FAQs
Q. What is infrared heat?
A. Infrared heat is similar to the radio waves the sun gives off to heat a person’s body when they are outside on a clear day. When a cloud covers the sun, it feels ten degrees cooler even though the air temperature has not changed. The SUNHEAT™ infrared heater similarly uses radio waves to heat its internal copper element, and a fan blows air over the hot copper to redistribute the heat. Fragile, premature babies are kept warm using infrared heat, so you can be sure it’s safe for you and your family.
Q. How does a SUNHEAT™ heater work?
A. The SUNHEAT™ heater uses six commercial-grade infrared, quartz-heating elements. Solid copper canisters, or ovens, surround these elements. Copper is the best heat conductor on earth, retaining heat for an extended period of time. Room temperature air enters the back of the SUNHEAT™, passing through a filter and over the solid copper heat canisters, increasing the temperature of the air. Air exiting the heater is approximately 120° warmer than when it entered.
The air retains its humidity with this method, creating a very soft and comfortable heat. Temperature from floor to a standard nine-foot ceiling varies only one or two degrees, versus 10° with a gas, forced-air furnace.
Q. Why is this SUNHEAT™ cheaper to run than other heat sources?
A. Heat produced by SUNHEAT™ doesn’t rise to the ceiling like conventional heat sources, and SUNHEAT™ retains the room’s humidity. Water molecules in the air are heated and travel evenly throughout the room, creating a safe, comfortable heat from floor to ceiling with no cold spots. Conventional heating dries the air and must work harder and longer to produce the same type of effect, leading to higher expense.
Q. What is the actual cost to operate a SUNHEAT™?
A. The average cost of a kilowatt (1000 watts = 1 kilowatt) in the U.S. is just under 10¢. The SUNHEAT™ 1500 is rated at 1500 watts, which equals 1.5 kilowatt (most pull about 1350 at maximum pull when connected to a meter). If the heater were turned all the way up so the heating elements never turned off, the cost according to these numbers would be $1.50 for 10 hours (10 hours X 1.5 kilowatt X 10¢). The fan alone only pulls about 20 watts, or one-fifth the electrical pull of a 100-watt light bulb.
The heating elements will turn on/off throughout the day and night because the copper chambers that the infrared lights heat continue to hold heat (the lights don't need to be on all the time and the heater will continue to push out heat). Also, the thermostat will turn off the heating elements when it is warm enough in the room, in which case the fan will turn off once the unit is cooled down and the heater will not be pulling any electricity.
Q. Can SUNHEAT™ really save 50% on my heating bill?
A. SUNHEAT™ can be rolled from room-to-room, heating only the area you are currently occupying. This allows you to turn down the thermostat, and close off rooms you are not using. Most people spend 80% of their time in 20% of their home, so heating the whole house is not economically sound. SUNHEAT™ also heats an area cheaper than conventional heat. When used correctly, SUNHEAT™ is capable of lowering your heating bill by as much as 50% and can pay for itself in one heating season. With utility costs on the rise, the SUNHEAT™ will save you money for many years without additional investment!
Q. Why should I use SUNHEAT™ over other heating sources?
A. Comfort, safety, and economy. SUNHEAT™ uses an infrared quartz heat source that is unmatched by any other heat source in the world. SUNHEAT™ uses electricity to generate infrared light, which heats the copper surrounding it to 360°. Once the copper is sufficiently warmed the fan turns on, pulling air through a lifetime washable filter, around the copper and out the front of the unit. This produces a soft, comfortable, even heat.
Infrared is the safest form of heat because it does not produce carbon monoxide or harmful radiation. The outside of the heater is never hot to the touch, unlike some competitor brands.
Economy is why most people love their SUNHEAT™. The cost to run the model 1500 for 10 hours non-stop without cycling of heating elements is approximately $1.50 per day (based on the national average of 10¢ per kilowatt).
Q. Why is SUNHEAT™ different from an ordinary space heater I can buy at my local hardware store?
A. Most house fires are caused by electrical space heaters. Some emit unhealthy toxins, and most produce carbon monoxide. Ordinary electric heaters dry the air at an incredible rate. Dry air can cause scratchy throat, and impairs your immune system by drying out the body’s personal filters in the nose.
Q. Is SUNHEAT™ safe enough to use near children?
A. Because it is enclosed in a wooden box that barely gets warm, there is nothing on SUNHEAT™ that becomes too hot to touch. Since this style of heater was made available in the early 1980s, there has never been a fire caused by their use. Flammable material such as paper or magazines place directly in front of, or on top of the heat output will not catch fire. Pets love to lie on top of them because of their comfort level.
Q. Does the SUNHEAT™ filter actually clean the air?
A. SUNHEAT™ is not an air purifier, but its lifetime washable filter will clean the air. And using SUNHEAT™ causes your furnace to run less, which means there is less dust blown into the air. Combustible furnace heat is similar to heat produced by regular electric heaters, and can be harmful if filters are not cleaned properly.
Q. What about maintenance?
A. There is very little that can go wrong with the SUNHEAT™. The filter is washable and never needs to be replaced. And SUNHEAT™ has a complete 3-year warranty. Long-term use may require replacing the infrared heat rods, but the expense is minimal - $20 per tube at current rates.
Q. Where should the SUNHEAT™ be placed for optimal performance?
A. The unit can be placed near a wall, in the middle of the room, or in a corner. It works best when placed blowing toward the coldest part of the room. Homes with long hallways may benefit from a fan used to help circulate the air. Experiment with different locations and fan setups if required, to discover what works for you. Even people with poorly insulated houses have been very satisfied.
Q. Can I leave my SUNHEAT™ unsupervised while plugged in?
A. The SUNHEAT™ was designed with safety in mind, and it is safe for you to leave it plugged in all day every day. Just remember that appliances left plugged in, even though not running, may still pull up to 5% of their potential max wattage.
Q. Can I use SUNHEAT™ in my garage?
A. Though SUNHEAT™ is not specifically made for use in a garage, it will help. Rooms with little insulation will not retain heat as efficiently. Placing the SUNHEAT™ about three feet above the floor will keep the concrete from soaking up all the heat. When not in use in the garage, move the SUNHEAT™ to occupied areas of the house to save hundreds of dollars during a heating season.
Q. Do two heaters work better than one?
A. Several people have purchased a second heater because they were so happy with the first. The best way to use two SUNHEAT™ units is to put them on separate sides of the house.
Q. Will the SUNHEAT™ 1500 replace my furnace?
A. SUNHEAT™ is designed as a supplementary heat source, boosting your current heating method to reach a comfortable temperature. Once this level is achieved, your furnace will run less. If used as a primary heat source, SUNHEAT™ 1500 is capable of heating 500 square feet or less, depending on insulation, window conditions, and outside temperature.
Q. Can I use SUNHEAT™ on a construction site?
A. Yes, but with limited performance. Vacuum or rinse the filter often if it is to be used in areas with high dust concentration.
Q. Can I move SUNHEAT™ while it’s running?
A. While there have been no problems associated with moving the unit while in operation, it is recommended that the fan be turned off first. The fan will continue to run after the unit has been turned off, until the copper is cooled down.
Q. How long does a SUNHEAT™ last?
A. SUNHEAT™ units usually last a lifetime, because the heating elements are the only parts that should ever need to be replaced. The life expectancy of SUNHEAT™ heating tubes is 6500 hours, and can be replaced by an Authorized SUNHEAT™ Servicing Dealer or by a mechanically inclined customer.
Q. Will the SUNHEAT™ blow a breaker in my camper?
A. A 15-amp breaker is sufficient to run the SUNHEAT™ 1500, though you may choose to run other appliances on another breaker.
