Location for Heater in Garage!?

[polizei1]

I searched around and looked at the online manuals, most people seem to be placing their NG heaters in the foremost corner and directing the heater towards garage doors.

I'm wondering if I can place mine in the upper-left corner of the garage (A), or if that will negatively affect the space. Below is the layout of my 3-car garage. In the picture of a house, the white line would indicate where I normally see heaters mounted (B). As you can see, a vent coming out of the roof in that front corner of the house would look well, less than stellar. My concern would be that under normal operation, two cars would be next to the heater (A) in the 2-car garage. Would having the heater that close be dangerous or cause blockage of air flow? Am I better to just leave it in the bottom-right corner (B) and deal with the poor aesthetics on the front of the house?

Garage ceiling will be over 11' (flat), the cathedral will probably finish at 16' to the peak.

The option of running it to corner (A) would allow the vent to be blocked by the large roof line. Yes, it will obviously be visible from the garage door side of the house, but would not disrupt the "front facing" view of the house, if that makes sense. Horizontal vent is out, as it would stick out the side of the house near the porch. Also keep in mind that I'm 99% convinced it will be a sealed combustion, so two vents are likely.

[/url]

 

[ROCKNMUD]

I would install in location A at 10’ high. Also a ceiling fan in the cathedral ceiling to push heat down. Even set on low makes a big difference.

 

[Stuart in MN]

In general, you want to locate a unit heater so it's blowing hot air at the coldest part of the space, which in this case would be the garage door. However, that's not a hard rule...I think putting it in location A and pointing it so it blows across the garage doors would be fine as well. It will be mounted high enough that having cars parked in those locations shouldn't be blocking air flow.

As for the heater exhaust, a sealed combustion heater may possibly work with a concentric vent (so the intake and exhaust are in the same piece of sheetmetal) - that may depend on the brand of heater you go with and also local regulations or codes, I don't know enough about them to be sure.

 

[polizei1]

I would install in location A at 10’ high. Also a ceiling fan in the cathedral ceiling to push heat down. Even set on low makes a big difference.

Hrmm, didn't think about that! May be a smart choice, thanks.

In general, you want to locate a unit heater so it's blowing hot air at the coldest part of the space, which in this case would be the garage door. However, that's not a hard rule...I think putting it in location A and pointing it so it blows across the garage doors would be fine as well. It will be mounted high enough that having cars parked in those locations shouldn't be blocking air flow.

As for the heater exhaust, a sealed combustion heater may possibly work with a concentric vent (so the intake and exhaust are in the same piece of sheetmetal) - that may depend on the brand of heater you go with and also local regulations or codes, I don't know enough about them to be sure.

The heater I'm looking at is the Reznor UDAS-45 or 60: https://www.ecomfort.com/Reznor-UDAS-45/p47024.html

At this point though, I just need to tell my builder which corner I want the NG line ran to.

 

[PoorOwner]

I would pick A. seems like you would spend more time there, it is going to be a bit warmer closer to the heater. You would probably just a car parked near B single stall and not much work done there.

 

[polizei1]

I would pick A. seems like you would spend more time there, it is going to be a bit warmer closer to the heater. You would probably just a car parked near B single stall and not much work done there.

It would actually be the opposite, the single-car will be the "work" bay, hence the cathedral ceiling (for a lift).

 

[PoorOwner]

It would actually be the opposite, the single-car will be the "work" bay, hence the cathedral ceiling (for a lift).

Then, I would put in area B, IMO..

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

I'm been trying to figure out the same thing. What I had read is that it should be in a back corner like B and point at the garage doors so the air circulates. I was looking at something like A as well (same reasons about aesthetics) and I can't find any feedback on effectiveness if it's pointed straight at the opposite wall (so it blows across the garage doors) and I'm not sure it makes sense to point at the back wall.

You could also always look at horizontal venting, I'm not sure it would look much better on the front of the house though.

Edit: Very interested in the outcome of this as my garage is almost the exact same layout, just with another bay!

 

[polizei1]

Yea that's why I posted, I can't really find any information about this specific "issue." The wife said no to a horizontal vent, for the same reasons, it would just look awful. I'm definitely a function over form kind of guy but that's a lot of vent sticking out of the roof at the very front of the house!

I think there's no doubt B is the better placement for an effective unit, but I think if I get a 45k or 60k unit it will kick over enough heat to the 3rd bay. The sqft is ~700 so it's not like I'm trying to throw heat 100'. I would venture to guess I could also place a ceiling mounted fan (like ROCKNMUD suggested) to move the air around.

 

[wes73]

It is just the opposite. It will be warmer further away from the heater since it will be blowing the warm air. Unless I angle my louvers as far down as possible on my Hot Dawg 75K, there is no heat felt within 10 feet. I keep my louvers straight and have 2 ceiling fans in a 30x40x10. Works great, my walls are within 2 degrees of the thermostat at all times. The far wall always 'feels' warmer when it is running. And ceiling fan(s) are a must to keep the heat even.

I would opt for the B location since A is the front of the house because of venting. Definitely look into the concentric vents to limit the penetration to just one. Also look into a separate combustion unit as well especially if there will be any fumes and or saw dust in the air. Well worth it just from the piece of mind aspect.

 

[PoorOwner]

OP, weren't you thinking about doing a mini split before?
I am heating my similar sized garage with a 18K

 

[zmotorsports]

I would put it at location A.

I always have been told to have the air blow away from the doors not directly at them.

I also looked at my shop layout and what I would be doing where. My machining area is diagonally across the shop from heater location. My thinking was that when I am standing at the lathe or mill I won't necessarily be exerting myself so I wanted the heat a little more concentrated at that location. The other areas such as my welding area and my 2-post lift areas I am more prone to be physically working and didn't want the direct heat concentrated in those areas.

I also installed ceiling fans in which I turn on at a slow speed and keep the heat more uniform and consistent throughout the shop.

 

[thickhead]

I would want a heater that size in location "A" - away from the bay I would be working in.
The garage will be plenty warm either way, but the freaking fan/blower noise right over my head all the time would drive me nuts. The "B" location is probably too close to your working area anyway?. That garage is going to be a pretty good volume with the high ceiling so I like your idea of a larger heater to get it up to temp. quickly.

 

[polizei1]

Awesome guys, this is why I love this forum! Great info and thanks for helping me, I really appreciate it.

PoorOwner, I was thinking of a mini-split heat pump, but here in Ohio it gets pretty cold and I read that they aren't well equipped to handle lower temps. I do plan on running an AC mini-split in the future however.

 

[Sasquatch912]

Why not the middle of the shop so the heat can distribute evenly?

 

[ford33]

Option A and you really need the ceiling fan(s). The hot air will rise to the ceiling and the room will remain cold. My fan makes a big difference in the distribution of heat in my 2 car garage.

 

[D45]

The heater size, fan size, and heat throw need to be taken into account........

Modine Hot Dawg:
45K FAN SIZE: 10"
75K FAN SIZE: 14"

45K HEAT THROW: 27 feet
75K HEAT THROW: 38 feet

 

[polizei1]

I tried looking at the manual for that information, it's quite confusing. I'm still not sure whether or go with the 45 or 60. I tried to call ecomfort (who sells them) and they were absolutely no help.

I also found out that Reznor makes a compact horizontal vent kit:

http://www.reznorhvac.com/files/I-UDAS-UDBS-ASC (A.1) PN209344R6 smallest.pdf

 

[thammel]

I have a 32 x 28 garage and have a Reznor Udas 60K unit. I have it in the B location - right rear corner blowing diagonally across the garage.

I will say it works great and I've never had a problem. Was a bit of a challenge getting set up (do NOT use the z-flex adapter to the reznor that has a damper in it; the damper will cause the reznor to shut down prematurely).

Tom

 

[polizei1]

Thanks Tom!

 

[thammel]

I also used the CC14 vent kit with mine. The manual calls for stainless steel piping. The only stuff I could find was by z-flex. It's expensive but really good stuff.

Tom