Minimum ceiling height for a hanging heater?

[Dustball]

3-car tuck-under garage with an 8'3" ceiling height (insulated/drywalled). Is that too low for a hanging gas heater?

If so, what are my alternatives?

Thanks,
Dustin

 

[regguy1]

I have 8' 10" ceiling with a hanging NG heater, see the photos and videos here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140674

I don't think 7" would make any difference

 

[dave67fd]

It depends on what heater you decide on. Most of the popular hanging FHA heaters only require as little as an inch ceiling clearance. Although they also probably have no less than a 8' requirement from the bottom of the heater which in your application wouldn't work according to codes of course. Heaters must be located or protected to
avoid physical damage by vehicles. Refer to the National Fuel Gas
Code, ANSI Z223.1, current edition. You can check your local codes for any variances as well.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

couple of houses ago...........the bottom of the heater was less than 6' ab flr and it worked fine

 

[philjafo]

As long as your not knocking yourself out hitting your head on it, it should be fine.

 

[dave67fd]

Or god forbid a truck happens to smash thru into your garage blowing your house up.

 

[Dustball]

Thanks all.

I also found direct vent wall mounted furnaces but I'll have to look around for a deal on one of those.

 

[dave67fd]

Thanks all.

I also found direct vent wall mounted furnaces but I'll have to look around for a deal on one of those.

Keep in mind they have a limited BTU output and may not adequately heat your 3 car garage.

 

[CarreraX]

I have 8' 10" ceiling with a hanging NG heater, see the photos and videos here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140674

I don't think 7" would make any difference

What brand of NG heater do you have? My garage is very similar. Thanks!

 

[Dustball]

I ended up buying a Mr. Heater 45k unit from Lowes yesterday. It was a discontinued display unit and the guy said I could buy it for $200 and I couldn't pass up that price.

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

I have an 8' 3" ceiling and mounted a 75K Reznor power vent unit that I rebuilt without issue. Does a bang up job.

 

[volaredon]

I have 10' ceilings in my garage and a 100K BTU Modine that is going up in there, it will be 7-1/2' from floor to bottom pan of heater.

 

[ForceFed70]

Code is 8' to bottom ot heater in a garage due to potential gas and other fumes. Asside from your code book, you installation instructions will also tell you this (The Mr. Heater instructions do at least).

You can go lower if you have a sealed combusion unit heater.

If your not worried about code, it can go as low as you want. It will actually work better when low because hot air rises.

 

[nwav8tor]

My inspector just wanted to insure that the bottom of the heater was above the highest point of the garage door opening. That way, the tallest part of any vehicle getting in the garage wouldn't be able to hit the heater and possibly damage the gas line.

Paul

 

[DaffyJeffy]

This thread is ancient so apologies for attempting to revive it. It's the most relevant thing I can find on the internet (so excellent work Garage Journal!)

I'm debating whether or not to hang a shop heater that only has 5 feet from floor to bottom of the unit. It looks to me like it is only Canadian code that require the 8' minimum (CSA-B149). Can anyone confirm that the USA has no such requirement? My workshop isn't primarily a garage - it's a woodshop - but I can pull a car in through the carriage doors if I need to. But it is not at risk of being hit by a car because it is tucked next to a corner staircase by the landing.

 

[smalltown]

DaffeyJeffy I'm on my first heater, but if it's for a woodshop I would first want a heater with a separate combustion chamber to keep the wood dust out of the heater.

I took a look at my Sterling hanging heater manual.

"Since the unit is equipped with an automatic gas ignition system, the unit heater must be installed such that the gas ignition control system is not directly exposed to water spray, rain or dripping water.
NOTICE: Location of unit heaters is related directly to the selection of sizes. Basic rules are as follows:
MOUNTING HEIGHT: If the unit heater is installed in a garage, it must be installed with a minimum clearance above the floor of 18 inches (457mm).

I believe the 18" min above the floor in a garage is to prevent the possibility of fumes being ignited.