Heating up the garage?

[whejdak]

I’m glad you found something you like and gives you enough heat.
Is it true that there is no smell and no fumes? That’s quite a claim for a non vented heater that burns diesel fuel.

When you first start up the unit, you will need to prime the heater. I didn't fully prime mine and when it started it puffed smoke and smell. I shut it off immediately called SunFire and got a great response from them as to what to do.
Since then I haven't needed to push the primer switch. I cannot smell any oder or see anything now that the unit is running .
Tech there told me that if I didn't use for a few days that I might have to prime before starting. So far, I have not had to do that.
I absolutly love this thing. But, it's brand new. We'll see after a couple of years how it works.

Their support help is incredible.

 

[markietas]

North Dakota here. I did HVAC for a few years and we put 30,000 BTU heaters in 1,000 sq/ft garages all the time.

Most people, including heating contractors don't know what it takes so they toss a 60,000 BTU in the garage. sure it works, but being closer to the the BTU required is better than putting in something way over sized.

Yup, I'm not even completely done insulating my 40x72 building and I have an 18k mini split that keeps it above 60f when it's about 25f outside.

I leave it on all day / night if I'm working a few days in a row ofc. It would take forever recover to that temp from below freezing.

For anyone curious it uses about 2kw at full bore.

 

[pbon]

I did the kerosene torpedo and radiant heater and non vented propane heater thing for 15 years. I now use a natural gas hanging vented Big Maxx to heat my 800SF attached insulated garage shop full time. Usually to around 60 and may turn it up a little if I am in there. I can afford to be healthy and comfortable. I have AC in it for the summer. The good life!

 

[Sumboodie]

Depends on how well insulated your garage is.

Must be if only 30k heats a 1000 sq foot garage.
Maybe low ceiling?

60 btu a sq foot is what I was told for here.

 

[whejdak]

Must be if only 30k heats a 1000 sq foot garage.
Maybe low ceiling?

60 btu a sq foot is what I was told for here.

You are probably right about needing a 60,000 BTU for the application if you want it to be nice and warm.
I'm just trying to keep a workable attmoshire (some what comfortable) while I work in the garage. 30,000 will do that.

 

[Shiftless]

universal BTU’s per square foot recommendations can’t work for everywhere and every user. A well insulated tight building in North Dakota might not need as many BTU/sq.ft. as a drafty poorly insulated building in Tennessee.
If I hit the Powerball jackpot, even though I live in a very mild climate, I would build a huge new shop/garage with in floor radiant heat and air conditioning and keep it at 68-70 all the time.

 

[finn]

universal BTU’s per square foot recommendations can’t work for everywhere and every user. A well insulated tight building in North Dakota might not need as many BTU/sq.ft. as a drafty poorly insulated building in Tennessee.
If I hit the Powerball jackpot, even though I live in a very mild climate, I would build a huge new shop/garage with in floor radiant heat and air conditioning and keep it at 68-70 all the time.

Floor radiant heat isn’t a panacea either. Even with outdoor reset it can’t handle the shoulder season where you get wild daily temperature swings. It’s slow to respond.

I ended up just using the floor heat to maintain a baseline temperature and bumping a thermostat tied to a hanging vented heater to trim the temperature to a comfortable working target. Other than the noise, that works ok, although it adds expense and maintenance.

 

[whejdak]

universal BTU’s per square foot recommendations can’t work for everywhere and every user. A well insulated tight building in North Dakota might not need as many BTU/sq.ft. as a drafty poorly insulated building in Tennessee.
If I hit the Powerball jackpot, even though I live in a very mild climate, I would build a huge new shop/garage with in floor radiant heat and air conditioning and keep it at 68-70 all the time.

I'm with you on this one.
Just as soon as I hit the big money....... I'll do it all over again and do it right.
Maybe even put a "hot tube and shower" in there to clean up after work.

 

[nadogail]

Heating a Garage has many variables; they start with Location, the current outside temperature, the construction of the garage, and the contents.

When a warm car is brought into a San Diego Garage the situation is different than than a Cold Soaked Car in an Anchorage, Alaska garage.

 

[gizardlizard]

I’m in Wisconsin and my garage isn’t quite 1000 square feet. I have 12 foot ceilings and I rock a 125,000 BTU furnace. Gets warm really quick. Also have a 24K mini split for summer. Cools super fast.

 

[413dan]

This the one that I use to heat fast. But, no protection from burns.

Was using one of these over the weekend to heat the garage space at my rental. Had the double bay garage door open roughly 3 feet high and still found myself suffering from the effects of CO. Immediately **** everything down, door fully opened and I went inside to allow it air out. Gave me a nasty headache. That **** is no joke, stay safe out there friends!

Any recommendations on better units to use, where I can’t put in the infrastructure of a proper vented unit as I don’t own the property and don’t see being here long term? Or is is really to just struggle and be cold while doing my repairs until I get my one proper shop space one day. Thanks in advance for comments and ideas.

 

[dscheidt]

Id say it probably depends on what you're actually doing. Something small and a 1/2 hour job, I wouldn't move the vehicles out. A large all day project, pull them out.

Fully insulating the garage (with good O/H doors) with keeping them shut, an attached garage will stay 10-15° warming than the outside air. It also becomes an investment on those heating & cooling dollars. Maintaining the temps will allow the concrete to absorb the heat you're spending your $$ on and will recover faster.

 

[Shiftless]

Maybe even put a "hot tub and shower" in there to clean up after work.

You should include a kegerator, a steam shower and a massage table for your on call masseuse.

 

[whejdak]

You should include a kegerator, a steam shower and a massage table for your on call masseuse.

Not sure what a Kegerator is but if you know of anyone willing to Masseuse cheaply, let me know.

 

[Shiftless]

Not sure what a Kegerator is

Sorry, I thought it was a common term. It’s a small refrigerator that can hold a mini keg of beer or even a keg of water to make carbonated water for easy dispensing through a tap handle or 2 on the top.

 

[Ultradog MN]

My shop area is about 660 square feet.
I put a 65K furnace in a year ago.
Has R15 in the walls and R60 in the ceiling.
I do not keep it heated except if I want to do some work out there.
It's about 25 degrees outside today and always about 10 degrees warmer inside.
If I wanted to warm it up right now I could turn the heat on and have the air "light jacket comfortable" (50 degrees?) in there in about 15 minutes. If I wanted to bring the estimated 7-8 tons of heavy shop machines and tools up to 55 degrees it would take 3-4 hours. Heating the concrete floor up to 50 degrees would take much longer. I'm real glad I went with a bigger furnace.

By the way,

I didn't buy the furnace I mentioned above to heat my garage.
We had an old furnace in the house and it needed to be replaced.
So I put that 65k high efficiency in.
2 years later we added onto the house and needed a bigger furnace. We hired that one done. They offered to haul away the "old" one for free. I said hell no.
It sat in the basement for 5 years.
One day My wife asked me when I was going to get that old thing out of the basement.
I told her I was saving it for the new garage.
She asked, "What new garage??"
Well , It didn't look good there for a while but I did get a new 1K square foot garage
after all and just happened to have that low houred furnace to put in it.

 

[Skellyii]

In my garage shop, I use a 48K BTU patio heater.
When needed, I first crank it to about the medium heat, then later set it to LOW and leave it there until it's no longer needed. My shop is ~720sf and insulated with 14' walls.


We experience very few days at or below freezing down here. If so, and have work to do in the shop, I'll light it up.

Does that actually work?

I have a 1300sq ft poorly insulated leased space and I have one we use during the shoulder seasons for our patio at the house.

Wondering is that better than a torpedo?

 

[whejdak]

Sorry, I thought it was a common term. It’s a small refrigerator that can hold a mini keg of beer or even a keg of water to make carbonated water for easy dispensing through a tap handle or 2 on the top.

Thanks Kegerator!

 

[finn]

Does that actually work?

I have a 1300sq ft poorly insulated leased space and I have one we use during the shoulder seasons for our patio at the house.

Wondering is that better than a torpedo?

Mine has tags warning to use only in a well ventilated location.

I have used it in a heated enclosed lean to with ventilated soffits in an emergency, but wouldn’t try it in the insulated shop.

 

[Sumboodie]

universal BTU’s per square foot recommendations can’t work for everywhere and every user. A well insulated tight building in North Dakota might not need as many BTU/sq.ft. as a drafty poorly insulated building in Tennessee.
If I hit the Powerball jackpot, even though I live in a very mild climate, I would build a huge new shop/garage with in floor radiant heat and air conditioning and keep it at 68-70 all the time.

Costs me about $115 a month to keep mine at 68*

 

[Shiftless]

Costs me about $115 a month to keep mine at 68*

You must have some incredible insulation! How many square feet?
Alaska is known for getting a bit chilly, especially this time of year.

(I visited for a couple of days, but that was in August)

 

[Sumboodie]

You must have some incredible insulation! How many square feet?
Alaska is known for getting a bit chilly, especially this time of year.

(I visited for a couple of days, but that was in August)

30x42x14

 

[Shiftless]

30x42x14

Impressive !
You installed what… R-60 ?? Closed cell foam??

 

[GreenIron]

Does that actually work?

Yep. And it's quiet too.

 

[GreenIron]

Mine has tags warning to use only in a well ventilated location.

As far as I know, all propane operated appliances have that warning.

 

[finn]

As far as I know, all propane operated appliances have that warning.

My boilers and propane water heaters are vented to the outside of the building

 

[nadogail]

I. Have heated a garage with a Hibachi Pot