heating cost

[greenbluff garage]

Hi I'm new the the garage journal and saw that some of you use radiant floor heat. I was planning on doing the same. my shop is 40x50 gambrel 28' to the peek and live in the northwest. I was curious about the monthly costs to run a system. I would have one zone.

 

[Highbeam]

I've lived in WA all my life but have never heard of the towns in your location listing. I'll have to assume Eastern WA. You need to give us more information such as your cost per kWh for electricity, cost for LP, propane or whatever you intend to use to heat the water. Also, the insulation level of the garage. Single story? Windows? Also, if you plan to use gas, how good of a boiler will you buy? Efficiency can range from around 80% to above 95%. What temp do you want to heat the place to?

Lots of questions, I know.

 

[greenbluff garage]

Colbert is just north of Spokane.Greenbluff is a farming community in Colbert, trees pumpkin patches, and orchards. If your ever over on this side of the state in summer or fall check it out. The best time is October fest.Well back to the shop,I have ten windows 3'x3' insulated,12x12 and 10x12 doors r12 double steel. I'm puting r19 insulation on the walls and roof. The loft will be 40x20 and the shop was wrapped with ty-vex. I planned on electric boiler (no gas up here) . My work schedule is crazy so I thought the radiant would be the best so the shop would always be warm, about 55 degrees or so

 

[95 imp]

you should have a minimum of 4 circuits @ 3/4" tube. anything less will not heat evenly. the water will cool before it hits the middle of the floor.

there is no way to guess cost.

outdoor temp, insulation (including underground), garage door type, comfort temp., boiler efficiency, yada, yada... all affect fuel consumption.

 

[Highbeam]

you should have a minimum of 4 circuits @ 3/4" tube. anything less will not heat evenly. the water will cool before it hits the middle of the floor.

there is no way to guess cost.

outdoor temp, insulation (including underground), garage door type, comfort temp., boiler efficiency, yada, yada... all affect fuel consumption.

This is not what most folks do. Not typical advice.

This is a typical shop so the typical 1/2" barrier pex, about 300 feet per zone, 10% max variation between zone lengths, 12" spacing, is the normal shop layout.

It is easy to guess cost since with your description, there is likely somebody with a similar shop. Electric in Spokane is probably about 10 cents per kwh and an e-boiler is 100% efficient.