Radiant heater - my results/monthly cost and review

soapii · Feb 11, 2014

I usually don't contribute to the forum like this so I hope the info helps someone down the line.

Quick overview, my garage is a detached 30x44x12 with one service door, two 10x8 doors and one 10x10 door. The garage is stick built with a storage attic over the center 1/3 of the garage. For insulation I did spray foam walls and batting/blown cellulose in the ceiling. The three garage doors are 2" thick polyurethane insulated.

I decided to go with a radiant tube from Re-Verber-Ray as I like radiant heat (no noise or blowing dust) and the company is local so I got a great deal. I went with a 20' long dual stage (LD series) unit (35K BTU low and 50K BTU high). Installation was very straight forward. The bottom of the heat tube ended up about 10'-6" off the ground.

My opinion.........I love the thing. It has been nasty cold here all month. I leave the thermostat set to 45* (minimum temp setting) and it is a near perfect working temp. It took a few days for the slab/tools/toys to warm up, but everything holds heat great now. I can open a door to get out the snowblower etc and as soon as I close the door, you can barely tell it was open. There has been no moisture build up at all inside the garage, even with the almost daily melting of snow/ice from my plow and snowblower.

So the results. I just got my first full month natural gas bill (for bitterly cold January). It cost me $35 to run the heater all month!! I was expecting to be in the $75-100 range for Dec-Feb so I am very very happy. If anyone is considering a radiant tube, IMO you will be very happy.

Attached are a few pics while I was hanging it and once I was done.

--Joe

Fueler · Feb 11, 2014

Radiant tube owner here. Also pleased. Nice installation.

I noticed you haven't hooked up the inlet to the outside air.
Here is my story. I went the same route thinking since I had a tall building etc that it was no big deal. This winter showed me the error of my ways. I had a cold draft I could never pin down. Then we had some 60 mph shear snow winds aimed right at the exhaust. That draft got way worse AND the heater could not start. The fan in there has to create X pressure for the gas to come on and light. With the wind blowing backwards down the tube it was a lose/lose.

Once it dawned on me the problem I ran to the store after the storm to get some aluminum flex tube, collar and a glorified drier vent, etc. By routing the air to the outside it sees equal pressure on both sides and will fire in the middle of a gale. Also it is now more safe with no exposure of the flame to the shop atmosphere, the mystery draft is gone AND believe it or not it is quieter. win/win/win Just sorry I was so slow to realize it.

Just a tip for those in this situation of high wind and no fire. You can trick it. Climb up there and remove the top off of the burner box. Then turn it on. This gives the fan a running start, Then set the lid on and it will fire up.
At least it did for me.

I have had mine for a few years so one more tip. Order in a spare igniter since you won't find them at the local big box or hardware store.
They don't wear out very fast but when they do it certainly is not during the Summer.
Catch my cold Drift? :lol:

nudge, nudge

anthony666 · Feb 11, 2014

do either of you fellas find the back of your head melting and your feet cold ?? did you insulate under the slab ???

soapii · Feb 11, 2014

No and no. When I am out there working the temp is never above 50* and from Dec-Feb I always wear good wool socks and boots. No insulation under slab and my slab temp ranges from 50 under the tube to 35 near the edges.

--Joe

Fueler · Feb 11, 2014

anthony666 said:
do either of you fellas find the back of your head melting and your feet cold ?? did you insulate under the slab ???

Nope from me either. Doesn't work that way. This radiant thing heats objects and it bounces from object to object. Eventually the whole shop...floor, benches, tools are all at the same temp.

Under the slab. This pole barn was built in the 80s before I got here if there is insulation under there it is on the doubtful list.

Granted if you stand under the end where the burner is you can feel it more than at the other end. For this reason they recommend the hot end go closest to the garage or shop door. Recovers real quick after opening and closing that big door. I can tell you this. I went from forced air to radiant.
Open the big door with forced air I would be shivering for quite a while as the furnace ran and ran...and it was a big sucker. With radiant, as long as you get in and out in a reasonable short time I don't even notice a difference. Sometimes the heater won't even kick on. That's all the heated stuff in the shop radiating heat back that saves the day.

Jackfre · Feb 11, 2014

anthony666 said:
do either of you fellas find the back of your head melting and your feet cold ?? did you insulate under the slab ???

Back in the late 70's when I had my contracting business, it was winter and I had to make a supply house run I had several choices. One of them had radiant tube heaters over the counter area. My feet were all ready frozen but man did i like the back of my head melting. They got most of my winter business.

anthony666 · Feb 12, 2014

Jackfre said:
Back in the late 70's when I had my contracting business, it was winter and I had to make a supply house run I had several choices. One of them had radiant tube heaters over the counter area. My feet were all ready frozen but man did i like the back of my head melting. They got most of my winter business.

hahaha .. last year i had a regular helper that was drank coffee like it was going out of style .. one of the suppliers up here, noble trade, have a free coffee machine in every location .. we'd be at a job and i'd say "pass me a ....." and before i said what i needed he'd say "we're out lets go to noble" .. they made a fortune off me

aka Larry · Feb 12, 2014

Where I used to work we had a setup like that, though ours was a horseshoe shape. We had 25' ceilings and with huge bay doors opening them with that setup worked great.

I will say the further up you can hang it, the better it does at heating a wider area.

bczygan · Feb 12, 2014

What kind of deal did you get by being local?

Did you install yourself?

I have a single car about 10x20. Assuming that 9' ceiling is high enough, I probable need the smallest single stage unit?

soapii · Feb 12, 2014

bczygan said:
What kind of deal did you get by being local?

Did you install yourself?

I have a single car about 10x20. Assuming that 9' ceiling is high enough, I probable need the smallest single stage unit?

The deal wasn't because I was local, that just saved me shipping since I could go pick it up. I got 20% off because a friends shop buys all their heaters from them. Sorry for the poor wording in the first post.

Yes I installed it myself, everything was very straight forward.

The nice part of the dual stage is that they run on low to maintain temp, so you don't worry about the melted head like others have complained about. It only runs on high if you turn the heat up several degrees or when it initially turns on.

--Joe

soapii · Mar 13, 2014

Another follow up with more good results. Got my gas bill for the month of February..........$6 to heat my garage all month. Granted the billing cycle is a little shorter but I am still very pleased with the results.

This is keeping the thermostat at 45* all day every day and turning it up to 50* when I am out there working. I'm amazed how little the heater runs when the outside temp actually gets into the 20's. Last month was stupid with single digit high temps so the heater ran more often.

--Joe

tdkkart · Mar 13, 2014

soapii said:
Another follow up with more good results. Got my gas bill for the month of February..........$6 to heat my garage all month. Granted the billing cycle is a little shorter but I am still very pleased with the results.
--Joe

The guy with the $812 bill from last month will be in contact, he has the rest of your bill.......... :thumbup:

rob in nh · Mar 13, 2014

can these type of heaters work on propane?

Fueler · Mar 13, 2014

Propane? Mine does.

soapii · Mar 13, 2014

rob in nh said:
can these type of heaters work on propane?

Sure, you specify when you buy them which type of fuel you plan to use.

--Joe

LifeLongWNYer · Mar 13, 2014

I have noticed that both the Home Depot and the Lowes in the area use them over the cashiers, contractors desk, and returns area. The people in those areas are there all day, and just inside the front doors. If the heat wasn't decent, I'm sure they would be complaining.

If it works from them, it can't be too bad. Neither of those outfits are known for spending money foolishly.

.

synchro7 · Mar 15, 2014

I've installed a 40', 125000 BTU Re-verb-ray about 7 years ago. I'm heating a 40'X44', 12' wall area. The budget billing went up about $35.00 a month. It's on a set back thermostat, 45 8pm-8am, and 60 8am-8pm. I'm out there every day. As was said you can open the OH door, move stuff out and in without it getting cold inside.

oldtractors · Mar 15, 2014

anthony666 said:
do either of you fellas find the back of your head melting and your feet cold ?? did you insulate under the slab ???

The heater works by heating objects and that includes the slab. Once the slab is warmed up the heat is very even throughout the entire shop. Yes, you feel the heat on your head (like the sun is shining on you), but your feet are warm at the same time. Tall ceilings and concrete slabs are the ideal conditions for running radiant tube heaters.

Twiggss · Mar 17, 2014

Have these at my work place. Lovely when they are working and standing under them. Chattering teeth when broken or walk 2 ft either direction from underneath them. (but this is a large drafty, poorly insulated building)

gregp · Mar 18, 2014

"Tall ceilings and concrete slabs are the ideal conditions for running radiant tube heaters. "
How far do these hang down? My ceiling height is 10' in my 26x38 garage. Is this to low to consider radiant heaters?

Fueler · Mar 18, 2014

gregp said:
"Tall ceilings and concrete slabs are the ideal conditions for running radiant tube heaters. "
How far do these hang down? My ceiling height is 10' in my 26x38 garage. Is this to low to consider radiant heaters?

I have 12 ft walls, trusses at 11.5 feet, heater hanging at 10. no problemo for me. If you talk to the mfg of your choice you will likely find that there is a recommended version for that height. You will also notice others here have their heaters hanging 45 degrees off the side wall. I have seen pictures of these things in 8 ft tall garages.

newhollandpuller · Mar 19, 2014

I agree with Fueler they make them for lower ceilings. My Ceiling is 10' high and have a Reverberray in my shop and LOVE it!!

newhollandpuller · Mar 19, 2014

bczygan said:
What kind of deal did you get by being local?

Did you install yourself?

I have a single car about 10x20. Assuming that 9' ceiling is high enough, I probable need the smallest single stage unit?

since you're close here is a great place to get your heater - International Radiant - 959 East Whitcomb -Madison Heights, MI (800) 334-6856. It's where i purchased mine and they are easy to deal with and gave me a great price.

soapii · Mar 21, 2014

newhollandpuller said:
since you're close here is a great place to get your heater - International Radiant - 959 East Whitcomb -Madison Heights, MI (800) 334-6856. It's where i purchased mine and they are easy to deal with and gave me a great price.

Same place I dealt with.

--Joe

chevroletfreak · Mar 21, 2014

I won't be able to comment until next winter, but I just purchased a 45k btu radiant heater to put in my garage. I fell victim to the bigger is better philosophy. My garage is about 1000sqft with only 8' ceilings. We'll see how it works out or if I start melting stuff

Fueler · Mar 21, 2014

Just put it at the cold end of the garage. Once everything heats up and stabilizes it's no big thing.

koopster · Mar 23, 2014

Long time reader here, not a big poster, though. Sorry to **** in. Starting my new 42X28 3 bay- 2 10" doors for the toys and a walled off bay for a wood workshop. 15" ceilings. Building in Mass. Been contiplating heat sources. Decided against radiant floor- takes too long to recover when doors open up, although nice to work off of! Have a coal boiler already running that I could tap off of with ceiling mount Modines. I like the units you are talking of in this post (LP tank right by the garage site) QUESTION: any of you have lifts, etc? I will have a 4 poster in the shop keeping classic cars up high.(14""...not looking to give them a sunburn, if you know what I mean!
Any suggestions on placement? I was worried about gas fumes and the burner but with fresh air tubes installed that should be ok.

Fueler · Mar 23, 2014

Radiant tube w propane = no gas fumes.

Obviously if there is some concern with heat near the second story car don't mount whatever heater you choose close to that area.

soapii · Mar 24, 2014

koopster said:
QUESTION: any of you have lifts, etc? I will have a 4 poster in the shop keeping classic cars up high.(14""...not looking to give them a sunburn, if you know what I mean!
Any suggestions on placement?

My garage is 44' with the lift on one end. I got a 20' heater and mounted it in the center of the garage with the intake/control box closest to the lift. I can put a car all the way up with no worries.

--Joe

Radiant heater - my results/monthly cost and review

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