Best heat for occasional use?

[rock_climber]

I have a 40' X 50' garage. It is a metal building with (2) 10'X10' doors, a walk thru door, 12' wall height and 18' center height. I only want to heat it when I am out there, about 10 hrs. a week. I have been looking at radiant tube and ceiling mounted unit heaters. Aprox 125000 btu's. They say radiant tube will save 50% over forced air of the propane used. I don't see see 67 yards of concrete getting warm in just a few hrs. Will radiant heat warm without heating the objects?

Looking at Beacon Morris on the unit heater and Re-Verber-Ray 2 stage on the radiant tube.

Thanks, James

 

[HoosierBuddy]

I think you're right. Radiant heaters will keep you warm if you are standing under them. Move one way or the other though, and it's still cold. Eventually they will heat up everything, but that might take 24 hours to sort of equalize.

Put in a big unit heater of some sort. Forced air with a blower. A furnace with duct work would be better...but I'm assuming you want something quick and (relatively) cheap.

Might even be a good place for a wood stove.

Phil

 

[Special55]

I just picked up a radiant tube heater this past weekend. I haven't installed it yet but plan on keeping it on all winter long.

If you just plan on going out and flippin the switch I would definately go with some sort of forced air unit as Phil said.

Rich

 

[BoostAddiction]

Here's a vote for a mini split unit. Mine keeps temp just where I set it and does a good job of circulating air throughout the garage.

When I'm in a hurry and it is one of the rare really cold days we get here, I take off the chill with a small propane heater, then switch over to the mini split.

Unless you live in the mountain areas of NC, you'll probably find that radiant heat is too expensive (and your floors are already poured) and that some sort of forced hot air is the easiest to use, and likely the cheapest, depending on energy costs where you live.


-Will