Heating with electricity through infrared rays

When building a house, there is always the question of the right heating system. Here there are many variants that need to be considered, and infrared heating is one of them. The model shows many advantages that adapt well to different living situations. But under what conditions is the installation of infrared heating worthwhile and how exactly does heating with electricity actually work?

Pleasant and healthy heat through infrared rays

The radiation of the infrared heating works differently than other heating systems, because the radiation does not warm the air in the room, but directly the body. This includes not only the human body, but also walls, ceilings or floors and even the furniture. The principle can be compared to sunbathing in winter. Due to this technique, the heat is already perceived by the body as pleasantly warm at low temperatures. This means that only low temperatures are necessary, thus saving electricity and heating costs. Another advantage of infrared heating is that the rooms do not have to be preheated for a long time so that the body is pleasantly warm. This provides comfortable warmth and thus increases the well-being and health.

Installing infrared heating – low installation work & low costs

The installation for an infrared heater is very simple. All that is needed are the heating elements in the room and also a power socket nearby. Other heating systems require pipes that need to be laid throughout the house, as well as boilers, hot water tanks and the radiators that need to be connected. This incurs installation and material costs and labour wages for tradesmen. With infrared heating, depending on the model (wall-mounted, ceiling-mounted, floor-standing or suspended), no or only minimal installation work is required. The costs for installation are therefore significantly lower than the costs for the installation of other heating systems.

The durability of infrared heaters also compares favorably to other heating systems. Most heating systems require regular maintenance to maintain performance. This incurs not inconsiderable costs for repair and maintenance, which should be included in long-term planning. Infrared heating is generally considered to be very cost effective in this area. It has a long life and does not require maintenance, as it has a very simple structure and the few components are not susceptible to damage.

Installing infrared heating as a supplement to other heating systems

Especially in old buildings, infrared heating offers a good addition to already existing heating systems. When expanding within an already existing heating system, it is usually difficult to lay new pipes, as this is time-consuming and expensive. An alternative is offered here by infrared heating, which can heat additional rooms in combination with the original heating system, and this simply at the socket. The low installation effort and the low initial costs attract builders and property owners. The low maintenance costs compensate for the relatively high operating costs and speak for infrared heating. But also with the occasional heating of rooms the infrared heating is a good alternative. The short time for preheating and the individual use of the system is advantageous for heating certain rooms only rarely or on certain occasions.

Installing infrared heating as the sole heating system

In new construction, heating alone with infrared heating is not a problem. The modern insulation that is installed during construction provides sufficient heat in the rooms. In old buildings, the whole thing looks a little different. Here the infrared heating is worthwhile as a sole heating system only under certain conditions, so that the heat is not lost, the building must have a certain insulation. The better the insulation of the building, the more lucrative the use of infrared heating. When renovating and refurbishing an old building, it is no problem to strengthen the insulation and install an infrared heating system.

Tip! Heating system in comparison

Save up to 55% costs (heat energy)? Tip! Not only already, but practically? Save energy with the heating system in your property. Use the next time for renovation or your upcoming new building. Here you will find our guide heating systems: solar, oil, gas, heat pump, pellets in comparison and as extra, state subsidies. Continue reading here:

• Heating system: comparison

Advantages and disadvantages at a glance

Advantages of infrared heating

Infrared heating is a worthwhile alternative to other conventional heating systems and offers a number of advantages for both old and new buildings.

Rapid feeling of warmth throughout the room despite low temperatures

Infrared heating warms rooms not through the air, but by infrared rays directly warming the body. The body stores this heat and carries it around with it, whereby the heat is perceived as the same in the entire room. Due to the heat storage in the body, low room temperatures are sufficient to create pleasant comfortable temperatures.

Healthy indoor climate for allergy sufferers

Unlike conventional heating systems, infrared heating does not stir up dust, which keeps the dust concentration in the air low. For dust, animal hair but also pollen allergy sufferers, the air is easier to breathe and also asthmatics can breathe easier. A spreading of allergy substances in the room is avoided, which leads to less dust spreading and thus cleaner air.

Positive effect on the body

The infrared heater warms the body through radiant heat from IR-A infrared radiation. This radiation penetrates a few millimetres into our skin and thus increases the tissue temperature. We feel a pleasant warmth through this technique, comparable to sunbathing. The increased tissue temperature dilates the blood vessels and promotes blood circulation. Comparable to a red light treatment, the infrared rays can have a tension-relieving effect and thus be beneficial to health in the case of muscle complaints or back pain.

Variable and advantageous costs

The purchase costs for an infrared heater are very low. Only the heating panels are needed and a power outlet. Compared to other heating systems where many materials and installation costs are incurred, the infrared heating is probably the cheapest in the purchase.

When using an infrared heater, heating costs are only incurred when heating is actually taking place, i.e. only when it is switched on. The less heat is needed, the lower the costs are.

Since the body already feels the low radiant heat of the infrared rays as pleasant and stores them, the heater does not have to run at high temperatures like other models to create a comfortable indoor climate. The operating costs can therefore be kept as low as possible.

Since the infrared heating consists of few and simple components that are not susceptible to malfunctions, the infrared heating has a long life and low maintenance costs.

Disadvantages of infrared heating

But infrared heating also has some disadvantages that property owners and builders need to consider before making the purchase.

High costs for electricity and operating costs

Heating with electricity is comparatively rather expensive. Electricity prices fluctuate constantly, which means that the operating costs for infrared heating also vary. To keep electricity costs as low as possible, the property should have good insulation so that as little heat as possible is lost to the outside.

Carbon dioxide emissions and environmental friendliness

Heating with electricity is not environmentally friendly. It even produces higher carbon dioxide emissions than conventional heating systems. By combining it with green electricity or a photovoltaic system, the eco-balance can be improved, but even then there is still a high environmental impact.

Room temperature difficult to determine

The room temperature is difficult to measure because it is perceived by our own body as warmer than it actually is. The temperature of the room is therefore always somewhat lower than our sensation. Thus, the temperature of the room can be determined but not the temperature we feel.

Heating guide: types, prices & comparison

Heating & Types – The topic of heating is not only interesting for builders, but also for property owners. After all, heaters are not only necessary in a property, they are also required by law. Which types of heating are there, how do they have to be maintained and are there legal subsidies for the construction of certain types of heating or do the costs have to be paid completely by the owner? Especially when building a house or renovating and modernising, the heating system plays a decisive role, because a large part of the later running costs depend on it, for you or for your tenants.

When deciding on a heating system, a number of things need to be considered, as there are major differences. Depending on the property, it must be decided individually which system is best suited to efficiently heat the entire property. The systems differ not only in environmental friendliness, but also in efficiency and price. Solar, oil, gas, heat pump, pellets:

• Heating: Comparison & Costs

Asbestos at a glance: Health-endangering building material

• Mineral fibre
• Poses a high health risk
• Formerly installed in wall or ceiling cladding
• Strict safety precautions for shoring today
• High costs due to high effort
• Property must not be used or occupied when working with asbestos

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Efficient heating with environmental energy — the heat pump makes it possible

The heat pump is the key technology for fulfilling the Building Energy Act (GEG), which requires new heating systems to use at least 65 % renewable energy. In addition to solar thermal energy, biomass, and hybrid solutions, the heat pump offers an almost CO₂-neutral option — provided the electricity comes from renewable sources or a private photovoltaic system.

For investors, this is more than a technical detail: A modern heat pump improves the energy certificate measurably, raises the energy efficiency class, reduces additional costs for tenants, and future-proofs the property against CO₂ pricing and rising fossil fuel prices.

How it works — how the heat pump operates

The heat pump uses thermal energy that is already stored in the environment and lifts it to a usable temperature level. The principle is identical to that of a refrigerator — only reversed: instead of transporting heat from the inside to the outside, the heat pump transports heat from the outside to the inside.

The cycle in four steps:

• Vaporization: A refrigerant with a low boiling point absorbs environmental heat (air, ground, water) and evaporates.
• Compression: An electric compressor compresses the gas — the temperature rises significantly.
• Condensation: The heat is transferred via a heat exchanger to the heating system (radiators, underfloor heating, hot water tank).
• Expansion: The refrigerant expands, cools down, and the cycle starts again from the beginning.

Crucial for efficiency is the annual performance factor (APF): it indicates how much thermal energy is generated per kilowatt-hour of electricity used. An APF of 4 means: 1 kWh of electricity generates 4 kWh of heat. Systems with an APF of ≥ 3.0 (existing systems) or higher values depending on the program are generally eligible for funding under BEG.

The energy sources of the heat pump — air, earth and water compared

The heat pump uses three different energy sources. Which variant is suitable for a property depends on location, plot size, drilling permit, budget, and heating load.

The Air-Water Heat Pump — Thermal Energy from the Air

The air-water heat pump is by far the most commonly installed variant — especially in the Buy a house segment and during renovations. It draws in outside air, extracts heat from it, and transfers this heat to the heating system. The system usually consists of an outdoor unit (evaporator, fan) and an indoor unit.

Advantages:

• Lowest investment costs
• No drilling, no permits
• Easy to install even retroactively
• Low space requirements

Disadvantages:

• Efficiency drops in frost — heating rod activates in emergencies (costly electricity)
• Noise: Minimum distance from the property boundary according to TA Noise regulations must be observed (often 3 m)
• Quickly uneconomical in unsanitized old buildings with high supply temperatures

Important: The outdoor unit must be kept frost-free and free of snow. Professional maintenance every one to two years maintains efficiency.

The Ground-Water Heat Pump — Energy Source Earth

Constant thermal energy is stored in the ground. The ground water heat pump uses it via a pipe system laid in the earth, in which a water antifreeze mixture (“brine”) circulates.

Two types of construction are available:

• Boreholes / Deep drilling: Drillings up to 100 m depth, approximately 50 W per meter of drilling. A single-family house requires about 150 meters of drilling, often distributed across two drillings. Special permit required, not allowed in water protection areas. Cost: approximately 60–100 € per meter of drilling.
• Flat collectors: Pipe coils at a depth of 1.2–1.5 m, approximately 25 W per m². For a modern single-family house, about 250–400 m² of land area is needed. Cost: approximately 10–25 € per m². Advantage: no drilling permit required — Disadvantage: the area may not be built on or sealed in the future.

The brine-water heat pump delivers nearly constant efficiency throughout the year and is therefore significantly more economical in operation than the air variant. The higher initial costs are amortized over the lifespan (20–25 years).

The water-water heat pump — thermal energy from groundwater

The water-to-water heat pump is the most efficient, but also the most demanding option. It operates with two wells: a supply well that transports groundwater to the heat pump, and a return well that feeds the cooled water back into the ground. The wells must be installed at a sufficient distance (usually 10–15 m) in the direction of groundwater flow.

Requirements:

• Permit from the local water authority
• Water analysis: pH value, iron, manganese, chloride content — chemically contaminated groundwater can damage the heat exchanger
• Groundwater at a maximum depth of 15–20 m (otherwise economically unattractive)
• Sufficient yield of the well

Since groundwater remains constant at 8–12 °C throughout the year, water-to-water heat pumps achieve COP values of 5.0 and more. They are therefore particularly suitable for apartment buildings and properties with high heating demand — see Buy apartment building.

Heat pump in existing buildings vs. new construction

Ein häufiger Fehler bei Investoren: Eine Wärmepumpe wird ungeprüft in einen Altbau eingebaut — und liefert dort eine schlechte Effizienz, weil die Vorlauftemperatur des Heizsystems zu hoch ist.

• New construction: Ideal. Low supply temperatures (35 °C via underfloor heating), good insulation, JAZ regularly above 4. Heat pump is today’s standard solution.
• Renovated old building: Works well if insulation (windows, roof, exterior walls) is at a modern level and large heating surfaces (low-temperature radiators, underfloor heating) are present.
• Unrenovated old building: Critical. Supply temperatures above 55 °C push the JAZ below 3, electricity costs explode. Often, an initial shell renovation is necessary here — relevant when buying your first property as a renovation project.
• Historic property: Special case. Exterior units often visually problematic, drilling frequently difficult. More information in the guide Buy historic property.

The costs of a heat pump — purchase, installation, operation

The total costs are divided into three blocks: accessing the heat source, the unit itself, and ongoing operation. Anyone who wants to include the investment in a Buy property decision should always calculate the heat pump together with subsidies — only then will the economic viability become clear.

Costs for accessing the energy source

• Air: No access costs — consider the installation space and noise protection
• Ground probes (deep drilling): 60–100 €/drilling meter, at 150 drilling meters approximately 9,000–15,000 €
• Flat collector: 10–25 €/m², at 300 m² approximately 3,000–7,500 €
• Water-Water (two wells): 6,000–10,000 € including water analysis and approval

Costs for the heat pump itself

Including buffer tank, hot water tank, hydraulics and installation:

• Air-Water Heat Pump: 15,000–25,000 €
• Ground-Water Heat Pump: 18,000–28,000 €
• Water-Water Heat Pump: 20,000–30,000 €

These amounts are included in the calculate purchase-related costs calculation if the system is co-financed as part of a renovation and can be covered through real estate financing or through favorable KfW programs.

Subsidy — up to 70 % grant by BEG/BAFA

The most important argument for investors: The federal funding for efficient buildings (BEG) covers a significant part of the costs. Eligible for funding are up to 30,000 € per residential unit (single measure heating). The bonuses are cumulative:

• Basic subsidy: 30 %
• Climate efficiency bonus (for previous heating system replacement): + 20 %
• Efficiency bonus (ground water/ water or natural refrigerant): + 5 %
• Income bonus (for owner-occupiers with ≤ 40,000 € taxable income): + 30 %

Maximum eligible for funding: 70 % of the investment costs — with a 35,000 € investment, this is actually 10,500 € own contribution. Important for investors: They usually receive only the basic funding (30 %), but can deduct the investment as advertising expenses / via depreciation.

Operating costs — example calculation

Example single-family home with 25,000 kWh heating demand:

• Air-water, JAZ 3.5: 25,000 / 3.5 = 7,143 kWh electricity × 0.30 €/kWh = ~2,143 €/year
• Ground-water, JAZ 4.5: 25,000 / 4.5 = 5,555 kWh × 0.30 €/kWh = ~1,667 €/year
• Water-water, JAZ 5.0: 25,000 / 5.0 = 5,000 kWh × 0.30 €/kWh = ~1,500 €/year
• Comparison Gas (Efficiency 95 %): 25.000 / 0.95 = 26.300 kWh × 0.12 €/kWh + CO₂ surcharge = ~3.300–3.800 €/year

With a special heat pump tariff (often 0.22–0.26 €/kWh) and your own PV system, electricity costs drop additionally by 30–50 %. The combination of heat pump + photovoltaics + battery storage is the most economical solution for many homeowners.

Effect on Property Value and Rentability

A heat pump is not just a cost factor — it is a value driver:

• Energy certificate: Jump of one to two classes possible (e.g. from D to
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