Quartz or Oil Filled Heater for Garage?

Kimo · 12-07-02, 11:31

I went to HD today to look for a heater for the garage and there is a "new" technology heater with sealed oil in what looks to be like an old home style radiator on wheels. Has anyone seen/used this product? I looked at this and the quartz heater next to it and I couldn't make up my mind which one to buy. I have a finished 2 car garage with a cement floor. Or, is there something else I should look at. I didn't want to get anything that uses propane because I didn't want to deal with refilling the tank.
Thank you for any input.
Kimo

Avalanche · 12-08-02, 06:58

If anyone has any insight on heaters I'd be interested in hearing them as well. I've been thinking about getting a heater for my garage also.

Thanks

billium · 12-08-02, 08:52

I have one of the oil filled "radiator" style heaters in my 21'x22' insulated garage. It has five temp settings. Here's been my experience:

Advantages:
Cost (less than $50.00)
Portability: can move it around easily.
Safety: no exposed flame or burners/no fumes/no exhaust/no CO2
Disadvantages:
Takes up floor space (although minimal)
not uniform heat in area (cooler away from heater)
Costs about $20.00 a month to run on high setting

I live in the midwest where we have cold winters. All my garage walls and ceiling are insulated, as is garage door. The garage door faces North.

I leave the heater set on medium (3). This keeps the temperature about 20 degrees warmer than the outside temp. By setting it on high I can warm the majority of the garage up by 30 to 40 degrees (assuming the garage door stays shut). It does take anywhere from a couple hours to overnight to feel the difference from a setting change (a disadvantage compared to propane heaters). The nice thing is I can roll it over to where I'll be working and feel a difference quickly.

If money were no object (notice my sig is NOT ultgar), I'd love to have radiant floor heat or even a wall hung furnace. For the money, convenience, I can live with the compromise. I have thought about buying a second one and putting it kiddy corner from my existing one to keep the garage at a more consistent temp.

Just my experience.

Bill

Kimo · 12-08-02, 11:16

Bill:
I see where you said it takes from a couple of hours to overnight to make a significant degree change but how long does it take for the initial 20 or so degrees to heat up?
Thanks Bill
Paul

billium · 12-08-02, 11:46

Paul:

Depends on size of your garage. I try and turn the heater on for the season when our daytime outside temp gets around 50 degrees. A few hours later it's around 70 inside the garage.

I'm making sheetrock repairs in the garage today. When I went out at 9:00 AM to turn the heater from medium to high, the outside temperature was in the low 20's and the garage temp was around 55. By 10:30 the garage temp had risen to a little under 65 degrees. At a little after noon I started my sheetrock repairs and the garage was a balmy 70 degrees. Looking right now, our outside temp is 37 degrees.

Bill

Avalanche · 12-08-02, 12:51

Quote:

Originally posted by billium
I have one of the oil filled "radiator" style heaters in my 21'x22' insulated garage. It has five temp settings. Here's been my experience:

Advantages:
Cost (less than $50.00)
Portability: can move it around easily.
Safety: no exposed flame or burners/no fumes/no
Bill

Under $50? No kidding! That doesnt sound too bad.

Can you provide the brand name and part number?, it sounds like a good starting off point to begin my research.

Thanks,

Don

billium · 12-08-02, 02:04

Don:

The manufacturer is DeLonghi (says "Made in Italy" on UL tag).

Model #N-HM25.

I think I bought it at Lowe's, but my wife says Target. I think I bought it 2 years ago, but my wife says more like 3. I think I'm right most of the time, but my wife says................

Anyway, it has two rocker switches (off, low, medium & high) and a round dial on the front (calibrated from 1 to 6). Stands approx. 2 ft. high x 7" wide x 14" deep.

Bill

Avalanche · 12-08-02, 02:15

Quote:

Originally posted by billium
Don:

I think I bought it at Lowe's, but my wife says Target. I think I bought it 2 years ago, but my wife says more like 3. I think I'm right most of the time, but my wife says................

Bill

So you have that wife thing too huh? Funny, I swear I'm right almost all the time as well, but......... Ahh, never mind!!
Thanks for the info!!!

Kimo · 12-08-02, 02:20

I just left HD with this heater. It is a Lakewood Model 7101.
It is in the garage working great. www.lakewoodeng.com
Bill, thanks for the info....
Paul