Wood Stove for Shop

[Lucid Moments]

I live in NE Georgia where the need for heat is limited. TBH I could just no go out to the shop on the days it is too cold, but I don't want to have to do that. Again being honest cooling is more of an issue, but I am not willing to pay for a/c for a 3,000 sq ft shop, and I am used to the heat.

Anyway, I am looking for something like this with a fan behind it for heat. Do you think this would keep a shop in a workable temperature? If we get down to 20 degrees at night that is extreme cold for down here. Even on most of the coldest days we get well into the 30's or more.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Have you checked with your insurance agent about coverage with a wood stove ?

How big is your shop ?

Is it insulated ?

 

[Lucid Moments]

Have you checked with your insurance agent about coverage with a wood stove ?

How big is your shop ?

Is it insulated ?

I have not checked with my insurance agent yet, but it is a steel building as is the house being built at the same time so I don't think there will be a problem with that.

The shop will be 3,000 square feet, and I am planning on only minimal insulation. I know that the stove I linked is undersized for the shop, but it doesn't get all that cold down here, and I don't need it to be 70 in the shop either.

 

[dsimatt]

I think you would better better suited using a torpedo heater or something similar that you can pull out and use when needed and then store out of the way the rest of the year.

Wood stoves are nice and put out good heat but have their obvious safety risks, need to be tended and you're introducing dust with the ash you have to clean out.

 

[Lucid Moments]

I think you would better better suited using a torpedo heater or something similar that you can pull out and use when needed and then store out of the way the rest of the year.

Wood stoves are nice and put out good heat but have their obvious safety risks, need to be tended and you're introducing dust with the ash you have to clean out.

That is an alternative that I am also thinking about. Easier and probably put out as much or more heat. I just am a little bit of a pyromaniac and like fires.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have not checked with my insurance agent yet, but it is a steel building as is the house being built at the same time so I don't think there will be a problem with that.

The shop will be 3,000 square feet, and I am planning on only minimal insulation. I know that the stove I linked is undersized for the shop, but it doesn't get all that cold down here, and I don't need it to be 70 in the shop either.

First of all, I would rethink your insulation plan. Keep in mind, insulation works for both heat and cold. If you planning on cooling the place in the future, the proper insulation will help. It'll also help with temperature swings and control moisture/humidity.

Every dollar you spend on heat or cooling with good insulation, you're going to get a ROI, no reason to waste dollars.


Not bashing the type of stove you linked, but I bought Daka wood furnace from Menard's for around the same money as that linked stove. It has a small blower and I have it ducted to move the heat.

 

[930dreamer]

X2 on the max insulation for the shop, stove is probably a bit small doesn't have a lot of surface area to radiate heat. I heat my 1200 sq ft fully insulated shop with this 1976 Fisher wood stove and it can heat the shop to 70 degrees or more depending on the wood i.e. hardwood.

I'd look for a vintage Fisher or Earth stove on CL

 

[cgrutt]

I had a woodstove is a small detached garage that I used as workshop on weekends. Loved it. Insurance company didn't lol. Generally insurance companies don't like anything with a direct flame that can come near gasoline... just saying. Didn't seem to matter that I told them it never had a car in it. Had a hard time finding a company to cover garage with the woodstove in it. This is in NY, GA may be different.

Problem with woodstove is you need to keep feeding it. I think you would be better off with a propane (or natural gas if you have it) garage/shop heater. You can just set thermostat and forget about it. I'm talking about the type that direct vents to outside not the torpedo style. Problem with torpedo style heater is it can cause a big condensation problem with cast iron or machine tools while running. This may not be a big problem in GA either though.

Good luck.

 

[Jazz1]

That is a wood burner, not efficient at all.. You should go to a specialty wood stove dealer and get informed on wood stoves. You also need insulated chimney for safety. My stove and chimney is all approved by insurance company. This stove and chimney about $1600 CDN. I have a Pacific Energy 78% efficiency Its the smallest model but my shop only 720 sq ft but no problem keeping my garage at 70 degrees when its -30

 

[Jackfre]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=406618
This recent thread is worth a look.

 

[Spareparts]

I have got the same stove in my shop, not to well insulated but it keeps it comfortable but always feeding it. I have access to all the wood I want so cheap, but work. I have the wood splitter, trailer to haul, and saw's to cut it up, still work and lost time from projects. I am looking at a Pellet Stove, friend of mine has one, 1 bag of pellets every 24hrs of burn time, more time for project's. I could sell my stove, splitter, chain saw's and just buy the pellet stove and have more time to play

 

[dsimatt]

That is an alternative that I am also thinking about. Easier and probably put out as much or more heat. I just am a little bit of a pyromaniac and like fires.

When you add up how many days you'll truly need to use heat is it worth the cost, work and most important loss of shop space?

I agree love fire to but in your shoes I'd either mount a heater or get a propane torpedo heater, mines a 125k btu and it heats my 2.5 car garage up fast so getting a bigger one should do yours easily.

 

[dsimatt]

X2 on the max insulation for the shop, stove is probably a bit small doesn't have a lot of surface area to radiate heat. I heat my 1200 sq ft fully insulated shop with this 1976 Fisher wood stove and it can heat the shop to 70 degrees or more depending on the wood i.e. hardwood.

I'd look for a vintage Fisher or Earth stove on CL

That's why I don't want a stove like that in a shop as I'd end up sitting by it and losing motivation, add a bowl of homemade soup and fresh bread and I'm a goner.

 

[930dreamer]

12 hours later, shop temp dropped 12 degrees. I removed the gas furnace because I didn't want to listen to it run. I could cook on the Fisher if needed and it warms a cold cup of coffee too.

 

[NUTTSGT]

12 hours later, shop temp dropped 12 degrees. I removed the gas furnace because I didn't want to listen to it run. I could cook on the Fisher if needed and it warms a cold cup of coffee too.

I heated left over pizza on my old one.

 

[8Valve]

My shop is about 1200 sq ft. I heat with a pellet stove. With stove turned down when I am not working a 40 pound bag of pellets lasts about 24 hours. When working and heat feed turned up my shop is 68 to 70 when its well below zero outside and runs about 15 hours turned up

8valve