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Best Garage heater

rensell

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Joined
Oct 25, 2017
Messages
3
Good day guys. I'm planning to buy a heater for my garage. Winter is coming and I hate it when I'm in my garage doing something and it's very cold. I checked some best heater on Amazon and this site http://www.elreviews.com/best-garage-heater/. I'm confused on what would be the best heater that I should use. Is there any suggestion from you guys for me to decide what should I buy. Please help me with this. Thank you in advance!
 
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James-W

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Joined
Feb 3, 2013
Messages
12,432
Location
Southeastern Wisconsin
Where do you live?

What type fuel is available, natural gas, electric, propane, fuel oil?

Do you want the garage heated all the time, or just occasionally?

How warm do you want the garage to be?
 

ambenz

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Joined
Dec 12, 2010
Messages
4,236
Location
NW Chicago Suburbs
I suppose I have to be the advocate for ventless heaters.....*sigh*
I am doing exactly what you are considering in a 22'X30' garage using my Procom 30,000 btu natural gas ventless in the Chicago metro region.
I have no condensation issues at all and I keep the space at 55F during the cold season and bump it up to 65F when I want to work or putz in the garage.
If you have the regulator adjusted properly for the right inch of water column, there is hardly any smell....though my garage isn't super tight.
I also constantly run a cheapo box fan, 4 foot above the furnace, blowing the heat across the space and constantly keep the air in the garage circulating.
It is insulated with rigid foam about R13, if that.
I paid about $200 for the heater with the optional blower fan and I'm paying about $40 a month to heat my 660 squares.
d8981ad4a2644994dfcbe1754a120d97.jpg


Having a heated garage in the winter is AWESOME!!!!
 
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Matt Matt

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Joined
May 11, 2017
Messages
523
Location
Ontario
Hot Dang =>if you’re parking cars, creating dust that is OK to be circulated.
Overhead radiant=> if you’re got a lot of cast-iron machinery.

I personally went with overhead radiant by SRP.( but there is a few different companies depending on your shop size and needs). I personally did not want a circulating blower. And I have a lot of cast-iron in my shop.

I would never suggest an open flame as a heating source. They add carbon monoxide to the air and excessive moisture. These type of shops need to be ventilated, which kind of screws with the heating trying to be achieved.

If you want to do it on the cheap, a electric shop heater will get you there for under $200, but depending on where you live, and if you have NG, A higher efficiency NG heater will save you money in the long run!

My 30,000 BTU overhead radiant with installation ran me about $1000. I was running 8000 W electric Prior. I am in about 1.5-2 year payback to breakeven.
 
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rensell

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Oct 25, 2017
Messages
3
I just want it to be heated occasionally. We have a fuel oil in here, but I don't have any idea on what should I buy. but maybe I can review all of your suggestion and choose the best quality for it. Thanks for suggestions. but it would be nice if you can give me some specific brand of heater so I can save time on checking all brands in the internet.
 

Matt Matt

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Joined
May 11, 2017
Messages
523
Location
Ontario
I just want it to be heated occasionally. We have a fuel oil in here, but I don't have any idea on what should I buy. but maybe I can review all of your suggestion and choose the best quality for it. Thanks for suggestions. but it would be nice if you can give me some specific brand of heater so I can save time on checking all brands in the internet.

Where do you live (Florida-Alaska)? , and what is you price limit? Do you have natural gas (or not)? What is the size of your shop/garage? Is your shop/garage insulated? And how much (R in walls/ceiling)?
 
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On-Wheel

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Joined
Oct 6, 2014
Messages
487
Best simplest for only on occasions for me was a torpedo Heater .Bought 165,000 btu unit that's in my 1100 sq ft 11' ceiling garage.From 40* to 75* in less than 10 minutes.After an hour it still 65*f.It's only supposed to burn a gallon an hour so all in all its a cheap way for me .Down fall is if it's humid it wil make moisture but so far so good with low humidity.
 

Showkey

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Wausau WI
Humidity is an issue............but............The real down fall of any ventless heater is the combustion gases and the fumes created when the solvents pass through the flame...............exposure to these gases is not trivial and should not over looked or disregarded. ( yes.......safety is for sissies)
 

yeldogt

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Jan 2, 2012
Messages
18,184
If you read the fine print the ventless heaters are not to be used as a primary source -- they are allowed as supplemental ... like ventless stoves are gas logs. The theory being the combustion gases will dissipate.
 

nafterclifen

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Joined
Nov 22, 2014
Messages
525
Location
Poconos, PA
My house is all electric. And my panel is in my garage. So I hung a Fahrenheat FUH725 (7500W) heater in the corner of the garage above the man door. Garage is 20x22x9. Walls are 2x4" insulated with R15 and ceiling is 2x6 insulated with R21. Both 9x7 garage doors are insulated too. Two windows and one man door. Heater will make you sweat in 1 hour if left on high, even if you are wearing shorts and tank top.

https://www.marleymep.com/system/files/node/file/field-file//zbl-fuh54.pdf

$390.00 Heater
$100.00 125' 8/2 NM-B copper wire (did not use all of it)
$ 20.00 40a breaker
$510.00 TOTAL
 
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The_Auto_Tech

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Joined
Oct 11, 2017
Messages
180
Humidity is an issue............but............The real down fall of any ventless heater is the combustion gases and the fumes created when the solvents pass through the flame...............exposure to these gases is not trivial and should not over looked or disregarded. ( yes.......safety is for sissies)

Agreed. I ran a 75k BTU kerosene one in the corner of the garage for a short period of time and quickly noticed that it was hard to breathe. Those heaters can **** the oxygen out of a space very quickly. The problem is that they need ventilation, which contradicts the idea of trying to keep your heat in a space.
 

The_Auto_Tech

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Joined
Oct 11, 2017
Messages
180
I suppose I have to be the advocate for ventless heaters.....*sigh*
I am doing exactly what you are considering in a 22'X30' garage using my Procom 30,000 btu natural gas ventless in the Chicago metro region.
I have no condensation issues at all and I keep the space at 55F during the cold season and bump it up to 65F when I want to work or putz in the garage.
If you have the regulator adjusted properly for the right inch of water column, there is hardly any smell....though my garage isn't super tight.
I also constantly run a cheapo box fan, 4 foot above the furnace, blowing the heat across the space and constantly keep the air in the garage circulating.
It is insulated with rigid foam about R13, if that.
I paid about $200 for the heater with the optional blower fan and I'm paying about $40 a month to heat my 660 squares.
d8981ad4a2644994dfcbe1754a120d97.jpg


Having a heated garage in the winter is AWESOME!!!!

I thought about one of those setups too but dismissed it as being only slightly better than a torpedo heater. It functions in the same manner. If I was going to be doing combustible heat I'd do vented without a doubt. Also, if you plan to use any solvents your risk of fire increases exponentially with open flame.
 

sr71

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 3, 2007
Messages
383
Location
Michigan
I just want it to be heated occasionally. We have a fuel oil in here, but I don't have any idea on what should I buy. but maybe I can review all of your suggestion and choose the best quality for it. Thanks for suggestions. but it would be nice if you can give me some specific brand of heater so I can save time on checking all brands in the internet.

Carefull .... occasional heating in a cold climate is a near guaranteed recipe for tool rust. if your winters will see thermometer drop below 40 you really should add a thermostat to keep temp above the dew point (40 or so) ...crank the heater to 65 when working.

I have a Hot Dawg - forced air natural gas - 10 years - no issues.
 

6768rogues

Banned
Joined
Nov 28, 2007
Messages
4,524
Location
Western NY
NY started allowing ventless gas heaters as supplemental heat a few years ago. They have to be installed according to their listing. If you strictly follow the listing, you will have a large space with a small heater and a window open a little. They are intended for an occasional decorative fire, that is it. There is no way I want unvented combustion in a building I own.
I have Reznor hanging heaters in two buildings and they work very well.
 

James-W

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Joined
Feb 3, 2013
Messages
12,432
Location
Southeastern Wisconsin
Carefull .... occasional heating in a cold climate is a near guaranteed recipe for tool rust. if your winters will see thermometer drop below 40 you really should add a thermostat to keep temp above the dew point (40 or so) ...crank the heater to 65 when working.

I have a Hot Dawg - forced air natural gas - 10 years - no issues.
I have a 60,000 BTU natural gas Hot Dawg heater as well and I have had no issues at all with it. I keep the thermostat set at 50 degrees when I am not out there working and when I am working on a project I crank it up to 70 degrees.
 
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rensell

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Oct 25, 2017
Messages
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Now it's clear on me. thank you for your suggestions. It help me a lot to decide what I'm going to buy. Thank you
 

Bolson32

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Joined
Dec 6, 2016
Messages
541
Location
Lake Elmo, MN
Carefull .... occasional heating in a cold climate is a near guaranteed recipe for tool rust. if your winters will see thermometer drop below 40 you really should add a thermostat to keep temp above the dew point (40 or so) ...crank the heater to 65 when working.

How big of a concern is this really? Especially with a more dry heat like electric?

I ran my torpedo tube at least half a dozen days last winter and noticed no appreciable rust. The only thing that had some very minor surface rust was a set of tool shop needle nose pliers that had fallen on the ground and I didn't notice them for 6 months. I'm sure you're more concerned with general air humidity with a vented heater vs the crappy tube, but winters in the Midwest are notoriously very dry.
 

fmzip

Active member
Joined
Jan 17, 2017
Messages
33
My house is all electric. And my panel is in my garage. So I hung a Fahrenheat FUH725 (7500W) heater in the corner of the garage above the man door. Garage is 20x22x9. Walls are 2x4" insulated with R15 and ceiling is 2x6 insulated with R21. Both 9x7 garage doors are insulated too. Two windows and one man door. Heater will make you sweat in 1 hour if left on high, even if you are wearing shorts and tank top.

https://www.marleymep.com/system/files/node/file/field-file//zbl-fuh54.pdf

$390.00 Heater
$100.00 125' 8/2 NM-B copper wire (did not use all of it)
$ 20.00 40a breaker
$510.00 TOTAL


How's this unit? I read reviews that the clack when it turns on is startling loud. Is that the case? Don't want something that will wake us up in the middle of the night. Did you wire a disconnect or just a straight run from the panel to the heater?
 

The_Auto_Tech

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Joined
Oct 11, 2017
Messages
180
How's this unit? I read reviews that the clack when it turns on is startling loud. Is that the case? Don't want something that will wake us up in the middle of the night. Did you wire a disconnect or just a straight run from the panel to the heater?

Are you sleeping in the garage or what?
 

rello

Member
Joined
May 11, 2018
Messages
6
Location
Iowa,Des Moines
I have to say that the use of ventless heaters won't get much support around here.
A lot of folks who are connected with the heating industry take a very dim view of these types of heaters.

In Canada and some parts of the US they are not allowed to be used because of the potential of poisoning by carbon monoxide.
I know Minnesota doesn't allow them but I'm unsure of other states.

How these things work is that under ideal conditions the flame burns with over 99% efficiency where the carbon monoxide that is emmited is within the allowable amount.
The type of safety they use measures the amount of oxygen in the air and when the oxygen begins to be depleted they shut the heater off.
In many peoples eyes this is thought to place to much empasis on people's safety with a single mechanical device.

I have a two car garage I do a lot of work in. 22x22 The walls are insulated but the door is not. When it's 30 to 40 outside, it's in the 50's inside. I was looking for a propane heater but took a electric heater we got at Costco. It's one of the Parabolic dish types and it will get garage up to the mid 60's to 70 degree's.

This isn't the exact one we have but something like it.Costco - Presto HeatDish Parabolic Heater Plus Footlight (Here is a link to the article I relied on when choosing) https://patiotip.com/best-patio-heater
I also have 1300 watt halogen lights and if I'm polishing I have them on anyway and they put out quite a bit of heat.
I often look at Youtube for different videos on this topic, I'll leave you here, maybe this will be useful to someone in the future
 
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jonshonda

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Joined
Jul 17, 2017
Messages
4,742
Location
Wisconsin
I live in northern WI and would like to work in the garage maybe a few weekends over the winter, as well as host some sledding and maybe birthday parties out there...but never plan to keep it warm all winter. 9' insulated ceiling and walls, two 8' cheap *** insulated doors.

I have thought about heaters for a while now, and really am not sure what I want to do. I have natural gas at the house, but a line would have to be run from clear across other side of the house to get to my garage, and the cost of venting through the roof just doesn't appeal to me. I have thought about doing propane and just having a 100lb tank right outside the garage that I could refill when needed, but don't know if that is going to pass code?

More then likely I will end up doing an electric heater based on how often I plan to utilize it, but it sure would be nice to have it on when it gets really cold out and I don't want my poor lexus to get chilly. :cool:
 

TractorJeff

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Joined
Dec 8, 2013
Messages
3,309
Location
Elkhorn, WI
I live in northern WI and would like to work in the garage maybe a few weekends over the winter, as well as host some sledding and maybe birthday parties out there...but never plan to keep it warm all winter. 9' insulated ceiling and walls, two 8' cheap *** insulated doors.

I have thought about heaters for a while now, and really am not sure what I want to do. I have natural gas at the house, but a line would have to be run from clear across other side of the house to get to my garage, and the cost of venting through the roof just doesn't appeal to me. I have thought about doing propane and just having a 100lb tank right outside the garage that I could refill when needed, but don't know if that is going to pass code?

More then likely I will end up doing an electric heater based on how often I plan to utilize it, but it sure would be nice to have it on when it gets really cold out and I don't want my poor lexus to get chilly. :cool:

Get a hanging heater (similar to modine) from Menards, get a 250 gallon propane tank, vent out through the wall.
If its simplicity satisfies your heating requirement for a winter, then plan on trenching the NG line next year! :beer:
 

Jackfre

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Joined
Dec 26, 2010
Messages
4,411
Location
N CA
The BEST vented heater will be a Rinnai Energysaver. You can buy cheaper, but you will not find better. The BEST vent free heater will be the Rinnai 824.
 

CJseven

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 4, 2007
Messages
344
Location
Southeast Missouri
My last shop I had a central heat and air unit that my grandparents removed from there home to update. It was a up flow so I built a base for it to sit on with a filter in it. Then I built a 90% plenum to set on top to dump the air into the room. This one I just bought a hanging heater from Menards since I didn’t use the a/c much in the old shop. Check Craig’s list or Facebook classified ads too.
 

okoyoray

Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2018
Messages
6
Location
Backyard
I have a 220 NewAir G73 Hardwired Electric Garage Heater that I bought about 11/2 years ago . Keeps my 550 square feet car garage nice and toasty! (The garage is not insulated) I got it for about $220.00 + shipping.
 

bathwalter

Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2019
Messages
5
Location
Denver
In the last house, we had a small garage and we used a ceramic heater in the coldest time.

This type of device is also often used for heating garages. The equipment is characterized by low power consumption, small size and safe mode of operation. Heaters are equipped with built-in automatic control, which turns off in case of dangerous situations. The case of such heaters is protected and quite stable.

At that time, based on a review, we bought TRUSTECH KPT-5167HL (here is a link to the review, where there was a list from which we selected the product. It seemed to us the most informative). It did its job very well as much as possible in the garage.

Now, of course, we are thinking over a more serious system.
 
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nadogail

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Joined
Jan 23, 2009
Messages
31,961
Location
Coronado, CA
Incandescent Light bulbs generate approximately 3 BTUs per watt and will light up your garage nicely.

Acquisition costs are minimal.
 

Showkey

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Joined
Aug 9, 2014
Messages
8,638
Location
Wausau WI
Incandescent Light bulbs generate approximately 3 BTUs per watt and will light up your garage nicely.

Acquisition costs are minimal.

50,000 btu........

So you would need 277 60 watt bulbs to heat a 1000 sqft garage.......seems like a no brainer perfect solution.:lol_hitti


The real problem is the 138.88 amps ( 16,666.66 watts) :headscrat
 
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