Why I Started This Comparison (After Three Cold-Season Disasters)

When I first started overseeing heating solutions for commercial office spaces, I assumed all electric heaters performed roughly the same. Just plug 'em in, right? Wrong.

In my first year (2017), I made the classic mistake: installed a batch of standard fan heaters in a server room annex. Looked fine on paper. But the thermostat cycling drove the equipment nuts, and we had overheating spikes. Three servers down, $4,200 in emergency cooling, and a very angry IT director. That's when I learned about heating technologyspecific behaviors.

Fast forward to today, I'm the guy who maintains our team's equipment checklist. We manage heating for about 60 commercial tenant spaces. I've personally made (and documented) 11 significant mistakes, totaling roughly $18,000 in wasted budget. The most common confusion? Panel heaters vs. infrared heaters. Both are popular Dimplex product lines, but they're not interchangeable.

Here's a head-to-head comparison based on real installations, not spec sheets.

The core question: Which heater type should you spec for a given room, and what mistakes can you avoid by choosing the right one?

How We're Comparing

We're evaluating across four dimensions that actually matter in the field:

  1. Heat distribution & comfort
  2. Energy efficiency & running costs
  3. Installation & maintenance
  4. Control & smart features

Let's get into it.

Dimension 1: Heat Distribution & Comfort

Panel heaters (convection): These warm the air. They work by drawing cool air in from the bottom, passing it over a heating element, and releasing warm air from the top. The result is a steady, even room temperature—but it takes time. Think of it like a slow, gentle blanket of warmth.

Infrared heaters: These warm objects and people directly, not the air. You feel the heat almost instantly, like standing in sunlight. But the air stays cooler, and objects behind you remain cold.

Where the difference hits hard: In a drafty office with high ceilings (think converted warehouse), a panel heater struggles. The warm air rises, and you're left with cold feet. Infrared, on the other hand, works great in that scenario—it heats the floor and furniture directly. But in a sealed, well-insulated room, panel heaters give a more uniform, draft-free comfort.

Verdict: Panel heaters for sealed rooms with standard ceilings; infrared for drafty or high-ceiling spaces. (I learned this the hard way after installing panel heaters in a loft-style office. Tenants complained of cold feet for three months.)

Dimension 2: Energy Efficiency & Running Costs

This is where it gets counterintuitive.

Panel heaters: They're generally energy-efficient because they maintain a steady temperature. A modern Dimplex panel heater with a programmable thermostat can cycle on and off to keep the room at 20°C, using less power overall than an infrared unit running at full blast (note to self: verify this with a smart meter).

Infrared heaters: They seem efficient because you feel warm immediately, so you might run them for shorter periods. But they consume about the same wattage per hour. The difference is in usage pattern: infrared is great for spot heating (a desk area), while panel heaters are better for whole-room conditioning.

The $800 lesson: I once specified infrared units for a small call center (open plan, 10 desks). Each agent had a personal infrared heater under their desk. The running cost was higher than a single central panel heater because everyone ran theirs at max, and the energy use overlapped. We switched to one 1500W panel heater with a thermostat, and the monthly bill dropped by 35%.

Verdict: Panel heaters win for whole-room or whole-suite heating on a budget. Infrared wins for spot heating or when you need quick warmth for a short duration.

Dimension 3: Installation & Maintenance

Panel heaters: These are straightforward to install—mount on a wall or use a floor stand. They require a dedicated circuit per unit (most 1500W units draw about 12.5 amps). Hardwired or plug-in, it's simple. Maintenance? Dust the grille occasionally. That's it.

Infrared heaters: Also easy to install, but they come with a hidden gotcha: placement matters hugely. If you mount an infrared heater too high, it loses effectiveness. If objects are in the line of sight, they block the heat. We've had to relocate three units because a filing cabinet was blocking the beam (ugh).

Another thing I didn't consider: line-of-sight requirements. Infrared heaters need a clear path to the people or objects being heated. In a cubicle farm, that's almost impossible without careful planning.

Verdict: Panel heaters are more forgiving and easier to plan for. Infrared heaters require a detailed site survey—don't install without one.

Dimension 4: Control & Smart Features

Dimplex offers smart controls on both types, but here's the nuance:

Panel heaters typically come with programmable thermostats, 24-hour timers, and some models (like the Dimplex Smart Convector) offer Wi-Fi control via app or voice assistant. This works well for whole-room scheduling.

Infrared heaters often have simpler controls—on/off, maybe a low/high setting. Some high-end models have thermostats, but because they heat objects, not air,a thermostat set to 20°C might never turn off if the room air stays at 18°C while the objects are already warm. That's a design mismatch.

The reality check: In my experience, smart controls are wasted on infrared heaters unless they're used for zone-specific spot heating with occupancy sensors. Panel heaters benefit more from scheduling and temperature-based control.

Verdict: Panel heaters win for automation and energy management. Infrared heaters are simpler, but that can be an advantage in basic applications (like a janitor's closet).

When to Choose Each (My Cheat Sheet)

Based on all the mistakes I've made—and the 47 potential errors we've caught using our checklist in the past 18 months—here's a simple guide:

Choose a Dimplex panel heater when:

  • You're heating a whole room with standard ceilings (8-10 ft).
  • The room is well-insulated and sealed.
  • You want uniform, draft-free warmth for long occupancy.
  • You need smart scheduling and remote control.

Choose a Dimplex infrared heater when:

  • You have high ceilings (over 10 ft) or drafts.
  • You need instant warmth for a short duration.
  • The space is hard to heat with air (garages, workshops).
  • You're heating a specific zone (a desk, a workbench).

One final piece of advice: Before you buy, check the circuit capacity. A 1500W heater draws about 12.5 amps. Most standard 15-amp circuits can handle that, but if you're installing multiple units, you'll need dedicated circuits. I should've checked before my first multi-unit install (cost me $700 in rework).

Honestly, I'm not sure why some HVAC pros dismiss panel heaters for commercial use. My best guess is they're thinking of old, inefficient fan heaters. But modern Dimplex panel heaters with programmable controls are a solid option for many office spaces. Just don't expect them to work miracles in a drafty warehouse—that's where infrared shines.

Prices as of January 2025; verify current rates with your supplier.

Related reading: My guide on how to reset a Nest thermostat (because we all mess up thermostats at some point), and a comparison of air filters for car vs. home HVAC systems.