shop heat

[SunnyJim]

I have one of these. I see it's more expensive than I remembered, or maybe the price is up from two years ago. $350

Dayton G73 5000 Watt Electric Garage Heater

5000 watts, 230V 17,100 BTU
If you were paying .15/KW it will cost about $0.75 per hour to run it on max. Since the heat element likely isn't on all the time, it would be a bit less than that.

I can't really tell you how well it works. I have mine incase I need to be in the detached garage to fix something when it is real cold outside. So far, that hasn't happened.

I have tested it and it gives off very nicely warmed air.
Dave.

Granted my garage is not insulated but 17k BTU is not enough to make much difference to me. I had a 20k BTU heater and you had to be within 1 foot of it to notice much. I would buy at least a 40k BTU heater. I would rather turn it down or off then not be warm enough. We have a unit at work that is similar in a common area that is concrete and brick and very drafty. I cannot tell when it is running, it seems to make no difference at all.

 

[dave1949]

Granted my garage is not insulated but 17k BTU is not enough to make much difference to me. I had a 20k BTU heater and you had to be within 1 foot of it to notice much. I would buy at least a 40k BTU heater. I would rather turn it down or off then not be warm enough. We have a unit at work that is similar in a common area that is concrete and brick and very drafty. I cannot tell when it is running, it seems to make no difference at all.

I should explain my set-up. My garage is 28x48 with 10' ceiling. The overhead door on the east end is 16' wide by 9' high. It is well insulated and has earth berm on the most of west and all the north sides for the lower 8' of wall. Across the south side are eight 46"x76" double pane clear glass windows.

Our low this morning was -4* and now it is 14* with a light NW wind and clear skies all day. Inside the garage right now it is 59*, with no heat other than sunshine.

As long as we get reasonable sunshine, I don't really need a heater. If the tractor broke and we had 2-3 days of cloudy, cold weather, I would probably turn the heater on for comfort while working on it. Passive solar buildings work pretty well in my area.

The OP said his garage is well insulated and normal sized, he may not need a lot of heat. I agree 17K btu isn't near enough for an uninsulated building. But, better to have some extra capacity than to be almost warm
Dave.

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Good stuff here. Especially the part about safety.

If you hired a contractor to install a heater in your garage and it blew up from breathing fumes and caused damage would you expect the contractor to pay for the damages??? Then you probably shouldn't be using a similar heater installed by yourself. Shop fires aren't cool.

That depends on whether or not the heater that was installed, was a heater that was chosen by the homeowner or on a recomendation from the contractor.
If the homeowner selects the heater and it is inappropriate for the location then the competant and qualified contractor installing it needs to inform the homeowner of potential safety issues and should get the homeowner to sign a liability waver absolving the contractor of any liability.
If the same contractor selects and recomends the heater and it blows up because it was the wrong heater for the application then YES I would fully expect the contractor to take full responsability for the damages.
I can sure agree that a shop fire wouldn't be cool. Infact a fire in general is just a scary thought.

 

[ChuckinNH]

I have used the smallest Monitor kerosene direct vented heater in my 275 sq ft workshop. It would heat a much larger area if it were insulated (my shop is). These heaters are programable, and so you can leave the heat off, but have it nice, and toasty when you get home, or for the morning, etc. Mine uses about a gallon of kerosene to heat my shop for a day of 0 degree, or colder weather. I've been using it for 20 years, or so now, and have been very satisfied. Monitor heater Systems - Direct vent heaters stoves heat central heating

 

[gazoo1]

hey buddy i just purchsed a $400 infrared heater with thermostate and timer my shop is 35 x 24 it keeps it comfortable to work in

 

[SunnyJim]

I should explain my set-up. My garage is 28x48 with 10' ceiling. The overhead door on the east end is 16' wide by 9' high. It is well insulated and has earth berm on the most of west and all the north sides for the lower 8' of wall. Across the south side are eight 46"x76" double pane clear glass windows.

Our low this morning was -4* and now it is 14* with a light NW wind and clear skies all day. Inside the garage right now it is 59*, with no heat other than sunshine.

As long as we get reasonable sunshine, I don't really need a heater. If the tractor broke and we had 2-3 days of cloudy, cold weather, I would probably turn the heater on for comfort while working on it. Passive solar buildings work pretty well in my area.

The OP said his garage is well insulated and normal sized, he may not need a lot of heat. I agree 17K btu isn't near enough for an uninsulated building. But, better to have some extra capacity than to be almost warm
Dave.

I envy you Dave. If its 30 over night the garage will be 30 in the morning. With the sun it can warm up maybe 20 degrees. Since I tend to be working at night I need all the heat I can muster. If it was -4 in this area the world would stand still. Much like the OP teens at night does happen but not normally that often. Living not far from Kitty Hawk, NC and the coast we have constant wind. In Jan. and Feb is the coldest and normally some of the windiest times of year barring a hurricane of Nor'easter like we had in Nov.

 

[dave1949]

I envy you Dave. If its 30 over night the garage will be 30 in the morning. With the sun it can warm up maybe 20 degrees. Since I tend to be working at night I need all the heat I can muster. If it was -4 in this area the world would stand still. Much like the OP teens at night does happen but not normally that often. Living not far from Kitty Hawk, NC and the coast we have constant wind. In Jan. and Feb is the coldest and normally some of the windiest times of year barring a hurricane of Nor'easter like we had in Nov.

We had a chance building new to do the passive solar thing, it has worked out pretty well. Winters can get long here. This year has actually been fairly mild until the past two days. It's been hanging at zero this evening so far. Tomorrow should be a tad warmer. Then we will be back into normal temps with highs around 25-30 for late December.

It's all relative, I can't imagine the -35* they have up in Manitoba and Alberta.

Been through Kitty Hawk just once and that was about 25 years ago. I remember it as being a pleasant area. It was summer and a bit warm for me, a local person told me they were having what he called a 'wet hot'. That pretty well described it. The Outer Banks are certainly beautiful. We tried a little shore fishing and caught one skate? Barbed tail with poison. Fortunately, as I was pondering what to do with the thing a fellow came over and warned us.
Dave.

 

[ultrarunner]

I was able to pick-up a 50k btu gas ceiling mount heater for free... it throws out a lot of heat quick.

Lots of the mechanic shops here use gas infer-red above the work area... no cold tool or parts...

Before, I would drive my car into the garage shop after work... let it run about 2 minutes, turn it off and close the door. After supper, the garage was noticeably warmer just from the heat thrown-off from the car.

 

[SunnyJim]

Been through Kitty Hawk just once and that was about 25 years ago. I remember it as being a pleasant area. It was summer and a bit warm for me, a local person told me they were having what he called a 'wet hot'. That pretty well described it.

"Wet hot" That does discribe it. My neighbor mowed his grass one last time earlier this month, I quite last month. We have had a bit to much of the wet since August. This is already one of the 5 wetest (precipitation) years on record. Each time it rains we just move a bit further up the list.

I don't know if you would like the OBX these days compared to 25 years ago. It has always been touristy but it has gotten quite bad in the last 10 years or so. The traffic is always a complaint, which is why I only go down that way during the winter months when no one is around.

 

[dave1949]

"Wet hot" That does discribe it. My neighbor mowed his grass one last time earlier this month, I quite last month. We have had a bit to much of the wet since August. This is already one of the 5 wetest (precipitation) years on record. Each time it rains we just move a bit further up the list.

I don't know if you would like the OBX these days compared to 25 years ago. It has always been touristy but it has gotten quite bad in the last 10 years or so. The traffic is always a complaint, which is why I only go down that way during the winter months when no one is around.

Looks like more on the way tomorrow or Saturday. Hopefully some of those droughty areas around Georgia are catching up.

I know what you mean about the traffic and tourists. That's one reason we decided to move away from the coast in S. Maine. You almost needed a reservation to get on Route 1 in July and August. Condos going up left and right, we just wanted something more rural. Like you, we didn't go out much in summer with the crowds, plus planning our trips around the traffic surges. Coastal towns are neat in their own way.

Up above the Piedmont in NC is a beautiful place you know. Get above the bugs, tourists and humidity It's never too late.
Dave.

 

[ben2go]

Up above the Piedmont in NC is a beautiful place you know. Get above the bugs, tourists and humidity It's never too late.
Dave.

I have been all over SC and NC.You can't escape those things.I live on the SC/NC state line.

 

[ctgoldwing]

I'm looking for suggestions/input as to heat for a workshop. The shop is 24' x 28' and well insulated including an insulated garage door. I use the shop a couple hours a night a couple of times a week and usually a few hours on the weekend. I'm in North MS so temps in the 20's - 30's are our normal lows with occasional teens and seldom single digits. I was considering one of the electric edenpure heaters (about $400), a cheap walmart electric heater ($70), or maybe a propane heater ($?) using a small tank. Any input would be appreciated. By the way this a tractor related project because the tractor is kept and serviced in the shop.

I may as well throw in my 2 cents here. I have been in the HVAC distribution business for 40 years. I don't think there is any 1 'right' answer for you. Here in CT the winters are a bit different than MS

I am a fan of propane furnaces. We do sell the Modine Hot dawg. Often times we get 90% efficient furnaces come back because the sheet metal is damaged. We clearance them for a few hundred $$$. You might try calling some local distributors to see what they may want to unload. The advantage of the 90% units is they vent with PVC pipe (usually 2 inch). They can be controlled by an inexpensive programmable thermostat or just left at a low setting. The pick up time should be much faster than electric.

My son is just starting a 40X60 garage at his new house in Maryland. I am watching our own clearance area for a furnace right now. The units can be mounted to a wall support 6-8 feet off the floor (gasoline fumes are heavier than air). Because they are made to connect to a ducted system the blowers on a furnace can throw air a lot further than a unit heat or electric unit.

 

[dave1949]

I have been all over SC and NC.You can't escape those things.I live on the SC/NC state line.

Well, there you go ruining my memories.
I saw mosquitos mean enough to make a grown man run somewhere on the NC/SC coast at a KOA campground. They rose in squadrons out of these shrubby trees not far from the beach around dusk. It was too hot to cover up and too bloody not to.
I don't recall any of that up off the plateau.
Dave.

 

[ben2go]

Well, there you go ruining my memories.
I saw mosquitos mean enough to make a grown man run somewhere on the NC/SC coast at a KOA campground. They rose in squadrons out of these shrubby trees not far from the beach around dusk. It was too hot to cover up and too bloody not to.
I don't recall any of that up off the plateau.
Dave.

Sorry.

I live around quite a few rivers,ponds, and lakes,so we have the mosquito swarms.

 

[theboman]

The Mr. Heater models that mount directly to the top of a 20 lb cylinder are a good choice for portable directable radiant heat. Run times are good, 30 - 50 hours on the single head model.

If you need additional light, a $26 1000 watt halogen work light is a good supplement.

Just got the middle sized one today at TSC for $69.00 and looking foward to using it in the Iron Hill Shed, and on those occasions (why we got it today, no power due to the snow storm).

So, got me one! MY BUDDY has two (the Little Buddy and My Buddy), bought his dad the big one (Big Buddy I think it's called) for Xmas.

I was gonna get me a used woodburner for the shed but this'll be better since it's small and rated for 9000 BTU and can hang it on the wall!

 

[JoelD]

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.

It is brutally simple, runs a long time on a 20 gallon tank and give off very little odor.

I run the hose under the garage door so that the tank is outside.

At the end of the season, I curl up the hose and stick the heater on the shelf and forget about it. ZERO maintenance and it is totally portable.

I've used for 2-3 years now and never a problem.

No to mention super inexpensive. Like you I'm in the garage 2-3 times per week.

My brother uses propane to get chill out and then electric, single car garage though and takes a big electric heater to keep up.

With 100K BTU or whatever it is mine puts out I've got enough HP to heat up no problem.

Joel

 

[jenkinsph]

Yes, that is indeed alot of money to invest in a garage heater, especially when it would only be needed occasionally. I think I would prefer to find one of the used mobile home furnaces for a few hundred bucks.

Most home furnaces are either upflow or downflow by design, so if you look for a downflow model this will accomplish the same thing as the mobile home heater. A brand new 80% efficient 50 to 75,000 btu furnace sells for about
$500 wholesale.

 

[powerstroke444e]

Stay away from wood heat in garage with vechiles stored in them as most insurnace companies will not insure them if they know about them. IE if the vechile gets fuel leak you can't shut off the fire.

 

[Steve C]

I use a Reddy heater, it can run on just about anything I can use diesel or heating oil, JP-8 etc. Some people have burned used transmission fluid in them with out any problems. The old Reddy heater site is down or I would give you the official list of what they can burn.


This list sound about right? I'm running mine of heating oil now. I have burned kerosene and diesel.


DESA R40 PORTABLE FORCED AIR HEATER 115V

They are forced air so you don't actually need a ton of BTU. Also since its forced you can always point it at you while working if the shop is still cold. I have a 70k BTU unit and no insulation what so ever. Only problem is it gets to warm and I have to turn the thermostat down. This has to be the best heater I have ever owned hands down.

I agree, when you need heat fast the Dessa salamander heaters can't be beat. I have a 160,000 a 55,000 and a 35,000. The 35,000 is all you need in a 2 car garage in a southern climate. With the remote mounted thermostat it is a joy to use. The smaller 35's and 40's are much quieter than the larger units.
The 160,000 BTU heater will take an insulated 2 car garage from -20 to + 90 in about 15 minutes. I use off road diesel in mine, I always have a couple of cans around for the tractor.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I feel for you guys up north and having to run 100K BTU units to heat a garage. A few weeks ago, it was 25F in Bismark Ark and I was working in my shop (30 x30) and it has no heat. I rummaged around in some packed up storage boxes and found a 1500 watt ceramic heater and plugged it in. In an hour or so, I was in a sweat. My shop is well insulated with insulated doors as well so it holds the heat. A 50,000 BTU heater would be melting the paint on my tractor in 10 minutes. Since I am seldom home, I just turn off the water to the shop and drain everything down for winter, but when I get my new house build and move there permanently, I will probably just leave that little heater on all the time in winter to keep it warm inside as it is thermostat controlled and since it is ceramic it doesnt have glowing wires like other electric heaters so no chance of it setting something on fire. I used to use it in my 26 foot camper as sole heating source rather than fuss with the propane bottles and it kept it nice and warm so I am sure it will do well for the shop also at least as long as I keep all the doors closed.