heater for the garage

[psreynol]

so I finally want to add a heater in my garage and just like everything, the more I learn, the more I'm experiencing scope creep. so what do you think?

I have a 1 room electric space heater that works pretty well in my 19x19' garage. The garage is covered on 3 walls by the house, so it gets warm enough with that little heater. all is well except I've been spending more time in the garage and my electric bill increased by at least $100 so I would like to do a NG heater.

I was thinking ventless but as long as I'm running the black pipe to the garage, its not alot more work to get it over to the opposite side of the garage and do a vented system. I found a pretty good deal on Mr. Heater maxx 50,000 btu which is way over kill but a fast recovery might be nice. its really the smallest size I can find local and I'm not willing to spend $1000 on a heater anyway.

if I'm ok with an electric space heater but don't want to pay for the power, wouldn't the ventless be fine??

Dyna-Glo™ 30,000 BTU Dual-Fuel Vent-Free Radiant Wall Heater for $199

the 50,000btu mr. heater unit costs twice as much, requires more work to hang and requires the correct vent work. not that it is especially difficult but needs to be done properly... plus I probably need to move shelves and a wheel rack for tires and, and, and. should I go big? is this brand ok? I would rather buy USA quality. I would rather have a larger garage but that isnt going to happen right now so I need to do what I need to do.

 

[Adk Mike]

Modine Hotdawg HD45. What I’ve had in my shop for 15 years. Never look back.

 

[Jim Caudill]

I have been heating my 24x24 garage for over 30 years. For many of those years I used an electric furnace that I picked up from a friend. It was very expensive to keep my garage at 70 degrees F all winter here in Ohio. When it finally crapped out, I picked up a small 240volt hard-wired hanging heater from Rural King. It cost about $70 on sale. The cost to heat remains the same since electricity to heat is 100% efficient. Last spring my window A/C unit died and I finally bit the bullet and installed an LG 12K mini-split heat pump. Our electricity use is way down and the mini-split plus exterior lighting uses about 1KwH every hour. That works out to about $2.50 per day. I wished I had done it years ago. Now my regret is that I didn't go for an 18K unit with cold weather operating temperatures. For about $500 more I could have gotten a unit that operates down to -4 degrees F. The one I have is good down to 17 degrees F. Mini-splits are the future. I did the install myself and it cost me about $1,300 for everything.

 

[bobg03]

I have a 2 and a half car garage with 3 walls exposed to the outside and while I don't see single digit temps, 20 degree mornings and evenings do happen in Myrtle Beach. My other extreme is the heat from Hades. I have no windows and a man door on one side with only the garage door does nothing to alleviate the temps.

I had a company install a mini split and it seems to be very efficient at heating and cooling..it was 28 degrees out this morning and after 15 minutes at 70 degrees it cycled off and it was shorts and T shirt weather.

 

[thickhead]

Welcome to the Garage Journal!

Is your garage insulated and enclosed or exposed studs/rafters?
How long and cold is your heating season?

We figured my electric heater is costing me about $250/yr more than if I switched to gas and the plan is going to a minisplit when this setup eventually needs replacing.

 

[M-technik-3]

Is your garage tight ie minimum airleaks? Does the ceiling have insulation? If not heat is just going to go up and escape through the roof and the garage door. I have an insulted door but it's not enough you can feel the cold on the other side so it act's like a fridge in my opinion.

 

[cpttuna]

I have a 20'X20' detached insulated garage. I use a 60,000 BTU used mobile home furnace
had it in the 20 years. Works just fine.

 

[TractorJeff]

What ever you choose, it needs to be vented to reduce condensation and rust.
I know it costs twice as much but in the long run you will be happier!

 

[allinon72]

Get the Big Maxx, which can be had for $399 but with your installation materials, count on the project being at least double that depending on your venting requirements. 50k is way overkill but you can downsize the heater by plugging off one of the burners.

 

[D45]

Modine Hotdawg HD45. What I’ve had in my shop for 15 years. Never look back.

for a 19 x 19 garage he needs a 30k, tops

 

[D45]

.......... in my 19x19' garage. The garage is covered on 3 walls by the house

Insulated?

Do a power vented heated

30k NG heater should work great for your square footage

 

[GabeC]

Do you have the option for off peak electricity rates? We use 5KW fan forced heaters in a lot of garages and they are pretty handy! I'm still on the fence about gas or electric boilers for my build...

 

[Farmall450]

We slammed a ventless in my dad's garage this winter and it's been excellent so far. Much cleaner than a big maxx, etc, no holes in roof/siding. He has a second story above the garage so venting really would have sucked.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Any ventless heating device that use propane put a large amount of moisture into the air.

If you plan on running your heater on propane for multiple hours a day, it really should be vented.

 

[lockhart3]

Curious as it varies depending on where you are, utility company.

have you calculated the BTUH costs if electric versus gas already?


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[Showkey]

Curious as it varies depending on where you are, utility company.

have you calculated the BTUH costs if electric versus gas already?


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OP stated they were over an additional $100/month with electric heat.

Its not uncommon for Nat gas to 50-75% less expensive than electric. Obviously will vary by location.
Almost everywhere in the country, natural gas is significantly cheaper than electricity. If you live in a cold climate and run your heater a lot during the winter, a gas furnace can save you significant money over the long run.

The local utility will often have on line calculator to compare the heating choices.

 

[Pabird]

I went ventless NG and run a dehumidifier.

 

[lockhart3]

I saw the $100, so if it was $ 60 with gas, and say 5 months heating season that is $ $ 200 year savings ..... do the math on paypack period when you factor in the true total install costs + maintenance on hieff condensing gas heater to determine true “savings” .

Some folks don’t calculate that is all I’m suggesting


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[Ronn]

I use a Dyna-Glo Delux for my 18'x19' garage and it heats up in about 10 minutes from 50*. But the smell of propane in the garage after awhile can get a little much. I think I need to add a better fan to circulate the air when the garage is closed.

 

[ambenz]

I love my $200 Natural Gas Procom ventless is on year 6 without any issues. Runs 24/7 from October to April at 30,000 BTUs and keeps my 660 squares 10 feet high a nice 55F.
View media item 47391
I run a box fan to a relay when the internal fan kicks in and the fan blows warm air 30 feet across the opposite side of the garage. It is very undersized for the space and there is no speedy warm up. From 55F to 70F, about 2 hours. But I do have less than R10 insulation. We have very dry winter conditions here, no lake effect snow or rain. No issues with humidity or smell. It is a dethatched garage so I use a baby monitor in the garage to hear a smoke detector...easy pleasy!

 

[dandan111]

Depends what your doing but if your cleaning any cars you won’t like any added moisture.

 

[Showkey]

No smell from a ventless..............hum, best have your nose checked........cuz......they smell, by product of the on the cleanest flame are still bad news and even worse when any solvents used in the shop pass through the flame.

 

[JRC3]

For $300 you can do a 50K (40K output) vented forced air Hot Dawg type. Fast even heat, no condensation, no nauseating fumes.

*Stock photo. Probably the 80-125K unit.

https://www.ruralking.com/catalog/product/view/id/92110 I saw them at my local store yesterday and thought of this thread.

 

[Farmall450]

For $300 you can do a 50K (40K output) vented forced air Hot Dawg type. Fast even heat, no condensation, no nauseating fumes.

*Stock photo. Probably the 80-125K unit.

https://www.ruralking.com/catalog/product/view/id/92110 I saw them at my local store yesterday and thought of this thread.

Don't forget that added expense of venting...could easily double that number.

Any ventless heating device that use propane put a large amount of moisture into the air.

If you plan on running your heater on propane for multiple hours a day, it really should be vented.

Large is a relative term. In dry winters, that's generally advantageous.

Again, we aren't talking living spaces.

 

[nadogail]

I have 5KW electric heaters in two detached garages, they are on separate properties. They seldom run for more than a few minutes.

One has 30 minuet manual twist timer controlling a relay. The other a fused disconnect. With the solar panels on the roof I feel like I am getting free heat.

When I was choosing a heating source, my low Degree Day requirements and the availability of Solar Electricity greatly influenced my decision.

 

[JRC3]

Huge difference in temp between IL and Coronado, CA. Not even sure if us guys in the Mid-West would even use a heater in 50s.

 

[yeldogt]

I love my $200 Natural Gas Procom ventless is on year 6 without any issues. Runs 24/7 from October to April at 30,000 BTUs and keeps my 660 squares 10 feet high a nice 55F.
View media item 47391
I run a box fan to a relay when the internal fan kicks in and the fan blows warm air 30 feet across the opposite side of the garage. It is very undersized for the space and there is no speedy warm up. From 55F to 70F, about 2 hours. But I do have less than R10 insulation. We have very dry winter conditions here, no lake effect snow or rain. No issues with humidity or smell. It is a dethatched garage so I use a baby monitor in the garage to hear a smoke detector...easy pleasy!

FYI -- if you read the manual ..it will mention that the heater is for supplemental use. They are not intended or approved for 24/7 because of the byproducts. They are also limited in size for the same reason. They were on the edge of being banned years ago

 

[yeldogt]

Don't forget that added expense of venting...could easily double that number.



Large is a relative term. In dry winters, that's generally advantageous.

Again, we aren't talking living spaces.

They vent for a reason ...... people are free to do as they wish. I do think it's important to let people know what is going on ...many don't even think about the difference or understand the how and why they can be sold and approved.

The were big when it was common to have 3 season areas that leaked like crazy -- people would fire them up for occasional use.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I;m in LI NY, usually 20s & 30s at night mid 30s during the day so I went with a 7500 watt electric heater, comfort zone CZ230ER & a window unit ac, installed through wall, under 400$ for both. my electric bill has stayed about the same & I keep the garage comfortable, 600 sq ft with 12' peek. The key is good insulation, even installed a storm door on the man door, I leave it about 65 & don't think about it unless my wife comes out to play than it's 70. It works for me cheap & easy!