Garage Heating Ideas

[Indy_500]

My garage is an attached 26'x26' garage with the walls drywalled and insulated. In the winter, i always need to work on my snowmobile and it ***** **** out there to work on it. We've tried the tiny box floor heater but it kicks out our power. We need to figure out some better electrical system. But electrical system aside, what are some cheap ideas to heat the garage? I'd like to keep it under $250 or $200 for a unit.

Thanks

 

[kbs2244]

Get one of those through the wall vented gas furnaces.
You want it vented to avoid moisture build up.
They come in all BTU sizes.
The biggest problem is finding some wall space for the.
They are about 4 foot tall and 16 inches wide.

You might find a used one at a place that scraps out mobile homes or RVs.

 

[ForceFed70]

Sounds like you don't have enough power in the garage for electric heat, and I doubt that you have natural gas in the garage either.

Your options are to install some sort of wood heat/stove or use a portable gas space heater. If you go with a space heater, be very careful not to give yourself carbon monoxide poisioning. Some have built in detectors, etc.

 

[mojo_13]

I am in a similar situation as you and the unit I think that I am going to get is the Mr Heater Big Buddy heater. It is a propane heater but from the reviews gives off little/no fumes and it sounds like this thing really pumps out some heat for what it is. My garage is smaller than yours but it may give you a place to start looking. It also has a Carbon Monoxide detector on the unit that will shut it off if it detects too much.

 

[shaune]

I have a wood stove, works good and the price for the wood is the best.....free.
Another source i use is a kerosine heater, really pumps the heat and quick. It is noisy but it takes up little space when not being used. The wood stove takes up lots of space.

 

[Indy_500]

I do prefer to have an electric heater. I will be doing some re-wiring if i figure out something i want to do.

 

[A29]

Montgomery Ward gas stove picked up at a flee market for $17.00. Works great

 

[wbclassics]

I have about about $100 into everything for electric heat in my detached two car. Lightly used (1 winter) Dimplex 4000W heater on Craigslist - $80, 15ft of 10/3 from Habitat ReStore $2, $15 for new breaker, $6 for outlet.

Garage is well insulated and air sealed. Walls are at R19 and ceiling is at R38. My initial sizing calculations said I needed around 4800W for my garage, so I knew the Dimplex would be a little undersized. I had a small 750/1500W space heater that I sit in an opposite corner and turn on the low setting to supplement the Dimplex. The combo works well.

 

[Indy_500]

Thanks for all the ideas so far guys. I will talk to my dad some more and see if we can get something figured out. Keep the ideas coming.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I have a propane Mr Heater Big Buddy. Heats things up in a hurry. I like it a lot.

 

[little d]

indy, i got a take out electrical furnace from a hvac guy for a 100 bucks.

 

[mojo_13]

I have a propane Mr Heater Big Buddy. Heats things up in a hurry. I like it a lot.

I have been looking into getting one of these for this winter and was wondering how much propane it goes thru and if it runs constantly and/or holds the temperature well in your garage.

 

[Indy_500]

I have a propane Mr Heater Big Buddy. Heats things up in a hurry. I like it a lot.

hmm with my research, those things keep popping up. Maybe i'll look into it more. BTW, what do you need one of those for in California? lol

 

[Indy_500]

HaHa i just realized there was a heating/ac topic! jeez

 

[mark52621]

I went through the same thing last winter. First I tried an electric heater from the house. It took a long time to warm up, and didn't put out much heat. Next I borrowed a torpedo type kerosene heater. It was very loud and put out some fumes until it warmed up.

I ended up with a can type heater that burns propane. It will attach to any size propane tank. I use a 20lb tank from the barbeque. It will put out 250,000 btu at full blast. It produces no fumes. It is quiet turned down and loud turned up. But at 250,000 btu's there is no reason to crank it up. I bought it at an auction in the spring for 15 dollars. I think they are around 150 new.

The best part is exchanging the tank in town when it's 0 outside. Every time you get this look of disbelief followed by, "You're grilling? In this weather?"