How to Actually Pick the Right IR Lamps for Your Mirror
Ever stepped out of a hot shower and spent five minutes wiping a circle into your mirror with a towel? It’s annoying. To fix it, we use shortwave infrared (IR) radiation. Basically, we just keep the glass warmer than the air around it so the steam never has a chance to settle. But here’s the trick: you can’t just throw any lamp at the problem. You have to match the power to the size of the glass. Getting the wattage right If you’re dealing with a standard vanity mirror (around 500mm x 700mm), you don’t need a monster. A small lamp between 50W and 150W usually does the job. Don’t be tempted to overdo it. If you put too much power in a small space, you might actually stress the glass or—even worse—melt the glue holding everything together. Not a great look. For those huge, wall-to-wall mirrors, you’ll need more muscle. We usually go with 250W to 600W, or maybe a few smaller lamps spread out. The goal is a nice, even heat. If you cram all that power into one spot, you get “hot spots,” and that’s how mirrors crack. The trade-offs It’s simple: more wattage means the fog vanishes faster. But it also means you’re pulling more juice from the wall. Think about the rest of the bathroom. If someone is blasting a high-wattage hair dryer on the same circuit while the mirror heater is running, you might trip a breaker. It’s worth double-checking your electrical load before you commit. We always use quartz glass for the lamp envelopes because they let the IR heat through way better. They heat up almost instantly, which is great, but they get hot. Make sure you leave a little air gap between the lamp and the back of the mirror. If the lamp is touching the silvering, it can ruin the finish. Wiring it up Most people just tie these into the light switch or the exhaust fan. Simple. Just please, use high-temperature wiring. Standard PVC insulation will literally melt if it brushes up against the lamp housing. And one last thing: make sure your connectors are tight. A loose connection creates resistance, which creates heat, which leads to a dead lamp way sooner than it should be. Tight wires, happy mirror.