Picking the Right Infrared Heater for Your Bathroom
Let’s be honest: nobody likes stepping out of a hot shower into a freezing bathroom. It’s a shock to the system. But when you’re shopping for infrared heaters, the biggest mistake people make is just buying the one with the highest wattage. You might think “more power equals more warmth,” but that’s not really how it works. If you put a massive heater in a tiny room, you’re just wasting electricity and turning your bathroom into a sauna. On the flip side, too little power and you’re still shivering. Getting the size right It mostly comes down to how much space you’re trying to warm up. If you’ve got a small powder room—you know, those tiny half-baths—something in the 250W to 400W range is plenty. It gets the job done without overloading your electrical system. For a standard family bathroom, you’ll probably want to bump that up to 600W or 800W. Then you have the big master baths. If you’ve got a lot of square footage, a single lamp usually won’t cut it. You can go with one heavy-hitter (1000W+), but I actually prefer using a few smaller units spread across the ceiling. It stops those annoying “cold spots” where the heat just doesn’t reach. The little things that matter Here’s a tip: pay attention to the beam angle. Some lamps have a narrow beam. These are great if you just want to dry out your floor tiles, but they’re not great for warming you. Look for wide-angle reflectors if you want that cozy, all-over feeling. Also, look up. If you have high ceilings (anything over 2.5 meters), the heat has a longer way to travel. A 400W lamp that works great in a low-ceiling room will feel weak in a high-ceiling one. In that case, go for 600W so you actually feel the warmth by the time it hits the floor. A quick warning on your wiring One last thing. High-wattage lamps pull a lot of power. If you’re putting a new heater into an old house, please check your wiring first. Swapping a tiny 200W bulb for a 1200W beast is a great way to trip your breakers or, worse, fry your circuits. It’s all about balance. You want enough heat to feel comfortable, but not so much that you’re fighting with your fuse box.