How to Actually Size an Infrared Heater for Your Bathroom
When you’re picking out an IP65 infrared heater, the instinct is usually to go for the biggest, most powerful unit on the shelf. But here’s the thing: more power isn’t always better. It’s really just about making sure the heat fits the room and the materials you’ve got on the walls. In a bathroom, you obviously need that tight seal so moisture doesn’t fry your circuits, but the real headache is usually just wasting energy.
Getting the wattage right
I like to break bathroom sizes down into three simple buckets. If you’ve got a tiny powder room (under 4m²), a 400W to 600W lamp is plenty. If you put a 1200W beast in a space that small, the room will overheat in seconds. The heater will just keep clicking on and off, which eventually kills the relay. For those mid-sized bathrooms (4m² to 8m²), you’re looking at 800W to 1000W. Then you have the big master baths (over 8m²). These need 1200W, or better yet, a couple of smaller units spread out. If you just put one massive lamp in a huge room, you end up with one scorching “hot spot” right under the light while your toes stay freezing in the corners. Spread the heat around.
The deal with IP65 and “Shield Loss”
An IP65 rating basically means the unit is dust-tight and can handle a spray of water. To do that, these heaters usually have a glass or polycarbonate shield. But there’s a catch. That shield protects the electronics, but it also bounces a bit of the heat back into the unit. We actually spec our lamps to be a bit stronger to make up for that loss, so you actually feel the warmth you’re paying for.
Speed vs. Your Fuse Box
High-wattage lamps are great because they warm the room up fast. But they pull a lot of current. If you’re working in an older house, please check your wiring. There is nothing worse than turning on a 1500W heater and a hairdryer at the same time, only to have the breaker trip and leave you in the dark. If your electrics are a bit flimsy, just go with a lower wattage lamp and leave it on a little longer. It takes a few more minutes to get cozy, but it won’t blow your fuses.