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Infrared Heat / Solar Comfort ?

G80104 | Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on October 31, 2006 03:25am

  Have a walkout basement , the area where the sliding glass door is, could use a little additional heat. Any reports on the Solar Comfort Infrared Heaters?

 Found a place online, but would like to hear 1st hand from an owner.

http://solarcomfortheater.com/store/SolarComfort.php

                                               Thanks!

 

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  1. User avater
    BillHartmann | Oct 31, 2006 06:08pm | #1

    From what I understand those are not "infrared heaters". That is you don't se much direct infrared energy.

    They mostly use it to heat the air and circulate it.

    The only difference being that it is a small difused heat ratehr than a concentrated like a coil or ceramic disk type of heater.

    1. User avater
      G80104 | Oct 31, 2006 08:44pm | #2

        I heard about the heaters on one of the Saturday radio programs. They stated that you could heat an area about 500 sq.ft for about a $1 a day. We have a gas fireplace, (direct vent) in the room & its an NRG pig. Plan is to park the fireplace & try a different heat source.

      1. PatchogPhil | Oct 31, 2006 08:47pm | #3

        Is it an "open" fireplace i.e. no glass,  you look at flames on fake logs?

        Maybe a radiant stove insert would make more heat and be more efficient to run.

        1. User avater
          G80104 | Oct 31, 2006 11:06pm | #6

           Phil,

                The fireplace is one of the natural gas type , 10" pipe that runs out the back of the unit.Maybe a total of 3' of double wall pipe.

          I think when you turn it on, it draws more warm air out of the house then it adds heat to the basement.

          1. User avater
            G80104 | Oct 31, 2006 11:54pm | #7

              Thanks for the replys, would love to install a Rinnai gas space heater, but don't have a spare $900 at present.

              Still would like to hear from anybody that been around the Solar Comfort.

          2. User avater
            Heck | Nov 01, 2006 12:00am | #8

            Just put your ski gear on, and turn down the heater._______________________________________________________________

            "Sleep well, and dream of large women" -The Dread Pirate Roberts, to The Giant

          3. PatchogPhil | Nov 01, 2006 12:31am | #9

            Better designs draw the combustion air from outside.  Also the heat generated is radiated into the room with much less heat loss out the flue.

             

      2. User avater
        BillHartmann | Oct 31, 2006 09:12pm | #4

        This distributor and I think company owner is located here (Kansas City area) and they heavely advertisted on a sat morning gardening and home repair show. Also advertised by many differ show hosts.So I hear all of those claims.But they never really tell you the conditions. But on the show, verse the scripted ads, it is more free form and the people that have them I gather have a room that either can't get above 60-65 or they keep the whole house at 60-65 and use one of these to WARM UP the room. IN my mind far different than heating it.BTW, they where orginally Sun Twin heaters. After the developer died the company was sold. The new owners changed the design.So this local distributor started making the old design as the Solar Comfort.But energy wise a watt is a watt. You won't get any more heat out of this unit per watt than you will with another other electric heater.Two advantage is the diverse heat source and the zero clearance, if that is important to you.But I suspect that comfort wise the radiator style will have similar diverse heat, but I have not ever used one.

  2. booch | Oct 31, 2006 09:16pm | #5

    http://www.electricheat.com/radiant/how.html

    These guys make a steel enameled panel that mounts in a cove type fixture that uses electricity to direct radiant heat to surfaces. There are many more but this site covers a system that works (according to code) in Wisconsin. These work great for putting heat in an area succeptable to drafts. A version of these are real popular with receptionists in our area as under desk heaters.

    In any case you need to insulate the Patio door. Throwing heat outside thru a cruddy door will never be a good idea. For 1000 bucks you could buy an Anderson or comparable unit to make the living space more livable.

    Cheapest answer is buy some floor to ceiling curtains. A novel aproach would be to put a plastic laminate sun shield to reduce the conductance into the room.

    Jack of all trades and master of none - you got a problem with that?

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