As far as the installation of a heating system goes, installing infrared heating panels is a straightforward process.
Essentially, all you need is the panel itself, a mounting bracket and an electrical connection. There are no external units, pipework or central boilers needed unlike other heating systems.
That said, infrared panel installation still requires careful planning, adherence to safety guidelines and, in most cases, the professional skills of an electrician. If you’ve gone for a smart infrared heater, you’ll need to be tech savvy enough to link everything together.
Can you install infrared heating panels yourself?
Many infrared panels come equipped for a plug in and go set-up. In this instance, yes it is possible to install the infrared panel yourself without the need for professional help.
With the plug in models, you’ll need the DIY skills to mount the IR panel on the wall or ceiling. A wall installation would be similar to mounting a TV on a bracket – something even I can do. However, it’s essential to get infrared panel positioning right for effective heat distribution.
Installing an IR panel on the ceiling is a little tricker due to the awkward overhead nature, but the process of mounting onto a bracket is the same.
Many homeowners prefer their infrared panels to be hardwired in. For some rooms without sockets, such as bathrooms, hardwiring to a fused spur is the only option.
The main benefit of this is that there are no dangling wires, which may be important from a safety and aesthetics perspective. If you have more than one panel in a room or throughout your home, it’s beneficial to run them all on their own electrical circuit so they can be easily isolated.
Unless you’re a qualified electrician, we wouldn’t recommend hardwiring an infrared panel in yourself.
How simple are infrared heating panels to install?
A major advantage of infrared heating panels is their ease of installation and single unit functioning.
Whether you go for the DIY approach of a plug in and go panel or one that gets wired into the mains, infrared panels are simple to install. At least this is true for those with the skills, of course. But overall, there are no complex steps or specialised wiring requirements.
What do you need before you install an infrared panel?
Before installing an infrared panel, it’s a good idea to have all necessary tools. In most cases you’ll need:
- Mounting brackets (should come with the IR panel)
- Screws and wall plugs
- Drill
- Screwdriver
- Spirit level
- Pencil
Of course you’ll need the panel itself, plus any necessary safety equipment like goggles and a dust mask.
If hardwiring in, you’ll need further tools, such as wirestrippers, pliers and a circuit tester.
Consider where to put infrared panels
A crucial part of the installation process is panel positioning. This is because the placement of infrared panels significantly affects their efficiency and effectiveness due to their directional way of heating.
In a lot of cases, the best location for panels is on the ceiling. As there is unlikely to be anything between you and the ceiling, the overhead position is ideal when it comes to the optimal distribution of heat to warm you up. In some rooms and spaces though, a ceiling installation isn’t always possible. You can read more on wall vs ceiling mounted panels here.
For wall installations, it’s essential to position the panels where they won’t be obstructed by furniture, doors or other objects. Blocking direct lines of sight to the panel will create unwanted cold spots.
Further, unless you have super insulated triple glazed windows, it’s advisable to not position a panel directly facing the glass as more heat is likely to escape than be reflected back inside. For more information, check out this post on where you should put infrared panels.
It’s also wise to consider an IR panel’s heating range, including how far they reach. Ideally, you want to be within three metres of a panel to feel the infrared heat. The further you are away, the less effective this form of heating will be. This is also why ceiling installations are generally more favourable, as most homes have ceiling heights less than three metres. The ceiling height in my living room, for example, is 2.4m. Couple this with being around 1m off the floor when you’re sitting on a sofa and it’s the perfect distance.
From a safety perspective, you want to position your panels away from combustible materials, such as curtains, and make sure no other materials can come into contact with them.
Lastly, it’s important to follow any specific manufacturer’s guidelines, including installation panels with a gap of at least 200mm from sockets or other potential sources of interference.
How to install infrared heating panels
Here is a step-by-step overview of installing infrared heating panels. How the electrics are connected up depends if you go for a simple plug in approach or wired installation.
- Use a room’s floor plan to determine optimal infrared panel positioning. You don’t want to place panels in alcoves, behind doors or where they’ll be blocked by furniture. The aim is to position where you can get maximum heat distribution to high traffic areas.
- Hold the mounting bracket against the preferred wall or ceiling location and mark out the drill points. Make sure all markings are level.
- Drill holes into marked points to a depth that matches the bracket screw provided.
- Insert wall plugs into the holes and secure the bracket into place with the screws
- Align the infrared heating panel into place and slide into the supports
- Make sure the panel sits flush and securely on brackets without loose movement. Adjust angle as needed.
Once your IR panel is up and running, it’s useful to note that it’ll typically take around 3-10 minutes to reach full heat intensity. Find out more on how long infrared panels take to heat a room.
