Electrical garage heater

[scarrylarry]

Hope this has not been beat to death but would like to know what you guys use for the outlet I just had installed,240 30amp with 40 amp breaker.I have a 20x21 insulated garage,walls and ceiling,ceiling is 9 feet high but the garage door is not insulated,I could do that though.I live in the rainforest on the West coast of British Columbia.Winters are not brutal but it can get too cold to work in the garage puterring around.I looked at a heater that is 4800 watts has a fan and thermostat it's portable with a 6 foot cord.What do you guy's use for a similar sized garage?
Thanks in Advance
scarrylarry

 

[5lima30]

I've got one of the portable red construction heaters from Northern Tool that I got on sale for about $80.00 and mounted it on a old TV wall mount in my 16'x 28' garage that is not insulated yet. (It will be insulated befor this winter.) Last winter I was able to bring the inside temp from 35F up to 60F in about 30 minutes. It should work really good once I get the garge insulated!

 

[jvitez]

Any big box store or electrical supply house will have the right receptacle for your construction heater. It's a common item, proper nomenclature is NEMA 6-30R. Install it in 4x4 inch receptacle box, not a regular box, it's way too small. Ask me how I know.....

Your heater works out to 11 watts/sq ft, which is fine, especially for your climate. 10 watts/sq ft is a reasonable ball park for electric heating, 15 watts/sq ft for rapid heat up in cold climates. 7 watts/sq ft is good for a very energy efficient building that's continuously heated.

If you get a particularly cold snap and want to work in the garage, you can always use a 1500 watt fan forced plug in heater in addition to the construction heater. That would give 15 watts/sq ft.

Will B.C.'s price for electricity, and a small insulated garage, you'd never recoup the extra cost of a NG or propane furnace. Good choice.

 

[scarrylarry]

I've got one of the portable red construction heaters from Northern Tool that I got on sale for about $80.00 and mounted it on a old TV wall mount in my 16'x 28' garage that is not insulated yet. (It will be insulated befor this winter.) Last winter I was able to bring the inside temp from 35F up to 60F in about 30 minutes. It should work really good once I get the garge insulated!

Thanks for the information you supplied to my post.Your heater looks just like the one I was going to purchase
Thanks again
scarrylarry

 

[scarrylarry]

Any big box store or electrical supply house will have the right receptacle for your construction heater. It's a common item, proper nomenclature is NEMA 6-30R. Install it in 4x4 inch receptacle box, not a regular box, it's way too small. Ask me how I know.....

Your heater works out to 11 watts/sq ft, which is fine, especially for your climate. 10 watts/sq ft is a reasonable ball park for electric heating, 15 watts/sq ft for rapid heat up in cold climates. 7 watts/sq ft is good for a very energy efficient building that's continuously heated.

If you get a particularly cold snap and want to work in the garage, you can always use a 1500 watt fan forced plug in heater in addition to the construction heater. That would give 15 watts/sq ft.

Will B.C.'s price for electricity, and a small insulated garage, you'd never recoup the extra cost of a NG or propane furnace. Good choice.

Thanks for the information concerning the sq footage rate of electrical heaters.I do already have the receptacle installed the electrician put it in .It's 240 volt and 40 amp breaker with a 30amp plug,it's a big mother.
Thanks Again
Lawrence

 

[Falcon67]

Search here for threads on the Dayton G73 5kW heaters. They work real well.

 

[scarrylarry]

Falcon67
I tied a thread search for the Dayton G73 and it did not bring anything up/.Maybe I'm not preforming the search the right way.Think you could provide the link?
Thanks!
scarrylarry

 

[BillK]

Larry,
This is the one I have in my attached 22x22 garage:

http://www.heater-home.com/product/PH-5HW.aspx

Pretty much the same as yours but the door is a very well sealed and insulated metal door. Walls are insulated and drywalled, cieling is drywall but no insulation. This heater will heat my garage up to 65 deg on the coldest days we have here in about 30 minutes. I dont work out in the garage all that often, but have not really noticed a difference in the electric bill when I use it. I have it mounted about 7 ft high on the side wall, near the roll up door.

I know this particular model is discontinued, but I figured it would give you some ideas

 

[Falcon67]

Here are a few:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=77982&highlight=Heater+G73

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83264&highlight=Heater+G73

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29958&highlight=Heater+G73

 

[scarrylarry]

Thanks Bill K and Falcon for your replies I will check the information provided.
Thanks Again
scarrylarry

 

[ForceFed70]

I used a construction heater (the type you are looking at) to heat my similarly sized garage and it worked well.

However! I found that the fan was too loud. They also have crappy bearings and arn't ment for permanent use so the fans tend to give out quickly.

I would reccomend you look at a 5000W baseboard heater. Aim a household fan on it to help circulate air (or install a ceiling fan). You'll be much happier.

 

[Kriilin]

If you do buy your heater in the US, make sure it either has the CSA label, or the UL circle with a small c at the bottom. Better safe than sorry if you ever have a claim with the insurance company. I bought this one at Lowe's (great little unit):

http://www.lowes.com/pd_211812-13468-KBP2406_4294856728+4294850997_4294937087_?productId=3120547&Ns=p_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl_King_4294856728%2B4294850997_4294937087_%3FNs%3Dp_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr%7C0%7C%7Cp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&facetInfo=King

And it's made in the USA!

 

[tekkamaki]

We have a 22x26 detached with R15 and R19 insulation and use a small oil filled radiant heater with a thermostat set to low along with a small fan on a timer.

The energy use is minimal and it keeps the garage around 50 f on all but the coldest winter nights. It has dropped to around 42 F after a week of freezing weather.