Garage/Shop Heater

[Vettman]

I have around 600 sq. ft I want to heat for 2 or 3 hrs. a day, maybe a few days a week. The home is all electric. I'm contemplating portable electric, propane (like the tailgaters use with 20 lb. bottle) or a torpedo shaped kerosene type. The temperature will likely never drop below 36/40 or I'll go indoors. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[SPDMETL]

Propane is probably cheaper than electric and burns alot cleaner than Kerosene

 

[Vettman]

That's kind of what I was thinking. Propane is around $3.00 gallon, but I think the one burner heater will operate for around 20-30 hrs. on a tank. Electric is $$$$$$$. Bill is usually around $200.00 in the winter months

 

[drmoonshine]

Electric is what I have out in my garage the only problem I find is it takes awhile to get warm. However to me its fine because that when I get my exercise by moving everything around to start working.

 

[richashley]

I have both an 18,000 (max) btu propane heater (20 lb. bottle) and a 220 volt electric heater in an insulated 24x26 detached garage. I use the electric heater except on very cold days (NE Ohio) when I use them both to quickly warm the garage, then I turn off the propane heater. If I didn't have both, I could live with the electric alone. However, I typically only heat the garage on evenings or weekends when I'm working out there ... usually no more than once or twice a week. Not a perfect solution, but good enough for now and everything is paid for.

 

[Possum]

Electric - no fuel, no fumes, no moisture.

 

[cablebandit]

Electric - no moisture.

This is key. The propane contruction type will have water running down everything every time you turn it on.

 

[jamesemery728]

Anything but kerosene. It reeks, the smell is horrible.

 

[Interex]

I'm also looking to buy. Looking forward to reading everyone's feedback.

A friend of mine has a torpedo heater at his shop. Wow, does that thing heat the entire shop up fast! It's a 155k BTU and he puts diesel in it. Works great but it smells when it's first started. After it burns for a few mins, I can't smell it anymore.

 

[MichaelP]

AFAIK, fueled torpedo heaters are not designed for closed space heating. They require very good ventilation due to the presence of carbon monoxide in the exhaust.

 

[Paco Pena]

I use a small portable electric job. It doesn't warm my whole shop just the area where I'm working.

Paco

 

[PaulR]

Propane Reddy Heater. $80. place it right at crack of an outside door open a few inches so it can burn fresh air. Done.

http://www.google.com/products/cata...og_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCoQ8wIwAg#

 

[sberry]

For a temporary in small garage I would be tempted to use electric, very clean and LP or kero isn't free either, electric may be more expensive but it is convenient and the difference in cost is only the difference not the total sum. Also 100% efficient. Nothing lost thru venting.

 

[kb2tha]

For a temporary in small garage I would be tempted to use electric, very clean and LP or kero isn't free either, electric may be more expensive but it is convenient and the difference in cost is only the difference not the total sum. Also 100% efficient. Nothing lost thru venting.

I take this "difference in cost" approach to most everything I purchase, especially tools. It has resulted in some pretty good quality purchases over the years.

Actually, if you consider it a little further, it goes along with the "buy once" mentality rather than replacing at a later date, and may in fact in the longer term be more cost efficient.

That said, I also am debating on this one the electric/propane heater choices out there. Will probably be either a Dayton G73 (maybe 2 for 700 sf) or a 45k Modine Hotdawg heater. ife says go with the propane. We'll see.

 

[scooterseats]

I use a medium 5 grate Dearborn gas heater on Propane. I use a 100# bottle and it usually lasts a couple of winters to heat my 24 X 30 brick veneer shop here in East Texas. The good thing about this type of heater is it is totally silent and it will run you out if you don't turn it down. My shop is insulated fairly well (r19 walls and ceiling) and it really doesn't take much to heat it unless it is down into the 20's. The mentioned condensation really isn't a large problem, primarily you only notice it on the glass windows on very cold days.
You can find this type of heater on Craig's List frequently and they generally are fairly inexpensive.

 

[Stuart in MN]

For this application I think electric heat would be a good choice. It's relatively simple and inexpensive to install. It does cost more to operate than gas, but for the limited hours it will be used that's not as big a factor.

 

[Jorg50]

Does anyone have the ones that burn used oil. I have seen one in my friend`s garage adn to my surprise it doesn´t smell bad. Well it was runing for a long time before I got there but he told me that it didn´t smell.

 

[Painter123]

When I lived in Colorado I use to heat my 10x20 with one of these http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_595_595
After running it for 30 mins you had to turn it off cause it was so hot

the guys that recommended it to me were using 4 of them to heat a 2000sqft 13ft tall shop

It didn't really cost all that much to run unless I forgot to turn it off and it ran all night

and like some have said with electric no smell no noise and it was pretty much putting out heat a minute or two after you turned it on

 

[usmc_noma]

When I lived in Colorado I use to heat my 10x20 with one of these http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_595_595
After running it for 30 mins you had to turn it off cause it was so hot

the guys that recommended it to me were using 4 of them to heat a 2000sqft 13ft tall shop

It didn't really cost all that much to run unless I forgot to turn it off and it ran all night

and like some have said with electric no smell no noise and it was pretty much putting out heat a minute or two after you turned it on

This looks like an awesome solution here for a small garage or even a small double. As long as your garage is insulated pretty good you should be able to keep it warm during the winter for a few hours while you're out there. This is definitely something I'll be looking at for my one car garage.

 

[Mantovani idiom]

I use a Monitor brand kerosene heater. I have a 1000 sq ft Morton Pole building garage with 24 ft. high ceilings. It does a great job. The 250 gallon kerosene tank is located outside of the building. Very economical.

http://www.monitorheat.com/

 

[Painter123]

This looks like an awesome solution here for a small garage or even a small double. As long as your garage is insulated pretty good you should be able to keep it warm during the winter for a few hours while you're out there. This is definitely something I'll be looking at for my one car garage.

The little 1 car I used it in was all cinder block with 2 bran new windows, a new insolated aluminum over head door and an insolated metal 3.0 man door with R24 in the attic

When it was below 0 in CO I'd be working in the shop in a T shirt

 

[Interex]

When I lived in Colorado I use to heat my 10x20 with one of these http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_595_595
After running it for 30 mins you had to turn it off cause it was so hot

the guys that recommended it to me were using 4 of them to heat a 2000sqft 13ft tall shop

It didn't really cost all that much to run unless I forgot to turn it off and it ran all night

and like some have said with electric no smell no noise and it was pretty much putting out heat a minute or two after you turned it on

That is very nice! It's quite a bit more than I was looking to spend but will probably be well worth it. Might have to see what I can dig up on CL.

 

[gunnersm8]

yep. i got one (dayton model) have yet to wick it up past low and it stays a frothy 60 inside. had a propane trashcan type, but got tired of the hose on the ground, and the heater, and blah blah. got this thing and its out of the way, and good to go. recommend having it wired for s cord, that way you can unplug it vice hardwiring(in case you need to move it)

 

[moparman451]

I use a Monitor brand kerosene heater. I have a 1000 sq ft Morton Pole building garage with 24 ft. high ceilings. It does a great job. The 250 gallon kerosene tank is located outside of the building. Very economical.

http://www.monitorheat.com/

I have been using an older Monitor 41 kerosene heater I picked up used for the last 10 years to heat my fully insulated 900 sq/ft garage up here in New Hampshire, it's direct vented and takes in air from outside for combustion.

I keep the garage at 56 degrees in the winter when I'm not there and turn it up to 68 when I'm working.

I use about 10 gallons a week of kerosene in the winter months, maybe up to 15 gallons if it's in the single digits outside.

 

[evintho]

Propane Reddy Heater. $80. place it right at crack of an outside door open a few inches so it can burn fresh air. Done.

http://www.google.com/products/cata...og_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCoQ8wIwAg#

+1...........Got mine at Home Depot. Paid $80-$90 for it. I only use it when it gets below 50* in my shop. 5 gal bottle seems to last forever and makes the whole shop toasty warm! And yeah, gotta crack a door for ventilation.