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Best Solar Air Heaters

By EarthTechling

One of the best things about switching to solar power is saving money on your energy bills. We do love helping to protect the environment by lowering our carbon footprint, but being able to save money on top of that is a huge bonus. With all the recent improvements in solar technology, there are many new ways that you can take advantage of free solar power. One of the more surprising ways is solar air heating.

Heating your home with sunshine isn’t a new concept, of course, but it’s never been particularly reliable or efficient. Well, thanks to a few dedicated solar companies, your options for solar heating have improved substantially. To give you an idea of what we mean, we have compiled a list of five of the best solar air heaters on the market today. Take a look at these innovative solar heaters and then read on for some helpful information about how to choose the best unit for you.

Top 5 Best Solar Air Heaters of 2021

Reviews of the Best Solar Air Heaters

EcoSolaris Chinook Solar Air Heater

Quick Look: Capable of generating almost 1500W of power, up to 5200 BTU. No maintenance required. Built to last 25 years. Comes with a 1-year warranty on the solar panel and fan and a 5-year warranty on the solar thermal box. Check Price Online

The Chinook Solar Air Heater from EcoSolaris was designed in Canada for Canadian winters, so you know that this heater packs a punch. At peak sun hours it is capable of producing up to 5200 BTU of heating power, perfect for those chilly winter days. With simple installation and zero maintenance, this is the perfect choice for your garage, cabin, greenhouse, or any room of your home.

This heater takes full advantage of the sun’s heating power via a large solar thermal box. The box absorbs and stores the sun’s heat that is then used to heat the air pushed through it by a small solar fan. The fan pulls the cold air from the room, circulates it through the thermal box, and then pushes the hot air back out into the room. This highly efficient heater is completely self-sufficient, it gets all the power it needs from the sun.

The heater itself is waterproof and weatherproof. It is designed to be installed outside and is meant to last 25 years, so all you have to do is install it and forget it. This model does come in different sizes, depending on how much heating power you need. You can even install a double unit which has two thermal boxes, for maximum heat capabilities.

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Solar Window Heater Company Original Window Heater

Quick Look: Ultra user-friendly design. Earth-friendly, made with non-toxic materials and manufacturing methods. Made in the USA. Comes with a 15-Year warranty. Check Price Online

Everyone knows how nice it is to catch a sunbeam coming through a window on a chilly winter day. Why not put that sunbeam to work heating your entire room instead of just one spot? With this sturdy solar air heater from the Solar Window Heater Company, you can do just that with hardly any effort on your part.

This heater uses a patented panel absorber design invented specifically to capture as much of the sun’s heat as possible while remaining compact and portable. This simple window unit sits right on your inner window sill and acts as a solar thermal box. It catches the sun’s rays and uses its heat to warm and recirculate nearby air. This process can result in a temperature increase of up to 40° in just a few minutes, leaving your room warm and cozy.

These solar air heaters are built with the environment in mind. They are made out of wood, aluminum, and plexiglass, and their manufacturing is designed to leave the smallest carbon footprint possible. This is a heater you can feel good about buying. Plus, it is ultra-portable, designed to be moved from room to room as you need it, so you’ll definitely get your money’s worth.

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Arctica Solar 1500 Series Solar Air Heater

Quick Look: Easy installation. 80% efficiency. Functions autonomously. Can increase air temperature up to 90°. Comes with a 3-Year warranty. Check Price Online

If you’re looking for a more permanent solar air heater, then check out this model from Arctica Solar. This unit is designed to heat up to 150 sq. ft. with solar power alone. It can be installed on your roof or on the side of your home and comes fully assembled and ready for installation.

This unit uses a small solar panel to power a fan and temperature regulator. The fan works to pull air through a powerful solar thermal box and then redistribute the heated air throughout your room. The temperature regulator works to keep your heater running only when you need it.

This unit is a great choice for residential use. Whether you want to add a little extra heat to your living room, kitchen, or garage, it is sure to help you save on energy costs. By using a patented heat exchanger and quality insulation, this unit is capable of increasing the air’s temperature by up to 90°, which will drastically decrease how often you have to rely on your traditional home heating system.

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Solar Infra Systems Portable Air Heater

Quick Look: Fully portable solar air heater. Multiple mounting options. Increases air temperature by up to 20°. Heavy-duty fireproof polycarbonate case. Check Price Online

Just because you’re a renter who can’t install an external solar air heater does not mean that you can’t enjoy a little extra free heat from the sun. Take a peek at this ultra-portable model from Solar Infra Systems and see if it won’t do the trick. This compact solar air heater can be hung in a window, placed on the window sill, or set on a special easel-like stand, giving you plenty of placement options.

This unit may be small, but it is capable of increasing the temperature in a 150 sq. ft. space by up to 20°. That means you can turn your furnace down, save money and energy, and still stay nice and warm in the process. Can’t ask for more than that!

This unit uses a unique collector cell design to heat the air quickly and efficiently. It uses a 12V photovoltaic solar panel to power a small fan that works to draw cooler air into the heater and then push it back out into the room once the air is hot. The fan is powerful but quiet, so there won’t even be any sound pollution. You can use this heater anywhere where there is direct sunlight including your boat or RV.

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Your Solar Home SolarSheat 1500GS

Quick Look: High-quality materials and design. Can heat up to 750 sq. ft. Multiple mounting options. Designed to last 25 to 30 years at least. Check Price Online

If you want to take your solar heating game to the next level, you can heat even bigger areas of your home using this large solar air heater from Your Solar Home. This heater is powerful enough to increase the room temperature by 40° to 50° in a 750 sq. ft. space, making it perfect for your home, cabin, or even a tiny house.

The SolarSheat 1500GS is made from quality materials and is built to last, no matter the weather. It comes with an aluminum frame that has an automotive-grade powder coating. It is wind-tested and heavily insulated so that none of the solar heat escapes out of the back or sides. The front is 4mm thick tempered glass that retains heat and protects the high-quality aluminum absorber. Every element of this heater has been designed for efficiency.

The included 20V photovoltaic solar panel can be attached to the thermal box on any of the four sides or installed separately for your convenience. This solar power provides all the electricity required to operate the heater’s internal fan and power the attached thermostat.

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How We Chose The Best Solar Air Heaters

Many of the best solar air heaters have only been on the market for a few years, so there aren’t a huge number of options out there yet, but we still had to sort through quite a few companies to choose the items we featured on our list. We chose these heaters based on a few basic standards that can make a big difference. Efficiency, quality materials, and ease of use.

Efficiency

When it comes to heating options, efficiency is everything. Even though these heaters do not require external energy sources, they can be a bit expensive. With that in mind, you want to choose one that is efficient enough to pay for itself in a short amount of time. That is why we looked for models that were well-built and efficient enough to increase the air temperature a marked amount.

Quality Materials

Looking for efficiency means looking for quality materials. That is what led us to look for models that had heavy-duty aluminum frames, weatherproof coating, and good insulation. Although each of the solar air heaters on our list features a different design, they are each made with materials appropriate for that design. They are all well made and meant to last for years, some even up to 30 or 40 years with little to no maintenance. Now that is quality!

Ease of Use

One of the best things about most solar-powered products is that they are so easy to use and these heaters definitely fall into that category. The portable models on our list require no assembly or installation time, simply set them in the sun and they will begin to work. For the bigger units, installation is as simple as installing two small vents, a process that can take less than two hours. Once they are installed they require little to no maintenance, meaning that you can install your solar heat and then enjoy years of use with no extra effort on your part. You can’t get much easier than that.

What You Need To Know About Solar Air Heaters

Going solar is always a good idea, but before you make your purchase, here are a few things you should know about solar air heaters.

Supplemental Heat

You can use solar heaters anywhere you need extra heat, such as your boat, RV, cabin, or home, but you should be aware that they are generally meant to be used for supplemental heat only. The main reason for this is that these heaters will not work at night or on dark rainy days. Unlike a traditional electric space heater, which uses electricity to power a heating unit, solar heaters use only the heat of the sun. This means that as soon as the sun is gone so is the heat. For that reason, solar heaters are best used to supplement your heating needs, allowing you to decrease the use of your home heating system throughout the day and save you money on energy costs.

That being said, if you’re heating a small well-insulated space, solar heat throughout the day may be all you need. Many people choose to use solar heaters for smaller heating needs such as greenhouses, chicken coops, sheds, and garages. Each situation is different, so you have to decide what is right for your heating needs.

External Installation

Like most solar products, solar air heaters work best if they are placed in direct sunlight. This means that if you are considering one of the bigger units, you will have to install the main body of the unit on the outside of your home, either on a south-facing wall or on the roof. Solar air heaters work by drawing cooler air out the room, heating it, and then blowing it back into the room. This means that you will need two air vents on the inside of the room, one intake and one output. These vents are relatively small, usually around 4” to 6” in diameter, so they won’t take up much room, but it is still an important design and installation element to consider before purchasing your solar heater.

DIY Solar Heat

If you’re still not quite sold on solar heat, there are many solar enthusiasts who have designed and built their own mini solar heaters and shared their designs online. This may be a good way for you to try out solar heating before purchasing a larger unit. Plus, you can always use your DIY models to supplement your bigger solar heater in the future.

How to Choose The Best Solar Air Heater For You

If you like the idea of solar heat and are ready to give it a try right away, here are two simple things to consider before you order.

Size Up Your Space

The first thing you should consider is the size of the space you want to heat and how much extra heat you need. If you’re only trying to warm up a small bedroom, then a portable unit that heats 150 sq. ft. may do the trick. If you would like to add heat to the larger rooms in your home or perhaps use solar to heat a large garage, then it would be worth your while to invest in a larger model. Much like purchasing a traditional heater, you have to choose a model that is powerful enough to heat your space, otherwise, you’ll just be left cold and disappointed.

Installation Options

The second thing you have to consider is your installation options. If you own your home and feel comfortable having air vents installed, you have two options. You can have your solar heater installed on your roof or on the wall of your home. The best place for installation depends on the structure of your home and the amount of sunshine you get every day. Many of the larger solar heaters are designed to be installed on either the roof or the wall, but not all, so double-check before you buy to ensure that the model you choose will fit your installation needs.

If you can’t install vents, but still want to try solar heat in a larger space, you may have to purchase multiple portable units. Window units are good for this purpose because they are less expensive and can be moved from window to window throughout the day to take full advantage of the daylight hours.

Bottom Line

Solar air heaters are a great way to take advantage of the sun’s heat and save money on your heating bills. These heaters come in a variety of sizes and can be used for all your supplemental heating needs. All you have to do to choose the best solar air heater for your home or cabin is to examine the space you want to heat. Once you know how much heating power you need, you simply have to choose the style of heater that best fits your space. After that, simply install your heater and enjoy free solar heat for years to come.

We hope this information has given you the confidence and the knowledge you need to try solar heating so you can start saving money on your heating bills today.

Top 5 Best Solar Air Heaters of 2021