Heated garage warning notice?

[ukiltmybrutha]

I have a 30000 BTU vent free propane heater that I run in my garage during the winter. It takes a good while to heat up the 36x22x11 garage only to have a family member remotely open the door with the garage door opener and lose lots of heat.

I usually warn the family that I am working on a project and it usually works but sometimes someone will forget.

Does anyone here have that issue? Do you use a sign warning anyone not to let the heat out? I was thinking of running a red light bulb or similar or some sort of custom sign possibly.

Thanks for any ideas.

 

[mike93lx]

Put the opener on a switch

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

Put the opener on a switch

What do you mean? Also there are 2 openers (small 1 door) and (large 2 door) with 2 garage door switches mounted on the wall. I want the remotes to work for the 98% of the time that the heater isn't used.

 

[jack stand]

Just jerk the release rope and the motor will be disconnected from the door.
Pull it again (in the same closed position of the door) and you'll be back in business.

 

[mike93lx]

What do you mean? Also there are 2 openers (small 1 door) and (large 2 door) with 2 garage door switches mounted on the wall. I want the remotes to work for the 98% of the time that the heater isn't used.

Make the outlets switched. Flip it when you are out there, then back. Or use a contactor to disconnect power when the heater is on

 

[jack stand]

Both are a good way to absolutely know your door is not going to open while you're away providing that you still have the manual slide latches installed and latched (with the rope method)

 

[mike93lx]

I like the emergency release.

Simpler than my suggestion, but getting the same result, is just to flip the breakers for the GDO's

 

[vavet]

Can you unplug the openers during the time you have the heater running? Or wire in an additional switch so you can disable the openers? Maybe even a timer switch so you don't forget and leave them off?

 

[David Paul]

I have a lock function on my opener wall control that locks out remotes.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Put a cutoff for your big door, think a SPST switch in a box feeding your opener, and when you don't want the big door open, you shut the circuit off. They have to come in through the smaller man door where you can righteously give them **** if they leave the little door open.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

Wow...great ideas. Digesting. Thank you!!

 

[kbeefy]

Nothing to add.... all my ideas and more have already been mentioned.

 

[PoorUB]

My shop door is on it's own circuit breaker. I just shut off the breaker for the few times want to make sure the door stays closed.

 

[Skellyii]

Most manufacturers offer an optional door control that includes a lockout switch. I just ordered a switch for my third door off of ebay to replace the door that had a normal switch. It was only $20, and attaches to the same wires as your existing dumb switch. Super easy!

 

[mikedodge]

If adding a switch is hard and you can't easily reach the plug make a cord with a switch to go between the opener and the ceiling plug.

 

[4 FN 27]

Put rubber band on the Door Knob. That is how my College Roommate and I communicated.

 

[gmcgeo]

unplug the garage door opener, and lock the man door.

Do not acknowledge anyone knocking.

 

[jblnut]

Another option to retrofit nothing and still have full control would be to put a wifi plug between the openers and the outlet.

I use Emporia WiFi plugs for all kinds of things and they are super handy. You can set schedules for power on and off as well as turning them on and off with the app and manually with a little button on the side. If they go offline they default to whatever they were last set too. Simple and a 4 pack is $30ish. App is free with no gateway or subscriptions needed.

Be aware that this will likely lead you down a rabbit hole for the rest of their products lol. I purchased a pack of WiFi plus to monitor my freezers and turn an electric heater on in the lounge room in the shop and ended up buying an energy monitor for all my panels. Almost sounds like an endorsement but it's not lol.

 

[D45]

Collage Roommate and I communicated.

Must have been a good education..............

 

[CoogarXR]

Must have been a good education..............

What? Some people hate to be disturbed when making a collage.

 

[4 FN 27]

Must have been a good education..............

Da bessed.

Fricken auto correct and lack of proof reading.

 

[Super38ACP]

Next one that does it take their phone and car away for a month...

 

[Jackfre]

We had a small table lamp with three colored bulbs. If you were busy you tightened your bulb. Righty tightly, lefty Lucy. Wonderful girl!

 

[grabeb]

I've considered this issue as well but for a somewhat different reason. I have a loft above my door and will be installing an attic ladder. I worry about having it down and someone comes home, but I'm told the door wouldn't be affected if it hit it and returned down.

I could pull the cord as well, but mine's not releasing, have a tech coming out today after reading these as it's still under warranty. Mine's a side mounted jack shaft with battery backup, so killing power isn't even an option. The lockout feature might be a good suggestion for OP, if available....I hadn't seen those, but I'll ask tech and try to remember to post his response.

As for opening while heating, I totally get that as well. My door is 8' x 18', so every time it opens it's like removing an entire wall for as long as it's open. My daughter and I are normally the only ones parking in here and luckily she's figured out to wait until car started and ready to back out to open, then shut quickly after pulling in or out. My wife on other hand will open right after I shut it to take trash out instead of using the gate....ughh! Point of my reply is I haven't really noticed that much heat escaping during a normal open and close, but it does drive me a bit crazy. My searches online seem to state there is less heat loss than one would think because it basically becomes a wall of air that doesn't mix instantly like one would think. I have a thermometer on wall across room that monitors two locations in garage for temp and it seems to agree with that logic as it doesn't seem to really affect the temps as much as one would think.

 

[grabeb]

Garage door tech also recommended getting an opener with the lockout feature. Mine doesn't have, but maybe I'll get one and install by the opener. Thinking best option for OP as well.

 

[Soundguy.paul]

Put the opener on a switch

I put my opener on a wifi controlled outlet. It is normally off but I can turn it on from my phone even if I am outside of the shop.

 

[theo2]

I have a 30000 BTU vent free propane heater that I run in my garage during the winter. It takes a good while to heat up the 36x22x11 garage only to have a family member remotely open the door with the garage door opener and lose lots of heat.

I usually warn the family that I am working on a project and it usually works but sometimes someone will forget.

Does anyone here have that issue? Do you use a sign warning anyone not to let the heat out? I was thinking of running a red light bulb or similar or some sort of custom sign possibly.

Thanks for any ideas.

 

[theo2]

Just pull the plug on the opener

 

[Aileron]

If you pull the release cord, make sure you put something in the door so none can just raise it up and break in if you forget to reattach. Pulling the plug would be the easest,simplest and safeest unless that unvented heater built up enough co and dissplaced the oxygen and you coulnt get the door open in a emergency.