Climate Controlled Room in New Garage

[cory58]

I'm building an 80 sf climate-controlled room in my new garage. I'll be using it as an alternative to renting a climate-controlled storage unit. My plan was to put a window unit with heat through the exterior wall of the garage.

I started researching window units and haven't found one smaller than 7,500 BTU that has heat. That size heat/cool unit will cost almost 3x as much as a cool only unit needed for that size space.

Any advice on options for heating? Is there a "safe" space heater option? The garage is off-site and no one is at the property 90+% of the time. In case it helps, I'm in Charlotte, NC, so winters are not bad, and the ceiling height in the room will be approx 7.5 feet.

Thanks, Cory

 

[6768rogues]

I have used oil filled radiator type heaters successfully. They kind of look like an old steam radiator. They heat well and are not hot enough to ignite most things. I used them occasionally when our kids were small and we were remodeling because a momentary touch does not burn. My son uses them in his properties if there is a temporary heat issue.

 

[JerryC]

Agree with Oil filled radiator. You could also look at a wall panel heater to save some floor space.

 

[cory58]

Great advice! I am familiar with oil-filled space heaters, just never used one. Thanks.

Cory

 

[ducksface]

Check on cigar sites for humidifier plans for 80sqft.
About 300 bucks will buy you the best with WiFi temp and humidity app and alarms.

 

[johnnyradiant]

I've got multiple oil radiators. Some are years and years old. I have one in my office at work, and because the office space was created long after the building was built it was easier/cheaper to just use one of them in the winter than tear into the existing heating system. Mild winters and only to bump from cool to 'room' temp, but it's plugged in all winter and the on board t-stat does it's thing as designed day in and day out.
About the only chance for ignition is a short at the t-stat or the cord.

 

[The Cobbler]

for heat I would use permanent wall mounted, hard wired baseboard heat with a wall t-stat.

 

[cory58]

Thanks again for all the great ideas. The walls will be lined with freestanding shelving units, so baseboard heat would make be nervous. Thankfully, I don't need to make a decision on the heat until November, but the portable oil-filled radiator seems like the right solution.

I purchased the window unit yesterday for $130. Assuming $60-80 for the heater, I'll be saving quite a bit compared to the cheapest heat/cool window unit I could find ($375).

Cory