Infrared heaters work by converting electricity, gasoline, or propane into heat and then radiating that heat onto objects in front of them. They can warm up the people sitting in a room but not the air circulating in the same room. Infrared heaters are also only as inexpensive as their energy source. They can be an economical supplementary form of heat if a room is well-insulated and has a good primary heat source like a furnace or stove.

On the Other: Infrared Heaters Can't Reduce Draft

If a house is old and drafty, an infrared heater won't do anything to stop the drafts or warm the cold air. Infrared heat affects objects only, not air or air circulation. If cold drafts are the main problem in a older home, a more economical and effective solution is to add insulation. Plugging leaks around windows and doors and between the foundation and the house frame will keep more warmth inside the house and make any infrared heaters used inside it more effective.

Bottom Line

Infrared heaters are good supplemental devices that can keep feet and hands warm or take the chill off a back room or garage, but drafts have to be dealt with directly by plugging them with insulation or foam. Infrared heaters are not the first choice for saving money in drafty old homes. They rely on expensive forms of energy and--because they only heat objects--they have limited utility.

Source:

EPA: Portable Heaters Page

Green Homes: Energy Efficient Electric Heaters

How Stuff Works: Infrared Heaters Work

More Information:

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