How to actually size your bathroom heaters without wasting money
Getting the wattage right is the difference between stepping out of the shower into a cozy sanctuary or shivering while you try to dry off. If you go too low, you’re just wasting power. Too high? You’ll feel like you’re standing under a heat lamp at a buffet. Since we’re talking about bathrooms, you’ll want IP55-rated infrared lamps. Basically, that just means they’re sealed up tight so water splashes and steam won’t fry the electronics. Picking your power Here is the thing about infrared: it doesn’t bother warming up the air in the room. It just hits your skin (or the floor) and warms you up instantly. For a tiny powder room—anything under 4m²—you really only need about 400W to 600W. If you overdo it in a space that small, you’ll bake the person standing under the lamp while the corners of the room stay ice cold. If you’ve got a medium-sized bathroom (5-10m²), aim for 800W to 1200W. For those massive master baths (12m² and up), don’t just buy one giant heater. You’re better off spacing out a few 1500W units across the ceiling. That way, you don’t end up with annoying cold spots. The tech side (kept simple) We stick with short-wave infrared because it works now. In a bathroom, you’ve usually got vents pulling air out or a door swinging open, which sucks the heat away. Short-wave heat doesn’t care about the draft; it just gets you warm. One quick warning: check your circuit breaker. If you slap three 1500W lamps on one line and then turn on a hair dryer, you’re probably going to trip the breaker. A few tips on installation More power means the heat hits you faster, but it also creates a “burn zone” right under the unit. If you mount a 2000W lamp too low, it’s going to feel aggressive and uncomfortable. Keep them at least 2.2 meters up. And please, use a timer or a motion sensor. Nobody wants to accidentally turn their bathroom into a sauna or see their electricity bill spike because they forgot to flick a switch.