Interesting idea for a garage heater

[cobrabob]

I went to a local home and garden show today and some guy had a unit called a Heat Monster. He takes a torpedo heater and builds a galvanized box that looks like a forced air unit. Inside the box is a metal duct (6 or 8" diameter) wound around to create a heat exchanger. One end of the duct attaches to the torpedo heater the other is vented to the outside. A fan in the bottom of the box blows over the duct and out into the garage. No fumes and dry heat is the claim. It's something these two guys invented and are selling. No web site yet.

 

[sneezer41]

if it uses outside air, it would be ok

 

[6768rogues]

It all depends on how efficient it is as a heat exchanger. The temperature of the outdoor discharge air would be a place to start. It does not sound hard to build, but will probably waste heat over an 80% or more efficient heater.

 

[cobrabob]

They do offer a free at home demonstration. I was thinking it would be nice for someone that only used the garage on the weekend or for constrution sites. Biggest problem I see is the size and the cost. $450 - $650.

 

[Ripp]

Interesting..
I use a 220,000 btu and a 35,000 btu slamanders(torpedos) for heat.I use them only a couple time a week.Normally the weekends.
My ritual is to fire up the big unit to warm things up(220000btu's are over kill)then I use the 35K unit to maintain.If the 35K can't keep up I fire up the 220K unit for a bit.

The 220K unit does have a thermostate,but it belches smoke whenever it fires.In a closed garage it get pretty noxious.
A exchanger that would vent the fumes outside would cure the fume problems and I could simply use one 220K unit.