Garage Heater: Big Dawg Vs Dornback

[jimmyc4433]

Hi,
I'm new to the Garage Journal and have a question ? I have a new 24' x 28' garage with 12' catheral ceiling. I'm undecided between purchasing a 75,000 btu Modine Big Dawg or a 75,000 Dornback heater. I have found some good feedback on the Big Dawg, but not on the Dornback. I could use any info you may have on these heaters.
Thanks

 

[ezzzzzzz]

A quick search on the web gave negative feedback for the Dornback (Adam Industries)for apparent quality issues or customer support. The Modine is used a lot from the posts I've read. I don't think their as efficient as more expensive models such as Reznor products.

 

[Steevo]

You do not give any indication as to what your location is, or how your garage is insulated, but 75kBTU for a garage that size is probably severe overkill.

 

[ezzzzzzz]

I agree, Steevo. I had a 65K in my old garage 14x27 and it would run you out of there just cycling in 25-30 temps. I'm looking at 30-45k for my 22x36.

 

[daveroy]

I have a 20X24 two car... with 45K big dog. It's more than enough!

If your heater is too big for the space and cycles are too short it can actually shorten the life of the unit (so says my HVAC buddy Mark). something about condensation buildup when the cycles are too short.

 

[jimmyc4433]

Thanks for all of your input ! The sizing was calculated by the sales rep. at QC Supply and was concurred by my propane vendor. My pole barn is 24' x 28' with 14' catheral ceilings fully insulated, two sets of wooden doors non insulated, one set is 8' x 8' and the other is 6' x 7' . I have 5 windows 3' x 4' . He said that I fell in between the 60,000 and 75,000 btu heaters. I live in Upstate New York with very cold temps. in the winter. I'm leaning towards the Modine Big Dawg made in the USA. It has many positive reviews. Sounds like you all feel I should go with a smaller unit ? What's your thoughts. Your help will be appreciated.
Thanks..

 

[Angelfire]

I have a Dornback in my garage and it's worked very well. I've built a detached garage and will be figuring out heater options next year. Dornback is on the table but unlikely as I am leaning towards a separated combustion unit.

 

[benchracer]

I'm kinda in the same boat. Not sure what size heater to go with. I'm building a 24 x 24, but with a 2nd floor. I was thinking a 60k would be good. Any thoughts?
Sorry about jumping in on your thread too Jimmy!

 

[waltmcq]

I have a 45,000 dornback in my 24'x30'x9' for 2 years now and haven't had a problem. The shop is insulated so once i get it up to 65f it takes a while before it kicks on again.

 

[Jackfre]

Thanks for all of your input ! The sizing was calculated by the sales rep. at QC Supply and was concurred by my propane vendor. My pole barn is 24' x 28' with 14' catheral ceilings fully insulated, two sets of wooden doors non insulated, one set is 8' x 8' and the other is 6' x 7' . I have 5 windows 3' x 4' . He said that I fell in between the 60,000 and 75,000 btu heaters. I live in Upstate New York with very cold temps. in the winter. I'm leaning towards the Modine Big Dawg made in the USA. It has many positive reviews. Sounds like you all feel I should go with a smaller unit ? What's your thoughts. Your help will be appreciated.
Thanks..

I think Steevo is giving you good advise. Keep in mind that a heat loss is designed to give you maximum heat requirement at design condition. For you it looks like design condition is -10f. According to the heat loss, at design condition your heating appliance will run continuously but maintain 70f inside. The rest of the time you are grossly oversized. According to the bin numbers, upon which the Manual J heat loss program is based in your area (It picks Syracuse for weather reference), you will be below 10F 70 hrs/yr, 10-20f 220hrs/yr, 20-40 1900hrs/yr, and 40-60 2900hrs/yr.

I'd work on insulating the doors a bit, wearing a heavier shirt when the system can only maintain 60 rather than 70 for those 70 cold hours/yr and buy no more than a 50 kbtu. You will have overall better comfort, economy and less short cycling, which is what kills components. Happy Heating!

 

[volaredon]

I was with my son looking at an old farm truck he was looking to buy for a winter beater. We went inside the farmer's toolshed and I noticed he had a huge new looking "STERLING" hanging unit heater, being I just bought a Modine 100K for my garage I was wondering his opinion on the heater he had. Sterling has been around a while and is a well known brand, just like modine, bryant, reznor, etc., for this type heater.
We wound up talking heaters/furnaces for a while. this guy was no "spring chicken" I would guess late 60s/early 70s.
his heater is a 300K BTU. from what he said he had a 300K Modine before the Sterling; and the Modine, even same rated BTU, was much cheaper to operate than the Sterling; He said that he'd had the modine for "years and years", so I doubt it was anything of a high efficiency model. He started having trouble with the Modine and had gotten a couple of different HVAC guys out to check it out and neither could find an issue.
It would light with a "BANG" every time there was a call for heat; he got tired of messing with it and figuring it was just "old" and time to be replaced, He sold the Modine to someone he knows and the buyer has said that it has never missed a beat since being re hung and re connected; so he spent like $2100 on the Sterling, installed it and had the same problem. then they checked the pressure from the tank (this is an LP setup) and then discovered the problem was a pressure issue from the tank (too low he said) I think the regulator collapsed internally or somethin like that;

Since having had the Sterling for 2-3 winters now he says it still "pops" occasionally upon startup (but nothing like it used to)
but here's the kicker; the Sterling unit, even being the same size rated heater as the old Modine, consumes alot more gas (notice I aint comparing prices here as we all know what prices per unit have done) , keeping the toolshed to the same temp as the Modine used to. You know how they always plug "newer is better" on about any product vs an old model. more proof that they dont make things like they used to.

Some may look at this as apples vs oranges being 2 different brands of heaters or even old vs new. but I dont think so. They have not changed the design of the old Modine's at all in years (just added additional models) and 2 supposedly equivalent products of different brands that have vastly different results. same building same vent stack everything.

 

[jimmyc4433]

Thanks JackFre and everyone else for all of your great info. This will help me a great deal in my choices.

 

[volaredon]

I have had people tell me that 100K will be too much for my 30X36 stick built; I would but I ain't totally done with insulating, and I judged the size needed for my area based on; 1) how my 100K BTU kerosene fired salamander would work out (sometimes not LOL) there and 2) the bang for the buck factor, the deal that I fell into; once my insulation is done, yeah, 100K may be overkill, but I could not find a 75K unit anywhere near the same condition as this one for anywhere near the same price... or any low profile "Hot Dawg" style heater for a fair price for that matter. I think a 75K would be perfect--once my insulation is done--- but until then, I'll need at least a 100K unit.

I found 2 different HTU calc's online the 1st said I only need 33K BTU NO WAY (again judging by how well my 100K salamander does out there; sometimes not enough)
the 2nd one said 53K would be sufficient. I have serious doubts about that even

 

[shaferz]

I ran a 35k BTU modine copy in our 24x24 detached. Garage was well insulated other than the double width garage door (only had foam panels glued to it), and had no problem maintaining 70* all winter in northern Illinois. IMHO, 75k is wayyyy overkill.

 

[terryo1965]

I have a 35K Hot Dawg in my 3 car garage and a 45K Dornback in my 1000 sq ft pole barn. Both worked perfectly so far with no problems. I bought the Hot Dawg used and the Dornback was bought new. It's been a couple years but I thought the Dornback was quite a bit cheaper than the Modine when I bought it.

 

[racer8432955]

I have the Northern Tool 75k LP in my 28x28 (well insulated for Wisconsin winters). Its too big, could have gotten by with the 45k. But it runs without a hitch, was easy to install (myself), and I think I got it for $500 on sale. I have no complaints.

 

[regguy1]

75K will be to large, you get lower effeciency when the unit cycles on and off more often as a larger unit wil tend to do.
I have a 45 K Heatstar (Mr. Heater Big Maxx) in the 26' x 30' and it's more than adequate. I have 9' ceiling and R13 in walls ans ceiling.

You can see photos and video here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140674