Electric Heater Options?

[Chally392]

Poured a new slab in my attached garage this August and hooked up two ceiling 220 outlets for the possibility of heaters this winter. Wife has offered to get me a garage heater for Christmas but I've been slacking on my research, I'm in Northern NJ so occasionally it may get to 0F but realistically more like 10F at the very coldest. Approximately 450 sq. ft. garage with 9' ceilings directly under my master bedroom. R30 ceilings, R11 walls and insulated doors, basically renovated the entire garage unintentionally because we had oil heat and the prices were killing me.

We converted to NG this past fall so I have the hookup option, but I would rather not rip open brand new sheetrock or have gas lines visible outside the walls. Just looking to keep the garage 50+ with a built in thermostat that will monitor conditions. Basically I just want to keep the garage tolerable and not run the risk of condensation rusting my tools and car/project. The last house I lived in with my family had built-in Dayton ceiling heaters installed by the PO. Are those my best bet or is there something I can install here that's more efficient/effective? If NG is that much more efficient I do not dismiss the idea, but I feel like to raise the temp 10-15 degrees at most won't kill my electric bill.

Anyone have reasonable recommendations?

 

[PoorUB]

NG in the long run will be the least money to operate over electricity. Like 1/3 or maybe 1/4 the price, unless you go leat pump, but on the average NG will be less money over all.

 

[nadogail]

Electric heat for occasional use in my workshop and solar have proven to be a good combination.

 

[American Locomotive]

I suspect it would be over $100/month in electricity to keep your garage around 50 degrees 24/7 with purely electric heat. I recommend you run a natural gas line or get a mini-split of some sort.

 

[theoldwizard1]

A mini-split will pay for itself in less than 10 years. Maybe less than 5.

 

[fitter30]

30 amp receptacle by code 80%. = 5760 watt heater

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

Electric heat for occasional use in my workshop and solar have proven to be a good combination.

You don't count... you're in San Diego!

 

[PoorUB]

Electric heat for occasional use in my workshop and solar have proven to be a good combination.

About as far south in California as you can get! I would think heating would be minimal!

 

[Chally392]

I expected at least a couple of people would at least have a recommendation for an electric one ... I didn't think the Daytons really drew that much power as they really only ran at night and occasionally during the day. Garage is 40s at the coldest so all I wanted was 10 degrees of heating.

Can I get some natty gas options? I feel like everything I find on Google is just junk like "best NG heaters 2022" and none of them are that highly reviewed. Suppose I can use the old oil tank fill pipe hole and strap the line to the back wall and keep it in the corner.

 

[ZX3ST]

I put a Cadet RCP402S in my 28x32x9 garage. It's used pretty much exclusively as backup for when outside temps dip too low for my mini-split.

Works great. Only downside is you'll need to run a 6-20 receptacle. I already had one near-enough the proposed heater location, so it was an easy decision.

 

[frankd]

I live on Long Island so weather is similar. House is a split level so bedrooms are above the garage as well. Garage ceiling is insulated with r30. R15 in the walls. The garage is around 400sf and ceiling is only around 7', 6". I have an electric space heater that I got for around $100. It has 3 wattage settings. I don't leave it on all the time though. Just when I'm working in my garage. So I can't tell you how much it would cost to run continuously.
The brand is comfort zone. It has 3 settings, 3000, 4000, or 5000 watts. Even on the coldest days, 4,000 watts is enough to keep the garage comfortable.

 

[American Locomotive]

I expected at least a couple of people would at least have a recommendation for an electric one ... I didn't think the Daytons really drew that much power as they really only ran at night and occasionally during the day. Garage is 40s at the coldest so all I wanted was 10 degrees of heating.

Can I get some natty gas options? I feel like everything I find on Google is just junk like "best NG heaters 2022" and none of them are that highly reviewed. Suppose I can use the old oil tank fill pipe hole and strap the line to the back wall and keep it in the corner.

The Modine Hot Dawg is basically the standard small shop/garage heater.

But if you are worried about rust, a minisplit will also provide dehumidification and air conditioning in the warmer months.

 

[pl_silverado]

I have one of these 240v 10kw Fostoria Electric ones hanging on a wall bracket wired to a honeywell 8000 stat so i can control it from my phone. Works great.

 

[olytdi]

I have one of these 240v 10kw Fostoria Electric ones hanging on a wall bracket wired to a honeywell 8000 stat so i can control it from my phone. Works great.

Those look nice but man, that's expensive!

 

[pl_silverado]

Those look nice but man, that's expensive!

Yea it was pricey, but i hate being cold, winter was coming and it was in stock.