Looking at heaters for my garage

I don't think 20 minutes is going to give you very much....better plan on a couple of hours to warm it up in there with the electric heater. I would have to agree the torpedo heater would be great, cheaper and faster, not sure about the setting the place on fire or the asphyxiation issues. I know we have a propane fork lift at work, and the fumes aren't bad, but that's a bigger space and prolly less BTU's.
 
As long as you don't put anything directly in front of it (heed the warnings in the manual) nothing can catch fire.



I follow the reccmmondation from the manual and leave the garage door open two feet at bottom when it's running. After while it will get too damn hot in there (even when it's below 30 outside) and I just shut the heater off and close the door.



On thing to point out though is my garage is un-finished and detached from the house. If one has a garage attached to the house and/or finished (insulated walls) you might be able to get by with an electric heater.
 
I use a heater made by Oakley. It is made of cotton and goes over my head, and keeps my whole body warm. It wasn't too expensive, and doesn't use any electricity!! :ca :grinno:
 
Reflections said:
I use a heater made by Oakley. It is made of cotton and goes over my head, and keeps my whole body warm. It wasn't too expensive, and doesn't use any electricity!! :ca :grinno:
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Does it keep water from freezing on your car? :)
 
What about putting an automotive exhaust vent on your garage door and hooking the ducting up to the intake side of a torpedo heater? That should cut down on the oxygen depletion. Would carbon monoxide be an issue in this case?
 
splattj said:
What about putting an automotive exhaust vent on your garage door and hooking the ducting up to the intake side of a torpedo heater? That should cut down on the oxygen depletion. Would carbon monoxide be an issue in this case?
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The manual that came w/my Reddy Heater specifically says ducting is a big no no.



White95Max: You might want to look over the catalog over at Northern Tools to get an idea of what's out there to heat what would be an otherwise unheated space.



When I move to a place with a bigger garage this Spring I'm thinking of getting some Vent Free wall mounted heaters (Propane)



I'll be getting back into Autobosy and painting and the forced air thing could be a pain.
 
if u have the money, I suggest getting it done by your gas company. They run a line from your current heat from your house in a large ceiling mounted unit and voila, another heated room.



I found electrical too expensive and could not heat up an entire area sufficiently.



If you don't have the mone, you can do what i did, and invest in a propane heater. I attach to my bbq tank, crack the door to allow fresh air in and can work in t-shirt inside after about 30mins as it gets so warm in there. And I'm talking when the temp outiside is like -20 witih windchill, i'm nice and cozy optimum'ng away with my rotary.
 
Use your car has a heater just put an extension pipe on the tail pipe that runs the gas/s outside. Wear long Johns, Drink 3 shots of whiskey, Use natural gas and buy a cheap used heater

If you work in your garage a lot find some insulation for the roof and what ever and make it a part of your living area
 
I have a propane heater...does a fast job of heating an area....and cost effective also....I tried an electric one and it was to expensive to run....The one I have mounts on a tank and can be temp controlled...this is like the one I have..but mine is a dayton..a pretty reliable name...I put a little fan in the garage to move the air some...make short time of heating up the area...



http://www.air-n-water.com/product/392.html



I had a oil filled radiator type in my bathroom in the basement while I was doing it over...it took over a hour to heat it up a few degrees...on the high setting...and it was over 50 degrees in the room when I turned it on...electric heaters are not the best in a colder climate area...and suck up electricity.....





with propane you just need to crack a window an inch..plus most heaters have a low oxygen shut off.....look at this way..people have gas cookstoves and ventless gas fireplaces...



AL
 
Here's the heater I've been talking about that I installed in my garage in Chicago-land.



45,000 BTU forced air, natural gas unit that's vented. Works GREAT!



DSC00308.jpg
 
'White,



Have you considered putting a HVAC vent in your garage? If your garage is part of your house you could get a HVAC guy to see if your system has enough capacity to run a duct to it.



If you did this, it would be safer, you would have more uniform heat, and you would have A/C in the summer.



You could even have a motorized damper in the duct installed so that you can flick a switch to turn the heat and A/C off when you don't need it.
 
Shumax, nice heater. How big is your garage and how good does this heater work? I saw the same unit, but the 75k btu one and was wondering if it could heat a 4+ car garage? Has it impacted your heating bills much running the unit? Do you run it all the time or just when you are working in your garage?
 
LightngSVT said:
Shumax, nice heater. How big is your garage and how good does this heater work? I saw the same unit, but the 75k btu one and was wondering if it could heat a 4+ car garage? Has it impacted your heating bills much running the unit? Do you run it all the time or just when you are working in your garage?
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I have a 3-car garage. The heater works GREAT! It was 10 degrees outside when I first got it. Within 30min. my garage was 60 degrees! It's quiet, doesn't stink one bit, is controlled by a thermostat and is up out of my way.



I can't comment on the gas bill as I just had it installed last week. I only run it when I'm out there working/cleaning cars, etc., so it likely isn't going to cost me much more at all.



I saw your garage and I think you would at LEAST need the 75,000 BTU unit.



My unit is $450 and then I paid $500 to have it installed. I got the unit for $100 because I know someone who sells them. The installation is something I would have done if I was comfortable with natural gas :eek: Plumbing (water) and electrical don't bother me that much, but natural gas isn't something I mess with. So, out comes the check book to the local mechanical HVAC guys...



Enjoy!
 
lagniappe said:
'White,



Have you considered putting a HVAC vent in your garage? If your garage is part of your house you could get a HVAC guy to see if your system has enough capacity to run a duct to it.



If you did this, it would be safer, you would have more uniform heat, and you would have A/C in the summer.



You could even have a motorized damper in the duct installed so that you can flick a switch to turn the heat and A/C off when you don't need it.
Click to expand...



Probably dont' want to do that. Two reasons...

1. Obviously it's not to code.

2. Fire that starts in the garage will spread through the duct into the house. There aren't any fireproof flaps to add to the ducts. (thats why it doesn't meet code) I tried doing this when I built my house and got shot down right away. :(



I think you should start with a torpedo heater, if you get addicted then move up to a real natural gas garage heater. The best thing you can do is insulate the walls and ceiling of the garage. I have r13 in the walls and r38 in the ceiling. My torpedo cycles half what it did before I insulated. I can hold a temp without a heater running af 13 degrees above the outdoor temps. (30 outside-43 in the garage) THe warmer it is the better. I ran the heater for a couple hours on a 34 dergree night and it was still 50 in there 6 hours later. (insulation is good!)



Cracking a door or putting in a makeup air vent from the outside is good also. I run a CO detector in the garage and the cars set it off more than the torpedo ever has. Actually I don't think the torpedo has ever set it off, it's always been the car running in the garage.
 
lagniappe said:
'White,



Have you considered putting a HVAC vent in your garage? If your garage is part of your house you could get a HVAC guy to see if your system has enough capacity to run a duct to it.
Click to expand...





I live in an apartment with a detached garage. With the way this mild winter is going, I haven't been thinking much about a heater. We've had highs above freezing for the last week, and at least several more days to come.
 
Shumax, I think what you did is exactly what I want to do. However I guess I didnt anticipate $1000 to put in heat. Oh well I wont need it until next year anyway. I hope the 75000 btu will be enough for my new garage.
 
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