Why you should ditch those old bathroom heat lamps for infrared
Let’s be honest: those old-school bathroom heat lamps are kind of a joke. They’re basically just big light bulbs that try their best to warm you up. But since they aren’t usually sealed well, steam and splashes get everywhere. It’s only a matter of time before something shorts out. That’s why so many people are switching to high-IP infrared heaters. They actually fix the things that make old heaters fail. The difference in how they actually feel Traditional heaters try to warm up the air around you. In a steamy bathroom, that takes forever, and you’re still left feeling damp. Infrared is different. It doesn’t mess with the air; it sends warmth straight to your skin and the surfaces in the room. You feel it the second you flip the switch. It’s instant. And it doesn’t matter how much steam is hanging in the air—you’re still warm. Dealing with the damp Water and electricity are a bad mix. Most bathroom fixture failures happen because moisture sneaks inside. The better infrared units use sealed quartz envelopes and heavy-duty gaskets to keep the water out. We use specialized silicone seals where the wires enter the housing to stop steam from creeping in. Without those seals, your lamp is going to burn out or you’ll be tripping your breaker once a week. Keeping the electronics bone-dry is the only way to make these things last. A few things to keep in mind for the install If you’re swapping these out, you can’t just plug and play. Infrared elements pull more power than those old bulbs did. You’ll want to double-check your wiring gauge to make sure it can handle the wattage without getting too hot. On the plus side, these units take up way less space and react instantly. Just one warning: they get hot. Really hot. If the housing is made of plastic, it’s going to warp under that kind of thermal stress. Stick with aluminum or stainless steel. It’s the only way to ensure the fixture doesn’t melt or deform over time.