Heating for new shop. What to use?

[pat32rf]

You have geo, so you know how good it works. Go ahead and install the PEX, but do it in zones. You don't have to keep the heat at 70deg, but as long as you keep the concrete above freezing you will find a big difference. You can crank it higher the night before.
You can also add a wood fired boiler if you have a source of cheap wood or go to radiant down the road. The main thing is to get the PEX in there so you have a choice of how to heat the slab in future.
A warm (50 deg) slab will be a great thermal mass and give you a dry floor. You can then "top it up" with radiant or forced air for quick heat.

 

[CATMAN]

I know a guy, that owns a construction business, over around Carson, Iowa(SW Iowa). He has a 200 ft by 70 ft building, 1/2 heated for a shop. He told me that he has pex in the concrete floor and heats it with just two water heaters and a circulation pump.(has insulation in walls and ceiling, too)
He says it works great. He told me that one doesn't need to go the "full blown" geo-thermal(tubes/lines in the ground and heatpump unit) to get a lot of benefit to heated floors.
He actually said, the best thing he did, was to add A/C to the shop, for the Summertime. He said that only cost him $1 per day for A/C.

 

[Redneck in training]

First I considered the U-tube heaters for simplicity, instant heat and low cost. I am going to retire in about two years so I might spend lot of time in the shop. Therefore floor heating with Geo probably makes sense. Especially the combined hydronic/forced air unit that will also provide AC. If the shop is unoccupied and the thermostat is turned down the slab sensor will keep the floor at constant temperature while the temperature inside will wary depending on outside weather. Then I can use the forced air feature to bring the heat up quickly until the floor heating catches up. The shop has no windows, two 36" walk in door, 11 x 12 insulated roll up door and is well insulated to R19 so it will easily qualify for Energy star rebates. Therefore I am leaning more and more toward geothermal hydronic/forced air combined unit. It cost more than U tube heaters but less to operate. Not speaking about the comfort that is also worth something. I can install it by myself and save good deal of money.
I will report on the progress as it develops.

 

[dodge man]

I used something like this for my shop which is 28'x30'. They make them bigger also. If you have high ceilings, just put in ceiling fans. This is very low tech, but also really cheap. I can heat my shop from about 40 degrees to 60 degrees in about 10 minutes. They don't have to be propane either, natural gas would work also.

Big Maxx Propane Garage Heater MHU75LP

 

[EddieWalker]

I have no experience or knowledge of what works or what doesn't, and have been thinking about heating me shop too. One of my options is to buy a propane tank and a heater that runs off of it. While researching different heaters, the sound the create has become something that I'm reading a lot of complaints about. I think the best place for reviews is at Amazon.com I don't like loud noise, and for me, that's been a deal killer. Now I'm thinking about a wood stove. I just bought one for my living room and want to see how that works before deciding on the shop.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[rocknrod]

Short of PEX tubing in the floor - since it's already been poured and built due to lack of forethought on my part (and cash at the time). I sure like the inputs on these heaters:
Two-Stage Gas Fired Infra-Red Tube Heaters
Comfortzone Radiant Heaters
SunStar ToughGuy U-Tube Heaters - Propane - FarmTek
Big Maxx Propane Garage Heater MHU75LP
I was just discussing this last night with the wife.
The tube heaters were used at a power plant I was building in Canada. They work well.

 

[bc realtor]

I have the same issue with a shop that i am in the process of planning for the spring. I have decided to use a pellet stove with a coil inside running to in floor tubes to distribute the heat. This will also have a few baseboard heaters to be for back up if I go on a trip. The pellet stove will have an auxilery hopper to allow for several days of run time without a fill .

 

[Cat_Driver]

BTU /hr.: 175000 btu's

Industrial / Commercial Space Heater Flagro THC-175N 175000 btu's Natural Gas

 

[dodge man]

The heater linked is a little noisy. Once it heats my shop up, it doesn't run much, but if you want quiet, its not for you. My father in law has one like Cat Driver listed, although much smaller. It works well and is a little quieter.