The Hot Yoga Doctor – Free Bikram and Hot Yoga Resources › Hot Yoga Doctor Forum › General Hot Yoga Discussion › The Heat › Infrared vs Traditional heat???
The Hot Yoga Doctor – Free Bikram and Hot Yoga Resources › Hot Yoga Doctor Forum › General Hot Yoga Discussion › The Heat › Infrared vs Traditional heat???
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Hello!!
I am currently working on opening a hot yoga studio. I am basing my studio off of an established studio in another state. I am told they use King Heaters to heat their rooms. My local partner is interested in getting Infrared heaters. She has an infrared sauna in her house and highly recommends it. I am skeptical because I dont know of many hot yoga studios that use infrared heat. Do you still use humidity with the infrared? What are the reviews by students who have practiced in both types of heat? Our studio room will be approx 650-924 sq ft, depending on if we knock out a wall. The ceilings are 10ft tall. We will most likely go with 650 sq ft to start. How many heaters and humidifiers would we need? Our electrician said we should stick with heaters that are 120 volts. I have searched through “the heat” and havent found specific answers to these questions. What brands are recommended? What are your recommendations?
Thank you in advance for your help!
though infared is AWESOME and way better i was told when building my home studio that it would take way too many panels to be effective so not to waste my $$$$$
The studio where I attend uses infrared panels w/ humidifiers. It is a fabulous heat compared to other studios I have gone to. As a student, I highly recommend infrared panels.
Check out this website for infrared radiant heat. This product is used around the world, in hot & cold climates (as well as in homes…panel quantity not an issue). If anyone can help you heat your studio, they can.
Hello suzd
The product is probably good. However I would like to point out to everyone that this is obviously your own business or you work there, and you are talking about the company in the third person as if you were a customer. 🙄
Please be more honest in your posting. It is your first post here and we encourage adding value and not just blatant advertising.
So everyone, I encourage you to make up your own mind.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Yes, I am an employee of SSHC. But, not much of a forum blogger. A Hot Yoga client of ours told us to check out your site. So, here I am. Sorry for any misconception, but yes, the product is widely used for hot yoga studios. All the best. suz
Thank you for the clarification Suz,
Much appreciated
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂I am in the same boat at the OP. Any answers to the original question. I see this is from June and being new to this forum after a search I don’t see any concrete answers. In my own research I was told by several dealers that the King heaters no longer allow for higher heat settings. I was told mid 70’s was the highest setting on the new heaters and they did away with the old style that would allow up to 100 degrees as there were “problems”. Not sure what that meant but assume it has something to do with litigation opportunities. We use our gas furnace to get the space to 85 then stated “room” heaters which are neither effiecent nor do they do a very good job. Any help ?
Hi Dave
Heaters for domestic use have a thermostat that cuts them off at about 30-32 degrees celsius. It’s a safety thing.
There are some heaters that heat higher than that.
I have 2 brands of heaters in my studio that are domestic heaters that heat above body temperature. I know at least one of those brands is available in the US.
Infrared heaters have their own issues. I have been told that the sensors are placed in the floor. I cannot verify this personally nor can I verify other positions that will create a suitable responsive effect. The issue seems to be that if you place the sensors on the ground then somebody is going to place their mat on one of them and you could have a super-heating problem.
I am hoping someone can enlighten me on some heating experience too.
I just received an email from someone whom I asked to post in the forum who has had a ‘disastrous’ experience with infrared (her words, not mine).
Every situation is individual. And you’re right David, the responses about heating can be a bit thin on the ground. That to me says that there is no one answer!
I know that I would prefer to have little noise. I have had experiences in studios that I can barely hear the instructor because of the ridiculous blowing noise from their ducted system. I personally dislike ducted systems because of the localisation of ‘hot spots’.
What’s important to you? And Dave, is this for personal home use? Or a public studio?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂We opened our studio in a storefront June ’11. Vibrant Life Yoga. The space is 1,200sqft, the studio though is walled off and insulated in the middle of the space, meaning; there is an entrance then a door to the studio and a space in the back. The studio itself is 800 sqft with 11′ ceilings. We constructed it, reframed all the walls and insulated etc… it has a gas furnace and is forced hot air. We can get it to 85 degrees, of course it isn’t cold here yet in upstate NY, we add supplemental heat with portable electric heaters, which I am told is a simple waste of money and energy. I just received my first “King” heater. There thermostat allows to 85 degrees. Another studio we visit in Ithaca, NY has the “old” King heaters that allow to 105 degrees. My understanding is that you cannot purchase this “style” any longer. I purchased this one on Amazon and sure enough it is limited. I have gone the route of a engineer but all answers can be answered if you through a ton of money at it, which is what they recommend, new furnace, different config on the runs etc. I only want to accomplish a good solid 90degrees.
I appreciate your response and the great forum/website – thanks! The point that gets me scratching my head is in some cases there are 2,500 or so views on some of these threads regarding heat, and very few people with experience(?) or willing(?) to add their experiences, if any(?). Enough prattle on my end, thanks again and have a great weekend/week/holiday.
Hi Dave
It’s late here at the mo, but just thought I would quickly let you know that I don’t know the King heaters but if they cut out, then that’s going to be an issue no matter how many of them you have in the room.
I will send you the name of a heater that you can research that I believe is in the US that heats to higher temps.
Stay tuned and bug me (aka remind me) on email if needed
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Thanks Gabrielle, I am interested in the heater. I have contacted King and they no longer manufacture heaters with high temps. Auto shut off at 85.
Thanks, DaveHi Dave
Send me an email and I will search my email archives for the contact details for you in the US.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂I know this is a fairly old email thread, but as I have just joined I wanted to give my 10 pence (or cents!) worth.
Infra red and hot air systems differ in a number of ways, but the noticeable point our clients make is the deep penetrating, heating effect of the infra red heaters. We recommend one particular panel for the studios we supply in the UK. They heat to a high temperature very quickly and provide enough heat to (with enough heat up time) to heat the air.
In climates of low/medium humidity, the humidifier is a must. We have had many studio owners go for the heating system only, and leave out the humidifier. What happens? Their clients/yogis/yoginis complain of the studio not being hot enough.
Once the humidifier has been installed – the feedback is positive, and there is less worry about people complaining about the heat. It’s like being in the jungle versus the desert. It can be the same temperature in both, but with added humidity it will feel 2-5 degrees hotter.
Hope that helps……
Hi Dave
I am hoping someone can enlighten me on some heating experience too.
I just received an email from someone whom I asked to post in the forum who has had a ‘disastrous’ experience with infrared (her words, not mine).
The problem with most companies offering infrared heaters, is that they do not provide enough/right type of infrared heaters. We started supplying the white flat panel type but the surface temperature was not hot enough(100C) to raise the temperature to above 32C, and it would take 3-5 hours to heat the room!
We had to start looking at different heaters to take the heat up to 42C, and in quick time. We have a few customers who run other classes in the studio, so they need a quick heat up time. We use the FRICO EZ200 heater. So much more effective than the flat panel heaters. OK, they don’t look as nice as the aforementioned heater, but at least they will do the job.
We’ve supplied to 25 different types of studio, and believe me we have made a lot of mistakes along the way. So, we know what works and what doesn’t.
Hi Tim
Thank you for your posts.
Perhaps you can tell me how you integrate infrared systems with humidifiers and thermostats. I am pleased to see that you have figured heat and humidification (heat index) into your thinking. How controllable is the system? Do you integrate the heating with humidification (or even dehumidification for those that need it) so that it’s a set and forget system?
I had a thermostat designed to turn on banks of heaters. There was a high set point and a low set point and the system kept the temperature within 0.3 degrees of target. Is that possible with infrared systems? There was a timer. I had it set for seasons and for holidays. This meant we didn’t have to turn it on or off except in exceptional circumstances. It was instantly adjustable if the day was particularly humid. We could turn the high set point down for that class or turn it off early. I have rarely found another system that could do that. I would like to know if one could work in that level of dependability into an infrared system.
Can you help me understand something by commenting on the following please? I was told by another heating specialist that infrared was not advisable because the heat sensors were in the floor (ie under the heaters) and therefore the mats or people could be in the way and therefore the control was diminished and often very poor.
Looking forward to reading your response.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Tim
Thank you for your posts.
Perhaps you can tell me how you integrate infrared systems with humidifiers and thermostats. I am pleased to see that you have figured heat and humidification (heat index) into your thinking. How controllable is the system? Do you integrate the heating with humidification (or even dehumidification for those that need it) so that it’s a set and forget system?
I had a thermostat designed to turn on banks of heaters. There was a high set point and a low set point and the system kept the temperature within 0.3 degrees of target. Is that possible with infrared systems? There was a timer. I had it set for seasons and for holidays. This meant we didn’t have to turn it on or off except in exceptional circumstances. It was instantly adjustable if the day was particularly humid. We could turn the high set point down for that class or turn it off early. I have rarely found another system that could do that. I would like to know if one could work in that level of dependability into an infrared system.
Can you help me understand something by commenting on the following please? I was told by another heating specialist that infrared was not advisable because the heat sensors were in the floor (ie under the heaters) and therefore the mats or people could be in the way and therefore the control was diminished and often very poor.
Looking forward to reading your response.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂
Hi Gabrielle,I will try and answer your post in three points:
1. We CAN integrate the system so that it is set and forget, however, most of our clients are happy to use a seperate timer, thermostat and humidistat controls system that sits within the room, and can be adjusted as the class progresses and the temperature and humidity increase.
Our experience has been that the studio owners (perhaps it is different in U.S.) like the ability to control the temp/humidity manually. Even with a timer system installed, many of them like to have a hands on approach. Having spoken to various teachers and studio owners, some like to manipulate the controls during the class and others don’t – it is comes down to preference.
2. Any thermostat that is high specification enough, can control the temperature to within 0.1 deg C. It is more a matter of how much you want to spend on the controls system.
3. The heating specialist that gave your opinion is incorrect. All of our clients have sensors on the wall to control the ambient conditions within the room. Some have gone further by installing an independent room temperature monitor to verify the temperature reading is correct, and the controls system is adjusting accordingly. There is an option to have the sensor on the floor, however, this is usually for underfloor heating.
Thank you Tim
Much appreciated! My vote is for a fully automated system with easy manual override to manage the exception (with simple button pushes)! Anything else means the teacher has to be a temperature monitor which takes them away from teaching.
That particular person told me that info and it seemed like a surmountable problem.
Perhaps you can clarify something then: I have heard many people say that infrared heaters heat the person more effectively than they heat the space?
More questions to follow I am sure! I know that many people want to better understand the differences between fan heaters/ducted heat and infrared.
Great info!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Thank you Tim
Perhaps you can clarify something then: I have heard many people say that infrared heaters heat the person more effectively than they heat the space?
Hi Gabrielle,
good question. I just want to make something clear. I am yet to come across the perfect system, whether forced hot air or infra red. Most of our customers have had to make tweaks to the system hear and there (either by adding more heaters, changing the heaters, changing the controls, upgrading the power supply, adding a humidifier, reducing the heat, increasing the humidity, etc) in order to get the right balance for the class and those practicing. There certainly does seem to be an art to getting the conditions right, not just for the teacher but more for those practicing hot yoga.
Infra red heaters have many benefits, not only being a more natural form of heat for the body (as the infra red waves are the same as those given from the sun), but also for the way the infra red waves penetrate the muscle tissue and produce a (healthy) stress response within the muscle that mimicks moderate exercise. Studies have been performed using infra red heating for muscle rehabilitation and also to monitor the actual physiological change the muscle goes through when subjected to infra red heat. The studies have shown an increased cardiovascular capacity after exercising in this type of heat, and muscular structural repair after the muscles were placed under the infra red heaters. The research has been taken even further by Professor Minson, at Oregon University, where he has been involved in building heat chambers for athletes to train in.
So to answer your question:
Plain and simply, forced hot air systems will heat the air very well, but will not necessarily penertrate the muscle tissue at such a deep level.
Inra red heaters will heat the surfaces of the room and the people inside first, and then the air temperature will increase. If the room is pre heated by turning the infra red heaters on 30-60 minutes prior to the class starting, and you have enough heaters in the room, you can raise the air temperature to over 40C without hot air blowers. The added benefit is the quiet operation of the infra red heaters and comfort (no air blowing around).
If a studio owner wants to combine hot air and infra red, they can reduce the heat up time, AND use infra red to really target the body and produce this exercise like response within the muscles and surrounding tissue immediately.
It all depends on preference, target market, aesthetics, control, etc, etc, etc.
Hope that helps.
Fantastic reply Tim, thank you very much
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi all I know post is old can some one please give me some brand  names to use in UK so may do my on research , finding people on this feed are reluctant to name brands .
king has been mentioned but which model ??
Infrared which one again
I can supply email if required
Thanks in advance for any help given
H
Hello jazzcouk
There are so many brands and models out there. A recommendation would be fine from folks but the thing to remember is to know under what conditions that heater is being used. Eg, in a draft, well insulated place, carpeted, bare floor boards, tiles, and so on and so forth. So ask questions!
I have a friend in the UK (in Sheffield actually) who once told me about these great heaters (which could be infrared / ceramic heaters. I really cannot remember) she was using at home and even in her public hot yoga studio. If you write to me directly I will give you her details and you can call or write to her directly.
I hope that will help you to speak to someone directly.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi,
This topic gave me a lot of info, thanks! But I like to also get some more (specific) info about this topic, for example: how much panels for a certain amount of m2 and the minimum investment amount you need for heating, for example 50m2 or 100m2. I’d like to contact user: info_t. Would that be possible, or can anyone recommend a company that has much experience with kind of installations?
Kind regards,
Marta
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