Empire Direct-Vent Counterflow Vented Wall Furnace

[fteufert]

20x20 detached garage, 10 foot ceilings, 2x6 walls and ceiling will have blown in insulation. There is a loft above the center of my garage (20x8x6 high).

I have natural gas in my house, which is about 15 feet away, but I can not run a pipe due to a rock ledge that is under my property. Where the pipe would run, I can only dig down about 2 feet. Nobody wants to run the line, not even the local gas company.

http://www.totalhomesupply.com/55000-btu-direct-vent-wall-furnace-standing-pilot/p/EMPIRE-DV55SPP

55,000 BTU propane furnace. Is this furnace good?

I plan on at least a 100 pound propane tank, or two tanks on a rental basis from a local supplier with auto fill.

Are there any options in mounting it, like installing it outside on the back wall of my garage and running some ducting into my garage?

Can I lay it flat in the loft of my garage?

Thanks guys.

 

[AldeanFan]

I'm not familiar with that one but my dad has a cozy wall furnace in his 20x25. It's 2x6 with bats and r20 ceiling. He's been happy with it for 10 years. I've got. Mr heater big max in my 20x20 block garage and I think it's the better choice, less initial cost, doesn't take up any wall space and seems to hear more evenly.
What ever you go with, ceiling fans make a huge difference.

 

[finn]

Don't know about the Empire, but the paperwork on the hanging power vent heaters specifically caution you to NOT add ducting to distribute the heated air.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Depending on the number pf hours you will be using you furnace, you will be crying every time you have to refill that propane bottle !!

I'm sure a large back hoe with a hammer can make a 3-4' trench in that 15' of ledge in a day. It would probably be worth it.

 

[brewchief]

That is a direct vent unit, only choice in mounting it will be to put it on an outside wall so the vent can go directly out the back. No ductwork can be hooked up except possibly a grill on the side, not enough fan to push the air through any ductwork even if you could use it. You may need to provide protection if installed where a car could bump it, we've used a steel pipe and pipe flange in that case to make the inspector happy.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[dfiler2]

If I were you I would also take a look at other options, that unit has a standing pilot light and no efficiency listed. You can get units at a lower cost that won't take up wall space that are very efficient, up to 93%. Here is one place to look

http://www.ecomfort.com/heating/modine-unit-heaters.html

 

[Jackfre]

You are setting yourself up to take a beating on the lp with 2small cylinders, and 100# are small. The truck will be there every other week and you will ride that weekly "in-$eason" price. I paid .99 for lp in August just for reference.

I detest those vertical wall furnaces. They are noisy, inefficient, hot and cheap. I always ask the question, "cheap heat or cheap heater". You can choose one.

Given your supply side and this appliance I suspect you won't heat the place much.

I have to acknowledge my bias here as I competed against Empire for years, but , on the merits, I really would advise against it.

 

[Jackfre]

TOW1 is correct on the trenching. 15' isn't that much. Scrape the dirt off, rent a REAL jack hammer and compressor an do it. You will be happy you did.

 

[CNGsaves]

+1 to dig out the trench yourself and use NG service at the house. NG is abundant and cheap in Pennsylvania.

You'll be putting in yellow plastic polyethylene pipe in the trench with risers at both ends that transition to steel above ground.

For heater, go with hanging NG heater like Reznor, Modine Hot Dawg, Sterling, Beacon Morris, Mr Heater Big Maxx, etc.

 

[fteufert]

I guess I need to clarify my "ledge".

I would be using a jack hammer next to my 100+ year old field stone foundation, which is dry stacked (no mortar). That foundation sits on top of the ledge, so if I trench to the foundation, I need to install support.

Then there is the patio outside the garage, which isn't going to be torn up.

Its not going to happen, and I will deal with the price of propane as I have no choice.

The Empire was a deal found locally for $300.

Per the advice here, I will go with a different heater, maybe a Mr. Heater of Modine. Whatever I end up with will be vented to avoid moisture.

I do appreciate the help.

 

[CNGsaves]

OP . . . I'd see whether you could use older style coated steel pipe then and put it as deep as you can on top of the ledge when it's near the foundation. You'll have problem of grounding the segment and possibly needing anodes, but you'd have full-time NG flow to the shop.

Another option, is there longer/different route to get NG supply over to shop ??

 

[toyotadriver]

Why is 2 feet not enough?

You should be able to mount a 100-120 GALLON tank near the building and use that.

 

[fteufert]

I personally have no issues with burying it only 2 feet down, and I will probably do it that way.

I have also thought about large tanks if I do propane. It's not like I will be in the garage much, as I often travel with my job. It is more for some time during weekends to work on my car.