Can someone answer these questions please?

[JCLParaCommando]

I have a three car garage with little insulation but I have made it pretty air tight. I live in Southern Utah which has relatively mild winters but it can get down into the 30s' Fahrenheit here in winter.

I am disabled former Special Forces. I am almost deaf, but am severely sensitive to low pitch sounds-What the explosives took away in my high pitch range, God gave me back in my low pitch range-it's better than a baby's.

I have severe arthritis in my hands and need to have my garage heated to enable me to work on military weapons and HO model trains which have small parts and prevents me from wearing gloves.

I want to install a natural gas heater. I am considering a Mr. Heater Big Maxx but I have read that this heater is very noisy. Can anyone comment on that?

Thanks

JCLParaCommando

 

[truckman5000]

You will be more than happy with a two stage, variable speed furnace. Any cieling mounted unit, i would say would be noisy for you. Electric heater may work, but the buzzing may get to you.
If you put a regular 94%+,up flow furnace. Vertically and built a closet around it with a door. You wont hear a thing. If sized rite.

 

[930dreamer]

Sorry I can't but keep in mind that any heater made to move a lot of air is going it be noisy. Might look at radiant type heaters for your noise sensitivity.

 

[Red Green]

The Big Maxx I have is about the same noise level as my regular house furnace. The Big Maxx might be a little bit quieter.

 

[mdbeck1]

I've been using a couple "utility heaters" like these
http://shopping.yahoo.com/2657640-p...light-gray/;_ylt=Aiewd7taUUefRVAkRc2ad2cbFt0A

A couple of these in my double car garage warm it up to above freezing in a couple of hours and keep it tolerable for me.

...and they're inexpensive.



BTW: Thank you for your service.

 

[Fueler]

I vote radiant.

 

[tdkkart]

I'd seriously consider walling off one stall or a portion of one stall and then look into baseboard electric radiant. Dead silent and nice heat, reasonably economical for small spaces.

 

[JCLParaCommando]

Thanks for the prompt replies.

Sounds like radiant heat is a good bet.

I might sound like a basket case but I have skin cancer too... I lived in a world of sh*t for years doing things in places most have never heard of and am now paying the price.

Can anyone say whether radiant heat is harmful like tanning beds or will it damage model train items?

 

[JCLParaCommando]

MDBeck1,

What is you electricity bill like from these?

 

[Fueler]

If you sat 2 foot under the heater it might be an issue but radiant is an indirect heat. You put the heater in the coldest portion of the shop and aim it at the warm side. Indirect means that once all the items in the room, including the floor soak up the heat, they help maintain the temperature. 68 degrees will be the norm all over the shop if that's the temp you choose.

I have the tube heaters in this shop and one can hear the fan running that pushes the flame through the tubes. Not objectionable and one only notices it when it first fires up. After that it's a low hum. In the old shop I had some of the rectangle heaters and never heard them at all. They were 16 ft in the air though.

Naturally, some insulation would go a long way here.

Since you work alone do ear protectors do any good for you in the low range?

And thank you for your service.

 

[airbuff101]

Thank you for your service JC!
Rob

 

[JCLParaCommando]

Thanks Dave,

Yes, ear protectors block some of it out, but I can't hear my radio. I'll have to get one of those musical headphone thingys the kids wear.

 

[JCLParaCommando]

I appreciate that Rob, but I always like to tell people to give thanks to the ones that didn't come back totally ruined... they're the ones that gave.

JCLParaCommando
Member Nevada Special Forces Association Chapter 51

“We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand as our guardians in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm. A soldier must seize every advantage to defeat his opponent. He must strike hard and strike swiftly… he who dares, wins. But under all circumstances those guardians must stand ready to protect the innocent and those too weak to defend themselves…”

 

[mdbeck1]

MDBeck1,

What is you electricity bill like from these?

Unfortunately I can't tell you for sure. I have the electric bill on "averaging" and autodraft from my utilities bank account (I deposit part of my check directly to this account so I don't forget to pay the bills) so I don't even look at the bill most months. The heaters are 1200-1500 watts each and have a little fan in them to push the air out. You can set a temperature range that you like and it will come on automatically.

I also only heat the garage when I am out there which isn't too often when it's really cold. If it really cold I turn the heater(s) on and go make and eat dinner. By the time dinner is done it's warm enough to work.

Lets see I have a new one right here. If you wanted to estimate the cost it would be something like this. Its rated at 120 VAC, 12.5 Amps, 60 Hz. That would be 1500 Watts (or so). I'm not sure if that's per hour or not but then you multiply the power required by the rate you pay for electricity and the amount of time that you have it on. I can't imagine it being more than $5/hour. I don't normally spend more than about 3 hours an evening in the garage. So for the little bit I do use the heater in the colder part of the year I wouldn't expect to see much change in the electric bill.

 

[DYNA BILL]

I appreciate that Rob, but I always like to tell people to give thanks to the ones that didn't come back totally ruined... they're the ones that gave.

JCLParaCommando
Member Nevada Special Forces Association Chapter 51

“We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand as our guardians in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm. A soldier must seize every advantage to defeat his opponent. He must strike hard and strike swiftly… he who dares, wins. But under all circumstances those guardians must stand ready to protect the innocent and those too weak to defend themselves…”

Sounds to me like you gave one hell of a lot and I salute you, sir!

 

[Mike in Ohio]

Thanks for the prompt replies.

Sounds like radiant heat is a good bet.

I might sound like a basket case but I have skin cancer too... I lived in a world of sh*t for years doing things in places most have never heard of and am now paying the price.

Can anyone say whether radiant heat is harmful like tanning beds or will it damage model train items?

My guess is that you sir are not capable of being a basket case!

A basket case would be sitting on his couch saying gimme. You seem to be saying " Do you guys have any good ideas so that I can solve my problem". instead of waiting around for someone to solve it for you, or just giving up and going to the above mentioned couch.

Thank you for your service and sacrifice, and keep at your hobbies so you may show the rest of us how to take the worst the world has to offer and then keep going. I think this makes you a heroe twice.

 

[JCLParaCommando]

Thanks guys... but I am no hero. I was just a soldier once... and young.