Getting Your Bathroom Heater Wattage Right
When you’re picking out an infrared heater for the bathroom, it’s tempting to just go for the most powerful one on the shelf. But here’s the thing: bigger isn’t always better. If you overdo it, you’re just throwing money away on your electric bill. Since we’re talking about bathrooms, you’ll see “IP65” everywhere. All that really means is the unit is sealed up tight so moisture doesn’t fry the electronics. Inside that seal is where the magic happens—usually a quartz or halogen lamp that pumps out the heat. Don’t over-spec your space You’ve got to look at the actual size of the room. If you’re dealing with a tiny powder room, something around 400W to 600W is plenty. If you shove a 1200W beast into a small closet-sized bathroom, the room will get hot way too fast. The thermostat will keep clicking on and off every few seconds. It’s annoying, and it’ll eventually burn out the relays. For those big master baths, though? You’ll want 1000W to 1500W. It keeps that cozy, steady warmth without the erratic temperature swings. The catch with sealed units Because IP65 units are dust-tight and water-resistant, they use gaskets and tempered glass. This is great for safety, but it creates a bit of a bottleneck for heat. The enclosure traps some of that warmth inside. That’s why the housing needs to be sturdy enough to handle the heat without warping. If the unit is too flimsy for the wattage it’s pushing, the casing can actually deform. Not a great look. How to actually save energy If you want the most bang for your buck, don’t just mount the heater flat on the wall. Angle the lamps at about 45 degrees, pointing right at where you’ll actually be standing. Remember, shortwave infrared doesn’t really “heat the air” like a space heater does. It heats whatever it hits. By aiming the beam at the floor or a bench, you get that instant warmth on your skin without having to heat every single cubic inch of the room. Plus, do yourself a favor and wire it to a motion sensor or a timer. There’s nothing worse than realizing a heater has been running in an empty bathroom for three hours.