Cooling and Heating

[DaveH]

I've got a 22'x40' 3 door attached garage that I am working on. The garage has bonus rooms above it.

I'm looking at how to manage temps in summer and winter and was wondering if anyone had suggestions as to how to approach this. I don't want to start farting around with my HVAC ducting etc. and cutting large holes, running new ductwork or possibly impacting the heat/air in the rest of the house. What garage heating and air solutions can folks suggest?

 

[BearHit]

Heating - Natural Gas?

http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/accessory/heaters.shtml

Maybe a window AC unit for upstairs cooling?

 

[mikeyr]

Love my HotDawg best thing I have ever done for my garage, I keep the garage at 55 minimum and have a lot less rust on my tools and most importantly cars. A few minutes and I can have it in the low 70s and work all day.

 

[ZRWON]

Here's a for-what-it's-worth story: After 11 years of loyal service my 40,000 BTU Reznor Propane shop heater finally stopped working. I shopped all over Ebay, and Google and was ready to buy a replacement from Northern Tool. But before doing so I called my interior furnace company and asked if they thought it cost effective to repair "old faithful". Their answer was a resounding "YES". Their repairman installed a t-couple & checked out the whole heater. Cost was ~$100. He said it was in excellent condition; should last for another 45 years...Yep another 45 years since my unit was originally manufactured in Feb, 1962, and was given to me by the owner of a local greasy spoon when he remodeled his place in 1993. I installed it when my shop was built in 1994.

The furnace repair guy said I could not get a better heater than my old Reznor from any source today. They just keep working and repairs are not costly. Parts are readily available from either Reznor or after market pieces that will work.
He said a lot of these old units often become available when schools, small businesses and factories, etc. remodel their facilities. Usually, as was my case, the heating contractor or owner will just give them to you free of charge. Keep your eyes open and get your network searching for you. You too might luck out with a great shop heating system at a price you can't afford to pass by.

 

[autoist]

I've got one of those old things laying around...it came out of one of our school buildings & they gave it to me...hmmmmm

 

[bcos]

I have an old Reznor heater in my shop that came out of a warehouse. Love it.
Heats great and very dependable. It only cost me the time it takes to wrestle it out of the store room and into the pickup.

 

[hopelitten]

custom furnaces are pricey but that is what i always go with. hope this helps!!!

 

[bill in in]

I just put a PTHP (a PTAC type heat pump) in my shop. Its air to air and I have a propane back up for it. Think it should work well for me, and economically. Shop has 6 inch insulated walls and even without heat on holds temp real well. The trick is to keep the resistance electric from coming on....