Low Temp WiFi Enabled Thermostat?

[buktseat]

I built my garage in Spring '19 and finally got propane set up to run an 80k BTU shop heater. I bought an Emerson Sensi WiFi stat to run it, and I was super pumped about the whole setup.

UNTIL, that is, I discovered that the lowest I can set the stat is 50 degrees. Frickin' ridiculous. A waste of energy for the days when I just need to prevent freezing. The only low temp "garage thermostats" I've subsequently been able to find have been non-connected cheapies.

Is anyone aware of a WiFi connected stat that allows a heating set point of 35-40 degrees?

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I'm not aware of any. Most t-stats have minimum of 50°-60°F because they are designed for residential comfort heating and cooling. You would most likely have to look into some sort of a commercial automation system to get that type of "special requirement" setpoint range.

Tommy

 

[ripperd]

What does your shop heater say for minimum temp? Most gas fired heaters don't want to be run at lower than that anyway, because the exhaust won't run warm enough and can condense in the exchanger and cause premature rusting and failure.

 

[fitter30]

Gas furnaces have low operating temperature of 50*. Take setting should be in your manual. Thats why most stats have that low setting. This one goes to 40* does more than u need.
https://www.supplyhouse.com/Honeywell-TH6320WF2003-T6-Pro-Smart-Wi-Fi-Programmable-Thermostat-3H-2C

 

[Bretny]

Wifi to tell you the current temp or to turn the heater on? If just to turn the heater on then a wifi outlet should work with a normal low temp garage heater.

 

[buktseat]

Wifi to tell you the current temp or to turn the heater on? If just to turn the heater on then a wifi outlet should work with a normal low temp garage heater.

I mean, my goals are:
- Maintain the temp over winter at a minimum of 38 degrees
- Be able to fire it up to ~55 from the comfort of my bed or in my car on the way home from work
- Spend as little money as possible on setup and fuel
- BONUS: Get an alert if the temp in the garage drops below 35.

The WiFi outlet doesn't really solve the problem - I already have a WiFi stat that I can turn the system on and off remotely.

 

[spudley]

How about locating the thermostat closer to the ceiling?

 

[Ralphxj]

Look at Control By Web. They make a bunch of wifi control devices and have some that can be configured as a thermostat. Their x300 will do exactly what you want.

 

[cadunkle]

I use a Honeywell RTH6580WF, which supports a low temp of 40*. I have a similar unit for the house which is convenient to control both from one application or website. I like the thermostat and available options to control it.

I use it with a Sterling 45k unit heater and they recommend 50* lowest set temp to avoid condensation and maximize heat exchanger life. I just set the schedule to 50* every 6 hours and leave it on. For my small and insulated garage in the mid atlantic (fairly mild winters) I don't think it costs a fortune to keep it at 50* vs 40*. If I thought it was worthwhile to keep it at a lower temp I would have spent an extra $300 to order the model with a stainless heat exchanger, though they still don't recommend lower than 50*.

 

[xjfish]

I use a Honeywell RTH6580WF

I also installed this unit. Lately I have been holding the temp at 40* with my Beacon Morris unit for the most part. (Yes, the manufacturer says 50* min...) I like the thermostat for the most part, fairly simple to use. I looked into some others that were overly complicated for a simple garage heater IMO. My only complaint is that the thermostat will not show any ambient temp below 40*. I believe this was done intentionally through the 'stats firmware. If my garage is -20*, the wifi app will report 40*

 

[The Cobbler]

..... My only complaint is that the thermostat will not show any ambient temp below 40*. I believe this was done intentionally through the 'stats firmware. If my garage is -20*, the wifi app will report 40*

or is it a design flaw? . it means that it could be reporting 40 ° but in fact temp could be below freezing with you thinking it is above freezing?

 

[xjfish]

or is it a design flaw? . it means that it could be reporting 40 ° but in fact temp could be below freezing with you thinking it is above freezing?

I believe I read another thread here awhile ago that stated Honeywell did this intentionally for liability reasons due to possible reported temp inaccuracies at colder temps? IIRC. I believe someone contacted them about it. I will ad a link if I can find more info. Here: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=275218&highlight=RTH6580WF

Yes, it means that the thermostat reports 40* when in fact the temp is freezing. A "workaround" would be holding min temp at 41*

 

[Rocket150]

The nest thermostat has a safety temp of 35 degrees. So if you turn your thermostat off it will maintain 35 degrees. The safety temp can be adjusted as well

 

[viator092]

Thread reboot. I'm going to try this in my hangar. https://www.supplyhouse.com/Tekmar-561-WiFi-Thermostat-One-Stage-Heat

 

[dcg9381]

I built my garage in Spring '19 and finally got propane set up to run an 80k BTU shop heater.

I've got a pump house that I need to heat conditionally. If you want a wifi-enabled deal, check this out below. I assume the heater has a 120V fan, so you can simply control the power to entire unit. You can keep the thermostat that you have, you're essentially turning the whole thing on/off conditionally by temperature.


BN-Link Controller

I use "dumber" versions of their products to power up heaters in my pump house.

 

[n20junkie]

I set a safety temp of 40 degrees on my Nest. You can set any safety temp you want, and even with the thermostat off, it will maintain that temp.

So when I leave the shop I just turn the thermostat off.

 

[gleman]

I have an Ecobee 3 that will hold at 45⁰

 

[fitter30]

I mean, my goals are:
- Maintain the temp over winter at a minimum of 38 degrees
- Be able to fire it up to ~55 from the comfort of my bed or in my car on the way home from work
- Spend as little money as possible on setup and fuel
- BONUS: Get an alert if the temp in the garage drops below 35.

The WiFi outlet doesn't really solve the problem - I already have a WiFi stat that I can turn the system on and off remotely.

Don't be surprised the heater rusts out in just a few years. Burners, flue and heat exchanger from condensation. Fan motor if temp controlled will cycle constantly with the cold temp.

 

[Juiced06GTO]

I just put a Tekmar 562 on my radiant system, it has a low set point of 40.

 

[Just_Steve]