GrumpysWorkshop
New member
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2016
- Messages
- 3
I built a detached garage workshop last year, and my insulation plans got delayed. Last winter, I wasn't using it much and it wasn't sealed so I used a kerosene torpedo running on diesel. Now, I'm working on getting it insulated - I have all the wall insulation in, the ceiling sheathed and almost ready for blown insulation, but winter is upon us and it's cold as ****. Would've been nice to have it all done 3 months ago, but c'est la vie.
I was thinking about getting a vented natural gas furnace installed eventually, because even though it's more expensive to install, it'd be the cheaper to run long term. I probably can't do that now because the ground's frozen and I need a gas line out to the shop. I can't run the diesel heater for very long since it's sealed up or I'll be dead soon. For a short term solution, I picked up a 19k BTU electric heater to see if it'd work, but it's just way too weak on it's own. So right now, I'm cycling between the diesel to get it up to temperature with the windows open, then using the electric to try and maintain it as long as possible before I have to kick the diesel back on. It works, but it's not great.
For the size of my shop, I'll need in the neighborhood of 35k BTU. I could get a second electric unit, and that should mathematically be enough, although the one I have is not a good indicator of performance. I could return it and get a better unit or pair of units, but electric heaters of that size aren't cheap. The second problem is I only have 60 amps of service to the garage, and at 20 amps a pop, that doesn't leave a whole lot left for activities. It's something I could work around for the time being, shutting one heater off for extended periods as I'm working, but as a permanent solution, electric would probably require replacing the line and maybe even the house panel, but if I do all that, I wouldn't switch to natural gas.
I thought I'd run it past you guys since you all seem to be dealing with the same problems in different ways. I just need a few opinions on what to do before I spend any more money.
Thanks.
I was thinking about getting a vented natural gas furnace installed eventually, because even though it's more expensive to install, it'd be the cheaper to run long term. I probably can't do that now because the ground's frozen and I need a gas line out to the shop. I can't run the diesel heater for very long since it's sealed up or I'll be dead soon. For a short term solution, I picked up a 19k BTU electric heater to see if it'd work, but it's just way too weak on it's own. So right now, I'm cycling between the diesel to get it up to temperature with the windows open, then using the electric to try and maintain it as long as possible before I have to kick the diesel back on. It works, but it's not great.
For the size of my shop, I'll need in the neighborhood of 35k BTU. I could get a second electric unit, and that should mathematically be enough, although the one I have is not a good indicator of performance. I could return it and get a better unit or pair of units, but electric heaters of that size aren't cheap. The second problem is I only have 60 amps of service to the garage, and at 20 amps a pop, that doesn't leave a whole lot left for activities. It's something I could work around for the time being, shutting one heater off for extended periods as I'm working, but as a permanent solution, electric would probably require replacing the line and maybe even the house panel, but if I do all that, I wouldn't switch to natural gas.
I thought I'd run it past you guys since you all seem to be dealing with the same problems in different ways. I just need a few opinions on what to do before I spend any more money.
Thanks.
