garage heater

[ketas47]

I have a 26' x 38' x 10' garage with 2 8' x 10' doors and a servivce door and 3-3' x 3' windows. 2 x 6 walls insulated and ceiling insulated and floor insulated. I have a45000 btu boiler (venting through the roof straight up)that is in the process of getting hooked up( infloor heat). I am not in the garage alot but I still want to be able to do work occasionally on cars and snowmobiles. Would it be more ecconomical to set the floor @ 45 degrees and buy a garage heater for when I want fast heat or just turn the infloor heat up a day or 2 ahead of when I want to use the garage.I have natural gas for my boiler and would use natural gas(1 inch supply line so I could supply 2 heating sources) for other heat source if this is efficient. I was looking @ maybe mr heater natural gas power vent or possible a infrared heater natural gas but it is not vented and was wondering if it would be a moisture problem? Trying to go most efficient way possible. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Live in central Wis.

 

[buddyboy]

do you want to keep your space at 45 all winter? if so I would set it at 45 and then turn it up (to 60 or 70) an hour or two before you want to use it.

instead of buying another heating unit that would cost $ X.** I would spend that $$$ on keeping the place at 45 all winter.

 

[jjpp]

Why not a propane fired torpedo or convection heater that you could run off of a 20lb bbq tank to bring the temp up quick? Radiant heat is not efficient when varying the temp and would take a few hours to warm up when you could do it in 15-30 min with one of the above and if you planed on being out there for awhile you could then turn up the t-stat. As for the moisture you shouldn't have any issues because the radiant heat is very dry.
I personally wouldn't spend the money on another real heater if it is only for occasional use. When you could get a torpedo or convection heater for $100-$150 with a tank and do the same thing.

 

[brucer]

couldnt you run a heat exchanger off your boiler?

 

[ketas47]

I am just weighing different options to be most ecconomical. Plumber wants approx $500 for labor and approx. ($200 for glycol and a few other minor supplies) to hook-up boiler to expansion tank, pump, valves, air eliminater, thermostat and b-vent through the ceiling and roof and fill system with glycol solution(I bought all these supplies except glycol) So do I spend the $700-$800 to hook boiler up or buy a Mr Heater for $400 and try heating the garage only when I need the heat?Also by using the Mr heater I can vent it out my wall (power vent)and dont have to mess with putting a hole in my roof. I can always sell my boiler since I bought it used very reasonable. Infloor heat with boiler or Mr heater? People tell me to just hook-up boiler because I will be very happy with it but is it most ecconomical because I am not in garage everyday? Also I do own a torpedo heater (noisey and smelly)if I decide to hook up boiler to bring temp up quickly when I need instant heat if it doesnt cause to much moisture.
Thanks for the past input and future input.

 

[brucer]

i would run the boiler with a water to air heat exchanger.