Heating a one car garage temporarily....

[TRA]

I have a 1 car attached garage that is roughly 240 square feet. Every so often I have small electronics projects that I work on, and I'd like to take some chill out of the air.

I tried an electric space heater, but they trip the breaker, and I don't want to wire up another breaker for the garage because we aren't going to be at this place for much longer.

I was considering a small non-vented propane or kerosene heater coupled with a CO detector and fire extinguisher. Even with those precautions I'm still a little worried. I don't want to wake up dead! These are what I was looking at:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=164863-88644-RMC-55R7&lpage=none

or

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=122001-2156-F273415&lpage=none

I figured since I don't work in the garage for more than a few hours at a time that either of these may be a good option, and if we lost power we could cautiously use them as a back-up heat source indoors. If using propane I'd crack the garage door open and have a 20lb tank outside (in the driveway) while I work.

I live in a townhome so venting through the roof or any permanent installs can't really be done.

What are my options? Is non-vented kerosene or propane really dangerous even if proper precautions are taken?

 

[sberry]

Just get a radient burner that connects to the top of an LP bottle, 20# or larger. http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200332713_200332713

 

[TRA]

Is it safe to have a propane tank in the garage?

 

[Red Green]

I would get tow of the single burner ones like the type sberry27 linked to. http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200332711_200332711 Then you could spread them out in the space. The CO detector would still be a good idea. If you start to feel sleepy go outside or into the house and get some fresh air.

 

[Red Green]

Is it safe to have a propane tank in the garage?

It can be. I would avoid spraying it with sparks from the cutting torch. Also Check for any leaks with some soapy water.

 

[sberry]

Turn the bottle off when finished.

 

[TRA]

Great. There is so much information out there that has scared the hell out of me that I thought that I'd ask.

 

[sberry]

My grill sits inside with a bottle on it year around, I just dont rely on the burner valves for storage, when I am done I turn the valve at the bottle off. You are about as safe as humanly possible, certainly reasonable.

 

[TRA]

Thank you! I appreciate all of the help!

 

[TRA]

Ok....

I tried one of these on a whim:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=122001-2156-F273415&lpage=none

It didn't really do anything and it made my garage stink horribly (I checked for leaks).

Should I even consider a kerosene heater?

 

[Red Green]

Was it brand new? The first time you use a heater it will smell as it burns off the anti-rust coating. Try running it again tomorrow and see if it still smells.

 

[D KRAGER]

How long did you let it run? The first time you use one of those it may stink but after that it shouldn't stink at all. I have one of those little buddy heaters, I use for camping and odd things, but it puts off some nice heat if you set it up on the work bench in front of you.

 

[dipper]

i would try a kerosene heater; i used a dura glow or dynaglow in my basement (about 450 sqft) it brings the temp up very nicely. Never had a problem with carbon monoxide.
something like this - i'd keep an eye on your local craigslist
http://cgi.ebay.com/Dyna-Glo-Kerosene-heater-works-great-fast-shipping_W0QQitemZ260334029962QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item260334029962&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

 

[Kevin54]

My wife uses two of these in her greenhouse 20' x 20' insulated and it will stay at 65* when it is 15* outside. In the unheated house garage, we had to keep the dogs out there for a day, put two in there on 3/4 setting and it took it to 60* and that garage is approx 22'x 30' with 9' ceilings and a 16' garage door.

 

[TRA]

Thank you for all of the help so far. I picked up a dual element tank top heater. I let it run tonight for about a half hour at the full 30k btu and although it was still cold in the garage...it was tolerable. I'm sure if I let it run for a couple of hours I'd be pretty toasty.

About how much should I crack the garage door open to keep proper ventilation? Should I put a fan behind the heater to get the air moving?

Here is what I got:

 

[Red Green]

A fan on low will help move the air. You won't get many responses on the door question because there are too many things that can be different. I would recommend you stick with your original plan and get a CO detecter.

 

[TRA]

Yep. Got the CO detector. I just don't want to turn up too much O2.

 

[BurnoutX]

i think this is the avenue i am going to go down as well. good reading here, and very good move w/ the Co2 detector

 

[TRA]

A fan on low will help move the air. You won't get many responses on the door question because there are too many things that can be different. I would recommend you stick with your original plan and get a CO detecter.

What type of variables come in to play? I wish there was calculation of how much oxygen is consumed per hour per 1,000 BTU.

I'm assuming that a gap of a few inches would be plenty, but you know what they say about assumptions.

 

[Red Green]

How drafty it is and open ceiling is all I can think of right now. But I don't want to tell you wrong and have something bad happen.

I think if you have the CO detecter and are being careful you should be fine. It's the guys that don't have a fair amount of concern that get into trouble.

 

[timgr]

... I wish there was calculation of how much oxygen is consumed per hour per 1,000 BTU.

There is. Is this propane? You need to know the simple chemical formula for propane and how much heat in BTUs propane makes per pound.

Assume complete combustion. Count the number of carbons and hydrogens in propane. Combustion produces CO2 and H20, so one molecule of O2 for every carbon and one molecule of O2 for every 4 hydrogens. Then calculate the rate of propane consumption by dividing the BTUs produced per hour by the BTUs per pound of propane. This will give you the consumption rate for propane. Convert the pounds of propane to moles, multiply by the number of 02 molecules needed per molecule of propane, and you have moles of O2 needed per hour. Multiply that by the volume per mole of O2 at STP, and you have the volume of O2 needed per hour. Air is about 20% O2, so divide by 0.2 to get the volume of air needed per hour.

If you look up the values needed, I will calculate it for you. I don't have time to search for the conversion values needed though ... maybe tonight.

 

[cravej]

I used one of those kerosene heat cannon's when I was replacing my clutch in the middle of the winter. It got my fathers three car garage nice and toasty. I just left the garage door propped open for ventilation.

 

[TRA]

There is. Is this propane? You need to know the simple chemical formula for propane and how much heat in BTUs propane makes per pound.

Assume complete combustion. Count the number of carbons and hydrogens in propane. Combustion produces CO2 and H20, so one molecule of O2 for every carbon and one molecule of O2 for every 4 hydrogens. Then calculate the rate of propane consumption by dividing the BTUs produced per hour by the BTUs per pound of propane. This will give you the consumption rate for propane. Convert the pounds of propane to moles, multiply by the number of 02 molecules needed per molecule of propane, and you have moles of O2 needed per hour. Multiply that by the volume per mole of O2 at STP, and you have the volume of O2 needed per hour. Air is about 20% O2, so divide by 0.2 to get the volume of air needed per hour.

If you look up the values needed, I will calculate it for you. I don't have time to search for the conversion values needed though ... maybe tonight.

Wow. I'm going to have to re-read this a few times.

I really appreciate you taking the time to explain this. I'm at work and just skimming through so it's going over my head.

EDIT: Yes, this is propane and the unit operates at 30k BTU max/10K BTU min.

 

[BigK600]

Good Thread. I live in a apartment with a 1 car garage. Its -15 outside right now and I dont think its gotten above 10 degrees in the last 7 days and looks like another 7+ days of the same weather. Today it was so cold that my rear tires froze up in the brake drum and locked up and wouldnt break lose. Had to take off the tire and bang on the drum with a hammer. Anyways I'm thinking about getting some sort of heat in my small garage. Pretty sure that the best way to go it propane tank with one of those heating elements.

 

[RichardNorman]

I use a three burner tank top propane heater in my 24x24 garage when I work in there during the winter. The garage is insulated just OK and stays at about 40 when it's 30 outside.

With the three burners going at full blast, the garage heats up pretty fast. I don't recall the BTU output at that setting but I think it's like 45k btu. Once up to temp I turn it down to two burners at the lowest setting.

I was concerned about having it in a closed space and also bought a CO2 detector which has never gone off. Every winter I make plans to upgrade to a dayton heater over the summer when they go on sale but I never get around to it.

For my use, the set up works well enough I suppose.