shop heat

[George2615]

I recently built a 16' x 32' pole barn addition to the back of my 24' x 24' main garage. For years I used a 50,000 BTU kerosene salamander to heat the garage when I wanted to work out there during cold weather. I always had to keep the door cracked open for fresh air. It did a fair job but salamanders are noisy when running.
Upon completion of my addition I purchased a used Miller mobile home furnace with 80,000 BTU. I run it from a 5 gallon jug of kerosene. I may opt for a more permanent tank later. In my area there are several mobile home dealers and other sources for obtaining used furnaces. I bought a used one from a service guy who gets them from time to time and installed it on the back wall of the addition. It blows the air out the bottom and works very well. It's also nice and quiet when running. I wired it up to a digital T-stat with an off switch. I have under $300. invested.
Today it is 24 degrees F. The stat in the garage said it was 40 degrees in there. I fired up the furnace, went in and made a pot of coffee, and in 25 minutes was able to work in the garage in a T-shirt at a comfortable to me temperature of 63 degrees. I leave the stat set at 65 and use the off switch so it doesn't run when I'm not out there. It works for me.

 

[ben2go]

I have an intertherm oil gun furnace in my house trailer.It has bottom feed.The strange thing about it is it gets it's fresh combustion air from around the roof exhaust.It has a pipe in pipe design.

 

[dave1949]

I recently built a 16' x 32' pole barn addition to the back of my 24' x 24' main garage. For years I used a 50,000 BTU kerosene salamander to heat the garage when I wanted to work out there during cold weather. I always had to keep the door cracked open for fresh air. It did a fair job but salamanders are noisy when running.
Upon completion of my addition I purchased a used Miller mobile home furnace with 80,000 BTU. I run it from a 5 gallon jug of kerosene. I may opt for a more permanent tank later. In my area there are several mobile home dealers and other sources for obtaining used furnaces. I bought a used one from a service guy who gets them from time to time and installed it on the back wall of the addition. It blows the air out the bottom and works very well. It's also nice and quiet when running. I wired it up to a digital T-stat with an off switch. I have under $300. invested.
Today it is 24 degrees F. The stat in the garage said it was 40 degrees in there. I fired up the furnace, went in and made a pot of coffee, and in 25 minutes was able to work in the garage in a T-shirt at a comfortable to me temperature of 63 degrees. I leave the stat set at 65 and use the off switch so it doesn't run when I'm not out there. It works for me.

Sounds like you have the shop heat problem licked, at low cost too. Nice old car there, I'm guessing Buick?
Dave.

 

[George2615]

Sounds like you have the shop heat problem licked, at low cost too. Nice old car there, I'm guessing Buick?
Dave.

55 Olds Super 88

 

[dave1949]

55 Olds Super 88

Thanks George, I was close at least. I'll bet the bumpers weigh close to my '06 Honda Civic's engine Those were some cars with metal in them.

 

[dourobob]

This is what I use, I love it. I run it for 5-10 minutes and the two car garage is like a sauna, I run it very low and keeps the garage very warm, even up here in NH where it gets very cold, zero the other day.

Joel

Hey Joel
Maybe I missed it but ... was the unit you use to heat the garage the Mr Heater Big Buddy??

Bob

 

[George2615]

Yeah, it took three of us to take them off and on when I repainted the car.

 

[buck12]

Thanks for all the replies. I have been off line for a couple of days (deer hunting). I'm not sure which option I will go with. For those using propane bottle type heaters is there a danger with fumes in an enclosed space?

 

[ben2go]

Thanks for all the replies. I have been off line for a couple of days (deer hunting). I'm not sure which option I will go with. For those using propane bottle type heaters is there a danger with fumes in an enclosed space?

Yes and no.If the building is drafty, and people going in and out,you'll be fine,unless you'll be there 8+ hours.Then just pop a window open a little or leave the door open a little.Just open one for a few minutes every once in a while if the building is sealed up really well.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

I love the Edenpure - they have a special advertising technology that yields 3000% profit.

 

[Sackett2]

I chose a diesel house heater off craigs list for 300.- in good shape. We had tried two other diesel hearers but they had issues. As the property isn't plumed for NG, and didn't want a high electric bill, this suited us. a couple hundred dollars of diesel lasts 3-4 years, as the usage is when its real cold or need a bit of heat. we have it on a master switch so we can be sure it's off when not needed; and in about 10 minutes it can take that frozen shop up to 60 degrees.. If I'm going to do some auto painting, hit the master switch and i'm safe there too.

 

[Steve C]

I love the Edenpure - they have a special advertising technology that yields 3000% profit.

Yes but they have their expenses...they have to pay some radio guys a lot of money to put their reputations behind it.......at least I would assume they do, nobody in their right mind would get on a nationally syndicated radio show and sell this thing otherwise. I am ashamed that our local Ace Hardware sells these things. I will never go in that store again. They are taking advantage of the uneducated and poorest sector of our society.

 

[Magruder]

I put a propane furnace in when I built my barn. I have a 25' x 30' area closed off as a shop and well insulated. Hooking up an old wood boiler in the other end.

 

[Jeepnford]

When I worked in my 24x24 foot insulated garage this heater Cadet The Hot One 4000 Watt 240 Volt Garage Heater - RCP402S at The Home Depot heated it pretty well. Usually warmed up in less than 30 mins. It's a little small for my 30X40 shop I built. They also make a 5000 watt.