MX148
New member
Hello, new to GJ. I have a detached, vaulted ceiling and insulated 20x20 . 8foot walls. I’m on the border of zones 5 and 6 . Do i even entertain a mini split or just run a NG line out to the garage and go that route?
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Considering a mini split. Change my mind.
- Thread starter MX148
- Start date
James-W
Well-known member
With the price of natural gas being as cheap as it is, I would run a gas line and go with a modine type heater. I have a Hot Dawg heater in my garage but there are others that work just as well.
By the way, welcome to the forum.
By the way, welcome to the forum.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Hard to bet NG for heat. What are you going to do for cooling ?
Paladin306
Well-known member
MX148,
Just saw your message so, I'll give an alternate view. Natural gas may not always be as economical as it is currently. My Samsung mini-splits are awesome and, absolutely super stingy when it comes to energy use. I have 1380 square feet and it kept my shop super toasty even though it got down to 6 degrees on the coldest day this past winter. (I also have a radiant system in the floor.) The one caveat however, besides the expense of the unit, is that since the heating portion of the unit is a heat pump it's not as effective when the weather is freezing and the unit is wet such as with sleeting or freezing rain.
On the plus side, the Samsung units can also be controlled through their phone app. So, as long as you have internet you can turn the units on/off ahead of time even while you're away.
Just my 2 cents,
Mark
My shop https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=369051
Just saw your message so, I'll give an alternate view. Natural gas may not always be as economical as it is currently. My Samsung mini-splits are awesome and, absolutely super stingy when it comes to energy use. I have 1380 square feet and it kept my shop super toasty even though it got down to 6 degrees on the coldest day this past winter. (I also have a radiant system in the floor.) The one caveat however, besides the expense of the unit, is that since the heating portion of the unit is a heat pump it's not as effective when the weather is freezing and the unit is wet such as with sleeting or freezing rain.
On the plus side, the Samsung units can also be controlled through their phone app. So, as long as you have internet you can turn the units on/off ahead of time even while you're away.
Just my 2 cents,
Mark
My shop https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=369051
kelpaso1
MEMBER EMERITUS
Although, as economical as mini splits are, I think NG is cheaper for heating and work better in low temps. If I had NG here that would be my choice. But as Wizard said, AC? Could kill 2 birds with one stone with a mini.
Voi
Well-known member
I'm in CZ 6 & have a mini split in my cabin & a Reznor hanging heater in my garage.
Some thoughts:
My NG Reznor is loud but is cheap to run & heats the garage up quickly. Friend of mine has new Reznors in his garage & they're much quieter, but louder than my mini split.
My Fujitsu mini split is very quiet & I would think the dry mode would be great in your climate. I don't know how well the heat pump works at the lower limits of its rated ability nor do I know how quickly it can hear the place up on colder winter days (yet).
As much as I'd love to have an air conditioned garage I think I'd have to choose the NG for a cheap heat source during winter. For melting snow off vehicles if nothing else. And because I can bring the temp up so quickly.
Some thoughts:
My NG Reznor is loud but is cheap to run & heats the garage up quickly. Friend of mine has new Reznors in his garage & they're much quieter, but louder than my mini split.
My Fujitsu mini split is very quiet & I would think the dry mode would be great in your climate. I don't know how well the heat pump works at the lower limits of its rated ability nor do I know how quickly it can hear the place up on colder winter days (yet).
As much as I'd love to have an air conditioned garage I think I'd have to choose the NG for a cheap heat source during winter. For melting snow off vehicles if nothing else. And because I can bring the temp up so quickly.
Kaizen
Well-known member
Great for dry mode and cooling. Not for stand alone heat source below thirty or forty. Just work too hard
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Fueler
Well-known member
1500 sq ft here.
I would do both NG and mini split.
Don't forget the AC benefit of mini splits.
I have to use propane here.
I found a thermometer sweet spot where the mini split handles the heat up to that point where it gets too darn cold and the wind picks up in Ill. Then my tube heaters kick in.
Yes electrical goes up about the same as when using AC but not near as much as the cost of propane.
My propane guy even commented on not using as much in a sad kind of way.
I think he works on commission.
I would do both NG and mini split.
Don't forget the AC benefit of mini splits.
I have to use propane here.
I found a thermometer sweet spot where the mini split handles the heat up to that point where it gets too darn cold and the wind picks up in Ill. Then my tube heaters kick in.
Yes electrical goes up about the same as when using AC but not near as much as the cost of propane.
My propane guy even commented on not using as much in a sad kind of way.
I think he works on commission.
For heating only I'd suggest a Rinnai EX-22. Pricey, but you get what you pay for and they are efficient and QUITE. Heat comes off at the floor. Vent is in the box and requires only a 2.5" hole through the wall. Built in programmable stat and a wireless option is available should you choose, but for that size space and the size of the heater it will have excellent recovery. Maintenance is very low. Reliability is very high. You can install it in less than two hours.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Then go NG !If I go gas, fans will do.
Natural gas may not always be as economical as it is currently. My Samsung mini-splits are awesome and, absolutely super stingy when it comes to energy use. I have 1380 square feet and it kept my shop super toasty even though it got down to 6 degrees on the coldest day this past winter.
But you probably have many more "cooling days" than the OP has and in OK and some fans are not going to cut it !
Paladin306
Well-known member
Then go NG !
But you probably have many more "cooling days" than the OP has and in OK and some fans are not going to cut it !
Yes indeed, I'm sure you're correct on that. My shop is extremely well insulated and cools down to 72 degrees in no time. Mini-splits aren't for everyone but, I'm sure enjoying mine.
Mark
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=5747&pictureid=84186
James-W
Well-known member
That is certainly true, but the same thing can be said about electrical rates. Electrical rates may go up in price and my guess is that they are more likely to go up in price than is natural gas prices.MX148,
Just saw your message so, I'll give an alternate view. Natural gas may not always be as economical as it is currently. My Samsung mini-splits are awesome and, absolutely super stingy when it comes to energy use. I have 1380 square feet and it kept my shop super toasty even though it got down to 6 degrees on the coldest day this past winter. (I also have a radiant system in the floor.) The one caveat however, besides the expense of the unit, is that since the heating portion of the unit is a heat pump it's not as effective when the weather is freezing and the unit is wet such as with sleeting or freezing rain.
On the plus side, the Samsung units can also be controlled through their phone app. So, as long as you have internet you can turn the units on/off ahead of time even while you're away.
Just my 2 cents,
Mark
My shop https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=369051
I don't have a crystal ball so this is just my personal thoughts on natural gas. I seriously doubt the price of natural gas will go up substantially in the foreseeable future. Obviously, I could be wrong, but I am reasonably confident the price of natural gas will stay low for quite awhile yet.
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86turbodsl
Well-known member
almost all the power companies are moving towards natural gas plants and away from coal. natural gas very well may stay low for a while, or it may very well go up. Depends on demand. I find it amazing that we're sitting on like 200 years worth of coal in this country and there's nobody beating a pathway to make clean coal a reality. coal makes sense for power generation, not so much for heating houses.