Garage heater

[Danblu]

Hello,

We are currently looking for a garage heater (probably electric).

A few notes:
Our garage is made out of bricks with no insulation.
It is a regular size one car garage.
We use the space to store wood furniture on pallets (all carefully packed in bubble wrap and in cartons).
We also use the space to store our snow blower (that contains oil and gas).

It is very important that we heat the space continuously during the winter. We do not want the furniture stored there to get damaged by the freezing temperature (we are in the NY area). On the other hand, we are concerned that a heater and a snowblower together in the same room could be a hazard.

Let us know what you think and what heater you would recommend.

Best regards,

Dan

 

[dave67fd]

Dan,

First, we need to know the size you wan't to heat and your climate zone. If you store furniture your first concern shoud be moisture. If you want to run electric heat consider your costs. Again we don't know the size of your garage but to heat and keep heated an uninsulated garage can be quite costly. Seriously consider properly insulating it. You will be amazed of how much easier it is to heat and cuts costs. Consider the power for the heater. Anything much over 1500 to 2000 watts will require 240 Volt AC 30 amp service.

Having the Snowblower in with the heater won't be an issue as long as the heater is properly located and mounted. Make sure the Snowblower combustables are properly stored, sealed and not in real close proximity to the heater.

Consider a dehumidifier. Run at lower settings as it can wick moisture from the brick. Also provides some running heat.

Some of the more popular heaters are the Dayton G73 (electric) and Modine HotDawg, Mr. Heater Bigmaxx,(propane/natural gas)

Your one stall "if" insulated shouldn't require a large BTU heater.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_heaters-stoves-fireplaces

 

[Gary S]

If you insulate first, your heating bill will be a fraction of what it takes to heat a non-insulated space. Insulation isn't expensive, and pays for itself in a few years if you heat continuously during the winter. You can't afford the heating bill to heat the outdoors, and that is what you are trying to do without insulation.

 

[Danblu]

Thank you for your replies. The garage is full of heavy crates on pallets. Is there any way to insulate it without removing all the crates? Is there a simple way to insulate?

 

[dave67fd]

Obviously you will need to have access to the walls but seeing as you have brick you would either need to frame it in for fiberglass insul or cheaper to install foam board over the brick. Anyway In essence you should only need enough room to stand or fit a ladder to get from ceiling to floor if needed. The ceiling is harder and is the area you really need to do first. Insulating the walls without an insulated ceiling doesn't do much for you. Does the garage have a room above it? Is there open attic space? If open ceiling/attic you will need to install furring strips or something similar to hold up the insulation. If the brick is below frost line or so insulating the ceiling would be your priority. Sealing the brick (vapor barrier) may need to be done as well.

Nothing is usually easy simple or cheap.

You might benifit to researching more on insulation techniques on-line or even youtube has some good video totorials.

 

[Danblu]

Thanks for that. Now considering the fact that we are going to have an electric heater working non stop and a snowblower with gas in it. Can it be a hazard? Or is it safe?

 

[Falcon67]

I run an electric because there is no exposed flame to mix with any of the normal car hobby vapors. That's not a guarantee against an accident - my G73 isn't rated for an explosive environment. But it's less a hazard than a propane burner. I don't know current power rates in the NE, but if they are like they were for a while, insulation will pay you back damn quick. NG may be cheaper per therm for you than electricity but I'd throw the snow blower out with a gas heater.

 

[dave67fd]

Millions of NG and Propane heaters are used in garages and shops and are perfectly safe as long as high vapors don't exsist and combustables are capped and at a safe distance. I agree the electric may be safer but they can have issues as well. I don't think you need to resort to throwing out your snow blower unless it's leaking fuel everywhere.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Like Dave said, you need some insulation in the garage. A block or brick wall will soak the heat right out of that building.

Try sitting on a wood park bench, then sit on a concrete park bench in the winter. The wood one will warm up to your **** heat and the latter will pull heat right from your soul.