GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT INFRARED HEATERS
WHAT IS AN INFRARED HEATER AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
Lämpöstore's infrared heater, or patio heater, heats people and surfaces directly, not the surrounding air mass. This is why the heat is felt immediately and does not escape with the wind, as it does with gas heating.
WHY IS AN INFRARED HEATER PARTICULARLY SUITABLE FOR TERRACES AND BALCONIES?
In outdoor spaces, airflow is constant. Infrared heat radiation does not heat the air mass, but instead directs heat directly to the seating area, making it a highly energy-efficient and pleasant heating option.
IS AN INFRARED HEATER ENERGY EFFICIENT?
Yes, absolutely. The heat produced by the Lämpöstore infrared heater is directed straight at people and furniture, so no energy is wasted as is the case with, for example, gas heaters that warm the air.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN INFRARED HEATER AND A GAS HEATER?
An infrared heater runs on electricity and does not require a gas cylinder. It is a more maintenance-free, cost-effective, safer, and cleaner solution for patio use. Furthermore, an infrared heater does not produce direct carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.
IS THE POWER OF A PATIO HEATER THE MOST IMPORTANT SELECTION CRITERION?
No. Wattage alone does not determine heating performance. More important is how much heat is produced per square meter in the comfort zone – that is, the area where people are present and where the heat is actually desired.
Heating performance is particularly affected by the installation height and the heater's technology, such as the heating element and the parabolic reflector, which directs the radiation effectively to the desired area. The higher the heater is installed, the more power is required to achieve the same comfort level.
WHY IS INSTALLATION HEIGHT MORE IMPORTANT THAN JUST POWER?
Infrared heating is based on radiation, which weakens as the distance increases. The higher the heater is installed, the more power is needed to achieve the same comfort zone.
Therefore, correct sizing is primarily based on installation height – not just the wattage.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE HEATER IS INSTALLED TOO HIGH?
For example, if a 1400 W heater is installed at a height of 2800 mm, the heating output decreases significantly and the comfort zone remains insufficient. The radiation simply no longer reaches the living area effectively, and you will not feel enough warmth.
CAN A MORE EFFICIENT HEATER BE INSTALLED LOWER?
Yes. For example, a 2500 W heater can easily be installed at a height of 2200 mm, especially if it has a power adjustment feature.
In this case, there is power "in reserve" for colder conditions, and the terrace season can be significantly extended.
SOLAMAGIC RADIANT HEATERS
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PATIO HEATER AND A GLASS PATIO HEATER?
Read our blog post on the topic.
WHY IS THE RECOMMENDED INSTALLATION HEIGHT OF THE PATIO HEATER SO IMPORTANT?
Lämpöstore's selection of patio heaters is truly high-quality and comprehensive.
The operating principle of an electric patio heater utilizing short-wave infrared technology is that it only heats the objects in its effective area, i.e., items, furniture, and of course, people. In other words, the air mass is not heated at all, which is why a Solamagic or Etherma patio heater is an excellent choice for non-glazed outdoor spaces.
The heating power of a patio heater decreases as the distance increases. If, for example, you install a 1400W patio heater at a height of 3 meters, the heater's power is simply not enough to generate enough warmth for the comfort zone, i.e., the area where you are staying.
To get the most out of your patio heater, follow the recommended maximum installation heights.
We recommend choosing a unit that is slightly oversized in power according to the installation height, especially if the unit has a power control feature. Thanks to this, your terrace or balcony season will be longer, and you can always dim the heating power if necessary.
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A PATIO HEATER?
This is a question many people are surely considering, and many factors influence the choice of the right heating solution for you personally.
In our opinion, the most important factors when choosing a patio heater are as follows:
1. Performance. The power rating of a patio heater tells you more about its energy consumption, whereas a more relevant factor—the heater's performance—tells you how much heat you receive in the seating area for the energy used. In this regard, Solamagic is proven to be superior compared to competing models.
2. Budget and acceptable compromises. The price of the most affordable patio heater in our selection is €269.00. For that, you get a high-performance, German-made patio heater with a 5-year warranty. The heater has a power output of 1800W and the device produces a red glow, which can be dazzling or distracting, especially in the dark. The device has no control options, meaning it always produces heat at full power when turned on. If you do not want a red glow, want to adjust the heater's power, or desire a more powerful or higher-performing device, you will need to invest a little more in the heater.
3. Red glow. The red glow is residual light produced by the patio heater, essentially energy consumed that the heater cannot convert into heat. The more red glow a heater produces, the less it heats. Our quality-conscious customers today naturally do not want a distracting red glow, so that outdoor spaces can be enjoyed as much as possible. How much red glow can be accepted is a question that is good to consider when choosing a patio heater.
4. Recommended maximum installation height. If you are ordering a patio heater from Lämpöstore's selection, we want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase and get the full benefit of your radiant heater. Therefore, we recommend that you always follow the stated installation heights to optimally get the most heat into your seating area.
5. Environmental friendliness. An electric patio heater is the most environmentally friendly option for heating outdoor spaces because it does not produce direct carbon dioxide emissions into the environment, unlike cumbersome liquefied gas heaters, for example. An electric patio heater also does not heat the surrounding air mass, but only the objects within its range. Lämpöstore's patio heaters have a long warranty period because we do not want to promote a disposable culture, and most of the components used are recyclable materials.
Read more about the environmental friendliness of Solamagic and Etherma products, as well as the complete Solamagic information package.
If you want the right heating solution for your outdoor spaces, contact our experts! You will receive a free recommendation for the right products as well as a satisfaction guarantee! If you are not satisfied, return the product and get your money back. Easy and simple!
WHAT KIND OF PATIO HEATER FOR A GLAZED-IN SPACE?
Download our free Guide to Heating Glazed Spaces and get plenty of information on how to turn a cold and damp glazed terrace or balcony into a comfortable living space - even all year round!
POWER CLASSES AND RECOMMENDED INSTALLATION HEIGHTS
1400W PATIO HEATER
- Recommended maximum installation height: 2200 mm
- Maximum comfort area: max. 14 m² depending on the selected model
- Also suitable for glazed spaces
If the installation height is more than 2200 mm, we recommend choosing a more powerful model.
2000W PATIO HEATER
- Recommended maximum installation height: 2500 mm
- Maximum comfort area: approx. 17 m²
- Also suitable for glazed spaces
The most popular choice for home terraces, offering a good balance between installation height and comfort area.
2500W PATIO HEATER
- Recommended maximum installation height: 2800 mm
- Maximum comfort area: approximately 19 m²
- Also suitable for glazed spaces
Suitable for higher spaces or for lower installations if you choose a model with power control.
A more powerful model produces pleasant warmth over a larger area and provides more power reserve for colder conditions.
2000W GLASS PATIO HEATER
- Recommended maximum installation height: 3000 mm
- Maximum comfort area: approx. 16 m² if the glazed area has an average height of max. 3000 mm.
Designed for glazed or other sheltered areas. If your area is larger than 16 m², you will need multiple radiant heaters.
REMOTE CONTROLS AND UPDATES FOR SOLAMAGIC ARC AND BTC HEATERS
HOW DO I PROGRAM THE SOLAMAGIC ARC REMOTE CONTROL
Connect the device to a wall outlet.
Please note that programming is only possible during the first 180 seconds after the device is connected to the mains power. Ensure that other radiant heaters are disconnected from the mains (plug removed from the wall outlet). This prevents them from being programmed accidentally.
These instructions are intended for 1- or 4-channel remote controls. The 1-channel remote control has one button, while the 4-channel remote control has 5 buttons. The round button on the 4-channel remote control is not a channel.
1) Press the desired button on the remote control briefly once. The radiant heater will signal by turning on.
2) Press the same button briefly once more to confirm the setting.
3) Then, press and hold the same button until the radiant heater turns off and turns back on again.
4) The device is now programmed to the remote control.
If you wish to program multiple ARC-marked radiant heaters, proceed as follows.
1-channel remote control:
You can program multiple radiant heaters to operate simultaneously by connecting all the radiant heaters to the mains power at the same time and following the instructions above.
4-channel remote control:
You can program multiple radiant heaters to a single channel (button) by following the instructions above, in which case the devices programmed to one channel will operate simultaneously with the same button OR
You can program one device at a time to one channel (button) by following the instructions above. Note that you have only connected the devices to be programmed to the mains power, after which you have 180 seconds to complete the programming.
If you want to program 2–4 radiant heaters to different channels on the same remote control, remember to disconnect the already programmed radiant heaters from the mains power before programming the next one.
HOW DO I PROGRAM THE TIMER FUNCTION ON THE ARC CONTROL UNIT?
All ARC control units are equipped with a timer function, which is switched off by default.
If you wish to program the timer function, proceed as follows.
1. Switch the device on.
2. Double-click the desired channel (button) and the device will switch off automatically after 30 minutes. Depending on the device, the heating element will react for 2 seconds or the red LED light will flash rapidly.
3. Double-click again and the device will switch off automatically after 60 minutes. Depending on the device, the heating element will react for 4 seconds or the red LED light will flash at a medium speed.
4. Double-click again and the device will switch off automatically after 90 minutes. Depending on the device, the heating element will react for 6 seconds or the red LED light will flash slowly.
5. Double-click again and the timer function will be switched off.
6. The next double-click will restart the timer programming cycle from step 2.
7. The programming is confirmed by long-pressing the same button on the remote control. The heating element will react for two seconds or all three LED lights will shine briefly.
HOW DO I PROGRAM THE SOLAMAGIC BTC REMOTE CONTROL
You can also purchase a remote control for your smartphone-controlled Solamagic BTC (Bluetooth) device. This can be practical if, for example, the heater has multiple users.
Connect the device to a power outlet.
Please note that programming is only possible within the first 180 seconds after the device has been connected to the mains. Ensure that other heaters are disconnected from the power supply (unplugged from the wall socket). This prevents them from being programmed accidentally.
1) Press and hold the two top buttons on the remote control for about 4 seconds and wait for the red LED on the remote to light up.
The heater will turn on and off.
2) Press your desired channel (button) for 2 seconds. The heater will signal by first turning on and then immediately turning off. (The round button on the remote control is not a channel).
3) Press and hold the two top buttons on the remote control for about 2 seconds until the remote's LED light turns on. The light will now stay on for 10 seconds.
Programming is complete.
If you wish to program multiple heaters to different channels on the same remote control, always disconnect the already programmed devices from the power supply and follow the instructions above.
HOW DO I UPDATE THE SOLAMAGIC BTC HEATER
Solamagic BTC (Bluetooth) heaters may occasionally require an update. Once you have completed the update, the optional BTC remote control must also be updated. (see the following section: How to update the Solamagic BTC remote control.)
1) Launch the "X heatlinks" app.
2) Press the + in the top right corner.
3) Press "search for new devices".
4) The app will now automatically ask if you want to perform the update.
5) Perform this update.
6) The update is complete once all three steps have been finished. (Note that this may take a moment.)
HOW DO I UPDATE THE SOLAMAGIC BTC REMOTE CONTROL
This update can only be performed after the BTC heat emitter has been updated.
1) Launch the "X heatlinks" app.
2) Press the + in the top right corner.
3) Take the remote control and hold down the two bottom buttons for approximately 5 seconds until the red LED light on the remote begins to flash.
4) Press "search for new devices" in the app.
5) "HT4 Remote" will now appear in the app. Press the downward arrow located to the right of "HT4 Remote".
6) Perform the update.
7) The update is complete once all three stages have been completed. (Please note that this may take a moment).
HOW DO I PROGRAM THE SOLAMAGIC BTC REMOTE CONTROL AFTER AN UPDATE
Connect the device to a power outlet.
Note that programming is only possible during the first 180 seconds after the device is connected to the mains. Ensure that other radiant heaters are disconnected from the mains (plug removed from the outlet). This prevents them from being programmed accidentally.
1) Press and hold the two top buttons on the remote control for approximately 4 seconds and wait for the red LED on the remote to light up.
2) Press your desired channel (button) for 2 seconds. The radiant heater will signal by turning on and then immediately turning off. (The round button on the remote is not a channel).
3) Press and hold the desired button (channel) on the remote control for approximately 4 seconds.
The radiant heater will turn on and off.
Release the button only once the radiant heater has turned off.
4) Briefly press the two top buttons on the remote control simultaneously to confirm the settings.
HOW DO I RESET A SOMFY IO SOLAMAGIC RADIANT HEATER
Ensure that the device is unplugged from the wall outlet.
1) Plug the device into the wall outlet for 8 seconds.
2) Unplug the device from the wall outlet for 3 seconds.
3) Now wait for 5 seconds. Plug the device back into the wall outlet. The patio heater will turn on and off.
4) Now hold down the button on the back of the remote control for 10–15 seconds.
5) The reset is now complete.