Being among us for over hundreds of years, the heat lamp is one of our warmest friends in the home appliance kingdom.
Discovered back in the 1800s, the heat lamp has since been modified and accommodated throughout restaurants, shops, bakeries, homes, and also bathrooms.
The main function of a heat lamp, you know it, is to provide heat. It transfers infrared waves into heat energy, hence a specialized bulb is used in it. Mostly incandescent, the bulb is made to produce heat rather than light.
As much as you love your heat lamp in your room or bathroom the question can pop into your mind, can I put a heat lamp in my shower?
Well, let’s find that out together in this article.
Can I Put a Heat Lamp in My Shower?
Heat lamps are a great addition to cost-effective heating. It doesn’t use as much energy as a room heater, and you can also move it around possibly anywhere you want.
This makes them ideal to use in any cold environment. You can use them to keep your food warm, have a good warm flow of air on your face and even get a heat treatment with them during the winter.
As the bathroom is the coldest part of any home, anyone loves to have something warm in it. Some of us even leave the hot water run for some time to create the best temperature to move into it.
Having a heating system in your bathroom can not only be expensive but also hard to maintain. As there is water and dump weather all around it, you will have to get a waterproof heating system. Which is not at all fun for the bank balance.
But a heat lamp can be your savior in this case. You can easily place a heat lamp in your bathroom and heat it up before you set foot in it.
The warm atmosphere it will create can not be compared to anything else. And after your shower, you can also bask in its warmth for some more.
But there is a catch to it. The heat lamp is operated by an incandescent bulb, which is sadly made of glass. And we all know how glass reacts to moisture and water.
There are numerous incidents when people and kids have fallen victim to electrocution and broken glass hazard due to a heat lamp explosion. Even the fire department forbids putting a heat lamp in your bathroom.
With that being said, you should never place a heat lamp in your shower. It might be tempting to have a hot flow of air on your face and body, but in the long run, you don’t want to get electrocuted or get your foot bloody from the broken glass.
As glass reacts to sudden temperature changes, the incandescent infrared heat lamp is a ticking time bomb in your shower. One single drop of water on the bulb will explode.
How to Install Heat Lamp in Bathroom
If you are keen on installing a heat lamp in your bathroom, make sure a few things before that.
Well Ventilated Area
Heat lamps produce a lot of heat. And with heat and water comes moisture, which is the heat lamp killer of all time. If your bathroom is not well-ventilated, make sure to put in a ventilation fan that can keep the airflow all the time. Then you can install a heat lamp.
Away From Water Source
Installing a heat lamp too close to your tub or shower might seem a very enjoyable moment, but in the long run, you don’t want to do that. The water and moisture will build up faster in the shower and tub area than in the sink and mirror area. So installing it in the sink or mirror area would be the best.
No Moist or Dump Environment
Moisture and a damp environment are the killers of any electronics. Especially those which have heated glass in them. Hot glass and a moist environment don’t go well with each other. A heat lamp works mainly on the glass bulb that produces heat. And with moisture buildup, it will compromise its integrity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a heat lamp get wet?
Yes. If you put a heat lamp in a dump environment that has water flow, like bathrooms or tubs, then it will get wet by the moisture in the air. Which will lead to the bulb exploding.
Are bathroom heat bulbs safe?
Moisture and water is the killer of heat bulbs. As it is made out of glass and produces heat, you know how glass reacts to sudden temperature changes. A well-ventilated bathroom will have no issue with a heat bulb, but if the moisture is too much, then the heat bulb might explode. So make sure your bathroom is well-ventilated before placing a heat lamp.
Can bathroom heat lamps cause fires?
Although it is rare, heat lamps can cause a fire. Anything flammable or dry like towels, microfiber cloths, placed right on the heat lamp will cause a fire. In addition, cans of deodorant or hair spray right in front of the heat lamp can also cause a fire. So avoid putting anything flammable around the heat lamp.
Where should a heat lamp be placed in a bathroom?
A heat lamp is better away from a running water source. Preferably your mirror area or sink that isn’t running. Also, your bathroom should be well-ventilated. Otherwise, the moisture buildup will eventually get to the heat lamp bulb and it will explode.
Conclusion
Putting a heat lamp in a shower has caused a lot of accidents in recent times. From broken glasses to electrocution, you name it. Especially if there is a child in the bathroom, you should never put a heat lamp in it. As anyone will react shockingly when it explodes, it’s better to keep it away from the shower area and to a more moisture-free well ventilated area.
