Herschel Infrared: panels and heaters

Herschel Infrared describes itself as the number one UK infrared manufacturer and supplier, and it distributes heaters globally across Europe, North America and the Southern hemisphere¹. It sells direct to householders rather than only through installers, with free delivery to the UK and mainland Europe on online purchases, and it states that there is no need to register the warranty².

The range covers wall and ceiling mounted panels, glass and mirror panels, portable panels, ceiling tile heaters and outdoor patio heaters, with warranties of 5 or 10 years depending on the model¹. Prices published on the maker's own product pages run from £35.00 for a PIR sensor to £599.00 and upwards for the Ibiza heater³. The company operates UK showrooms in Bristol, Wellingborough and Surrey, and the Bristol site holds what it calls the Infrared Experience Lounge, the only facility of its kind in the UK⁵.

What infrared heating does for a household's independence is specific. It runs on electricity, so it removes the gas supply and the gas boiler from the home, and Herschel states its heaters work with solar, battery and time of use tariffs⁶. What remains is a dependence on the electricity grid or on a supplier, on a home's electrical installation, and on the manufacturer for controls, spares and warranty service. There is no flue, no combustion and no annual service.

Herschel Infrared: the UK's largest infrared heater maker

Herschel Infrared states in its own support material that it is the number one UK infrared manufacturer and supplier, and that it distributes its heaters globally across Europe, North America and the Southern hemisphere¹. That is a maker's claim about its own market position rather than an independently verified figure, and it should be read as such. What is verifiable from the company's own pages is the breadth of the range: it describes having the largest range of heaters available for the widest range of applications².

The company sells direct, which shapes the whole buying experience. Online purchases come with free delivery to the UK and mainland Europe, and Herschel states there is no need to register the warranty when buying direct². It also describes a no quibbles replacement policy for qualifying warranty claims¹. Orders can be cancelled by contacting the company by email or telephone and quoting the order number supplied⁷.

Herschel runs UK showrooms in Bristol, Wellingborough and Surrey, and the Bristol site includes the Infrared Experience Lounge, described as the only facility of its kind in the UK⁵. Visits can be booked in person or virtually⁶. The company can also be reached through its Contact Us page or an online chat facility⁸.

Manufacturing is partly UK based. The Halo heater is described as UK manufactured and suited to historic buildings⁹. The Inspire range is described as the longest selling range of infrared heaters on the market¹⁰. Herschel states that all of its heaters have been extensively tested to UK and International standards and carry what it calls best in class warranties¹.

How infrared heating works: radiant heat, not convection

Infrared heating is radiant heating, and Herschel explains that it differs from conduction and convection because it transfers heat to objects and people directly without heating the air in between¹. The company's outdoor guidance puts it more plainly: infrared heaters heat objects and not the air around us, making them more effective than traditional heating methods that warm the air¹¹. The Energy Saving Trust, an independent body, describes the same mechanism: infrared heating systems provide heat via radiation, with heat radiating outwards from the heater and warming any surfaces it comes into contact with¹².

The practical consequence is that the building fabric, furniture and occupants warm up rather than the air. Herschel states that the technology maintains a higher temperature in the building fabric than the air, thereby reducing moisture creation, with damp and mould minimised and lower dust circulation from non-convective radiant technology¹³. That is a maker's claim about indoor conditions rather than an independently measured outcome.

Herschel panels have surface temperatures of approximately 95 to 100 degrees C, with radiation effectiveness in excess of 70%¹. The company describes its far infrared panel heaters as producing peak wavelengths of 5 to 8 microns, and states that the application of the type of infrared changes from a space heating role to a gentler heating more suitable for enclosed areas like domestic rooms and offices¹⁴. A Herschel infrared panel typically has a heat energy or watt density of 0.09 watts per cm2, an energy level that the skin can absorb and conduct away¹.

The distinction matters for how a room feels. A radiant heater warms a person directly, so a lower air temperature can feel comfortable, and the heat is felt within seconds of switching on rather than after a room has warmed through. It also means the effect is directional: a panel warms what it faces, and a person standing behind a sofa or out of line of sight gets less of it. For a fuller explanation of how radiant and convective emitters compare, see infrared heating and electric radiators and panel heaters.

The range: panels, heaters and applications

Herschel's product range splits into indoor panels, outdoor heaters and controls. Indoor panels can be wall or ceiling mounted, and the company states that a household can install throughout an entire property or go room by room and install in stages⁶. The Comfort range is listed with 8 models from 215W to 1250W¹⁵. The Inspire glass and blackboard panels are described as a popular choice for kitchens, studies, offices and for homeowners wanting a modern look throughout their property¹⁶.

The Select XLS range includes a portable 800W panel heater with a useful wavelength of 5 to 12 microns, and a mirror heater with lights¹⁷. The Select Infrared Ceiling Tile Heater is available through all national electrical wholesalers, many regional electrical wholesalers, regional builders merchants, Travis Perkins and a number of resellers, online dealers and installers¹⁹. The Ibiza heater is a 360 degree focused unit with an integrated dimmable LED ring light adjustable across 80L, 200L and 400L brightness settings, and it is described as delivering rapid, efficient heat without visible light⁴.

Outdoor heaters come as wall-mounted, suspended and free-standing units¹¹. The California Silver patio heater and stand is freestanding, and the Manhattan patio heater is wall or ceiling mounted²⁰. Many outdoor heaters come with built-in on/off switches and remote control options¹¹.

Warranty: up to 10 years, with no registration needed

Herschel states that its infrared heaters come with a 5 or 10 year guarantee, and that there is no need to register the warranty¹. Buying direct means the warranty is already in place, and proof of purchase is required in the event of a problem¹. The company also describes a no quibbles replacement policy for qualifying warranty claims¹. Its returns policy states that all products are guaranteed to be free from manufacturing defect as notified per product for the term indicated⁷.

The terms vary by range, and the variation is worth reading carefully. Herschel offers a 5 year extended warranty when purchasing the Comfort and Select XLS heating ranges¹. The Comfort panels are listed with a 10 year warranty¹⁵. The Select XLS portable 800W panel carries 5 years, extendable to 10 years at £59¹⁷. The Select XLS mirror with lights is listed at 5 years with a 5 year extended warranty option¹⁸. The Select Ceiling Tile Heater carries 5 years¹⁹. The Ibiza heater and the PIR sensor both carry 2 years⁴. The Inspire range is listed with a 10 year warranty¹⁰, and the glass and blackboard panels likewise¹⁶.

Because no registration step is required, the practical requirement is the receipt. A household buying through a wholesaler, a builder's merchant or an installer rather than direct should keep the invoice, since that is what establishes the purchase date and the product. The company's own comparison material describes slimline infrared panel heaters as carrying a 5 to 10 year warranty²³. For how guarantee terms and registration work across heating products generally, see boiler warranties.

Cost and total cost of ownership

Herschel publishes prices on its own product pages, and they are retail prices for the heater rather than installed prices. The PIR sensor is £35.00³. The Ibiza heater starts from £599.00⁴. The Summit Infrared Heater starts from £519.00 and the Aspect XL from £347.00²⁴. The California Silver patio heater and stand is listed from £419.00, reduced to £329.00²⁰. Prices for panels bought through wholesalers or installers are quoted rather than published, and no installed price is given for a Herschel system.

The one installation cost comparison in the material is a case study rather than a general figure. At the Newhaven eco apartment development, the comparable cost of installing Herschel Infrared was less than £2k versus a gas system which came in at approximately £7k²⁵. That is a single development's experience, not a national average, and it reflects a new build where no gas connection or boiler flue was needed.

Total cost of ownership has three parts. The purchase price is the first. Running cost is the second, and it depends on the electricity tariff and on how the heaters are used rather than on the heater itself. Herschel states that infrared does not need to run continuously, unlike heat pump systems, and suggests heating the thermal mass of a home before the peak demand period of 4pm to 7pm, which should stay warm enough until prices reduce after the peak⁶. Maintenance is the third, and it is nil: Herschel states that its far infrared panel heaters require no maintenance or servicing, describing them as solid state with no moving parts, unlike heat pumps and boilers¹. The company also describes a zero servicing requirement as a source of savings¹¹.

For wider context on how electric heating running costs compare with gas, see electric heating running costs and heating running costs.

Sizing, specification and installation

Sizing starts with the room rather than the heater. Herschel publishes indicative guides on its website showing the size of infrared heaters required, and for commercial buildings or outdoor areas it directs users to those guides⁸. The company also offers a free no obligation quote from its team⁶. The watt density figure is the technical basis: a Herschel infrared panel typically has a heat energy or watt density of 0.09 watts per cm2, an energy level that the skin can absorb and conduct away¹. Infrared Wallpaper products require approximately 200 watts per m2 to produce a maximum of 40 degrees C surface temperature²⁶.

Installation is electrical rather than plumbing. Panels mount on a wall or ceiling, and the company states that a household can install throughout a property or go room by room in stages⁶. Outdoor heaters are wall-mounted, suspended or free-standing¹¹. Herschel advises installing outdoor heaters on a dedicated circuit and consulting a qualified electrician²⁷. That is a maker's guidance on electrical work, and it points to the same rule that applies to any fixed electric heater: the circuit and the protective device have to suit the load.

Controls are part of the specification. The Select XLS range thermostats, the T-MT, T-BT and T-PL, allow multiple heater panels to be paired to a single thermostat using the standard pairing procedure on the panel instructions⁵. The T-MTLED mains powered WiFi thermostat can be paired to more than one LED heater so that multiple heaters within a room are controlled by the same thermostat²⁹. The PIR sensor adds occupancy sensing³. For the wider picture on controls, see heating controls and thermostats.

Where infrared fits: off-gas homes, low-carbon heating and renewable pairing

Herschel positions infrared heating for off-gas homes, rural and older properties, open-plan living spaces, modern low-carbon homes, renovation and retrofit projects, home extensions and conservatories, and homes replacing gas where heat pumps will not work³⁰. The company describes infrared as a hugely practical electric heating solution that offers a greener alternative to gas boilers, and as quick to install³¹.

The renewable pairing is the part that bears on independence. Herschel states that its infrared and hot water solutions work perfectly with solar, battery and time of use tariffs⁶. It states that infrared heating can be powered by solar panels and linked with battery storage to reduce reliance on the grid and future-proof a home, and that it can be powered by a renewable energy tariff to deliver the quickest way to reach net zero heating³¹. Its heat pump comparison page describes a zero maintenance, zero noise, discreet heating system with options to link to solar and battery storage²³. The company also notes that many homeowners choose infrared alongside solar as part of an all-electric, lower-carbon home, subject to property and overall system design³⁰.

That last qualification is the honest one. A solar array and a battery reduce the amount of grid electricity a heater draws, but they do not remove the connection, and in winter a UK array produces little. The dependence that remains is on the grid for the balance, on a supplier for whatever is imported, and on the tariff structure that makes off-peak running worthwhile. Herschel's own suggested pattern, preheating thermal mass before the 4pm to 7pm peak, is a time of use strategy rather than an off-grid one⁶.

Case studies show the range of applications. Herschel panels were used in a complete electric eco retrofit of a 1920s home and in a 12 bedsit renovation²². The company's zero carbon housing case study for a COP26 house states that infrared heaters are an affordable solution that requires no ongoing maintenance¹³. In garden rooms, which the company notes often get quite damp, it describes infrared heating as brilliant, and adds that the panels are silent³². For the alternatives, see infrared panels vs storage heaters, heat pumps compared with boilers and heating a home off the gas grid.

Buying direct: quotes, showrooms and support

Herschel sells direct and supports the sale with showrooms, a quote service and online contact. Showroom visits can be made in person or virtually⁶. The showrooms are in Bristol, Wellingborough and Surrey, with the Infrared Experience Lounge in Bristol⁵. The company offers a free no obligation quote from its team of experts⁶. Contact runs through the Contact Us page or an online chat facility⁸.

Delivery is free to the UK and mainland Europe for online purchases². Cancellation is by email or telephone quoting the order number supplied⁷. The company states that its heaters have been extensively tested to UK and International standards¹. Certification of heating products generally runs through bodies such as MCS for eligible technologies, and Intertek Testing Services Ltd. Shanghai lists heat pumps and solar PV among the technologies it certifies³⁴.

The dependence to weigh here is commercial rather than technical. Buying direct means the household's relationship is with Herschel for the warranty, for spares and for any replacement, and there is no installer in the chain to absorb that. The offsetting advantage is that there is no installer in the chain at all: no annual service, no flue inspection, no gas safety check. For a household already on an electric tariff, that is a simpler arrangement than a boiler, and the trade is a continuing reliance on the manufacturer and on the grid rather than on a gas supplier and a registered engineer.