dholly
Platinum Member
Tdog -
Sounds like you've made your decision, but I hope you don't mind if I slip in a little [late] input on the propane option for those who haven't.
I am building an insulated 24x34x9 garage/shop (816sf). Both local code and Ins. Co. did not take kindly to my plan of a woodstove in the garage so I looked for alternatives. Not being a fan of kero fumes, I installed a wall mounted 30,000 BTU vent-free propane heater rated for 1000sf. It is a Reddy Heater Model GP30 made by Desa Heating Products and comes with feet if you don't want to wall mount. Recommended 2" min. clearance below to combustionable surface, 6" min. to sides and 36" above. This particular model does not have a built-in thermostat, however, it does have a 5-position heat control knob (plus Off and Pilot Only), and built-in piezo ignitor. It also has a ODS (Oxygen Depletion Sensing) shutoff system and 1 yr limited warranty. For more info see: www.desatech.com
As to operation, it doesn't get much easier; gas valve on, knob to pilot, hold knob down while pressing ignitor a couple of times, after a few secs warmup, set your heat level. This model unit operates on simple convection action only, so I decided to add the optional thermostatically controlled blower unit. I believe it was blower model #GA3250T. Realistically, I would consider a blower necessary to get the air moving properly for max heating efficiency and comfort. I even installed a 42" ceiling fan to move the hot air around and DOWN. What a difference for keeping toes warm, should have done it in the old garage years ago!
Operating from a 20gal grill tank is not recommended for pressure reasons, so I ran 1/2" black pipe from the heater's internal pressure regulator to a shut-off and sediment trap then thru-wall and capped. A local gas supplier provided and set a new 100gal tank with primary regulator behind the garage, then piped underground about 20' to my nipple and pressure tested system for no charge/no contract, just the initial fill. I also piped a second supply off the big tank as I am converting a gas generator to tri-fuel. More on that HERE.
So... how does it work with regard to my two primary concerns?
1.) It took several hours to completely burn off the manufacturing oils however, once that was completed, the operating smell (or, thankfully, lack of) has been far superior to kero IMO. Still noticable but not offensive and, in my case, much easier to acclimate to. I think the cigar smells way more!
2.) This heater has proved quite adequate so far for heating the space, ie., no coat necessary even with windy, below 0*F temps. Typically, I'll fire it up and come back in 1/2 hr or so, during which time things have warmed up considerably. After an hr or so, the garage wil be fully warmed up and holding temps. At less than 0*F, I can keep the shop at 65*F no problem. On a 20*F day with a little air infiltration around the overhead doors (which is a good thing for a vent-free unit), I can reduce the heat level to 50% within an hour or so. I can only imagine it will be even better when I get the ceiling and walls boarded up (it's just kraft faced batt at the moment /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ).
Cost: I have less than $125 in heater and material cost because I got everything super-cheap on a store closing 1/2 price clearance sale, plus an additional 20% off coupon. But check around, many stores and Fleabay usually have them or something similar on sale too. Operating cost: the initial 100gal fill was @ 1.899/gal. Each gal of propane contains approx 90,000 BTUs, meaning at full output of 30,000 BTUs I am using 1/3 gal each hour at a cost of $0.633/hr. A 10hr work day cost $6.33 to keep the shop toasty. It also means I'll have about 300hrs of full-blast heat per tank fill, or (30) x 10hr days. At 50% heat output average, it's feasible to get a total of (150) x 4hr weekend work sessions out of one tank.
Be aware, one by-product of vent free propane combustion is water which means the humidity level in a closed space is increased. I follow the instructions and allow a fresh air source while operating and have had only one instance where I had noticable condensation begin to collect on the windows after several hours of operation in sub-zero temps. That was before the ceiling fan install, which appears to have solved that issue. For my periodic use, I don't consider this a problem and note that vented units typically cost several times more.
My initial impression is positive. This little propane heater sure is easy and convenient to use... as in no more cutting and hauling wood, no fuel transfer, etc. I also seems like a liveable, cost effective solution for weekend warriors sensitive to kero fumes. Just be aware of the tradeoffs of vent-free vs. vented LP/NG heaters and do maintain adequate fresh air flow.
Sounds like you've made your decision, but I hope you don't mind if I slip in a little [late] input on the propane option for those who haven't.
I am building an insulated 24x34x9 garage/shop (816sf). Both local code and Ins. Co. did not take kindly to my plan of a woodstove in the garage so I looked for alternatives. Not being a fan of kero fumes, I installed a wall mounted 30,000 BTU vent-free propane heater rated for 1000sf. It is a Reddy Heater Model GP30 made by Desa Heating Products and comes with feet if you don't want to wall mount. Recommended 2" min. clearance below to combustionable surface, 6" min. to sides and 36" above. This particular model does not have a built-in thermostat, however, it does have a 5-position heat control knob (plus Off and Pilot Only), and built-in piezo ignitor. It also has a ODS (Oxygen Depletion Sensing) shutoff system and 1 yr limited warranty. For more info see: www.desatech.com
As to operation, it doesn't get much easier; gas valve on, knob to pilot, hold knob down while pressing ignitor a couple of times, after a few secs warmup, set your heat level. This model unit operates on simple convection action only, so I decided to add the optional thermostatically controlled blower unit. I believe it was blower model #GA3250T. Realistically, I would consider a blower necessary to get the air moving properly for max heating efficiency and comfort. I even installed a 42" ceiling fan to move the hot air around and DOWN. What a difference for keeping toes warm, should have done it in the old garage years ago!
Operating from a 20gal grill tank is not recommended for pressure reasons, so I ran 1/2" black pipe from the heater's internal pressure regulator to a shut-off and sediment trap then thru-wall and capped. A local gas supplier provided and set a new 100gal tank with primary regulator behind the garage, then piped underground about 20' to my nipple and pressure tested system for no charge/no contract, just the initial fill. I also piped a second supply off the big tank as I am converting a gas generator to tri-fuel. More on that HERE.
So... how does it work with regard to my two primary concerns?
1.) It took several hours to completely burn off the manufacturing oils however, once that was completed, the operating smell (or, thankfully, lack of) has been far superior to kero IMO. Still noticable but not offensive and, in my case, much easier to acclimate to. I think the cigar smells way more!
2.) This heater has proved quite adequate so far for heating the space, ie., no coat necessary even with windy, below 0*F temps. Typically, I'll fire it up and come back in 1/2 hr or so, during which time things have warmed up considerably. After an hr or so, the garage wil be fully warmed up and holding temps. At less than 0*F, I can keep the shop at 65*F no problem. On a 20*F day with a little air infiltration around the overhead doors (which is a good thing for a vent-free unit), I can reduce the heat level to 50% within an hour or so. I can only imagine it will be even better when I get the ceiling and walls boarded up (it's just kraft faced batt at the moment /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ).
Cost: I have less than $125 in heater and material cost because I got everything super-cheap on a store closing 1/2 price clearance sale, plus an additional 20% off coupon. But check around, many stores and Fleabay usually have them or something similar on sale too. Operating cost: the initial 100gal fill was @ 1.899/gal. Each gal of propane contains approx 90,000 BTUs, meaning at full output of 30,000 BTUs I am using 1/3 gal each hour at a cost of $0.633/hr. A 10hr work day cost $6.33 to keep the shop toasty. It also means I'll have about 300hrs of full-blast heat per tank fill, or (30) x 10hr days. At 50% heat output average, it's feasible to get a total of (150) x 4hr weekend work sessions out of one tank.
Be aware, one by-product of vent free propane combustion is water which means the humidity level in a closed space is increased. I follow the instructions and allow a fresh air source while operating and have had only one instance where I had noticable condensation begin to collect on the windows after several hours of operation in sub-zero temps. That was before the ceiling fan install, which appears to have solved that issue. For my periodic use, I don't consider this a problem and note that vented units typically cost several times more.
My initial impression is positive. This little propane heater sure is easy and convenient to use... as in no more cutting and hauling wood, no fuel transfer, etc. I also seems like a liveable, cost effective solution for weekend warriors sensitive to kero fumes. Just be aware of the tradeoffs of vent-free vs. vented LP/NG heaters and do maintain adequate fresh air flow.
