Garage heater

[blake101]

Looking for a portable propane heater for my two car garage, one preferably that has a thermostat. Does anyone have a suggestion for me, make and model? Just tired of it being to cold to do anything.

 

[jakemac]

I'd be leery about using a portable propane heater in an enclosed space.
It's only slightly safer than running your car with the garage doors closed.

A better option would be to install a dedicated 220v circuit and use an electric blower heater.

 

[Raisedonadeere]

I have a 30,000 btu gas heater wall mount that is more heat than I need in 10deg F weather. The BigBuddy portable in 18,000. That might do the trick. Can be hooked up to a 20lb tank or bigger, but runs out of the box on two 1lb bottles. The 1lb bottles are convenient for a few hours in a duck blind, but for garage time because of cost you will be wanting a larger tank and hookup sold separately. They sell it all at Walmart, tractor supply, sporting goods stores. I use the little buddy in my RV, it is a 9,000BTU UNIT. Run it on low (4,000 BTU) never needing high in my 34 foot RV.

 

[blake101]

Where can I get the hook up to convert it to a 20lb bottle instead of the 1lb small bottle?

 

[Raisedonadeere]

Running a car in closed garage is basically 100% deadly. Running a well designed ventless gas heater with tip over protection and automatic low oxygen shut off, used as designed is quite safe, - When used by people willing to take proper precautions and understands what they are messing with. When I discovered how little it costs to keep my large two car warm I just leave the gas one on all the time. No danger of using all the oxygen in my garage with loose fitting doors. The carbon monoxide detector has never gone off except when I ran gas generator outside with door closed. At first I thought it was the heater, but not so.

Now I would never fill my lawnmower with gas or top off my snow blower with that heater running. I always do that outside anyway and store gasoline in separate building. If you don’t trust your self to stay aware of the heater then it is dangerous.

Neighbors house burned when gasoline fumes got to pilot light on water heater. Gas water heaters are dangerous but ever so much more safe than running a car in closed garage. I am keeping my gas water heater.

 

[SgtHawkUSMC]

I'd be leery about using a portable propane heater in an enclosed space.
It's only slightly safer than running your car with the garage doors closed.

A better option would be to install a dedicated 220v circuit and use an electric blower heater.

HA! Are you serious? Millions of propane torpedo heaters are sold and used every year. They are much better than the kerosene/diesel heaters that people have been using for probably 40+ years including myself. Of course you don't use them without any ventilation. Crack a door and you're good to go...

 

[Provincial]

The problem with torpedo heaters in an enclosed space is that combustion produces water vapor, and if there is little ventilation, pretty soon the humidity goes through the roof. If metal inside has cold-soaked, it "sweats" by condensing the water vapor out of the air and causes instant rust.

 

[Jimithing616]

The problem with torpedo heaters in an enclosed space is that combustion produces water vapor, and if there is little ventilation, pretty soon the humidity goes through the roof. If metal inside has cold-soaked, it "sweats" by condensing the water vapor out of the air and causes instant rust.

This ^ is very true....

A definite factor for people with cast iron tabled shop equipment (table saws, Bandsaw’s, etc) and basically any old handtool that’s not coated in some way... for a guy like me with all of those things and more... I stick with electric... but, it’s by no means the best option for cost... not by a long shot...

 

[6PTsocket]

I bought one of those kerosene torpedoes. The cord plugged into an optional thermostat, sold separately. My 2 car garage has double doors and there is a side door at the other end. I cracked open an overhead door and partially opened the side door, per instructions. I got a CO headache immediately. I fully opened the side door and started increasing the opening on the overheads. By the time it was open enough to be safe to use it was too open to do any good. I could freeze or die of CO poisoning. Useless. I took it back to HD. There was even a picture of a 2 car garage on the box. Don't believe it. They should only be used outdoors.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Fretters]

I stick with electric... but, it’s by no means the best option for cost... not by a long shot...

Cost wise, definitely not the cheapest option to run, but it's worth it to know your equipment won't be sodden. No fumes either. I've always used electric fan heaters in mine. Damp air is enough of a problem over here, without adding any more moisture to the mix.

 

[Mhyde52]

With significant ventilation, they seem to be decent. Can you not install a permanent, vented propane heater though? Way better than the portable, or wall mount non-vented. As someone above said, unless you only use it in occasionally, or in a cool but not cold climate, the non vented wall mount heaters ****!! I put one in my garage when it was new, and it would use all the oxygen in 2 days, then shut off. Any the humidity from it was very undesirable.

 

[itstippy]

Go to the General Garage - Heating and AC forum and read for hours.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=26

Portable propane heaters have their place. They're useful in climates where "cold" means "45 degrees F", since they then don't run that much. They're also useful in colder climates when the only time you use them is for occasional "must do now" shop work like fixing a broken snowblower.

I've heated with wood, propane, electric, and kerosene in a variety of different heater configurations. Each has benefots and drawbacks - there's no free lunch. Running a city gas line to my shop and installing a natural gas vented and thermostat-controlled heater is my dream. Gotta win that Powerball jackpot to make it happen, though.

Here in Wisconsin it's been hovering a few degrees above and below zero F for two weeks. I haven't heated the shop during this time because it would cost too much in kerosene and electric to raise the temp to 50 degrees. I can do it, but I have to run the heaters full blast and it isn't worth it unless I have a "must do now" project.

I can raise the air temp 30 degrees without going broke, but not 50 degrees. After 30 degrees the air temp quits rising because the heat generated by the heaters is counteracted by the large ice-cold thermal mass of all the tools and equipment. To raise the air temp 50 degrees takes a ridiculous amount of fuel (energy).

 

[kctyphoon]

Here ya go.. 2 of my friends bought these after I showed it to them in Lowes.. it's in their garage / first "unfinished" floor of their homes that are in flood zones. Dual fuel, thermostat, wall or floor mount, vent free.. it has an option to add a fan on it as well.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Dyna-Glo-1...ZVtR2iHpEc_Phvn6UXSn9RUfYLvMfUT0aAq4ZEALw_wcB

Options up to 30,000 btu's

https://www.lowes.com/pl/Gas-space-heaters-Portable-space-heaters-Heating-cooling/4294765334

For the record - I had a vent free natural gas free standing fireplace in the basement (aka my bedroom when I was a kid) and I never died in my sleep from it. Actually - my father has it in the basement of his current home now.

A freestanding wood / potbelly stove could be an option.. I love wood stoves.

 

[JMLangford]

The problem with torpedo heaters in an enclosed space is that combustion produces water vapor, and if there is little ventilation, pretty soon the humidity goes through the roof. If metal inside has cold-soaked, it "sweats" by condensing the water vapor out of the air and causes instant rust.

Exactly.....I've got an 80,000 btu construction site propane heater fed from a 100 lb tank and whenever i'd used it (which I don't anymore) I would turn it way up and it would knock the chill off in a hurry (less that 3 min) and then I'd turn it way down (almost off) and it would keep the shop nice and toasty....BUT.....when I'd open a drawer on my tool box EVERYTHING would be soaked....dripping wet from condensation

I now use two electric heaters that gradually heat the shop up (on real cold nights it barely keeps it warm) but I don't worry about all my tools rusting....


.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Torpedo heaters are ok for use in somewhat open buildings and outdoors, but were never intended for use in an enclosed building.. I have owned both propane fueled and fuel oil/kerosene torpedo heaters. My 90,000 btu propane torpedo burned cleaner, but I replaced it with a 70,000 btu fuel oil/kerosene fueled torpedo which can be carried with one hand. It isn't married to a propane cylinder, and can be refueled with the fuel readily on hand. There are some folks that will proclaim to have used them for years in a closed building; just like Uncle Rufus. Either one of the units I mentioned will stink up a building.
There are vented wall and ceiling mount propane furnaces and heaters that would better serve your needs, in addition to a safe and clean electric unit. There are numerous small so-called clean burning propane units on the market, but how many would escape the problems that have been mentioned on this forum? Make sure that any heater You purchase is designed for your specific use.