I recently installed a Sunstar SIR u tube 45k heater in a 20x30 garage with 12' ceilings. It heats well but is very noisy and has a vibration that creates a resonance that comes and goes. Sunstar sent me a balanced fan wheel and suggested isolation mounts, nothing has helped. Anyone else run into that with a Sunstar? Most IR heaters that I have seen are quiet, very disappointed with this one.
Sunstar SIR loud
- Thread starter Sk1080
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diy96
Member
I have a SRP 45k unit and the fan is fairly quiet. Sounds like a bath fan. The deflector groans a bit during heat up and cool down but that's about it. You may have a motor imbalance causing the vibration. IMO you shouldn't need isolation mounts if it's hanging from chain. Question, does your fan run continually during the heat cycle.
dfiler2
Well-known member
I've been considering the 45000 btu unit and when I saw you guys were both up in my neck of the woods I just had to ask a couple of questions, hope you don't mind. My space is 26 x 30 with 9' ceilings, do you think this unit would work for me? I've heard they don't work well with lower ceilings. Also, do you end up with any cold spots? I put in a propane tank and ran the line last summer but I am still using an electric furnace for heat. Do you use a 24v thermostat for control?
diy96
Member
My garage is 24 x 24 with 10' ceilings.The big thing with these units is the clearance to combustibles. Also has to be certified for residential use if the garage is attached. My clearances are 2" to the ceiling and 48" below. You can mount horizontal or at 45 degree angle. The lower your ceiling is the smaller the radiant foot print you'll have and of course your downward clearance to combustibles will be come more crucial. having said that I don't see why it wouldn't work just fine in your circumstance providing you can maintain the specified clearances.
Yes, 24v thermostat.
Cold spots, 1 to 2 degree difference from the farthest point away from the unit.
Check online for the unit you're interested in as they have the install manuals available for download. There you will find all the specs. Hope this helps you out.
Yes, 24v thermostat.
Cold spots, 1 to 2 degree difference from the farthest point away from the unit.
Check online for the unit you're interested in as they have the install manuals available for download. There you will find all the specs. Hope this helps you out.
I have mine in a 20x30 with a 12' ceiling. It is mounted at a 45 deg angle at the narrow end (20') of the garage facing the garage door at the opposite end. It seems to heat well but this is the first year that I have insulation and keep it running all of the time. We have not had extreme cold weather to speak of but I do not anticipate any problems with it keeping up. I do have a fan and have not noticed any cold spots, but the fan circulates the air. Even though the IR's are supposed to heat objects and not the air, there is still heat that they generate that heats air. I had a thermostat mounted close to the ceiling and the temp difference from that to 5' (thermostat) off the floor was about 20 deg's after it had ran for a while. The fan takes care of that.
I have a friend that has a body shop and has Reverberay units throughout and in the office, the office area has a 9' ceiling. The receptionist says it makes her head hot when it is running while at her desk. They are very quiet, I was hoping for that but the sunstar is very noisy. If I had to do it again, would have spent a bit more on the reverberay or went with a forced air unit. You do have to account for the clearances.
Mine is run off a line voltage thermostat, there was an option for a 24 volt transformer if you wanted to run a 24 volt thermostat. I think all dual stage units run 24volt thermostats, mine is a single stage and the line voltage control seems to work fine. You are limited to pretty basic thermostats though when using line voltage.
I have a friend that has a body shop and has Reverberay units throughout and in the office, the office area has a 9' ceiling. The receptionist says it makes her head hot when it is running while at her desk. They are very quiet, I was hoping for that but the sunstar is very noisy. If I had to do it again, would have spent a bit more on the reverberay or went with a forced air unit. You do have to account for the clearances.
Mine is run off a line voltage thermostat, there was an option for a 24 volt transformer if you wanted to run a 24 volt thermostat. I think all dual stage units run 24volt thermostats, mine is a single stage and the line voltage control seems to work fine. You are limited to pretty basic thermostats though when using line voltage.
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