Garage heat

[dandan111]

I have a basment with a back stairway that leads into the 3car garage. If I install a squire cage fan in the basement blowing up to the garage will I get a nice heat boost? Any ideas, I have no heat in the garage but a little space heater with the house door open will get it warm on a 30 degree day pretty fast.
I don't do a lot of work so a nice garage furnace may be overkill and more money than I want to spend.

 

[coljar]

Try a box fan you probably already have setting around the house, first. Most likely, you'll rob the heat out of the basement faster than it can be replaced, but it doesn't hurt to try it. A ventless gas wall heater or a Mr. Heater might work better.

 

[DPelletier]

1) sharing heat and air with the house is never a good idea for a bunch of reasons.

2) a small electric portable construction heater is all most people need. up to 5kw if you can wire a 220 plug

3) I don't like or recommend ventless heaters either. Vented unit heater or furnace is preferrable.



Dave

 

[dandan111]

http://www.drheaterusa.com/products.aspx?scid=1&cid=1
Is this any good?

 

[Oldbear]

The building codes & insurance people for my area would call that a big NO-NO. In attached garages we have to put in a self closing door and are NOT allowed to use the house forced air to heat the garage - fumes and such... but enough public service ****.

I have used a 220 volt "construction" heater hanging on the wall. It puts out more BTUs for less energy than the 110 volt ones.

Look for radiant heaters too. I used a small ceiling mounted one to heat my tools... the difference of -20 C tools versus +20 C can make the difference in your working comfort.

Hope this helps.

 

[dandan111]

That's what I was thinking on the construction heater. That one I posted looks like a big heat light with a fan? Just getting started on this,I have been make shift for the last 10 years. It's time to upgrade I think.
What's the brand you got old bear? I have a 3 car garage.

 

[DPelletier]

The best bang for the buck is the 5kw 220v elec heaters; there are dozens of brands but they all are basically the same and usually come in a red metal housing.

If you don't want to wire in a 220 plug, you can try two or three 120v 1500 watt heaters. DO NOT get sucked in by any clever advertising as ALL electric heaters are the same efficiency (virtually 100%).

Dave

 

[DPelletier]

http://energyexperts.org/EnergySolutionsDatabase/ResourceDetail.aspx?id=4129

 

[Gary S]

I don't use my garage every day either to work in. In my cold climate, it would be extremely expensive to heat it all the time because of outside temperatures and garage size (1150 sq ft).
I decided that the most sensible and affordable way for me to heat the garage would be electrical heat that I use only when I'm working out there. I put in 2-240v 4-5K watt heaters. That is enough heat to bring the temp up about 5 degrees per hour at -40 outside temperature.
Those heaters cost me about 65 cents per hour when I run them, and nothing when they don't run.
Electric heat is probably the most expensive heat in my area, but it is the cheapest and cleanest heat for intermittent use.

 

[ford33]

This month I installed a simple 5k watt 220v heater in my 2 car attached garage in Chicago. We've had a mild fall with cool 30F+ degree mornings so far this season. It will warm the garage to 55-60 F within one hour. This is a comfortable working temperature for me.

The hardest part was bending the metal conduit for the electrical wiring but with practice I was starting to enjoy the challenge of more complex bends by the end of the day. With knowledge from reading this board the wiring connections were not difficult.

Electrical inspection should be this month after I finish one more electrical task.

 

[Dberglind]

I don't use my garage every day either to work in. In my cold climate, it would be extremely expensive to heat it all the time because of outside temperatures and garage size (1150 sq ft).
I decided that the most sensible and affordable way for me to heat the garage would be electrical heat that I use only when I'm working out there. I put in 2-240v 4-5K watt heaters. That is enough heat to bring the temp up about 5 degrees per hour at -40 outside temperature.
Those heaters cost me about 65 cents per hour when I run them, and nothing when they don't run.
Electric heat is probably the most expensive heat in my area, but it is the cheapest and cleanest heat for intermittent use.

Gary, could you share what brand/model heaters that you use?

 

[Gary S]

I have one of these "The Hot Ones" mounted on the wall,
http://reviews.homedepot.com/1999/1...tt-240-volt-garage-heater-reviews/reviews.htm
and a second Oulette 4800 watt portable heater from Northern Tool. The Oulette fan makes more noise than the Hot One, so I start both of them up in the morning when I plan to work in the garage. When they get the temp where I like it, I turn off the Oulette heater off to lower the fan noise and the other one does a nice job.
But, electric heaters are pretty much created equal. They are all 100% efficient. They all put out the same BTU/watt of power consumed, so it really doesn't matter what you buy.
Buy whatever heater gives you the features you want. (thermostat control, fan noise, or whatever)

 

[Buford T. Justice]

Here's mine. I have one of these in my three stall attached garage and one in my 30' x 30' shop. 220 volt 5k with wall thermostat control. Works very well.

 

[Dberglind]

Do any electric heaters that run off of 110 that are worth buying exist?

I am in a rental, and do not have 220 in my garage.

 

[dandan111]

Robin Hood what brand do you have? If I could get one of those bought and installed for $200 I would be very happy. Don't think I can stomach a $400-$600 furnace.
Thanks for all the help everyone. I believe a electric is the best may for my limited use.

 

[dandan111]

D Pellet, do think the dr.heater brand is a radiant heater? It seems to be a great buy on amazon,kind of ugly. If this heater needs to be directly on you it may not be for me?

 

[Gary S]

Do any electric heaters that run off of 110 that are worth buying exist?

I am in a rental, and do not have 220 in my garage.

120v heaters that are commonly available aren't going to be easily available over 1500 watts. Those heaters put out 5000 btu, which won't heat a very large area. If your area is small enough and well insulated, and it isn't extremely cold outside, you might get by.

 

[Buford T. Justice]

Robin Hood what brand do you have? If I could get one of those bought and installed for $200 I would be very happy. Don't think I can stomach a $400-$600 furnace.
Thanks for all the help everyone. I believe a electric is the best may for my limited use.

Mine were Malarky brand but I know they were marketed under different names like Q-mark and Fahrenheat. Northern carries these although I purchased mine from an electrician friend of mine:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_595_595

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

Have you done everything to insulate your garage and stop air infiltration? Have you put those soft plastic/rubber strips around the outside of the garage door openings?

Optimizing insulation and eliminating air infiltration reduces the amount of heat you'll need.

 

[dandan111]

Robin that says good for 400sq ft. It keeps up in your 3car garage ok?

 

[Buford T. Justice]

Robin that says good for 400sq ft. It keeps up in your 3car garage ok?

I have never had a problem in my 3 stall garage which is aprox 1000 sq ft and in my steel building which is 900 sq ft, but I have each place insulated very well with new windows. At first I was going to go the 10k route but my friend who installs these said the 5k would heat it no problem so against my initial judgment I went with the 5k and have never had an issue. In the winter I keep both areas at 42 degrees when I'm not working in them. The heaters do fine keeping it at that level and run intermittently. When I turn it up to 60, it takes about 20 min to feel it warming and about 45 minutes to reach that level.

 

[dandan111]

You have been a lot of help robin. I have our local contractor stoping over tomarrow,nice guy. He sounded positive about the 5k also. I may have a wall thermostat added.

Been kind of up and down on this heater thing but getting close now. I should be able to stay under my $500 budget pretty easy.

 

[dandan111]

Just bought a fahrenheat 5000 watt. Picked it up for $249.99 at big R. Contractor will be over tomarrow to look it all over.

 

[Buford T. Justice]

Just bought a fahrenheat 5000 watt. Picked it up for $249.99 at big R. Contractor will be over tomarrow to look it all over.

Excellent. I believe you'll be happy with it. I would definitely go with the wall thermostat as well, it beats crawling up and down a ladder every time to adjust the dial on the unit.

 

[dandan111]

Untitled by [email protected], on Flickr
Install done,it seems to be doing good so far. It's still smelling ,burning off and breaking in. I set the therm. at 65 so I will see if its able to do it. Outside temp is 32 degree.

 

[dandan111]

Up to 57 deg. in a half hour. It's going to be great. I recommend it.

 

[Buford T. Justice]

Up to 57 deg. in a half hour. It's going to be great. I recommend it.

Great to hear! I was watching for a progress post, glad to see it at work.

 

[Certified Drunk]

I was looking at buying one....What size wire are you running these 220v heaters on?

 

[dandan111]

Not sure i hired it done. It was the last job on Friday and I didn't want to mess with them. Nice guys,they were ready for a Christmas break!

 

[Scoutman]

dandan, I know you said you had a 3 car but what are the dimensions? What ceiling height?

Glad to hear it's working out for you. I may be looking at one of these soon.

 

[dandan111]

Around 700 sq ft. It's finished and drywall,insulation. 9 ft ceilings. A 16 ft and 8ft insulated garage doors and one walk in door. My garage is attached to the house.
Looking at your garage you will be just fine with this unit in my opinion. It won't blow your head off with hot air but give it 1/2 hour and it warms the area real nice.

 

[Scoutman]

Around 700 sq ft. It's finished and drywall,insulation. 9 ft ceilings. A 16 ft and 8ft insulated garage doors and one walk in door. My garage is attached to the house.
Looking at your garage you will be just fine with this unit in my opinion. It won't blow your head off with hot air but give it 1/2 hour and it warms the area real nice.

Well I'm now in a 3 car detached with 10' ceilings and is about 23x32. I'd leave it set on low most of the time but on the evenings I wanted to work in the garage I would turn it up when I got home from work and after dinner and kids it should be G2G.

I see the Farenheat units, the Dayton g-73 unit and then a NewAir g-73. I'm not sure which one is best. I doubt I'll put a remote t-stat on it so having the control knob on the front is probably best.

 

[dandan111]

I think the farenheat and dayton are the same thing. Somebody was talking about a king that may worth looking at. Robinhood has a pretty good size garage in IA and uses the farenheat. Check the reviews on amazon.com