How to pick the right infrared wattage for your bathroom
Nobody likes that shock of cold air when you step out of the shower. To fix that, you need the right amount of heat. We use shortwave infrared lamps because they don’t waste time trying to warm up the air—they go straight for you and the surfaces around you. It’s an instant warmth. But here’s the trick: you have to get the wattage right. Too low, and you’re still shivering. Too high, and you’re basically sitting in a sauna while wasting electricity.
Finding your number
If you’ve got a tiny powder room (under 4m²), a single 250W to 400W lamp is usually plenty. It’s enough to make the room feel cozy without overloading your electrical system. For those medium-sized bathrooms (between 4m² and 8m²), you’ll want to look at 600W to 800W. If you’re dealing with a massive master bath over 10m², you’ve got two choices: go with a heavy-hitting 1200W setup or just install a few smaller units to spread the heat around. One thing people often forget: your ceiling height. If your ceiling is 2.4 meters high, the heat has further to travel than if it were 2.1 meters. That distance matters. If your ceilings are on the taller side, bump up the wattage so the floor actually feels warm.
The technical side of things
More wattage means the room heats up faster. Simple. But it also puts more pressure on your wiring. Before you go for that 1200W beast, just double-check that your breaker can handle the load. You don’t want the lights going out the second you turn on the heat. We use quartz glass tubes. They’re great at handling the heat, though they can be a bit fragile, so treat them with care. Also, look for coated reflectors. These push the heat down toward you instead of letting the ceiling soak it all up.
A few tips for the install
Give these units their own dedicated switch. And if you want to save some money on your power bill, hook them up to a timer or a motion sensor. That way, the heat stops the moment you leave the room. One last bit of advice: keep the lamps away from your ventilation fans. You don’t want your fan sucking all that lovely warmth out of the room before it even reaches your toes.