Comparing Infrared Heater Efficacy
The Transcend® infrared heater architecture heats 34% faster and more effectively than panel heater saunas
High Tech Health Engineering
Summary
Using calorimetry, a method for measuring heat transfer, we demonstrate that the Transcend heater architecture heats 34% faster and more effective than the common, panel heater architecture saunas.
How to Compare Infrared Heaters
The defining feature of an infrared heater is that it produces infrared light to heat you, in addition to the hot air in the cabin. The are many different infrared heaters with many different placements within the cabin. If we just wanted to measure how fast an infrared heater heats the air, we could use a thermometer to measure the air temperature directly. Instead we must use a calorimetry test. It simulates how a person is heated by infrared.
The calorimetry test is the only precise way of directly comparing completely different infrared saunas. Calorimetry is the process of measuring heat transfer, in this case to a beaker of water. The beaker of water will absorb the infrared energy and its temperature will rise. We will measure how fast the water temperature rises.
Comparing the Transcend Sauna to a Panel Heater Sauna
Panel heaters have many names. Some are called carbon heaters. Though there are minor differences between them, they are in the majority of infrared saunas. They are large flat panels that cover a substantial amount of the interior of an infrared sauna. The less area covered by the heaters, the better quality they are. The ones we are comparing to in this experiment are some of the best.
Conditions for Infrared Heater Comparison
- Both saunas are heated to an air temperature of exactly 100° F so both saunas easily have their heaters warmed up and working.
- Two beakers of water are filled with exactly one liter of water at the same temperature.
- Each beaker of water is placed against the backrest.
- A high-precision thermometer records the change in temperature of the water over 15 minutes.
Additionally in this test, both saunas are powered from the same electrical circuit, on the same day, and both have their vents closed.
Results
After 15 minutes, the beaker of water in the Transcend sauna measures 34.3% warmer than the beaker of water in the panel heater sauna. This proves there is much higher infrared output from the Transcend sauna heaters.
See the Side-by-side Comparison
in a 75 second time-lapse video
For over 25 years, High Tech Health infrared saunas have appeared in the most advanced clinics around the world. It’s no secret that we’re the leading authorities in saunas, including heater technologies used to power them. We’re imitated throughout the world – but never duplicated.
Why Is the Rate of Heating Important?
The rate of heating is important because it demonstrates the quantity of infrared output. For infrared saunas, there are only two factors that matter:
- Quality Infrared: Does the infrared heater only output beneficial far infrared energy? It’s important that the heaters do not use near infrared, mid infrared, or full spectrum (Near + Mid). All High Tech Health infrared saunas use far infrared heaters exclusively. Every research study that found health benefits from infrared sauna were from saunas using far infrared heaters. Beware of full spectrum and near infrared heaters.
- Quantity of Infrared: The amount of infrared you receive in an infrared sauna depends upon the design of the heaters and their placement. As demonstrated in this video, High Tech Health saunas heat 34% faster, which means 34% more and 34% better.
High Tech Health International is dedicated to bridging the gap between infrared sauna industry claims and hard science. All of our claims are directly supported by real research.
Science Fact, not Science Fiction. Your health deserves nothing less.