Ok folks, I know there is a ton of info in here about heating garages'. What I'm looking for is info on using an electric wall or ceiling mount heater in my garage. Anyone have electric heat in a Michigan type climate? I have a 30x30 attached garage, insulated door, finished with questionable insulation in the walls and ability to blow in more in the attic. So if your using electric heat I'd like to hear from you. Do you like it?, is it killing you wallet? Etc...thanks all for you input!
Electric heat
- Thread starter Dungjenpa
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mygarageone
Well-known member
There is no way I would attempt to heat a garage with electric , that is unless you want to spend a lot of money supporting the power company.
kngelv
Well-known member
I'm getting ready to finally do this. If you insulate properly it's not that bad in price compared to propane. If I had the room I'd go vented natural gas. Hate kerosene and propane, too much moisture.
James
James
super-six
Well-known member
I have one 5kw heater in my 32x24 post frame w/wall and ceiling insulation. If it's 30 or above, it heats good to around 63 degrees (where I set it) although it takes 2 or 3 hours to heat to a comfortable level. The more steel you have stored in the area (cars, etc.), the longer it takes to heat up. When it gets below 30, I need to run my kerosene radiant heater also.
mygarageone
Well-known member
One of the problems is where does he live in Mich , if it southern mich he would be I guess ok , but northern mich , elec would cost him a small fortune.
Falcon67
Well-known member
About the same here. My 5kW heater will warm my 960 sq/ft in 30F weather but it takes it maybe 2-3 hours to get mid 60s. It'll then cycle about 5~6 times/hr at 5+ minutes per cycle to maintain. So it costs around $2 to warm it that way. Which is why I cut off a 12 x 24 section for benches and working on things - takes maybe 20 minutes from dead cold mid 40s inside to get in the 70s in that space. With the heater on LO. It'll maintain that work space with maybe 3 or 4 cycles per hour of 5 minutes or less per cycle. I use propane heat for the larger car parking space if i need to work in there. Saves lots of $ at 13.5 cents/kWh. If I keep the work area (12x24) at about 60F in a temp maintenance mode, I figure I'm spending about $4/day. IF the weather is that cold for many days, which it usually isn't.
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I have a 28X30 and have only heated it 1 season. It's mainly just for parking, and when I have a project to work on. I bought a low temp thermostat and set it for 35 degrees.
I warm it up to 55 or so if I am working on something.
I am totally happy with it. With the thermostat it's no big deal to heat it up before you do something. 35 degrees melts the **** off the cars and keeps them comfortable when you leave for work in the morning.
I am in MN, the garage is insulated but not really well, 2X4 walls, insulated doors and rolls of insulation of the ceiling (I store some stuff up there).
I don't really notice the cost increase from not heating my old garage.
I am sure if you were running a shop and heating 50 hours a week it'd be poor choice, but for the cost of a 220V outlet and a few hundred bucks, it sure is easy to do.
I warm it up to 55 or so if I am working on something.
I am totally happy with it. With the thermostat it's no big deal to heat it up before you do something. 35 degrees melts the **** off the cars and keeps them comfortable when you leave for work in the morning.
I am in MN, the garage is insulated but not really well, 2X4 walls, insulated doors and rolls of insulation of the ceiling (I store some stuff up there).
I don't really notice the cost increase from not heating my old garage.
I am sure if you were running a shop and heating 50 hours a week it'd be poor choice, but for the cost of a 220V outlet and a few hundred bucks, it sure is easy to do.
Well thanks for a the replies so far. I'm in the metro Detroit area. Originally I was planing on using NG, just hate to cut a hole in my roof. A friend of mine is a HVAC contractor and mentioned he had installed 220v electric wall units before. Problem is-I don't know anyone who has electric heat to compare. So thanks again!!
I have a 5k BTU electric heater in my 32x40 (12ft ceiling). The insulation is pretty good (R19 walls, R30 ceiling + conditioned space above).
I am in upstate NY, but it rarely gets below 40*F inside the garage even in the coldest part of winter (without the heater). I only use the heater when I am out there working, and it can bring it up to 55* within an hour.
At a relatively expensive 0.15/kWh here, I still think it is worthwhile due to the low initial cost (< $200) and easy installation. If I ran the heater all the time, or the structure was not as well insulated, I would probably consider propane (no NG available where I am).
There is a pretty good calculator on hearth.com. If you know the initial cost and estimated use rate, you can pretty easily calculate your break even time.
I am in upstate NY, but it rarely gets below 40*F inside the garage even in the coldest part of winter (without the heater). I only use the heater when I am out there working, and it can bring it up to 55* within an hour.
At a relatively expensive 0.15/kWh here, I still think it is worthwhile due to the low initial cost (< $200) and easy installation. If I ran the heater all the time, or the structure was not as well insulated, I would probably consider propane (no NG available where I am).
There is a pretty good calculator on hearth.com. If you know the initial cost and estimated use rate, you can pretty easily calculate your break even time.
jeffgrice
Active member
Hey there,
I am also in SE Michigan and want a heater for my garage. Not to keep warm 100% of the time. My garage will stay nearly 40 even when it is near zero.
I was thinking about this unit:
http://www.farmandfleet.com/product...ic-electrical-garage-heater.html#.UodYweJaJ8E
Anyone have experience/thoughts? Reviews are great!
Thanks.
Jeff
super-six
Well-known member
This is basically the same unit as I have, as discussed in eariler post. Mine is from the late 70's and the new one looks to have not changed much. Mounting and thermostat are different. My heater has been installed in three different garages and has served me well.
logixjock
Well-known member
This is what was in my 30X40 shop when I bought it last fall, it has R13 in the walls and a bunch (unknown) of blown in cellulose in the ceiling, and insulated doors. It did very well last winter even in January when the temps were around 10*. Couldn't find a tag on it, but IFIRC, it pulled 41A when I checked it so it's about 9.8kw. On the very coldest days, it'll run about 20 minutes to get up to 65* then cycle for about 4-5 minutes 4-5 times an hour to keep it there. I'm pretty happy with it. Haven't taken the time to figure what it's costing me, because the increase in the electric bill hasn't been enough to make me do it yet.
EDIT:It was already installed when I bought the place last year. The sticker on the top references an air handler made by York, used in Coleman mobile home furnaces, so I'm guessing the previous owner sourced it used out of a mobile home. Wherever it came from, it works very well and I am happy with it.
I will however be making a wood furnace after I add on to the shop. It will end up being 45' X 50' and I think that's too much for electric heat alone.
EDIT:It was already installed when I bought the place last year. The sticker on the top references an air handler made by York, used in Coleman mobile home furnaces, so I'm guessing the previous owner sourced it used out of a mobile home. Wherever it came from, it works very well and I am happy with it.
I will however be making a wood furnace after I add on to the shop. It will end up being 45' X 50' and I think that's too much for electric heat alone.
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theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Electric heat is cheap and easy to install. It works well in moderate climates where you just need to knock the chill off for a few hours.
In the midwest/north you will go broke operating it below 40F.
NG is probably the best "bang for the buck". However, if you plan on staying there a long time (> 5 years) a mini-split heat pump is probably a good idea. Expensive to install, but cheap to operate. And you get A/C at no additional cost.
In the midwest/north you will go broke operating it below 40F.
NG is probably the best "bang for the buck". However, if you plan on staying there a long time (> 5 years) a mini-split heat pump is probably a good idea. Expensive to install, but cheap to operate. And you get A/C at no additional cost.
70Chevy
Well-known member
I'm in the metro Detroit area a dvuse the Dayton G73 electric heater. Does great on chilly days. When its real cold outside, I run my kerosene torepedo heater first to get the temp up...then use the electric to maintain the temp. The it cycles on and off every few minutes. I like it.
jeffgrice
Active member
70Chevy
Well-known member
I think we put it on it's own 20 amp breaker.
I'm in Garden City if you are in the area.
ddawg16
Well-known member
I guess this is a bad time to mention that I don't need heat in my garage.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
I guess this is a bad time to mention that I don't need heat in my garage.
Yeah, we in the midwest don't have to watch out for earthquakes or brush/forest fires ! Or left wing socialist politicians.
ddawg16
Well-known member
Well played sir.....
jeffgrice
Active member
hmmm...thanks....I also have a 20 amp 240 in the garage but the unit is rated at 26 amps so I was going to pass on it.
Can you please double check for me. It seems that if it was drawing 26 amps it would always blow the breaker.
Thanks!
Jeff
Ok, so for the folks in Michigan type climates, how has running electric affected your electric bill. I'm planing in keeping the unit on 40-ish when I'm not using the garage and turn it up for project time. Cost v. Ease of instal v. Running gas line and venting. A lot of different opinion here.
rv245
Well-known member
I have a place in Gaylord that I just got done doing the garage. It's a 24x40 garage. It has a wall dividing it in half with a door that you can close. I got 2 -5000kw Fahrenheat heaters from the link that was in a post up above. They were the cheapest and shipping was only $9.95 (extremely fast delivery also). The reason I went with 2 heaters is because I have one on each side of the wall. If I'm only on one side working, why heat the other side. The garage has r19 in the walls with r30 in the ceilings. It is completely done with 7/16" OSB boards. I'm heading up there this weekend to insulate the 3 garage doors. I did have is running last time I was up there (about a week and 1/2 ago). We haven't got this month electric bill so don't know the cost increase on the bill. The garage heated up fast. I do have NG connect to the garage but opt. to go electric as we are not up there all the time. We do plan on retiring there. So when we do, I'll probably switch over to NG.
70Chevy
Well-known member
It is on a 30amp breaker.
Here is what I bought from Grainger...they price matched whatever dot com I saw it for the lowest price:
http://www.grainger.com/product/3UG73?cm_sp=HIO-_-HIDP-_-BTM_BTB_P&cm_vc=IDPBBZ11
I did have to replace the t-stat a year later - I could the manufacturer from the name that was on the tag inside the unit and they mailed me a replacement part no charge.
Falcon67
Well-known member
That is similar to my G73. Mine is also on 30A because it draws a 21A running - that's an amp clamp measure, not a name plate rating.
I have one very similar to that Dayton in my 20'x20' in central Iowa. I don't continually heat my garage but use it only when working in there. If it is real cold out I fire up my torpedo heater to bring it up to temp and then the electric heat does a great job of maintaining. I have 10' ceilings and the best thing I did to help heat it was install a ceiling fan to push the heat down. I have three steps to the man door of the garage and without the fan you could feel it get warmer as you walked up the stairs to the door.
compressornew
Well-known member
Electric heat makes more tight and build strong connection.If you want to follow electric heat service the don't be worry for your pocket its a a money safe technique. 