Infratech: The Complete Buyer's Guide
By Reed · Reviewed October 2026
The quick answer
Infratech is building electric infrared heaters in Southern California since 1958 — originally for industrial process heating, since the mid-1990s almost entirely for outdoor residential and hospitality installs . Made in Pacoima, California.
Who is Infratech?
Infratech has been building electric infrared heaters in Southern California since 1958 — originally for industrial process heating, since the mid-1990s almost entirely for outdoor residential and hospitality installs. The brand owns the premium architectural-heater market: when a hotel wants heaters that disappear into the loggia, when a residential project needs enclosed-space heating that passes code, when the design demands no visible flame or combustion, Infratech is the specification.
The W-Series and WD-Series are the catalog bread-and-butter — 3,000W to 6,000W short-wave infrared elements in sealed stainless housings, available in Classic White, Classic Black, Classic Stainless, and Classic Bronze finishes. Flush-mount into a soffit or wall-mount horizontally; both installations deliver clean architectural restraint and nearly invisible heating equipment.
What Infratech owns and no gas-heater brand can match is the install envelope: no combustion means no venting means the heater installs under a fully-roofed pergola, inside a screened porch, under a loggia — any space where gas patio heaters fail code review. The Comfort control system runs multiple heaters off a single wall-mounted zone panel with analog or digital controls.
At a glance
What Infratech prioritizes
Short-wave infrared
Heats people directly rather than the surrounding air — instant perceived warmth, no 30-60 second warmup, and heat you can feel on the body before the ambient temperature changes.
Code-compliant anywhere
Zero combustion means zero venting requirement. The only heater technology that installs legally in fully-enclosed pergolas, screened porches, and loggias where gas heaters fail inspection.
Zone control systems
The Comfort control panel runs multiple heaters as independent zones from a single wall-mounted controller. Scale from one-heater single-zone up to twelve-heater four-zone commercial installs.
When Infratech is the wrong choice
Infratech isn't the right fit for every buyer. Pacoima, California-made manufacturing adds cost that competitors overseas skip If your budget is below the entry tier, or your install is temporary, or you're sourcing a single piece without the matching outdoor-kitchen ecosystem, ask us for a side-by-side with alternatives we also carry — getting the brand match right matters more than any single feature on the spec sheet.
How Infratech stacks up head-to-head
Infratech — the questions buyers actually ask
What's the difference between Infratech W-Series and WD-Series?
W-Series heaters are the single-element line (3,000W to 4,000W per unit), designed for single-zone installs. WD-Series heaters are dual-element units (5,000W to 6,000W per unit) with a Classic Black finish standard, designed for higher-output single-heater coverage or dual-element redundancy. For most residential installs, W-Series is the right spec; WD-Series is used when a single-heater install needs to cover 150+ square feet.
Do I need an electrician to install Infratech?
Yes — Infratech heaters require a 240V dedicated circuit per heater, hardwired to a wall-mounted junction box. The install is standard residential-electrician work (approximately $300-800 per heater for the circuit run), but it must be a 240V circuit, not standard 120V. The Comfort control panel adds low-voltage control wiring between the panel and each heater.
How much does it cost to run Infratech heaters?
At typical US residential electricity prices ($0.15/kWh), a single 6,000W Infratech heater running at full output costs approximately $0.90 per hour. Most residential installs run heaters at 50-75% of max output, which drops operating cost to $0.45-0.70 per hour. For a 3-hour outdoor dinner, expect $1.50-2.00 of operating cost per heater.
Can I use Infratech outdoors in rain and snow?
Infratech heaters are IP24 rated (splashproof — rain and snow on the housing is fine; direct water into the heating element is not). The sealed stainless housing resists corrosion in coastal and snow-exposed installs. For heaters mounted in exposed positions, Infratech specifies a shortened lifespan at the heating element (approximately 4,000 hours vs 5,000 in sheltered mounting); plan on element replacement at year 10-12 for exposed installs.
How many Infratech heaters do I need for my patio?
Rough sizing: one 6,000W unit covers approximately 100-150 sq ft of patio space at comfortable warming output. For a 200 sq ft patio, specify two heaters; for 300+ sq ft, three heaters mounted on perimeter walls or soffit. Infratech's dealer sizing tools factor in ceiling height, wind exposure, and ambient temperature; most residential installs end up at 1-3 heaters total.
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Last reviewed by the BBQs.com editorial team on October 2026.
