Subj: Re: Garage Heater

LBrown59 · Nov 21, 2004

Since I'm leary of an open flame in an enclosure housing petroleum fueled vehicles I'm going with and outside installed unit that is both a furnace and an air conditioner built into one forced air system. Has anyone here used this set up?

johnday · Nov 21, 2004

LB; Sounds like your talking heatpump. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Cools in the summer and heats in the winter. Heat mode removes btu's from outside air, and heats inside air thru your A coil in the airhandler section. Basically works like an airconditioner in reverse, but if I read your location correctly, Northwest Terratories in mother Canada, there isn't too many btu's in your winter air. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif These units also have resistance heating coils built in to warm the incoming outside air when the ambient temp gets down too low, around 30 degrees F if I remember right. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Syncro · Nov 22, 2004

Yeah, we use them all the time, but you'll need either natural gas or propane plus 220 VAC. It is a conventional furnace/AC with a shared blower encased in a sheetmetal housing. Most of the major mfg's make them. They are mounted on a square concrete slab and ducted either through the ground via a sheet metal tube, or directly horizontal through a wall. Ask any local HVAC contractor in your area and he should be able to advise you better. That type of unit generally makes about 125k BTU and about 2.5 tons air. Cost is less than two seperate AC/Heat units.

LBrown59 · Nov 22, 2004

( Yeah, we use them all the time, but you'll need either natural gas or propane plus 220 VAC. It is a conventional furnace/AC with a shared blower encased in a sheetmetal housing. Most of the major mfg's make them. They are mounted on a square concrete slab and ducted either through the ground via a sheet metal tube, or directly horizontal through a wall. Ask any local HVAC contractor in your area and he should be able to advise you better. That type of unit generally makes about 125k BTU and about 2.5 tons air. Cost is less than two seperate AC/Heat units. ) 
Syncro

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This is what I'm talking about.
I like the idea that the burner and pilot flames are outside the building rather than inside it.
This to me this is safer for buildings housing vehicles fueled by gasoline or diesel fuel.

PineRidge · Nov 22, 2004

As long as you have ample clearances for a suspended heater they shouldn't be a problem. In our area it's 8 foot minimum from the base of the suspended heater to the floor. The units themselves are low profile so it's pretty easy to make those clearances. We have a unit heater in our attached garage and also one in our pole barn. Reznor makes some quality heating units IMHO. These units that we used are strictly heating only.

LBrown59 · Nov 23, 2004

( As long as you have ample clearances for a suspended heater they shouldn't be a problem. In our area it's 8 foot minimum from the base of the suspended heater to the floor. The units themselves are low profile so it's pretty easy to make those clearances. We have a unit heater in our attached garage and also one in our pole barn. Reznor makes some quality heating units IMHO. These units that we used are strictly heating only. )

But it's still having open flames with gasoline and other fuels in the same room together.
Any fumes reaching this flame and the place is going to go up in smoke.

That's the beauty of the outside unit the fumes can't get to the flame.

Junkman · Nov 23, 2004

( That's the beauty of the outside unit the fumes can't get to the flame. )

There is a supply and a return on all warm air furnaces. The supply is usually located mid to high wall and the return is mounted low on the wall. If there are any fumes, it is going to get picked up by the return air duct and it will still be introduced to the furnace. You might want to consult your local Fire Marshall to find out what is best for your use and local...

Egon · Nov 23, 2004

Think with hot air furnaces the circulating air is isolated from the combustion chamber.

Should be able to set up almost any furnace outside just as long as the ductwork is insulated and the colder temps don't affect the electronics or blower fan motor bearings.

Should probably be housed in a little enclosure to protec from snow/rain and wind if it is not designed for outside use.

Egon

thcri · Nov 23, 2004

Most manufactures make small heating and air conditioning units that are gas operated/electrical. This unit is designed to be outside and set on the ground. You just run ductwork up to them. Now this does not completely guarantee your inside fumes getting into the burner compartment of the outside unit. Fumes can follow duct work pretty easy. However, you are much safer and providing you keep your unit maintained you should never have any problems. If you have not poured your floor you could even put in wirsbo heaing and use a hot water heater or boiler and have a much nicer heating system.

As far as a heat pump, unless you have great electrical rates I would not use it. In northern climates they just don't work that great. We have not installed one in the last ten years. We do installe the ground source or geo-thermal but just for a garage it would not pay for itself.

murph

bczoom · Nov 23, 2004

( ( As long as you have ample clearances for a suspended heater they shouldn't be a problem. In our area it's 8 foot minimum from the base of the suspended heater to the floor. The units themselves are low profile so it's pretty easy to make those clearances. We have a unit heater in our attached garage and also one in our pole barn. Reznor makes some quality heating units IMHO. These units that we used are strictly heating only. )

But it's still having open flames with gasoline and other fuels in the same room together.
Any fumes reaching this flame and the place is going to go up in smoke.

That's the beauty of the outside unit the fumes can't get to the flame. )

I'm with PineRidge on this one...
A good heater, mounted properly is very safe.

If you go into most any auto repair shop, gas station garage... (at least up north where heat is needed), almost all have this type of heater.

If there are that many fumes whereby the heater could start a fire, anything could start that same fire. Turn on a light switch or run any electrical tool and the whole place is going up.