Cheaper to keep her ?

[stellar91]

I know there are numerous posts on everyone else's different specific heating dilemma, so I thought I would play along. I have a drywalled 20x20 attached garage without insulation that I plan to heat (and insulate).I already have a Reznor UDAP 30 Nat.Gas furnace that I could use but with all the love that the G73 receives and the ease of installation , I could easily buy one if I sold my Reznor. I don't plan on keeping it 70 degrees in the heart of a cold midwest winter but to just make it comfortable when I need to work out there. Thanks in advance

edit* yes, i know there is not a dirt leg on the gas line shown, It was never actually hooked up at this location.

 

[Falcon67]

I live in a "warm" climate, but if I had NG available for my shop I would use it. My G73 is very nice and works well, but NG here is still much more affordable than power @ .115 /kWh.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'm not sure where you are located and don't know what type of winter you have. I'd suggest before you even consider swapping out heaters, insulate that garage.

If you have absolutely no insulation in it now, it'll be like a completely different garage once it's insulated.

 

[RAYJAY]

let see gas or electric ....... there is no way the electric heat will be cheaper to use and recovery the gas will be faster to get back to temp.

use this chart to figure out cost


http://nepacrossroads.com/fuel-comparison-calculator.php

 

[stellar91]

I'm not sure where you are located and don't know what type of winter you have.

Detroit Suburb = Cold , Sometimes long. I plan on insulating the ceiling and door, but the walls are already up (suggestions?)

@RAYJAY ~ I understand that gas would be cheaper , but with limited use it may make more sense and and be cosmetically better looking on the outside of the house .(curb view you would see the exhaust)Thanks for the chart!

 

[RAYJAY]

Detroit Suburb = Cold , Sometimes long. I plan on insulating the ceiling and door, but the walls are already up (suggestions?)

@RAYJAY ~ I understand that gas would be cheaper , but with limited use it may make more sense and and be cosmetically better looking on the outside of the house .(curb view you would see the exhaust)Thanks for the chart!

no problem on the chart i went from using gas in my shop area(cost for heating last year was over $200.00 per month ) to installing a coal stoker this year

Jeff

 

[HoosierBuddy]

no problem on the chart i went from using gas in my shop area(cost for heating last year was over $200.00 per month ) to installing a coal stoker this year

Jeff

So you're the one.

I was out on my deck last night soaking in the hot tub and getting to really enjoy some distant neighbors outdoor coal furnace. Wow. What a super guy. He saves $100 and the neighbors for blocks around get to enjoy the putrid smell.

Don't get me started!

Whoops...too late.

Phil

 

[dirttracker18]

Detroit Suburb = Cold , Sometimes long. I plan on insulating the ceiling and door, but the walls are already up (suggestions?)

Blow in the walls from the inside, small hole at the top and blow in each cavity. I don't care what some people say it will make a big difference.

Do you have a vapour barrier up before the dry wall? If not most of this is a moot point anyway for your area. Without the barrier to stop air movement the benefit from insulation will be minimal.

 

[stellar91]

Do you have a vapour barrier up before the dry wall? If not most of this is a moot point anyway for your area. Without the barrier to stop air movement the benefit from insulation will be minimal.

I don't think so, one wall is common with the house which has a foam-like drywall material behind it (fire resistant probably) 2 of the other sides are exterior walls brick on the outside- drywall inside and of course the last is just an uninsulated 16' steel garage door. I never noticed any vapor barrier while sheeting the attic with osb. I don't mind insulating the door and the attic but I'm not obviously gonna tear down good drywall at this point, I won't be working out there enough to justify.

 

[Cast Iron Nuts]

If it were me re use the reznor heater darn good heaters

 

[RAYJAY]

So you're the one.

I was out on my deck last night soaking in the hot tub and getting to really enjoy some distant neighbors outdoor coal furnace. Wow. What a super guy. He saves $100 and the neighbors for blocks around get to enjoy the putrid smell.

Don't get me started!

Whoops...too late.

Phil

phil save a $100 .... more like a couple of $1000 per year I heat my whole house all winter for 6 to 7 ton( cost on that is 135.00a ton) we also have nat.gas one month in the winter our gas bill would be 450 to 500 a month, we burn hard coal here there is no smell once you start it up. if you getting a sulfur smell he not burning it right but he is saving a lot more than $100.00 ...

Jeff

 

[mcdtommy23]

Go with the g-73. This is the 3rd season with mine - no regrets.

 

[MikeLawrence]

I'd vote to keep what you have.

AFAIK the g73 isn't special: it's a 5kw strip heat.

While it may be a very very GOOD strip heat that doesn't change it being what it is: 3 (and a third) electric space heaters (the kind you can find on sale for $10 a pop) on a single 30amp circuit.

If ditching your current setup in favor of 3 hair dryers/space heaters/whatever could make sense for your situation then the g73 is actually a good fit.

If the idea of paying 4 (to 5) times the price per btu sounds ridiculous to you then stay with your current system.

As far as other options you could go with something like a www.thruwalls.com/units/ptac/az61h15dab which would put out the same heat btu as a g73 at ~1/4 the operating cost and even give you an air conditioner in the summer "for free". But I'm not sold on it being a better option for you than what you have now--it's still going to have an affect on the outside appearance (a ptac looks like a ptac though some louvers are nicer than others) and be almost exactly the same cost/btu as your current setup.

Just my $0.02
Michael Lawrence, LISSCO
www.thruwalls.com

Full disclaimer: Yes that's my website but I'm using it for comparison purposes here. Please don't get report happy because I chose not to link a competitor.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Like Dirtracker said, if you have drywall already, I'd blow the walls full of insulation.

 

[stellar91]

if you have drywall already, I'd blow the walls full of insulation.

Even without a moisture barrier?? If so ,sounds like a definate addition to the project once I get it wired the way I want, Thanks gentleman

 

[NUTTSGT]

They never had moisture barriers in old homes. I think (and may be wrong) the newer builds that are sealed real tight and more needing of the moisture barriers.

If you want a moisture barrier, you'll have to rip down the drywall, which if you do, I'd use fiberglass batting instead of the blown in cellulouse.

 

[stellar91]

If you want a moisture barrier, you'll have to rip down the drywall, which if you do, I'd use fiberglass batting instead of the blown in cellulouse.

Negative, pulling down the drywall is not an option, but if I decide to add-on another external bay to the garage then that one will be to current standards and built well. Designed for heat/ air and possibly drain

 

[RAYJAY]

why would you want a moisture barrier in a garage walls anyway? the floor i can see but the walls not really. I wash my cars in mine.we also pull cars covered in snow and ice a i have no moisture problems or mold problems, may be a lot of the mold problems we hear about is because we seal our houses /garage to tight

do you really need the tight of a air space in a garage? may I'm old school but i was taught to let a house breath a little.....

 

[Dragster Racer]

I wouldn't even consider the electric. I know it is 100% efficient, but it is also more expensive in the midwest 100% of the time. If you want to find out if electric would be as cheap, stick a small electric heater out there and let it run. I would bet it would only take you one month to determine that nat gas is a lot cheaper per btu.

 

[2chipped]

Baaaaah its 62 at 9 pm . Hump these northern people ,insulation n heaters is all they can talk about.hehe

 

[stellar91]

Baaaaah its 62 at 9 pm . Hump these northern people ,insulation n heaters is all they can talk about.hehe

Why is a southern boy trolling in a Heating and Cooling forum when at this time of year he needs neither . Move along, go sweep your garage. At least in Summer, I don't have to worry about cooling my garage and just turn on a fan.hehe