Electric Heater- Crazy?

[tealetm]

New build, 20x36x14 heated space. Slab is insulated, walls will be R-19 and ceiling R-30. Upstate NY.

I only need to keep it heated to above freezing temps- 40 or 45 degrees is fine for most of the time.

Am I crazy to consider just an electric heater due to ease of installation? Will costs be crazy even at low maintenance temps? Running gas from the house is an option for the future, but trying to eliminate that headache if possible.

Thanks!

 

[dcg9381]

Well, it's pretty easy to predict cost of electrical heat if you know how frequently it runs.
Someone posted that ductless split systems that are designed for low temps are amazingly cost effective.. Make sure you get one designed for low temps though.

The other option I've used - and this might be an option if you're going to plumb for an eventually gas connection to the house is to use propane. You can buy 100 lb tanks that you can refill. Using a ventless propane heater, easy to find them in the 20-30k BTU range.

 

[AldeanFan]

A friend runs a cheap construction heater in his 20x30 garage with an uninsulated door.he doesn’t complain about the he cost and he’s pretty cheap so it can’t cost too much lol.

 

[Shiftless]

You didn’t say if you want AC in the summer. If not, I would guess that a simple electric heater with a good fan mounted near the ceiling would accomplish your modest heating goals without using too many kilowatt hours. The efficiency of mini splits falls off a lot at very low temperatures which would be the only times you would need any heat at all if your target temp is as low as you say.

I certainly wouldn’t run any portable propane heaters there. With a tight building, there would be too much water vapor in the area resulting in lots of condensation.

 

[PoorUB]

New build, 20x36x14 heated space. Slab is insulated, walls will be R-19 and ceiling R-30. Upstate NY.

I only need to keep it heated to above freezing temps- 40 or 45 degrees is fine for most of the time.

Am I crazy to consider just an electric heater due to ease of installation? Will costs be crazy even at low maintenance temps? Running gas from the house is an option for the future, but trying to eliminate that headache if possible.

Thanks!

Gas? Natural or LPG?

Natural gas has typically been much less than electric, and often less money that a heat pump.

LPG compared to electric can be a toss up. One year gas will be cheap, then the next it goes crazy and electric can be less money.

It also depends on the rates you pay for gas and electric. You might be able to get and off peak rate to heat the out building. Nobody can really answer the question without knowing your rates.

 

[Jackfre]

Having grown up Upstate I would say the elec heat will be easy, but they will have to put in the Hi-torque electric meter Install the Rinnai EX-22 in LP and be comfortable. If you have NG in the house you can see how the expense of LP works for a season and then plan to run the gas line out to the shop. Convert the heater and you are done.

 

[peter94]

I live in central MN, and had an electric heater in our old garage (16 x 24 attached) and we kept it fairly warm as that is where my wife parked to load the kids in the morning. But it cost A FORTUNE to run. Like + at least $100 per month, and that was with us keeping it at like 50, and then turning the stat up to around 65-70 about 30 min before we planned to head out, and then turning it back down as we walked out the door.

 

[dave*99]

Something to consider - if you do go with gas and only heat to 40-45 degrees, many gas heaters do not support that operation. Condensation forms in the heat exchanger and it rusts out. Typically they want to be run above 50. So read the manuals and decide what is best.
I'm in NJ and started with electric heat in the garage and quickly learned it was expensive. I have gas heater now.

 

[kaymccampbell]

If you run it off solar, then I'd say go for it.

 

[hh76]

I had electric in my small shop for one winter. Even with our fairly cheap electric rates, it cost a fortune. New gas heater paid for itself in a year or two of savings, and it heats the space so much quicker.

 

[tealetm]

Thanks all. I’ll look into propane setups and will probably convert to NG down the line.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I use a 7500 watt electric heater in my 20x30 garage, but not 24/7. I only use it to heat the shop to 65 or whatever I prefer when I'm working out there.

I made a fairly elaborate spreadsheet of installation costs and operating costs of electric vs natural gas. The natural gas would've taken me about 15 years to pay back the additional cost of installation at the frequency I heat my garage.

 

[Firebrick43]

bat **** crazy

 

[fitter30]

Electric is your only choice when running 40° - 45°. Gas furnaces aren't really design to run below 60° due to condensate can form on the heat exchanger. 62° for mini split

 

[PoorUB]

Well certainly if you heat it occasionally a cheap electric heater will win out on overall cost.
Heat it constantly and get back with me.