Feedback on Reznor/Hot Dawg/Mr Heater Big Maxx Heaters

[Teamchevy]

Hi everyone. I building a 24' x 34' x 10' high garage, 2"x4" walls insulated, same with the ceiling. I've been looking at these three manufactured units:

Reznor
Hot Dawg
Mr Heater Big Maxx

I haven't decided on whether to get a 45000 or 75000 BTU unit yet. I looking for pros and cons for each. Do you have one? What do you like about it? What do you dislike about it? Have you had problems with it? In the winter, was it what you thought it would be? Do you have it on a thermostat? Do you set back the temp when you're not using it?

Thanks,

Dave

 

[regguy1]

I have the Mr Heater 45K in a 26' x30' x9' and it heats the building just fine.

It had a defective circuit board when I first used it, Enerco sent a replacement and it's been fine since. I have a Honeywell Focus Pro 5000 Tstat, I turn it down to 40 degrees at night (farenheit) it will heat the place up in less than 20 minutes in the morning. I think a Reznor might be a better quality (and more expensive) unit, I say that because I've seen them in several commercial applications.

I put links to each heater in this post:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1098427#post1098427

PS: We used to go to Peterborough for fishing vacations in the 70's, rented cottage at a place called Beachwood Lodge

 

[Teamchevy]

I have the Mr Heater 45K in a 26' x30' x9' and it heats the building just fine.

It had a defective circuit board when I first used it, Enerco sent a replacement and it's been fine since. I have a Honeywell Focus Pro 5000 Tstat, I turn it down to 40 degrees at night (farenheit) it will heat the place up in less than 20 minutes in the morning. I think a Reznor might be a better quality (and more expensive) unit, I say that because I've seen them in several commercial applications.

I put links to each heater in this post:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1098427#post1098427

PS: We used to go to Peterborough for fishing vacations in the 70's, rented cottage at a place called Beachwood Lodge

I found that thread this morning and looked at those links, thanks regguy1! I downloaded information on all three units, I just have to sift through it all. Thanks for the feedback! Princess Auto has the 75K Mr. Heater Big Maxx on for $699, not sure how much the 45K unit is. The heating guy can't touch it for that price, so far.

Nice garage!!
2 questions:
1 - What did you put on the floor and how's it holding up?
2 - What kind of lift do you have??

Dave


PS: I checked out google and it shows a "Beachwood Resort" on Lower Buckhorn, is that the place? I just moved here this past year but my parents and family are from here...love it now!

 

[regguy1]

The floor is holding up fine, it's a lower priced product but decent quality, links in thread below

Here's the epoxy thread:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66867

Here's the lift thread:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71225


I think the Beachwood Resort is the place, they may have changed the name since I was there. I remember going to see the "lift locks" on the lake system there

 

[Teamchevy]

The floor is holding up fine, it's a lower priced product but decent quality, links in thread below

Here's the epoxy thread:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66867

Here's the lift thread:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71225


I think the Beachwood Resort is the place, they may have changed the name since I was there. I remember going to see the "lift locks" on the lake system there

Thanks, I read through those later!

Here's a link to the big Lift Lock in the middle of the city. It's the largest in the system, it was probably the one you saw:

http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern/visit/visit6/lock21.aspx

Dave

 

[cowboyjosh]

I like REZNOR, their products are bulletproof and if you have a problem their distribution and dealer network is first class. REZNOR is also a long standing brand name, so it has respect in the industry and having used REZNOR and BIG MAXX on projects I have had WAY TOO MANY callbacks on BIG MAXX for failed control boards, fan motors and ignitors; that all I spec for my houses now is REZNOR, only 1 time in the past 5 years have I had a problem with a REZNOR, and that was for my own personal unit that had a cracked heat exchanger, in which REZNOR without question exchanged and paid for the HVAC companies labor.

Now, you say you have not decided yet on a 45k BTU or a 75K BTU, have you done a heat loss calc? If you oversize the unit you risk short cycling and causing the unit to prematurely fail, see below the same rules apply to a garage heater as to a house furnace.

An oversized furnace (one whose capacity is too large) costs substantially more to operate than a correctly sized furnace. This is because oversized furnaces typically cycle on and off more often than correctly sized furnaces, and cycling on and off is more expensive than running at steady state.

The only way to know if your furnace is correctly sized is for your HVAC contractor to do a load calculation. A load calculation takes into account the size of your house, the insulation value of your windows, the amount of insulation in your walls and roof, and a host of other criteria to determine the appropriate furnace capacity.

Ask your HVAC contractor if s/he performed a load calculation before you accept the furnace that recommend. If you are replacing an old furnace (as opposed to buying a furnace for a new home you are constructing) they may argue that they chose a furnace as big as your last furnace. But your old furnace might be too large for your house. Request that they perform a load calculation, and find another contractor if they refuse.

 

[Teamchevy]

Thanks for the advice cowboyjosh! I actually used an online calculator myself and it came out as a 45K unit. I will have the contractor do the same and see what he says.

Dave

 

[foss]

Hi everyone. I building a 24' x 34' x 10' high garage, 2"x4" walls insulated, same with the ceiling. I've been looking at these three manufactured units:

Reznor
Hot Dawg
Mr Heater Big Maxx

I haven't decided on whether to get a 45000 or 75000 BTU unit yet. I looking for pros and cons for each. Do you have one? What do you like about it? What do you dislike about it? Have you had problems with it? In the winter, was it what you thought it would be? Do you have it on a thermostat? Do you set back the temp when you're not using it?

I have only used the hot dawg 60000. Have nothing bad to say about it. Very fast and no problems at all. It is probably a little oversized (20x20 with 15' ceiling) . I added a ceiling fan to distribute heat which really works well year round. I have it in on a thermostat and turn back to maybe 55-60 if i'm not out there.

 

[Teamchevy]

I have only used the hot dawg 60000. Have nothing bad to say about it. Very fast and no problems at all. It is probably a little oversized (20x20 with 15' ceiling) . I added a ceiling fan to distribute heat which really works well year round. I have it in on a thermostat and turn back to maybe 55-60 if i'm not out there.

Thanks foss. The ceiling fan is a good idea, especially for the summer! I'll have to add that to the list!

Dave

 

[foss]

By the way Dave, you're from my hometown.

 

[Teamchevy]

By the way Dave, you're from my hometown.

Cool!

Dave

 

[bill9860]

I have a 26 w x 28L w/ 12' ceilings - 45k Hot Dawg seems like plenty

 

[Teamchevy]

I have a 26 w x 28L w/ 12' ceilings - 45k Hot Dawg seems like plenty

Thanks for the info Bill!!

Dave

 

[Jim51]

Mr. Heater all the way. $479 USD www.heatershop.com/ I believe this includes shipping in the lower 48. Very nice unit.

 

[FThera]

I have a 45,000 in my 24x34x11 here in minnesota and it's just fine. R-19 walls, R-30 Ceiling, with about 1/2 the wll area common to the house.

 

[Teamchevy]

Mr. Heater all the way. $479 USD www.heatershop.com/ I believe this includes shipping in the lower 48. Very nice unit.

Thanks Jim! Did you buy from here? What did it cost for shipping to Canada?

Dave

 

[Teamchevy]

I have a 45,000 in my 24x34x11 here in minnesota and it's just fine. R-19 walls, R-30 Ceiling, with about 1/2 the wll area common to the house.

Thanks for the info!

Dave

 

[DuluthMN]

I considered buying one of these but I just can not understand having your heat output up near the ceiling when it is just going to rise. It seems to me that the floor area would always be cooler.

 

[Teamchevy]

I considered buying one of these but I just can not understand having your heat output up near the ceiling when it is just going to rise. It seems to me that the floor area would always be cooler.

What do you have???

Dave

 

[foss]

I think you would love these Duluth, they heat the whole room very thoroughly.

 

[Teamchevy]

I think you would love these Duluth, they heat the whole room very thoroughly.

Do you have a link to it??

Dave

 

[DuluthMN]

I think you would love these Duluth, they heat the whole room very thoroughly.

Oh, I agree. I should have worded my post better. My uncle has one and no doubt they heat a garage right up. We play this card game called "Smear" once a week and the reason I said that about the heat rising is because the 2 older gentleman always complain about their legs getting cold. So after thinking about it, I started wandering why the ceiling mounted design.

I wish I could afford one, but I'm stuck with this downflow unit i guess!

 

[Kirkz28]

Oh, I agree. I should have worded my post better. My uncle has one and no doubt they heat a garage right up. We play this card game called "Smear" once a week and the reason I said that about the heat rising is because the 2 older gentleman always complain about their legs getting cold. So after thinking about it, I started wandering why the ceiling mounted design.

I wish I could afford one, but I'm stuck with this downflow unit i guess!

I'm guessing the whole ceiling mount thing is due to safety issues. Less chance of driving into the heater/bumping into it/rupturing the gas line if it is off the floor.

 

[Steevo]

Do those of you that have installed a BigMaxx heater recommend using isolation mounts (see pic) to eliminate vibration noise from these heaters?

 

[stealthbob]

For Canadian buyers...check out TSC, the 45k BigMax unit is on sale right now for $450

 

[Dolfan]

I don't have much knowledge of the different heater types, given I live in the south, but for a garage application don't you need to stay away from heaters that use actual flame or combustibles for the heat due to gasoline and other chemical vapors?

 

[Teamchevy]

For Canadian buyers...check out TSC, the 45k BigMax unit is on sale right now for $450

I checked their current ad, but didn't see anything? Where did you see it?? I only saw the propane version for $650, plus the natural gas coversion kit for $32?

Dave

 

[stealthbob]

Looks like the sale ends today. The new flyer would not have it. I just bought it yesterday, got lucky as it was the last one left.

I apologize...

I can't wait to install it.....I have some questions though but will shoot out a new thread with pics tomorrow.

 

[Teamchevy]

Looks like the sale ends today. The new flyer would not have it. I just bought it yesterday, got lucky as it was the last one left.

I apologize...

I can't wait to install it.....I have some questions though but will shoot out a new thread with pics tomorrow.

That's OK, if I get over there, I'll ask about it, sometimes they honour the price if you ask about it.

Dave

 

[Teamchevy]

Looks like the sale ends today. The new flyer would not have it. I just bought it yesterday, got lucky as it was the last one left.

I apologize...

I can't wait to install it.....I have some questions though but will shoot out a new thread with pics tomorrow.

That's OK, if I get over there, I'll ask about it, sometimes they honour the price if you ask about it.

Dave

I went there today and they put me in for a raincheck, they had sold out. Reg price was $649, on sale for $429, savings of $220!!!

Dave

 

[stealthbob]

Great stuff man...

Glad I posted it!

I also have found a couple of questions on the wiring of these units and where the ground goes.

The green screw on the back panel.

 

[jgump]

Lowes has the Mr. Heater 45K for $399 and the 75K for $469 on the shelf.

I picked up at 75K for $422 with a 10% off coupon. Best price I found by far!

 

[Teamchevy]

Decision Made!! The unit I bought was......

The Mr. Heater Big Maxx 45K BTU!

All things considered, the eventual winner was the Mr Heater 45K unit. It was on sale @ the TSC stores for $429.99 CAD, regular $659.99. I also bought the 4" horizontal vent kit and the natural gas conversion kit as well. Hopefully will have it installed in the next few weeks. The outside of the garage is well on it's way to being completed and I'm planning on doing drywall in November with a nephew helping.

Will update later.

Dave


PS: I hear the heaters are on sale again starting Friday Oct 15th for a week at TSC again!

 

[Legacy]

I'm very interested to hear your feedback during the middle of winter. I'll be building a 36x24 garage in Ottawa so what works for you will work just fine for me.

 

[Teamchevy]

I'm very interested to hear your feedback during the middle of winter. I'll be building a 36x24 garage in Ottawa so what works for you will work just fine for me.

No problem, I will! So far I haven't really done much with it as it's been warmer than normal, but I'm sure that'll change!

Dave

 

[Chetter]

I've had my Big Maxx 45000 btu propane heater for 3 years now, I did have the circuit board problem but they replaced it pronto and it has worked flawlessly since and it keeps my 32x24 with 10' ceilings warm all season long. My cost has been around 300.00 for the entire season to heat.

 

[Teamchevy]

I've had my Big Maxx 45000 btu propane heater for 3 years now, I did have the circuit board problem but they replaced it pronto and it has worked flawlessly since and it keeps my 32x24 with 10' ceilings warm all season long. My cost has been around 300.00 for the entire season to heat.

That sounds great, can hardly wait!

Dave

 

[Cast Iron Nuts]

I have just ordered a 45 k reznor udap with concentric venting for my garage. As far as im concerned reznor is the only name when it comes to unit heaters this will be my third garage using reznors units. Hey dave did you buy a separated combustion unit for your garage. I might add been in the heating refrigeration trade for 25 years. Good luck and nice build.

 

[Teamchevy]

I have just ordered a 45 k reznor udap with concentric venting for my garage. As far as im concerned reznor is the only name when it comes to unit heaters this will be my third garage using reznors units. Hey dave did you buy a separated combustion unit for your garage. I might add been in the heating refrigeration trade for 25 years. Good luck and nice build.

Thanks CIN! I didn't get the separated combustion unit, didn't think I needed though.

Dave

 

[Gerry Reeder]

What make is a Duluth?