Installing a wood stove in my garage

[dstig1]

There is a lot of misinformation about radiant. It can be more efficient, but it is not that way by default. The biggest issues around efficiency are insulation. If you have a slab, it needs to be insulated and quite well insulated at that. Same with the building. If you don't have good insulation and air sealing, then you will be inefficient. The good thing about radiant is the low temps it runs at. this helps efficiency some as it is better to have a lower temp drop for efficiency, but many other factors come into play. If you lose heat because the building is a sieve, then it doesn't matter how much better the low temp drop is for efficiency, for example.

I think the tubing was 5/8" but it may have been 1/2". Too much to remember... Spacing was 9" or so. After a few days of messing with the settings i got it set pretty decent, and left it like that all winter. My gas bills were heavily skewed by the construction heater in the largely uninsulated house for the winter, so it is hard to say what it did, but the first few weeks were looking decent before I got the construction heater in place, but then that was before the real cold hit...

Putting tubing in a slab is an extra few hundred dollars. Even if you never connect it, it isn't a big deal. But you can't do it later. Talk to a couple of the radiant places in vermont - radiantec and radiant floor co for example. They can lay it all out for how much of what you need, and then you can buy stuff from them or elsewhere if you like. Those guys are pricey but it help a lot for the first part. I bought a lot less from them for the house after doing the shop, once it became clear what to do.

 

[old gray]

Thanks for the info. Dave.Looks like the wood heating is out at this point. Out door furnace at this point will be more work and more $$$. Indoor wood stove is not legal in a garage in Mass. See attached. Thanks again.

2009 Nov. 21: MA Attleboro: Garage wood stove is illegal and dangerous
Posted on November 21, 2009 by accountonwordpress
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2009 Last modified: Saturday, November 21, 2009 1:54 AM EST
Wood-burning stove suspected in SA fire

BY GEORGE W. RHODES SUN CHRONICLE STAFF

ATTLEBORO – The cause of a fire that leveled a garage and destroyed two cars and a snow blower on Hall Avenue Thursday night hasn’t been released, but a wood burning stove that was in the garage was illegal, a city official says.

The stove was suspected as a cause, but firefighters on duty Friday said neither the chief nor the deputy were available to confirm it.

Building Inspector Doug Semple said stoves that burn solid fuel, such as wood or coal, are not allowed in garages because of the presence of highly combustible fumes from gasoline in cars or in storage, as well as other fuels or chemicals commonly kept in garages.

He said stoves are prohibited under the state’s building code and National Fire Protection Association regulations.

Boilers and gas-fired heaters are allowed if the ignition point is at least 18 inches above the floor, Semple said.

The blaze erupted shortly before 8:30 p.m. Thursday and created a fire ball that consumed the garage and its contents within minutes in the densely populated South Attleboro neighborhood.

Neighbors spotted the blaze and called the fire department.

Homeowner Dipak Shah was unaware of the inferno until a neighbor banged on his door.

Fortunately the garage was not attached to the home, which helped save the home from damage and its occupants from harm.

Semple said his office has turned down a number of people seeking permits for wood-burning stoves in garages.

"They don’t fill out applications," Semple said. "We just tell them no, they’re illegal and dangerous."

 

[dbaer78]

Have you considered a forced air outdoor wood burner? Not sure of the layout outside your garage but might be an option. They're considerably cheaper than an outdoor boiler. The guy I worked for just bought one for about $3000.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I would install an infrared natural gas heater...
My dad has a set up similar to these listed here...
He has natural gas so propane is not an issue...
This system is easy to install and efficient...
Of course costs associated with gas usage is operator dependent...
Here in the south it is not that big of an issue...
Up north it is a big issue...
I would keep the thermostat set on 50 or so...
Just enough to keep the chill off and then turn it up when needed...
gas garage heater from Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[arrow]

Was his furnaces in side or outside?

Inside. It's amazing how even the heat is in that place with only two runs of ducting.. If you are only looking for occasional use and don't want to spend the extra money on a furnace, I'd use what i have. Is your wood stove a radiant type or convection (eg. most heat coming from the top of the stove)

 

[Jstpssng]

Thanks for the info. Dave.Looks like the wood heating is out at this point. Out door furnace at this point will be more work and more $$$. Indoor wood stove is not legal in a garage in Mass. See attached. Thanks again.

2009 Nov. 21: MA Attleboro: Garage wood stove is illegal and dangerous
Posted on November 21, 2009 by accountonwordpress
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2009 Last modified: Saturday, November 21, 2009 1:54 AM EST
Wood-burning stove suspected in SA fire

BY GEORGE W. RHODES SUN CHRONICLE STAFF

ATTLEBORO – The cause of a fire that leveled a garage and destroyed two cars and a snow blower on Hall Avenue Thursday night hasn’t been released, but a wood burning stove that was in the garage was illegal, a city official says.

The stove was suspected as a cause, but firefighters on duty Friday said neither the chief nor the deputy were available to confirm it.

Building Inspector Doug Semple said stoves that burn solid fuel, such as wood or coal, are not allowed in garages because of the presence of highly combustible fumes from gasoline in cars or in storage, as well as other fuels or chemicals commonly kept in garages.

He said stoves are prohibited under the state’s building code and National Fire Protection Association regulations.

Boilers and gas-fired heaters are allowed if the ignition point is at least 18 inches above the floor, Semple said.

The blaze erupted shortly before 8:30 p.m. Thursday and created a fire ball that consumed the garage and its contents within minutes in the densely populated South Attleboro neighborhood.

Neighbors spotted the blaze and called the fire department.

Homeowner Dipak Shah was unaware of the inferno until a neighbor banged on his door.

Fortunately the garage was not attached to the home, which helped save the home from damage and its occupants from harm.

Semple said his office has turned down a number of people seeking permits for wood-burning stoves in garages.

"They don’t fill out applications," Semple said. "We just tell them no, they’re illegal and dangerous."

I've heard that before... so why not tell you to put your wood stove on a base to raise it above 18"?

 

[old gray]

Inside. It's amazing how even the heat is in that place with only two runs of ducting.. If you are only looking for occasional use and don't want to spend the extra money on a furnace, I'd use what i have. Is your wood stove a radiant type or convection (eg. most heat coming from the top of the stove)

Arrow, not sure what heater you have.? The furnace your friend has is out door or indoor? Hot air or boiler? I do need it more than occasional and was not aware of the hot air outdoor furnace. The un vented infrared is something else to look into. That may also be a issue with Mass. building codes. Lots of great ideas. Glad that I have time to look into this before the build.

 

[arrow]

The furnace is inside . He has an old Energy King Furnace that is not epa rated. You'll save wood with some type of secondary burn such as the Drolet Tundra has http://images.costco.ca/image/media/500-364383-894__1.jpg It appears the point is moot if I'm reading the laws correctly as these furnaces are solid fuel entities as well..

 

[old gray]

The outside type may be doable for my location. I am sure and inside type is much better. Thanks again for the imput