Sunfire Heaters Anyone?

[John T]

Any first hand opinion on these Sunfire Radiant Heaters?

They claim to be odor free ... runs on diesel/kero etc.

Ima lookin at the 80,000 BTU model for some aux garage heat.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

You MUST have a fresh air supply or you will take all the air out of the garage in short order.
And also back up the space with a carbon monoxide detector.

 

[#40Fan]

They are great for getting the chill out of the air first thing in the morning before your primary heater gets going.

Running all day sucks, even with air flow.

 

[JohnDB]

We used them in a high bay workshop. Yes they put out a lot of heat, they also produce carbon monoxide... odourless ... be careful, note the warnings above.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

I have no experience with that brand, however, I have never used a heater that uses Diesel/Kerosene which did not make my eyes water, and give me a splitting headache in short order.

Did someone build a better mousetrap?????…….maybe…….. but I doubt it…..


I have learned that when heating a place/area, I personally have to stick with Natural gas/ Propane/electric for some reason.

Also +1 on the need for fresh air and CO detector….

 

[BAP]

You MUST have a fresh air supply or you will take all the air out of the garage in short order.
And also back up the space with a carbon monoxide detector.

According to the website, they have near zero carbon monoxide output.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

According to the website, they have near zero carbon monoxide output.

Most of us on here have problems keeping our Kubota equipment properly maintained!
So I don't think a heater would be any different!
And there is that old saying, better safe than sorry!

 

[Trustable]

Not to hijack this thread, but does the same thing (fresh air and CO) apply to those ceiling mounted natural gas shop heaters? If not maybe this would be an alternative solution? The place I’m moving has one in the garage. Something like this.

 

[#40Fan]

Not to hijack this thread, but does the same thing (fresh air and CO) apply to those ceiling mounted natural gas shop heaters? If not maybe this would be an alternative solution? The place I’m moving has one in the garage. Something like this.

No, because the combustion gases are contained in the heat exchanger and vented outdoors.

 

[Trustable]

No, because the combustion gases are contained in the heat exchanger and vented outdoors.

Okay thank you. That’s what I thought but I didn’t specifically look for that at the showing. I just saw heater in garage and thought, “awesome, now I gotta add a mini split for cooling”

 

[John T]

They are great for getting the chill out of the air first thing in the morning before your primary heater gets going.

Running all day sucks, even with air flow.

Funny you mention that.

My garage does have forced hot air heat.
It works better on the second floor .... works ok in the downstairs garage .. until it gets REAL cold outside.
Then you basically need to keep it on full time.... and even then it's not a radiant heat...

Last winter I used a standup type propane heater which helped alot ... but it's a bit cumbersome and not great with gas efficiency.

this sunfire heater looks like the ticket.

and thanks for the tips on ventilation.

most of the time I keep the garage door open a foot so the dogs can look out.

usually crack a window also.

but a CO detector is prolly a good idea also.

 

[John T]

Most of us on here have problems keeping our Kubota equipment properly maintained!
So I don't think a heater would be any different!
And there is that old saying, better safe than sorry!


View attachment 166065

These Sunfire style radiant heaters are very similar to a Beckett or Carlin oil burner.
It has a set of electrodes/nozzle and probably a cad cell.
so it will require tune up /adjustment / nozzle and fuel filter replacements...

which is all pretty easy to do.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Any chance you've got natgas or propane in your house ? If so, spend the few bucks and run a line to garage then buy any 80KBTU 'house ' furnace. I did that 30 years ago,best money I spent. NO problems or concerns of dieing from CO fumes from 'portable heaters'. I put the furnace in the 'annex', cut 2 holes int he common wall, filter in the lower, garage side. NO ducting, just simple in the bottom, out the top. Takes all of 10 minutes to get 24x24 garage toasty.

 

[Mark_BX25D]

I put the furnace in the 'annex', cut 2 holes int he common wall, filter in the lower, garage side. NO ducting, just simple in the bottom, out the top.

You can't do that. It's way too simple, and besides, I'm sure there are experts who will tell you it can't be done and won't work and will probably curdle your milk and make your cat go blind.


And now I have another project on my list!

 

[CGMKCM]

There are a ton of sunfire radiant heater review videos
on Utube. I didn't see any negative reviews but they all might have been given the heaters for there reviews.

 

[Blue2Orange]

Any option for IR space heaters? They seem to work fine for spot, localized heating. Guessing cost to place enough units in a larger shop would be an issue but minimal maintenance and fast to heat up their limited area. No need to worry about CO, air exchanger.....

 

[TheOldHokie]

You can't do that. It's way too simple, and besides, I'm sure there are experts who will tell you it can't be done and won't work and will probably curdle your milk and make your cat go blind.


And now I have another project on my list!

Unit heaters are made for this purpose and are cheap and easy to install. I am about to install a 125K Modine as replacement for an older Sterling with a cracked heat exchanger. Hang it from the overhead and run 3' of sidewall vent pipe - done.

Modine HD Hot Dawg Gas Heaters for Garages, Shops, & Greenhouses

HD Hot Dawg Heaters

www.acfgreenhouses.com

Dan

 

[Mark_BX25D]

No gas where I live, unless I want to install propane or LPG. Mind you, there's a very high pressure gas line (lots of warning signs along its route) that runs across our state just a couple of miles from me, but it is not available for any local distribution.

On the other hand, it's easy to find second-hand electric furnaces, complete, for not a lot of money.

 

[TheOldHokie]

No gas where I live, unless I want to install propane or LPG. Mind you, there's a very high pressure gas line (lots of warning signs along its route) that runs across our state just a couple of miles from me, but it is not available for any local distribution.

On the other hand, it's easy to find second-hand electric furnaces, complete, for not a lot of money.

Everthing in my house and shop is liquid propane gas (LPG) and has been for 35 years. Cheaper than electric resistance.

I own the 1000 gallon underground tank by the house and the gss company owns the 300 gallon above ground by the shop. Plan is to bury another 500 gallon tank to replace that.

Dan

 

[Mark_BX25D]

Ah, I misspoke. I meant to say propane or LNG. We have both around here.

But my occasional use would not justify the initial expense for.... probably beyond my lifetime.