how do you heat your garage/ workshop

teejk · Jan 27, 2014

I have hydronic in-floor in a well insulated steel building (2" foam under the slab, R19 in the walls, R50 in the ceiling). Building is 56'x30' but partioned so I only heat 40x30. Runs off a newer high efficiency LP hot water heater that was set-up solely to service the heating (closed loop). It ain't cheap at current LP prices and our "global warming" where I think we got to minus 8F today, but is nice heat. I wish I had insulated the edges of the slab and will probably do that if the ground ever thaws out.

newbury · Jan 27, 2014

Well one of the reasons I'm sitting in Fulton, Mississippi and not Alexandria, Virginia is because I was afraid of my pipes in my shops freezing. Totally unheated (since someone stole my LPG tank w/ 200 gallons in it). Temps outside got down to 9 degrees. I took a double headed halogen worklight and put it under the sink and I let the toilet leak to keep the water running. A few more days to go. Temps inside get down to about 30 degree F.

Got to heat it next year.

furnone · Jan 27, 2014

diesel lover said:
Just as the title says. I would like to see how you are heating your workshops. Its been -14 ｰF here. I would like to comfortably in my own garage. I'm about to buy a house.

In my parents 2 car deep garage we used a wood fireplace and a propane air forced heater/ salamander to "JumpStart" the temperatures to a comfortable level. After the high btu heater for a little while straight firewood heat maintains it for not much cost.

How do you guys heat? Thanks

In our 24x24 garage I use a 30,000btu. propane/natural gas wall hung ventless heater purchased from Northern Tool for about $160. Optional fan kit was another $30 or so. Kept on the lowest setting, it keeps the garage, with insulated walls, non insulated ceiling, at 48-50 degrees. With the heater and gas cooktop stove, it uses about 3/4 gal./day. On these near zero days it creates some condensation and frosting on the garage door windows, but not too bad.

I keep my JD 2210 and my wife's car in the garage.

oldballs · Jan 28, 2014

I do enjoy the heater in my truck, but my Carhartts keep me warm everywhere else, tractor, garage, outdoors etc. But a heated garage would be nice. There's so much to do indoors, that's when I catch up, if at all. Using a 75,000 BTU kerosene heater melts the snow off equipment in the garage, (or doing some emergency work) but then I have to mop up the water. The floor is real clean however. It's zero right now....think I'll doodle around on TBN.

ovrszd · Jan 28, 2014

oldballs said:
It's zero right now....think I'll doodle around on TBN.

Me too, in my T-shirt, in my heated shop, 'til I get bored on TBN, then I'll piddle with some shop project!!!!

diesel lover · Jan 28, 2014

I think I will buy a dynaglow radiant 23,000 btu kero heater this summer when they are cheap. runs two gallons of fuel for 8 to 12 hours. Otherwise I will get a salamander. Yes I have to wait to this house and garage is purchased.

A propane radiant heater is also largely considered. They hook on the top of a propane tank, and cost about 40 $ I have used a single burner type for several years and enjoyed it for what it was worth. Could run many hours on a propane tank

bigtiller · Jan 28, 2014

diesel lover said:
I think I will buy a dynaglow radiant 23,000 btu kero heater this summer when they are cheap. runs two gallons of fuel for 8 to 12 hours. Otherwise I will get a salamander. Yes I have to wait to this house and garage is purchased.

A propane radiant heater is also largely considered. They hook on the top of a propane tank, and cost about 40 $ I have used a single burner type for several years and enjoyed it for what it was worth. Could run many hours on a propane tank

These won't heat your garage/workshop but they make great hand warmers. There was a radiant heater similar to the one you talk about at my place of work many years ago. I used it to dry gloves and warm my lunch.

9973720wb19 · Jan 28, 2014

NorthernTool - hung a few of there small heaters on the wall - they have a built in fan and you can set at a temp. the fan comes on when the element is warm and ready. they work great.

oldballs · Jan 28, 2014

ovrszd said:
Me too, in my T-shirt, in my heated shop, 'til I get bored on TBN, then I'll piddle with some shop project!!!!

You didn't have to say,.... "in my T-shirt".

I just come in from freezing my hands off working in my unheated garage. It's about 28 deg F in there. All that steel is cold. Installed a new Land Pride Quick Hitch.

ovrszd · Jan 28, 2014

oldballs said:
You didn't have to say,.... "in my T-shirt". I just come in from freezing my hands off working in my unheated garage. It's about 28 deg F in there. All that steel is cold. Installed a new Land Pride Quick Hitch.

You are the Man!!!! Now you gotta impatiently wait for warmer weather to try out the new QH. You are gonna love it!!! :thumbsup: