G73 issue?

[stevenmgrr]

After reading several reviews on this site on the G73, I purchased one for my 20'x30' garage. I have 10' ceilings. I live in SE Michigan and yesterday we had a daytime high of 55 degrees or so. I got home in the evening and kicked on my heater and it took nearly 2 hours to raise the temp from 59 degrees to 63 degrees.

I can't imagine that this will work in the dead of winter when the temp is below freezing. Is this the best that I can expect with this unit?

The way that I want this to work is that I can come home and kick the heater on and have it get warm enough in hour or less. In the time that it takes the G73 to go 4 degrees, I would be done with whatever I am working on.

What kind of unit should I get?

 

[Falcon67]

You have way more volume to heat than the G73 was designed to handle. I think at least double (10kW) for that space, if the space is nice and tight.

http://www.heater-store.com/heater_calculator_info.htm

 

[stevenmgrr]

I was debating whether to get another one of these or to cut my losses and just get a forced air NG unit. Thoughts?

 

[Falcon67]

The NG unit will very likely be cheaper to run. I have a G73 in my 20x24 8' ceiling well insulated and it works great. Two would probably do better in your space but you'll be out the same $ for the heater.

This one has good reviews:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200316363_200316363

But you'll add cost for venting and gas piping.

 

[ishiboo]

I'd go forced air... 5kW electric is good for ~600 square feet at 8' ceilings, well insulated. It'll also be much more expensive to run.

Check Craigslist for used furnaces or heaters - the Modine hanging heaters are the standard for "big" garages, there are also little models like the Mr Heater and the offshots carried by hardware stores.