Heating your garage, what's your setup.

[remagenman]

So it's starting to get cold and I have a typical 2 car garage that is full of sh.... stuff.

I'm weary of any gas solution but wonder what works for you. I have a Mr. Heater buddy in my shed but that doesn't really kick out any real heat to stay warm in a shed less likely a garage.

Thanks for your input. Ps, the cheaper the better and absolutely have no space for a wood/pellet stove.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I hung a horizontal natural gas furnace on all thread (aka ready rod). I think the furnace is 60k btu. The ceiling fan is a must have. The fan can keep the air circulating and prevents air stratification. This furnace has been in service since 1990. I built the duct-work and transition fitting.
I chose to use grills on the duct to increase the velocity of the heated air. I have no complaints.
I leave the ceiling fan on during the winter and I keep the thermostat set to 1*c.

 

[larry4406]

@remagenman - update your profile to show your location to get better responses. A heating solution for Alaska will be quite different than one in Florida.

 

[kbeefy]

I have used a 220v 6000w Electric heater in a couple garages that had decent insulation.
I prefer the hanging gas furnaces for less well insulated spaces.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I use a 7500 watt euh, heats well but the garage is well insulated. The electric is just easy, set tstat and forget about it. The key with any heater is having a well insulated space, it was worth the time to insulate and sheet rock.

 

[JackOfDiamonds]

I have a mini-split heat pump that both heats and cools it. It seems to draw about 1kW when it runs, and runs about 50% of the time. In other words, a lot less energy than electric heater, which seem to start at 4800W for something big enough to heat a garage. I'm looking forward to checking the energy use when it gets real good and cold outside later this year.

 

[The Cobbler]

what's your insulation like? are the doors insulated? are you wanting continuous heat or just when you're working? what do you have for power? is there gas close by? lots of questions to answer

 

[Rc_Guy]

The same boiler that heats the floor in my house keeps the garage at 70° all winter also with a nice heated floor, snow is gone quick on the floor.

 

[CJM8515]

i just have a cheapo forced hot air space heater. it works well now that i have insulated the attic of my garage (previously nothing), but the walls are meh with cheapo insulation. even so after about 15 mins it can heat 40F to 75F on say a 30-40F day. only downside is the CO and it kinda stinks a little.

 

[nicholsmf]

Mitsubishi 36K Mini Split

My shop is block construction, 30' X 46' with 12' ceiling. No insulation in or on walls and ceiling insulation is currently only R13. In east TN the mini split does so well, I have no plans to upgrade any insulation. My shop stays 65 degrees year round, and the highest electric bill I have has was $137.

 

[dcg9381]

2 x 24K mini-splits.. which start losing the battle around freezing point.
I use a 20K or 30K ductless propane heater to supplement.

 

[Moosefire]

2 x 24K mini-splits.. which start losing the battle around freezing point.
I use a 20K or 30K ductless propane heater to supplement.

How big is the area you're heating if you don't mind me asking? Side wall height, left or cathedral ceiling by chance?

 

[dcg9381]

How big is the area you're heating if you don't mind me asking? Side wall height, left or cathedral ceiling by chance?

40x60x16. Foam insulated, but we've got some big, crappy, roll-up doors... I'm in Texas though, so our "days below freezing" are relatively low.. We lived in this structure for over a year, but had to start throwing propane at it when it really got cold.

 

[jskicet]

Heats my 1000 sqf insulated garage easily. Infared heater. I set on 60 and leave it alone. I've had one in my wife's garage for several years now. It doesn't dry out the air. It will run you between 80 to $100 bucks a month to run it but just gets the job done.

 

[CombatNinja]

I heat mine with this:

6.2L space heater keeps it tolerable in my mild N. Carolina climate.

 

[Moosefire]

40x60x16. Foam insulated, but we've got some big, crappy, roll-up doors... I'm in Texas though, so our "days below freezing" are relatively low.. We lived in this structure for over a year, but had to start throwing propane at it when it really got cold.

Damn, that's a monster. Okay. I was kinda looking into

40x60x16. Foam insulated, but we've got some big, crappy, roll-up doors... I'm in Texas though, so our "days below freezing" are relatively low.. We lived in this structure for over a year, but had to start throwing propane at it when it really got cold.

That's a monster. I was looking into mini splits briefly, but didn't think they would work. But if yours is barely hanging in there, mine might be good at 26x42 20 ft wall, scissor trusses.

 

[N_Jay]

To heat for company I have a propane patio heater.
The building leaks enough not to be a problem.
For general heating I run the mini splits in heat pump mode.

We are releasing a few barn cats, but they are young so we have to keep it comfortable for them.

I am playing with the settings now to see what is reasonable.

 

[Nutria]

Attached 800 sq foot garage (under raised ranch home), insulated, dry wall, insulated bay doors. Fahrenheat FUH724 240-Volt 7500W 31.3A 25,600 BTU Ceiling-Mount Electric Heater. I only turn the heater on when the temp gets into the 50s, so it isn't run that often. When I do run it, I usually have it on for 15 minutes or so, then shut it off.

 

[PoorUB]

45,000 BTU, 50,000 horizontal furnace, with an AC coil hung up against the ceiling. I also have a ceiling fan. 900+ sqft garage. I could get by with a smaller furnace. We sold that brand at the HVAC contractor I worked for. It was the smallest the manufacturer built.

 

[Innovate1]

In the first house when I moved to the area the previous owner had hung a gas furnace in the 2 car garage. They didn't have a thermostat and just plugged it in when they wanted heat. I was told he worked on cars there. They were going to remove it since it didn't meet code but I wrote in the contract for it to stay. I put a thermostat in and ran power to it. No insulation but it would heat the place up quickly when I wanted to work there.

In the current attached garage I put in hydronic floor heat since we were the general contractor. I don't do a lot of work in it but it sure is nice to keep it about 50F in the winter. It's insulated btw.

The detached "shop" has a gas furnace and AC. Pretty standard for this area. 60k BTU for a 30 x 40 - probably overkill but works well. It's well insulated with 2 x 6 walls. I had quotes from about 45k to 100k as I recall. I had some connections to get a good deal on a condensing furnace.

 

[nadogail]

I have a 5KW 240 Volt heater and a roof full of Photovoltaic Panels

 

[dcg9381]

That's a monster. I was looking into mini splits briefly, but didn't think they would work. But if yours is barely hanging in there, mine might be good at 26x42 20 ft wall, scissor trusses.

They work. You're up north, get some that are designed for low temp use. Mine are not... Lots of discussion on that subject.

 

[tarmy]

I have a couple garages…

 

[May Pop]

45 or 50K Reznor in the 24x26 10’ ceiling garage drywalled no insulation in ceiling.
50K hanging furnace in 20x30 12’ ceiling workshop Well insulated.
Both heat from 40 to 70 in less than an hour. A box fan does help the cold spots on the floor.
I no longer can work as long in the cold like I used to. Heat makes it fun to work out there.

Ron

 

[MikeC55]

I still ise a 60K BTU kerosene bullet heater when I have to be out there. Garage is insulated except for the wood panel overhead doors (2 car garage). Kerosene was getting rediculously expensive last winter, so I'll proably have to come up with something else.

 

[bb29510]

it never gets below 60 here

 

[AC-WC]

I started using an 85k salamander a few years ago in my 27X24 even in Indiana winters I had to turn it off as it got too warm. Fumes can get bad. Still working on my insulation, so not insulated much. The north wall and part of the roof Option 2 is a standard 20K kerosene heater but it takes at least an hour for it to heat up the garage. Might work better once the insulation gets done but still stinky.

 

[cannuck]

1000 sq.ft. in central SK, so heating a serious thing here. 6" glass (R20)on walls, 5.5" foam (R45 or so) on roof. Use an 80K btu low intensity IR tube 20' long down the middle 12' off floor. 39 years on original, but found no longer to code so just bought a new one. Runs only a few times a day at these temps (just below freezing). Could easily do the job with 50K even in the coldest temps, but going to 80k gives longer tube to cover whole floor (building is 25 x 39). Briefly considered a hanging heater with fan, but it would interfere with overhead crane.

 

[plasticseng]

24k mini-split for my very well insulated post-frame 30x40. I will find out soon how it will do in mid-winter, but all indications so far say it won't be a problem maintaining 60 degrees. I'm in North central NC.

 

[Prospecter]

Midcoast Maine. 24x30 garage. Well insulated. Rinnai propane heater. The heater is economical. I can turn it on in the dead of winter and bring the garage up to 60d. in twenty minutes. That's plenty warm when I am working and moving around.

 

[GrayFlattop]

75,000 btu natural gas unit heater suspended from the ceiling.24 x 40 X 10. Insulated &drywalled.

 

[BruceMc]

With a well insulated 1100 sq ft garage, a Toyostove Laser 73 has no problem keeping up with prolonged -40ºF spells. It's a 40k BTU direct vented heater about the size of a suitcase and runs on #1 fuel oil. These are very popular heaters in AK.

L-73 Toyostove Vented Heater

Experience the L-73 Toyostove Laser Vented Heater: efficient, eco-friendly, and compact. The ideal solution for whole-home warmth and comfort.

toyotomiusa.com

 

[JackOfDiamonds]

I have a good 240v electric heater, but it doesn't have any thermostat. Is there any recommendation for a temperature controller i could use to automatically kick it on to keep the garage at 60 or so? It seems hard to find something to switch that much power.

 

[JRC3]

Farts and a Bic.

 

[ambenz]

Since 2012, I have been using a 30K BTU Pro Com ventless and a box fan tied to a snap switch inside the plenum...

It keeps the garage at 55F throughout the winter and will heat the space to 68F in a hour when OAT is below freezing. Garage is 660 SF with 12 foot ceilings. With the fan, snap relay and furnace, I spent less than $250 in 2012.

 

[gizardlizard]

125,000 BTU ceiling hung gas furnace. 1000 square feet with 12’ ceiling, heats the garage up quick.

 

[cannuck]

I have a good 240v electric heater, but it doesn't have any thermostat. Is there any recommendation for a temperature controller i could use to automatically kick it on to keep the garage at 60 or so? It seems hard to find something to switch that much power.

You can buy a 120V thermostat and have it switch a relay carrying the 240V circuit. Need separate box to do so. Or, you can scavenge a 240V thermostat and switch from a construction heater, but they tend to cycle a lot more since they are right on the heater.

 

[WisJim]

My 24 by 40 building has 9 foot ceilings and an upstairs using attic room trusses. My garage area is separated from and insulated from the rest of the building, but seldom gets down to freezing here in Northwestern Wisconsin. My wood shop and metal shop areas are each about 12 by 24 feet and are kept at around 50 degrees most of the winter using a small 1500 watt electric milk house heater. Insulation makes a world of difference. I had it spray foamed so it is sealed very well and has good R values. The floor has 2" foam underneath and around the perimeter. Due to various circumstances I didn't put heat in the floor, which maybe was a mistake. I'm thinking about a mini split so I would have air conditioning, dehumidification, and heat. We had minisplits at our farmhouse for years and they worked well down to 15 below zero or so, but they were designed for low temps.

 

[firebirdparts]

I’m in the south so heat pump for me. I just have one outlet, blowing in the middle of the building and away from the return.

 

[Notgrownup]

I’m in eastern NC and use a 18000 btu 18 SEER mini split. It’s been perfect for me. In the Summer I keep it on 80 and in the winter I keep it on 60 until it is time to use the shop . Warms or cools in 10 minutes. My attached garage is not conditioned, just insulated properly.