How to pick the right wattage for your bathroom heater
Here’s a secret about infrared heaters: bigger isn’t always better. You don’t actually need the most powerful unit on the shelf. What you really need is a heater that fits the size of your room. It’s all about finding that sweet spot where the room feels cozy quickly, but you aren’t overloading your electrical panel. Getting the size right If you’ve got a tiny bathroom—maybe under 4 square meters—a 400W to 600W unit is usually plenty. The great thing about shortwave infrared is that it doesn’t waste time trying to heat up all the air in the room. Instead, it heats you directly. It feels like stepping into a patch of sunlight on a cold morning. For those larger bathrooms (around 6 to 10 square meters), you’ll probably want to bump it up to 800W or 1200W. Just be careful not to overdo it. If you put a massive heater in a tiny space, you’ll bake yourself and waste a ton of electricity. On the flip side, if the heater is too weak, it has to run constantly to keep you warm, which just wears out the filament faster. The deal with IP65 ratings Since we’re talking about bathrooms, waterproof gear is a must. You’ll see “IP65” on the box—that basically means it’s sealed tight against dust and can handle water jets without a problem. Now, because these units are sealed with glass and gaskets to keep the moisture out, a little bit of that heat can get trapped. We fix this by shaping the reflector to push the heat straight down. You get the warmth exactly where you need it, rather than heating up the heater’s own casing. Saving energy (and your breakers) If you want to keep your electric bill down, try hooking the heater up to a timer or a motion sensor. Infrared is fast. Really fast. Unlike those old oil radiators that take forever to get going, these kick in the second you flip the switch. One last thing: keep an eye on your wiring. Higher wattage means more current. If you decide to install a few 1200W units on one circuit, you might find yourself staring at a tripped breaker the moment you turn them all on. It’s worth double-checking your load before you start drilling holes in the wall.