Shop/Garage Heater

[shui5612]

Where did that top one come from? That looks like what I need. Two of those in the shop and one in the garage.

RSKY

They sell that exact model in our Canadian costcos... also Canadian tire...

In my opinion you're better off with two in the garage as well and you can leave one off while the other maintains the heat in the garage.

The only issues with the ceiling mounted ones is that they blow heat down and it doesn't get very far laterally. They maybe blow a radius of 7ft which means your walls will be cooler than the center of the garage...

My friend has a 20x24 ft by 9ft high garage and although it is capable of maintaining the temperature and slowly to heat up the garage, the windows and garage doors get condensation /slight frost which is why I am recommending a ceiling one and one wall type in order to blow air in the doors direction and cause circulation.

 

[KennyG]

And aren稚 all of these wonder box heaters resistance heat? I知 thinking theyæ±*e full of crap and are equal to any electric resistance heater.

I think you are referring to the radiant electric heaters. They put out the same amount of heat (BTUs) as any other resistance heater. However, since they are radiant, they will tend to directly heat objects rather than heat the air which heats the objects. Sounds good but you get the campfire effect. You toast the side facing the heater and freeze the opposite side (until objects heat up enough to transfer heat to the air.)

 

[civilian]

I have a couple of infrared electirc heaters hanging from the ceiling of my partially insulated pole barns. One is I think 5000w, maybe 7500w? I know it is on a 30amp 220v breaker. I work under it at a work table doing wood projectss, furniture etc in Northern Michigan. Outside temps in teens. My head is warm, hands might be cool in light brown cotton gloves, and feet are cold in snowmobile boots. It runs off a thermostat, located about 15ft away, chest high. Get out of the downward cone of heat and it is cold. Get under it and you warm up. This works because I can't have NG or propane. My came from Northern Tool catalog. Jon

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Several manufacturers are now making condensing type gas unit heaters. Around $1200 for a 50K BTU one That is the smallest one I have seen. If you are looking for efficiency and can afford it that is the way to go. Both NG and PG are available. Vents are PVC pipe. I ma considering one.

Ron

 

[RSKY]

No wood or any other heaters that need a vent or flue in the shop or needs daily tending. This has to be something that could be set and left. We travel some in the winter and I need to keep things from freezing while being untended for a week or two. As for the gas line look at my original post. The gas company is VERY strict as to how anything is installed and will cut off service until anything they feel needs correcting is corrected. And if your usage jumps by a considerable amount they will come out and look. By the time I paid for burying a line and having vents, etc. installed I could pay the electric bill for many, many years. Propane is out because I don't want another tank in the yard. We finally got rid of the one we had when they ran the gas line. And that would be another expense, buying a tank and having it installed.

I am looking at the cost over a ten to twenty year period. This is not something I must have to make a living. I want heat so I can go out and tinker around and not drive my wife nuts. I am 63 and by the time I'm 83 I doubt if I will be going out and working as much as I do now.

Also consider that where I am located we only have three months that the average LOW temp is below freezing. So say it would be half of ninety days or 45-60 days that the heater would be needed to prevent freezing temps in the shop. And only about 30-45 days when a lot of heat would be needed for comfortable working. And another 30-45 days when some heat could be used to 'knock the chill off'. For no more than that I don't intend to invest a lot of money.

I am now leaning towards having twin electric heaters installed. Have one set about 35-40F and the other turned completely off. When I want to work I will flip the switch and fire both up. That would be a lot less expensive than running a gas line and installing a natural gas heater. The second heater would only cost for the extra wiring, thermostat, and the heater itself. Of course this would be more expensive to operate but it would take years to catch up with the cost of the natural gas installation.

As for the garage I am going to start the installation of the insulation next week. This is going to be a huge job because a lot of stuff is going to have to be moved. A workbench torn out. Large shelves unloaded and moved. Wiring changed around. You get the idea. After it is insulated I think a very small heater will keep it warm. Most of our wind comes out of the southwest and the garage is protected by the house on those sides.

Thanks for all the suggestions and keep the ideas coming. Sounds like more than me are interested in this topic.

RSKY

 

[Doofy]

I ran a small milk-house heater for the chickens, once-upon-a-time. At the end of that month my electric bill was $600. At 0.28 per KWH + any other stupid add-on fees they can think up made anything electric very undesirable.

My 24x32 garage is heated with an oil forced air furnace with a set-back thermostat. Costs around $150 per month in the winter. I personally would love to have vented propane furnaces but they are spendy.

 

[Sigarms]

Gas tubular radiant heaters.

Higher up front cost, but the comfort level is night and day compared to a unit heater, added it will save you fuel comsumption (big ROI if using LP). Biggest advantage however is with large overhead doors and the heat loss and heat recovery time when doors are opened and closed in the winter months.

Biggest drawback is ensure clearance to combustibles and you need to ensure they're laid out right to maximize the coverage area.

Fire stations even in NC use them pretty regularly.

Also remember, when using a gas unit heater, most are 80% AFUE. If doing a load on the structure, a 60k unit heater will give out 48,000 BTU/h of heat.

 

[ovrszd]

I think you have a very logical grasp on your needs and your wants. I agree with your solutions. Sounds like you are going to solve this Winter's boredom with the upcoming insulation project!!! We'll need updates of course!!!

 

[newbury]

You've ruled out NG, LPG, oil, & wood. Have you looked into some form of passive solar augmented by a heat pump?

I recently had an addition about the size of your garage put on a house and we went with a heat pump. Very efficient, easy to install.

/edit - my bad it was a minisplit, not just a heat pump.

 

[pmsmechanic]

As for the garage I am going to start the installation of the insulation next week. This is going to be a huge job because a lot of stuff is going to have to be moved. A workbench torn out. Large shelves unloaded and moved. Wiring changed around. You get the idea. After it is insulated I think a very small heater will keep it warm. Most of our wind comes out of the southwest and the garage is protected by the house on those sides.
RSKY

You might not even need a heater. I work out of a small 20x30x8 high shop. If I drive a thoroughly warmed up vehicle (ie operating temperature motor and warm interior) in I gain heat. At first the garage cools off because of all the cold body tin but over time the temperatures evens out and the garage gets warmer. I often open the hood of a vehicle just to help even out the temperatures quicker.

If I park my Cummins inside for overnight the block is still warm in the morning.