Commercial Infrared Heating

Commercial Heaters

Patio heaters are commonly found in residential settings, but heaters are far more frequently encountered in commercial environments. Commercial heaters come in a wide array of designs, BTU outputs, fuel types, intended uses, and heating technologies. Commercial patio heaters, which are often utilized in restaurants and other businesses within the hospitality industry, are almost identical to their residential counterparts. However, some industrial-strength heaters used in factories can be as large as a car and may look unrecognizable next to their smaller consumer versions.

Applications for Commercial Heaters

Although the term "heater" is fairly self-explanatory, essentially, they are designed to provide warmth! The differences between heaters lie in their designs, the amount of heat they produce, the type of fuel they use, and their intended applications. Comfort heaters are the more common and familiar ones, while industrial heaters are typically only found in factories or other manufacturing settings.

Comfort heaters are widely used in both residential and commercial settings. With the variety of indoor and outdoor commercial heaters available, any business owner can easily heat their patios. Heaters can be permanently installed into your walls or ceilings, or you can opt for the flexibility of portable heaters. Many businesses use portable and/or permanent heaters to keep their outdoor patios warm for their patrons or customers. The purpose of these types of heaters is simply to maintain warmth in outdoor areas or indoor spaces, ensuring that these areas remain usable for longer periods.

Industrial heaters are used in chemical laboratories, packaging plants, and numerous other production industries. Some of these heaters are highly specialized. They also vary greatly in size and application. Some are small and portable, while others are large enough to fit a vehicle inside. Industrial heaters are integrated into assembly lines to produce countless everyday items that we often take for granted. They can emit long, near, or medium-wave infrared, depending on their specific use. Without the variety of infrared heaters, we wouldn't be able to produce many common items such as semiconductors, electrical cords, plastics, advanced pharmaceuticals, batteries, and refined oil and gas — just to name a few. While we appreciate the heaters used in the industrial sector, we only sell comfort heaters here at AEI.

Infrared Heaters vs Convection Heaters

Most heaters designed for space heating will use infrared technology to generate their heat. This is because infrared rays are much more effective at warming people and objects in an open area compared to traditional convection heaters. Convection heaters work well in enclosed environments like indoor fireplaces. Convection heaters heat the surrounding air, which circulates throughout the area until all the air has been warmed. If you have a large space to heat or it has any airflow, the warm air will be blown away. Convection heaters, such as fireplaces or traditional outdoor campfires, require significant fuel and effort to keep them going.

Infrared heaters emit beams of energy (just like the sun) that heat any solid object they touch, not the air they pass through. This distinction makes infrared heaters effective even in exposed conditions. Our infrared heaters used for comfort heating emit medium-length infrared waves, which warm us as they are safely absorbed by our skin.

The way infrared space heaters function is by heating a material (infrared element) that safely emits infrared waves when it gets hot. The element can be made of quartz, ceramic, stainless steel, or other metals; and is shaped as needed, usually as a rod or emitter grid. The infrared element is typically heated by electricity, propane, or natural gas; each fuel source causes the element to emit infrared rays that safely warm people and objects.

Fuel Types Used in Infrared Heaters

Gas Heaters

Heaters that use natural gas (NG) or liquid propane (LP) as their energy source make excellent infrared heaters and are widely used all over the world. Whether they burn gas or propane to heat the infrared element, the warmth they generate is from infrared rays. We usually carry both natural gas and propane versions of each gas patio heater model. This gives our customers the flexibility to choose the model that best fits their business needs, without compromising their preferred fuel source.

Natural Gas

Heaters that are made to run on natural gas are exceptionally convenient because they are usually installed in place, take up less floor space, and they connect directly to your or your property's gas line. The cost of running these heaters is included in your gas utility bill. There is no need to replace a tank of fuel because it is always connected to the gas line. Since gas heaters are free of the need to house a large fuel tank, they can be inconspicuously mounted to the floor or completely out of the way by hanging from the ceiling/rafters.

Liquid Propane

Infrared heaters that are made to run on liquid propane are comparable in cost to NG heaters and are also very easy to operate. The biggest advantage of most propane heaters is their mobility. With an encased fuel supply and wheels, you can quickly and easily move them to where they are needed. They can be positioned and turned on when they are needed, and portable propane heaters can reach outdoor areas where permanent heaters cannot be installed. Liquid propane is readily available at many gas stations and businesses across the country. There are also services that deliver filled propane tanks regularly as a service. Portable propane tanks can also be rented for one-time events or parties from various party supply companies. Changing a propane tank is very simple to do if you follow the instructions properly. The propane tanks are housed at the base of the heaters and are covered by a fitted metal casing, which blends nicely with any surrounding decor.

Electric Heaters

Electric infrared heaters are very efficient and cost-effective patio heaters. Once they are installed, operating them is incredibly straightforward. The infrared element is heated by coiling a conductive wire around the ends of the element and then charging that wire with electricity. This causes the quartz element to generate infrared waves that quickly warm the area. Using electric infrared heaters will increase your electric bill, but the costs should be minimal compared to other types of fuel sources.

Comfort Heating in the Hospitality Industry

There are different uses for commercial heating in many different industries. The vast majority of comfort heating is needed in hospitality sectors. Here are some of the types of businesses that utilize comfort heating the most.

Restaurants

Restaurants with outdoor patio areas rely heavily on patio heaters to keep their customers comfortable. Having a patio helps attract more customers and increases the maximum number of customers you can serve at one time. Installing or deploying portable heaters can keep your outdoor areas functional for longer into the night—year-round!

Resorts / Hotels

Resorts and hotels can enhance their appeal to visitors by offering outdoor amenities. Pools and BBQs are just two examples. Having patio heaters available means that guests will be able to stay warm while using your outdoor amenities.

Condos / Apartments

Similarly, condominiums and apartment complexes often increase their appeal by installing community amenities for their residents to enjoy. Depending on a variety of factors, a company can install or supply heaters for events and/or for their guests to use while enjoying outdoor amenities.

Party Supply Companies

Some companies that rent out party supplies for events, weddings, birthdays, and parties (such as tables, chairs, dishes, etc.) can also offer portable heaters to their customers. Renting a portable propane heater can be a lifesaver for many outdoor events. A rental company can make their investment back, and their customers get the benefit of a commercial infrared heater for their party or event.

Religious Organizations and Schools

Religious institutions often host gatherings of various sizes, some indoors and some outdoors. A church could benefit from owning its own portable heaters or installing permanent heaters for its members to stay comfortable. Schools that have outdoor eating areas or need heat on demand for their events can purchase their own commercial heating systems.

Infrared Heating

Infrared heaters used for comfort are nearly identical whether they are made for residential or commercial use. That is because they are doing the same thing—safely heating things (usually people) from a distance. Usually in an outdoor patio-like setting or a semi-enclosed indoor area. Heaters in the manufacturing and other industrial sectors can vary widely and are usually never seen by the average person. Heaters are always going to be a big part of our lives.