a perfect heat source for use outdoors. But what separates the different infrared heaters and which should one use when?

Carbon Infrared Heater

Carbon infrared heater got its name because the elements are made of carbon fibre, just like Edison's first light bulb. The name is actually quite misleading, because a carbon fibre lamp also contains halogen gas and is a type of halogen lamp.

Carbon Infrared Heater Heats the Skin More Efficiently

The characteristics of the lamp give longer service life and lower element temperatures. This gives softer radiant heat and can be experienced as warmer. Tests have shown that a carbon infrared heater heats the skin more efficiently and is therefore experienced as warmer despite a lower output. 

  • Longer service life

  • Lower element temperatures

  • Softer radiant heat

  • Heats the skin more efficiently

Halogen Infrared Heater

A halogen infrared heater is, like a normal halogen lamp, filled with halogen gas. It has a high element temperature and a high output. This gives a slightly shorter service life, but it is unbeatable for locations where the installation has to be further away from whatever is to be heated.

Heat From a Halogen Infrared Heater Is Direct and Effective

Halogen infrared heaters are brighter because of the higher temperature. The heat is direct and very effective. The Frico range contains infrared heaters with wide dispersion as well as focused dispersion. Focused dispersion gives effective heating even from heights, while wide dispersion is more comfortable to sit within if it is located closer.

  • High element temperature

  • High output

  • The heat is direct and very effective

  • Wide or focused dispersion

Always Advantages With Infrared Heating

Infrared heating is immediate, as soon as it is switched on. The heat can be felt as soon as the lamp lights up. This is because radiant heating does not heat the surrounding air, only those surfaces that the radiation hits. This makes the heating ideal for places that are not insulated and even completely open decking and open air locations. However, one should bear in mind that if the location is not sheltered from the wind it will still be experienced as cold.

When Should You Use Which Infrared Heater?

The areas of use are similar for both types of infrared heater. Generally speaking, one can say that the closer to the occupied zone that you need to install the infrared heater, the more suitable the carbon infrared heater is, with its softer heating. The opposite applies when you need to install at a longer distance away from what needs to be heated, then the halogen infrared heater gives the best result.

You are always welcome to contact us here at Frico. We can help you decide which products you need.