Garage/Shop Heater Installs?

[ovrszd]

Following your progress Mark!!! Hope it all goes well and you get the results you deserve!!!

 

[MoArk Willy]

am hoping it will result in lower humidity which is an issue in my shop.

Humidity shouldn't be affected at all with any vented heater, sealed combustion or not.
It's the unvented heaters that will add humidity.
Your home furnace doesn't add humidity....in fact just the opposite.

 

[aczlan]

A mini split for a small space would only need 20 amp, 240 circuit. But not cheap.

Was just looking on Friday and a 12k BTU cooling, 13k BTU heating one was around $1500 online for the parts, install wouldn't be too bad, the lineset comes with pre-flared ends, or you could re-flare them to make it shorter.
IIRC, it needed 15A of 240VAC to the compressor, then the two lines and a 14-4 wire (Hot, Neutral, Ground and Communication) up to the unit on the wall.

Aaron Z

 

[dragoneggs]

Good choice on the sealed combustion.
A bit quieter, safer....well you know the rest, you bought one. :thumbsup:

Humidity shouldn't be affected at all with any vented heater, sealed combustion or not.
It's the unvented heaters that will add humidity.
Your home furnace doesn't add humidity....in fact just the opposite.

Yeah I have been using a Mr. Heater double burner unvented running on a propane tank. I don't like the fumes and also no thermostat. Figured I might as well do it right with a sealed combustion unit even though it is much more dollars. Gotta to think it is safer and healthier than most alternatives.

Also now looking at upgrading my propane tank. Means moving my 250gal house tank next to the garage and purchasing a 500gal tank for the house. This will give me a lot more capacity obviously but also longer between fill ups so I can buy at lowest price points during the year.

 

[bigtiller]

A sealed combustion unit would be a good idea if you were painting cars or doing something that put volatile/combustible fumes or dust into the air. Short of doing that, I think I would look for a less expensive heat source. But it is a good idea to go the extra mile for safety. I'm curious to see what you decide.

 

[dragoneggs]

I do some painting (not cars), some mixing of resins, a little welding, and a lot of woodworking, turning... I think it will be peace of mind more than anything.

 

[metalbender]

Using a non vented kerosene heater gave my machines a real nice coat of rust. Never again. If you're going to be there for a while, do what is best for you.

 

[ericm979]

A 12k btu mini split made for DIY install is about $1300.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/MRCOOL-DIY...-Wireless-Enabled-Smart-Controller/1000821680

18 and 24K are a little more.

Heat/AC load calculator: HVAC Load Calculation - Maunualj - Whole House Loadcalc

I'm planning a 1500sq ft shop and will heat and cool it with 1 or 2 mini splits. If I was in the northwest where electricity is cheap, they'd be an even better deal.

 

[PILOON]

I insulated my garage (workshop) to the same standards as the house. (walls=R20, ceiling =R40) vapor barrier covered by gyprock.
For the garage door I added 2" of HD foam panels.
My heater is a simple construction heater slung from the ceiling with the thermostat portion bypassed but used a remote thermostat across the shop so as to sense the cold spot.

My take is watts are watts no matter how you produce them and watts = BTU's=heat.
Even light bulbs produce BTU's, ergo heat.
Now I do keep the heat low and only boost it if I'm onto a project.
My main interest is to not freeze when collecting a tool or onto a project.
For a project I simply turn up the heat for the duration.

Works 4 me!

There is no magic. Watts=heat no matter how much U pay for a fancy heater. OK maybe add a solid state thermostat and there will be less highs and lows but it still uses the same amps KW/hrs to heat that shop.

 

[ovrszd]

Then why are different heater's rated with different efficiency ratings?