Help heating detached garage..

[Swift1]

Looking for any ideas on heating up my detached garage for the winter.

I'm renting a garage next to a private home that I also rent here in New York. It measures 16x18 by about 7 feet tall. It's a concrete built (cinder block) with an aluminum door. I have no real electricity going to it except an extension cord the comes from my apartment straight to it so that I can the power the lights and maybe some music. A small heater proved to be too much for it and the cord becomes hot to the touch and the lights flicker. So an electric heater is out. Besides, it only worked if I'm about 5 inches from it. I've sealed every hole I can see and sealed the garage door as best as I could.

Things I thought of:
1.Barrel stove- not sure I can do it safely and the only way to vent it would be through the only window in the garage. Also not sure my landlord would care for it....or neighbors (exhaust fumes).

2.Electric heater- not enough electrical power available as stated above.

3.And the last thing I thought of is one of those propane heaters where you install the actual heater to the top of the propane tank. But I'm not sure how much ventilation I need and can give. Really don't know much about it.

I'm out of ideas..

Btw, newbie here......this place is AWESOME!

 

[theoldwizard1]

3.And the last thing I thought of is one of those propane heaters where you install the actual heater to the top of the propane tank. But I'm not sure how much ventilation I need and can give. Really don't know much about it.

I have one and it works OK if you are within 5-10' in front of it and temperature is above 25F. Below 20F, you might need 2 for sure, maybe 3 or 4 of those to get the temp up to 40-50F.

You have no insulation so you are basically heating the outdoors.

 

[Swift1]

What about ventilation? Is it needed? Once I close the door I have non and the window is really just one of those old school ones that don't open or close, just glass.

You have no insulation so you are basically heating the outdoors.

Exactly! When I'm in there and the weather is bad, it's not much different that sitting in a fridge..

 

[zak77]

I use one of the top-mounted propane heaters on a standard 20lbs tank and it heats up my 24x24 garage in a reasonable amount of time, even when it's below freezing out. My garage has no insulation in the attic and I'm not sure about the walls. I usually burn it on low because med or hi makes me open the door more often cause it gets too hot. I try to open the door every hour or so for a few minutes to get some fresh air in there but after using it that way for 5 years I must be doing something right. It's not ideal but it's much better than trying to work and freeze my **** off. The down side is that it'll eat propane at a pretty decent rate, which for me it's about 1/2 a tank at low for 8 hours.

 

[CNGsaves]

First thing you need to do is limit any direct air losses like cracks in wall, doors, ceiling, etc. Cheap makeshift "insulation" could be plastic sheeting taped or temporarily attached to walls or ceiling. Idea is create an envelope that keeps the heat inside.

SAFE indoor solution would be a propane (LPG) heater by Mr Heater that is Big Buddy that can run off of 20 lb LPG tank (BBQ size). These are indoor safe as ice fisherman use them in small huts on Lake Michigan !! Big Buddy has carbon monoxide detector that shuts it down, along with tipover protection. Price is $120 plus the hose to connect to 20 lb BBQ tank.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...&type=search&gclid=COCOnuT_u8ECFUKCMgodknwAGA

"Plan B" for heat would be the Brunette !!

 

[theoldwizard1]

I use one of the top-mounted propane heaters on a standard 20lbs tank and it heats up my 24x24 garage in a reasonable amount of time, even when it's below freezing out. My garage has no insulation in the attic and I'm not sure about the walls.

WOW ! I am impressed. Last year when it was about 10-20F I let mine run in my 20x20 uninsulated garage for about an hour. I don't think it got above 40F !


FYI - Anyone using 20 lb propane bottles for cooking or heating is crazy not to have a spare !

 

[Swift1]

Just about every inch, hole and crack has been filled in with spray foam and I sealed the door a few weeks ago as best as I could.

This is what I was thinking about when it came to the propane tank mounted ones.

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Dyna-Glo-15k-LP-Single-Tank-Top-Infrared-Heater-CSA-TT15CDGP/202895385/

But that Mr. Heater seems like a MUCH better and "safe" idea....only thing is they are on back order...

This one seems similar but I don't see all the safety "extras" on it

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Dyna-Glo-18-000-BTU-Propane-Cabinet-Gas-Portable-Heater-RA18LPDG/204267430/

And this is what I almost got last year but was also worried about the whole ventilation thing....at 60,000 btu it looked excessive but I didn't know

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Dyna-Glo-P...ropane-Portable-Heater-RMC-FA60DGP/202223041/

Btw, thanks for all the help guys, it's very much appreciated.

 

[Swift1]

Oh and CNGsaves.....love that plan "B". Got my own brunette but she's usually inside with the kids when I'm out in the garage

 

[zak77]

30k LP Double Tank Top Gas Portable Heater - CSA

The one I use is like the first one from home depot but it has dual elements. I figured it'd last a year or so but 6 years later it's still working great. What's nice is if it gets to warm you can burn only 1 element. I'd prefer to have a woodstove in the garage but space is a premium, isn't is always?

 

[theoldwizard1]

You will need a double or even a triple element. 30k-45K BTU. You can always run just 1 burner.

I would not be concerned about lack of oxygen unless you plan on working in a closed shop for 8 or more hours straight.

 

[Swift1]

30k LP Double Tank Top Gas Portable Heater - CSA

The one I use is like the first one from home depot but it has dual elements. I figured it'd last a year or so but 6 years later it's still working great. What's nice is if it gets to warm you can burn only 1 element. I'd prefer to have a woodstove in the garage but space is a premium, isn't is always?

If I don't go for the one with all the bells and whistles then I'm probably going for the double burner (about $85 at HD) and maybe a carbon monoxide alarm close by to be safe.

 

[Swift1]

You will need a double or even a triple element. 30k-45K BTU. You can always run just 1 burner.

I would not be concerned about lack of oxygen unless you plan on working in a closed shop for 8 or more hours straight.

Well I calculated how many btu I would need for my size garage up here in N.Y. and I came up with about 32,000 so yeah a double or triple.

And thanks for that info, I'll keep that in mind. I seriously doubt I'll be in there that long....I have 2 little ones that can't help but to ask and want to check what, where and why daddy is doing.

 

[sourdough]

If I don't go for the one with all the bells and whistles then I'm probably going for the double burner (about $85 at HD) and maybe a carbon monoxide alarm close by to be safe.

Or TWO just to be safe, especially if you have little ones! Make sure they have battery backup (usually 9v), but I have seen new old-stock Kidde CO detectors (from a decade ago without battery backup) on ebay for cheap. These do not meet code and do not buy them.

I do not like unvented NG/LPG unvented units for safety reasons, even though my domestic water heater and range/oven are propane. We run a whole-house exhaust fan continually in the fall & winter and the house, while tight, still leaks some outside air (ya think?!).

Take care of those little ones.

Jim

 

[Swift1]

Or TWO just to be safe, especially if you have little ones! Make sure they have battery backup (usually 9v), but I have seen new old-stock Kidde CO detectors (from a decade ago without battery backup) on ebay for cheap. These do not meet code and do not buy them.

I do not like unvented NG/LPG unvented units for safety reasons, even though my domestic water heater and range/oven are propane. We run a whole-house exhaust fan continually in the fall & winter and the house, while tight, still leaks some outside air (ya think?!).

Take care of those little ones.

Jim

Good point sourdough, I figured one would be enough because the space is so small but I guess an extra wouldn't hurt any...and yes, always the best I can get when it comes to smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

I'm gonna give the whole vent/exhaust fan another thought and try to figure something out. It's difficult because like theoldwizard1 I'm basically heating the outdoors, so any escape of heat would be crucial. That last line made/reminded me to give it a second thought, I appreciate it.

 

[sourdough]

Or TWO just to be safe, especially if you have little ones! Make sure they have battery backup (usually 9v), but I have seen new old-stock Kidde CO detectors (from a decade ago without battery backup) on ebay for cheap. These do not meet code and do not buy them.

Confession: I kept the two Kidde non-battery powered CO detection units we have had for over 10 years and placed them in the same area as the batt backup units as a check. Just this week both of the old units crapped out: our Dachshund is very alert to high pitched noises and alerted us to the problem immediately. Seriously, what a coincidence!