Hot Dawg heater running dirty?

[ScaldedDog]

I bought a 15yo home a few months ago, and the garage is heated with a Modine Hot Dawg heater on propane. The drywall is filthy, with black stains around the top of the walls and ceiling, as shown in the photo. Are these likely to be from the heater? If so, can these heaters be made to run cleaner?

Mark

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[steves_001]

That almost looks like condensation marking as it seems to be spaced about like studs/trusses. Does it wipe off like a "soot"? The heater should not do anything other than move air. If the venting is wrong, that may contribute but, the chambers in the heater should be sealed. If its all rusty etc, then test for leakage. My hot dawg heater has been running for about as long and never had any issue like that.

 

[ScaldedDog]

You may be right, as it is concentrated on the studs and trusses, and does not wipe off. Pardon my ignorance, but is this condensation coming from inside the garage, or is it "soaking through" the drywall from the outside?

Mark

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[Showkey]

Do you do a lot of grinding, welding or body work ?

 

[ScaldedDog]

I'm the new owner, but the property also has a pole barn/shop, so I doubt the PO did much work in the house garage.

Mark

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[steves_001]

Regarding condensation: probably leaking thru, cold studs, warm room type of thing. I keep my garage at 40 or above all winter and that helps. Check the insulation too and verify that you a) actually have some, and b) its deep enough. Might be a good time to blanket some blow-in to add.

 

[Showkey]

My guess the previous owner did some work in the garage .......doing some extensive metal prep like sanding, grinding, wire brushing, cutting, welding Etc.......the heater fan mixed distributed the dirt.

 

[ScaldedDog]

You may be right, and I hope so. I'll find out if my new spiffy white walls get filthy again.

Mark

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[Showkey]

Here’s a picture of shelves from the compressor/parts storage room after a two year truck restoration project. The room was open to the main shop, heated and an exhaust fan was used during welding in the main shop. The grinding, welding, sanding, wire brushing and body/chassis prep is dirty work. My interior walls metal so the dirt did not stick.....but it’s certainly every where else.

In the process of cleaning every surface as we speak.

 

[HAP]

Looks normal, but depends on use hrs...

R,
HAP

 

[Rusty Fords]

Dirt along ceiling looks normal to me in a shop. The exhaust fan on those Hot Dawg unit heaters pull the combustion by products through the heat ex-changer with in shot burners so you will not typically have issues with soot in the shop from these unit heaters ( that being said there is always exceptions to rules). Luckily the heat ex-changers are easy to visually inspect.