Special Attention to the Little Ones When Choosing Heating

For a child's room it is worth choosing heating that gives even warmth and moves dust as little as possible. Radiator heating, which circulates air, also moves the dust along with the warm air; radiant infrared heating does not circulate the air, so it stirs up less dust. We do not attribute a healing effect to any heating, however.

When our child is born, not only does our life turn upside down, but our order of priorities is rearranged too: we protect the child from outside influences and try to create the best possible conditions. There is much we have no influence over, but we do have a say in our home and in choosing the heating. We spend most of our lives at home, often in a heated room, so alongside modernity and cost it is worth weighing up what environment the child grows up in when choosing heating.

Dust and respiratory complaints

Radiator heating has developed a great deal in recent decades, but by its principle of operation it moves dust in the room along with the flow of warm air. This can be unpleasant even for a healthy person, and for those sensitive to it it can cause irritation and coughing. According to the World Health Organization's fact sheet on asthma, asthma is the most common chronic disease of children, and among the triggers of symptoms are dust, smoke, pollen and animal dander. Children's bodies are more sensitive, so special attention is due to them – especially if they already have a respiratory problem.

Underfloor heating

What does infrared heating offer here?

Infrared heating gives off heat by radiation: it warms the floor, walls, objects and the people in the room, and does not circulate the air. Because there is no strong air current, it stirs up less dust, and heating film built into the floor gives even, pleasant warmth to children playing on the floor, too. It is important to see clearly, however: heating does not remove dust – regular cleaning and ventilation are needed just the same – and it neither prevents nor cures respiratory disease. If the child is asthmatic or allergic, it is worth discussing the living environment with the treating doctor.

What should you not expect from heating?

You often read that infrared heating has an antibacterial effect, that it "radiates at the same wavelength as the human body", or that it eliminates damp and mould. We know of no reliable evidence for these, so we do not claim them. The cause of mould and damp walls must be found and removed; a warmer wall surface can reduce condensation, but does not by itself solve the damp. We write about this in detail in our article on mouldy walls.

What else is worth considering?

When the article was published, in 2021, we installed 3rd-generation infrared heating film; today we recommend 4th-generation heating film. We give a 15.5-year warranty on 4th-generation heating film if we carry out the installation. Many parents also worry about the electric field of heating film: we present our own measurement on the electrosmog page. The cost and comfort of heating methods are compared in our summary on electric heating.

If you are facing a build or renovation and would also take the needs of the child's room into account when choosing heating, request a quote (installation is available in Hungary).