Stop Using Old-School Lamp Heaters in Your Bathroom
Let’s be honest: those old bathroom lamp heaters are kind of a gamble. They use basic bulbs that aren’t really built for a room full of steam. We’re seeing more people move toward high-IP infrared systems, mostly because they actually handle the humidity of a hot shower without corroding or shorting out. The deal with IP ratings Most standard heaters have pretty low “ingress protection” (IP) ratings. That’s just a fancy way of saying they leak. When you’ve got a room full of steam, that vapor sneaks into the housing and hits the electrical terminals. The result? Your heater burns out way too fast. High-IP infrared heaters use sealed gaskets and special coatings to keep the water where it belongs—outside the electronics. It means you stop worrying about tripping the breaker every time you take a long, hot shower. Why infrared actually works Here’s the thing about old lamp heaters: they try to warm the air. But air moves. And steam just carries that heat right out the door. Infrared is different. It sends out waves that heat you and the surfaces around you directly. We use short-wave emitters so you feel that warmth the second you flip the switch. Since you aren’t trying to heat every single inch of air in the room, it’s a lot easier on your electrical circuit. A few things to watch out for If you’re installing one of these, keep an eye on your ceiling height. Infrared is directional. Mount it too high, and you won’t feel much of that heat by the time it hits the floor. Mount it too low, and you’re basically standing under a heat lamp. There’s a sweet spot. And a quick heads-up: these high-wattage units pull a lot of power. You can’t just plug them into some ancient wiring and hope for the best. Make sure your wires and breakers can handle the load so you don’t end up overheating your lines.