They are still available for installation.
They usually take less power than a heater and a fan (two 250 watt bulbs instead of a 1,200 watt heating coil).
The purpose, get this, is to heat you up. Infrared heats surfaces (think grill warming lights), so that when it's on and you step out of the shower, it warms your body, it warms the floor, etc.
In many locations it's a direct replacement for the ceiling fixture, where other fan driven heaters may not be.
Many hotels have replaced it with a flood light bulb or a regular bulb, which will do nothing to heat you up.
Last edited by cordelli; Jun 20, 2012 at 2:10 pm