NATE: virtually all of the questions you asked I have answered except....ceiling is 9 feet and we have 120v only....never expected answers pulled out of a hat....just curious what others were using so I could figure out good options.
Help heating garage
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Sorry I did not have your foresight...OBVIOUSLY you are a much more intelligent human being and have way more money than I do...sorry I did not live up to your expectations.
You're gonna need a lot of 1500W space heaters to get that garage up to temp on a cold day. Shame no 240V out there. I think direct-vent propane is your answer since you already have the fuel.
Brokenwing
Feeling the Heat
We have used a Eden pure in a area for the past 3 years 24 7 in the winter, that the pellet stove does not heat. It keep that area at 78 degrees, and hardly any change in the electric bill. I swear by them.
You may be right...and since the tanks are just outside the garage it may be pretty easy to get it plumbed...that will have to be a summer project though...the cost of the garaged tapped me out!
Boiler for your house? Tie into it for the garage heater. My boiler runs the heat for my house and garage. Happens to be slab heat but a hanging heater would work fine as well.
Your going to either need a decent sized 240v heater or some sort of fuel burning unit otherwise. Or run about 1/2 a dozen plug in 1500w heaters.
One of my friends "heated" his garage with 2 of them, garage was about 500sq ft. If it was 30* outside and 45ish in the garage it would raise the temp to around 55* with them running non stop overnight.
The fact that your garage is staying at 45* with it -1* is because the house is keeping it warm. Not exactly a good thing.
Your going to either need a decent sized 240v heater or some sort of fuel burning unit otherwise. Or run about 1/2 a dozen plug in 1500w heaters.
One of my friends "heated" his garage with 2 of them, garage was about 500sq ft. If it was 30* outside and 45ish in the garage it would raise the temp to around 55* with them running non stop overnight.
The fact that your garage is staying at 45* with it -1* is because the house is keeping it warm. Not exactly a good thing.
Talk about insulting.....yell at me with CAPS about being too dumb to foresee heating...every penny I had went into building this project...tapped out my man.
Then yelling again in CAPS about providing little when everyone else did pretty well with what I had provided....My signature tells how I heat....it is all we use to heat.
Short term solution, or maybe long term if the short term works, and very inexpensive would be a couple of 1500w - 120V heaters. Local big box has these for less than $20 each. You will need more than one - 120v - 20amp circuit, because each will need its own circuit. If you have more than one - 120v - 20amp circuit, you may have 240v available, if the separate 120v circuits pull from different feeders off your main panel. You may be able to create a 240v circuit. While using electric heat though, you may be using most of your available amperage and not be able to run much other electric at the same time.
My shop, well insulated, at 32 x 48 x 14, has wood boiler hot water in-floor radiant, and I use a 240v - 5000w backup space heater. Importantly, I can use 2 - 1500w - 120v space heaters and they will also keep the shop well above freezing. I use the 240v heater because I have it as a left-over from a home remodel years ago when I used it to keep the house above freezing while I re-did the heating in the house.
My shop, well insulated, at 32 x 48 x 14, has wood boiler hot water in-floor radiant, and I use a 240v - 5000w backup space heater. Importantly, I can use 2 - 1500w - 120v space heaters and they will also keep the shop well above freezing. I use the 240v heater because I have it as a left-over from a home remodel years ago when I used it to keep the house above freezing while I re-did the heating in the house.
maple1
Minister of Fire
The cheapest to buy for now, will be electric space heaters, as mentioned several times. But the electric bill might bite bad later.
The cheapest to operate (well, and buy too, I guess), will be leaving a door or window open to your house periodically to get some of your wood stove heat out there - maybe throw a fan in the open whatever for a little while to move the heat out.
Since you say you're tapped out, I'd do choice 2 - and maybe do some planning now for next year. The propane unit suggestion might be your best choice - but if you do a BTU equivalent operating cost breakdown between electric & propane using your costs for each and they come out pretty close, then electric might be the better choice.
The cheapest to operate (well, and buy too, I guess), will be leaving a door or window open to your house periodically to get some of your wood stove heat out there - maybe throw a fan in the open whatever for a little while to move the heat out.
Since you say you're tapped out, I'd do choice 2 - and maybe do some planning now for next year. The propane unit suggestion might be your best choice - but if you do a BTU equivalent operating cost breakdown between electric & propane using your costs for each and they come out pretty close, then electric might be the better choice.
Hey man, I know your pain. I was just working in my new 30x60 uninsulated shop this weekend and the thermometer said 35 in there. I was huddled around a tank top 15000 btu propane mr heater that is about like a range top burner. Heat for your hands but that's it.
Your budget is only 100$. That will drive the solution. Go to a pawn shop or CL and acquire a used torpedo heater. Propane is better than kerosene/diesel. Remember, this is a temporary solution so don't worry about perfection. In the end, you can mount a hanging unit heater or an electric furnace or whatever but those all cost way way more than 100$.
I use a 1500 watt "milkhouse" heater with a thermostat in the RV (parked in the shop) to keep it from freezing. Those things don't make much heat. You'd need lots of watts, think 10kw like a furnace, to make a rapid temperature rise in your shop.
Your budget is only 100$. That will drive the solution. Go to a pawn shop or CL and acquire a used torpedo heater. Propane is better than kerosene/diesel. Remember, this is a temporary solution so don't worry about perfection. In the end, you can mount a hanging unit heater or an electric furnace or whatever but those all cost way way more than 100$.
I use a 1500 watt "milkhouse" heater with a thermostat in the RV (parked in the shop) to keep it from freezing. Those things don't make much heat. You'd need lots of watts, think 10kw like a furnace, to make a rapid temperature rise in your shop.
have you done one of those BTU calculators with your space and insulation specs? That should show you how much heat you need, then you can go from there.
I'm still of the mindset that you should throw a couple of cheap electric heaters in there and see what happens until the time you can swing a better alternative. I think your insulation is such that you might get better results than others are suggesting, but there's only one way to be sure.
I'm still of the mindset that you should throw a couple of cheap electric heaters in there and see what happens until the time you can swing a better alternative. I think your insulation is such that you might get better results than others are suggesting, but there's only one way to be sure.
seige101- you are correct. I like the ads for the Amish made electric heaters.That one always makes me chuckle.
RichVT
Member
- Mar 16, 2012
- 49
My last house had an oil boiler. For my garage I ended up installing a kick space heater on its own zone. Worked well enough and wasn't too expensive.
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For what it's worth I have a roughly 860 square foot garage that I heat with a 100,000btu Solaronics vent free ceramic infrared heater. It's overkill for a garage my size. I'd say mine is insulated as well as yours, maybe a bit better over top.
When I replace the ventless unit I'm using I will be buying a forced air unit and installing a vent. Something like the Mr Heater units you can get at Lowes. I'll be looking for something in the 50-75k btu range which will still be more than I need, but I like it to heat up fast.
When I replace the ventless unit I'm using I will be buying a forced air unit and installing a vent. Something like the Mr Heater units you can get at Lowes. I'll be looking for something in the 50-75k btu range which will still be more than I need, but I like it to heat up fast.
I'm not a big fan of the ventless setup, personally. The moisture "problem" I've read a lot about is 100% a myth but the fact is that the byproducts of combustion are going right into the heated space. I can notice it on those days of long projects in the garage in February. I'd prefer get a vented unit eventually for the added safety and comfort.
And in my case my heater was a freebie. It just needed some minor repair. Ultimately a 100k btu infrared unit is not entirely suitable for a 10' ceiling garage.
It was always intended to be temporary for me. I just hate to part with $500 on a new heater when the one I have works so well. But it needs to go...eventually.
Forget about those overpriced $300 "miracle " heater boxes (edenpure ect) If going electric any kind of radiant heater. Mine only use half as much electricity and seem to warm as well or better than straight resistance electric heaters.They come in all shapes and sizes. You can get ones that hang from the ceiling and warm the floor. IF going propane get a vented one.
Exactly THey use 1500 watts ,and produces EXACTLY the same BTUs as the wal,mart $15 blower style heater. Go radiant if electric.
Thanks guys....Great advice....for now, Walmart here I come....well not literally now, nearest one 2 hours away...but soon!
Any electric 1500w heater will use about $3.60 a day if run 24 Hrs on high THats $108.00 a month for Each heater at 10c a Kwh. IF yours uses less than its not "on" all the time or not on high. Has nothing to do with the fact that its an "eden whatever' Chances are it cycles on and off. You would get the same results with the $15 wallmart heater.
Brokenwing
Feeling the Heat
That makes me laugh a miracle heater, Have you tried one. Are house has always been warm with a very low electric bill. Dont knock it till you try it.
My local newspaper is filled with slightly used models for pennies on the dollar,it appears your results may vary. I suspect your low operating cost is due to the fact your area is not that cold and the electric heater is only giving you a few additional degrees cuz there is no miracle discovery that im aware of that gets you any more than 5000 BTUs from 1500 Watts. Any other electric heater would likely give you the same results.
Don
The reason i suggest a radiant type heater cuz it heats objects it touches rather than the air so it makes the area feel warmer while using less electricity than traditional models. GO to your local home depot and stand at the checkout .That warmth form above is coming from a radiant heater hanging from the ceiling.
The reason i suggest a radiant type heater cuz it heats objects it touches rather than the air so it makes the area feel warmer while using less electricity than traditional models. GO to your local home depot and stand at the checkout .That warmth form above is coming from a radiant heater hanging from the ceiling.
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