Electric heating systems are becoming increasingly important as a result of the energy transition. While fossil fuels dominated for decades, advancing electrification is opening up new possibilities: electricity can be generated from renewable sources, used locally and, with the expansion of sustainable energy sources, increasingly made available in a climate-neutral manner. Against this background, two technologies in particular are becoming the focus of the discussion: heat pumps and infrared heaters. Both are considered electric heating solutions – but they differ fundamentally in terms of technology, investment and cost-effectiveness. This leads to the central question: Which electric heater is the best?
Heating in transition: Electricity as the central energy source for buildings
With the expansion of renewable energies, the role of electricity in the energy system is fundamentally changing. Buildings are increasingly developing into active energy units that can generate, store and use electricity directly. Photovoltaic systems, battery storage and intelligent controls enable new supply concepts in which electric heating systems play a central role.
Electric heaters such as infrared heaters with a technically simple design offer a structural advantage: They require no fuel, no exhaust systems and no complex infrastructure. Heat is generated directly where it is needed. This results in additional practical advantages for builders and project developers, such as lower investment costs, simplified planning, fewer technical interfaces between trades and shorter construction times. At the same time, there are no requirements for boiler rooms, chimneys or water-conducting installations, which opens up new degrees of freedom in building planning.
Two different heating principles
Heat pumps use environmental energy from air, water or soil and increase their temperature level using a thermodynamic process. This means that they can mathematically generate more thermal energy than electrical energy is used. However, the prerequisites for high efficiency values are suitable buildings, low system temperatures and appropriate heating surface distribution.
Infrared heaters work according to a much simpler principle: electrical energy is immediately converted into heat and mainly released as radiant heat. This infrared radiation heats surfaces and people directly, which can create a pleasant feeling of warmth even at moderate room air temperatures.
The technical complexity varies significantly. While heat pumps require hydraulic systems, compressor technology and regular maintenance, infrared heaters essentially consist of long-lasting electrical components with no moving parts.
Correctly classify the efficiency of the electric heating system: the overall system decides
The efficiency of heat pumps is usually described using the annual performance factor. However, this value depends heavily on the general conditions, in particular the condition of the building and the distribution of the heating surfaces. Deviations between theoretical and real values are possible in practice.
Direct current heaters technically achieve almost complete conversion of the electrical energy used into heat. The decisive factor for economic efficiency is therefore less the device efficiency than the overall system consisting of investment costs, usage, energy price and service life.
Life cycle costs of infrared heating & heat pumps: economic viability viewed over decades
When comparing heating systems, the total costs over the entire period of use play a decisive role. Which electric heater is the best can therefore only be answered based on such a life cycle analysis. A study by Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Timo Leukefeld, published in the magazine in 2025 TGA practiceexamined the total costs of an air-water heat pump system in comparison to infrared heating in a modern single-family home (KfW 55 standard, 150 m² living space).
The biggest difference was in the investment costs:
- Heat pump with underfloor heating: around 45,000 euros
- Infrared heating with electric hot water: around 12,000 euros
The difference of around 33,000 euros is primarily due to installation costs, hydraulic infrastructure and system technology.
The heat pump’s annual operating costs were somewhat lower, but not to an extent that could compensate for the significantly higher initial investment. The model calculation resulted in payback periods of around 44 years without photovoltaics and around 65 years with photovoltaics. These periods are significantly longer than the typical service life of central heat pump components.
In the 30-year overall analysis, there was an economic advantage for the infrared heating system. The study shows that investment costs, maintenance and service life have just as big an impact on profitability as energy consumption.
An additional financial effect arises from the lower capital commitment: the saved investment costs could be used or invested alternatively, thereby significantly changing the long-term economic viability analysis.
Photovoltaics reinforces the advantages of modern electric heating
As photovoltaic systems become more widespread, the direct use of electricity in buildings becomes more important. Self-produced electricity can be used directly for heat, reducing energy costs and relieving the strain on networks.
Direct electricity heaters such as infrared heaters are particularly flexible because they work without conversion losses and can react immediately to available energy. In combination with battery storage, new possibilities arise for decentralized, largely self-sufficient supply concepts.
Areas of application: Where electric heating systems are particularly useful
The advantages of electric heating systems are particularly evident where simple installation, low investment costs and flexible use are crucial. These include, among other things, new buildings with a renewable energy supply, renovation projects, buildings without a water-based heating system, individual usage units or usage concepts with their own electricity production.
Heat pumps can particularly demonstrate their strengths in very well-insulated buildings with suitable heating surface distribution. Infrared heaters, on the other hand, impress with their simple technology, low investment costs, freedom from maintenance and high flexibility.
Which electric heater is the best? Technical simplicity as a stability factor
A key difference between the two systems is their technical complexity. Infrared heaters work without compressors, refrigerant circuits or hydraulic components. This results in lower maintenance requirements and potentially longer periods of use for individual device components. This simplicity has a direct impact on investment security and ongoing costs.
Conclusion: The best electric heater is often the simplest solution
The analysis shows that the evaluation of heating systems should not be based solely on theoretical efficiency indicators. What is crucial is the overall consideration of investment, operation, service life and usage concept. The question of the “best” electric heater can also be classified against this background.
While heat pumps can achieve high efficiency under optimal conditions, life cycle analyzes show that infrared heaters can offer long-term economic advantages, particularly due to low investment costs, low maintenance and technical simplicity. With the increasing use of renewable energies and increasing self-supply, direct electricity heating such as infrared heating is becoming even more attractive.