I am building a small work shop in the corner of my bigger garage. The room is going to be about 20'x12' with 8' ceilings. I am planning on insulating the walls and ceiling. I am looking on heating that room and not the rest of the garage. I will only heat that workshop when I want to work in there so I would like something that will heat relatively quickly. I want to run electric heat. either baseboard heat or a wall heater or maybe one that hangs from the ceiling. I also do not have any 220V in the shop so whatever I install will have to be 110V. Here is a shot of the framing work. There will be a wall across from the end with a door. Thanks in advance.
Heating recommendations for small work shop
- Thread starter Binger
- Start date
D45
Well-known member
110v electric heater........I think you will not see any benefits
Do you have HG or propane?
Do you have HG or propane?
Falcon67
Well-known member
You'd do better with a 240V run to that location so you could have a better selection of power.
This is my 12x24 work room, 240V 5kW heater. Walls/ceiling are insulated and the heater can keep that area at 70F with maybe 10~15 minutes of run time per hour in cold weather. If it's 50F in there I can have it at 75 in maybe 15 minutes run time.
Sorry, 120V heating is spit. Max maybe 1500W, might as well sit there with your wife's hair dryer trying to heat the room.
This is my 12x24 work room, 240V 5kW heater. Walls/ceiling are insulated and the heater can keep that area at 70F with maybe 10~15 minutes of run time per hour in cold weather. If it's 50F in there I can have it at 75 in maybe 15 minutes run time.
Sorry, 120V heating is spit. Max maybe 1500W, might as well sit there with your wife's hair dryer trying to heat the room.
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theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Baseboard is easy to install and not too expensive. The problem is you can not put things in front of it. Got to have 240V for electric heat.
You can always hang a propane heater and run it off a big tank or 100lb bottle. If you use the 100lb bottle, get 2. You don't want to run out.
You can always hang a propane heater and run it off a big tank or 100lb bottle. If you use the 100lb bottle, get 2. You don't want to run out.
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
You can get 120vac baseboard heaters, that's not an issue. However, at 120vac the biggest electric heater you're going to readily find (baseboard, wall mount or otherwise) will be 1500 watts, so you may need several of them to heat the space. That also means you need to look at your electrical system to make sure it has capacity for multiple circuits.
I assume you're in Cheyenne Wyoming so it does get pretty cold there in the winter - make sure you insulate it well. As for how much heat is required, you need to run a heat loss calculation. There are any number of online calculators available out there, you fill in the room size, insulation, number of openings (doors and windows) and other information pertinent to your location and how warm you want it to be inside the room.
I assume you're in Cheyenne Wyoming so it does get pretty cold there in the winter - make sure you insulate it well. As for how much heat is required, you need to run a heat loss calculation. There are any number of online calculators available out there, you fill in the room size, insulation, number of openings (doors and windows) and other information pertinent to your location and how warm you want it to be inside the room.
moneyisflying
Well-known member
I went this route for my barn. I got a 55 gallon drum for $5, and a heater kit for $35. I did some fab work by running some pipes with holes in them and then ran a small blower in the back to pump air into the unit while it burns. This thing works amazingly well! I can turn below freezing temps to T-shirt temps in my 30x50 barn in less than 30 minutes. Its really impressive, and I have a ton of wood to use so essentially it costs nearly nothing to heat.
Just another option to consider.
So with 120v, how many amps do you have on this service? You convert volts X amps to heat and without amps your pissin in the wind. Might I suggest a lot of insulation and a good fart.
I have two rooms in my shop about that size and little insulation. A 1500w heater doesn't make a difference.
lg
no neat sig line
I have two rooms in my shop about that size and little insulation. A 1500w heater doesn't make a difference.
lg
no neat sig line
Bolson32
Well-known member
That DIY wood stove is awesome btw.
Also, I'd throw another hat in the ring for a 240v hanging garage heater. A 5000w hanging heater would sweat you out pretty quick I'm sure. Have to run a new circuit there but that's surprisingly easy if you already have a decent sub in your garage.
Also, I'd throw another hat in the ring for a 240v hanging garage heater. A 5000w hanging heater would sweat you out pretty quick I'm sure. Have to run a new circuit there but that's surprisingly easy if you already have a decent sub in your garage.
DJL1967
Well-known member
I am in the process of installing a 240V 7500W ceiling heater in my 20X24X10 garage. I see you have possibly a 100A panel so if there is room I'd go this route. I will be running 8/2 armour wire to a 40A dbl pole breaker. Very easy install and from what I've read this heater is efficient and does a good job of heating a 500 sq/ft room. I only plan on heating the shop when I am working in there late fall and early spring so this application will work fine for me.
Thanks for the response everyone. I am having my electrician friend come to help me with wiring and I am going to see how hard it will be to wire the garage for 240v. I think the panel is 100A. I like the idea of a hanging ceiling heater. I will update with what I decide after I talk to the electrician.
Bolson32
Well-known member
If you have an electrician friend you're golden. I did it by myself and it was pretty easy!
The garage was wired up by the previous owner and it doesn't look 100% correct. even if it is right I don't like how the lighting in the garage was wired up and I have to add some for the new space.
Falcon67
Well-known member
Mine is a Dayton, the Fahrenheit 5000 type units are the same. I used a 3/8" lag bolt through the center of the hoop that the heater hangs from so it can swivel around as needed.
That is about what I am looking for. Thanks!
moneyisflying
Well-known member
I have a 240V hanging Fahrenheit unit in my garage. You'll like that unit a lot if you can make it work.
Bretny
Well-known member
That pannel is prob 240v. And right where it is would only take a few ft of wire and another breaker.
DJL1967
Well-known member
https://www.northerntool.com/images/product/2000x2000/275/27553_2000x2000.jpg
This is a 5000W heater on sale at Northern Tools this week for $89. This would only require a 30A breaker and 10/2 wire that would be perfect your size of space. Very easy install.
This is a 5000W heater on sale at Northern Tools this week for $89. This would only require a 30A breaker and 10/2 wire that would be perfect your size of space. Very easy install.
Falcon67
Well-known member
Thanks again for the good responses. I did some online shopping and saw both the Dayton units and the northern tool ones. I also found a unit by King. I think a 5000w unit will work for my space. What are the pros and cons of the different units? I like the ability to be able to use a wall thermostat. With some units I saw being priced at $500+ and others on sale for less than $100 makes me wonder about performance and longevity.
jvitez
Well-known member
Check the specs on each heater. 5kW is 5kW so amount of heat is the same, but fan speed may vary along with fan noise. Obviously better parts will last longer, but if you're only using it when you're out there will you really benefit from a more expensive heater?
Princess Auto here (Canuck Harbor Freight) sells exactly the same unit linked in the Northern Tool sale by DJL1967, different name. They're made in China, look like decent quality, and for $89 you really can't go wrong for what you want That heater is $180 CDN here. You can set it to 3kW, 4kW or 5kW. In the shoulder seasons the lower setting will run longer giving you more comfort than a quick blast of heat then off.
5 kW for your 240 sq ft space is 20.8 watts/sq ft. A good rule of thumb is 10 watts/sq ft so you'll be heating up very fast at max setting. Just make sure to insulate well!
Princess Auto here (Canuck Harbor Freight) sells exactly the same unit linked in the Northern Tool sale by DJL1967, different name. They're made in China, look like decent quality, and for $89 you really can't go wrong for what you want That heater is $180 CDN here. You can set it to 3kW, 4kW or 5kW. In the shoulder seasons the lower setting will run longer giving you more comfort than a quick blast of heat then off.
5 kW for your 240 sq ft space is 20.8 watts/sq ft. A good rule of thumb is 10 watts/sq ft so you'll be heating up very fast at max setting. Just make sure to insulate well!
Falcon67
Well-known member
I can tell you that I dropped my Dayton off a 6' ladder and after some beating the case back about square and fixing the fan blades, it's worked fine ever since. That was about 7 years ago. I think I gave about $250 for it. The Fahrenheit units that people have used here on GJ seem to get good reviews.
handymancanfixit
Well-known member
Install yourself a Mr. Cool DIY mini split heat pump. You'll have heat in the in the winter, air in the summer and you'll never regret it.
Bolson32
Well-known member
OP Lives in Cheyenne Wyoming which probably sees sub zero temps. Mr Cool provides full heat down to 5 degrees F. If he's not going to use it in Sub Zero temps that would probably work fine, but know it might not keep your shop from freezing when it's -10 outside.
I decided to go with the $100 dollar unit from Northern Tools. it was $50 cheaper than the Menard's here in town. This Heater wont get used all the time just when we are in there working. I am looking at insulation options now. Thanks to everyone in helping me decide which route to go. I will post some pics when I get it installed.
SD396
Well-known member
I upgraded to the Comfort Zone 5000w heater from Princess auto that jvitez mentioned about 3 years ago and it has worked great. I keep it on the low (3000w) setting and it keeps my 384 sq ft shop at about 15 deg C.
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The better units have longer lived elements -- quieter fans .. slightly larger cabinets. Every product has quality levels.
In a small space having two output settings is very nice -- one to get it up to temp and another to maintain .. it's much more comfortable to have a small constant heat source vs large on and off swings. With electric -- cheap 110v units are available to add to or use once the big heater gets you to the temp you want.
I find when I'm sitting and working on a project -- simple 110 heater with no fan under my work area is what I want vs bringing the whole space up to full temp.
In a small space having two output settings is very nice -- one to get it up to temp and another to maintain .. it's much more comfortable to have a small constant heat source vs large on and off swings. With electric -- cheap 110v units are available to add to or use once the big heater gets you to the temp you want.
I find when I'm sitting and working on a project -- simple 110 heater with no fan under my work area is what I want vs bringing the whole space up to full temp.
Johnson
Well-known member
Following this. Looking at doing same in my 24x40, room is only about 12x12 though. With these crazy temp swings I need a smallish space to dink around and keep some of my more temp sensitive tools. Nice progress!
Thanks. I am excited to get a door built. Running that heater for just a bit I can tell its going to work well. The recommendation for that 5000W heater is for a two stall garage. I will see how fast it heats my 1 stall space. That heater also has a 3000W setting that may work better. We will see how well it works. I will keep updating this thread.
I have two heaters like yours in my thinly insulated 30x50 barn/garage. They work pretty well, although I wish the blower was a little more powerful. Does a decent job for my area, I suspect it will work very well for your setup.
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