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Mr. Heater Forced Air Propane

TX63CONV

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2010
Messages
316
Location
Dallas, TX
Any concerns with using a Mr. Heater 38k BTU (or other brand) Forced Air Propane Heater for my 20x20x10 attached garage?

I have a hand me down unit that I currently use and it gets the job done on the few evenings that I work in the garage. However, I have some automotive painting projects that are coming up and will need to keep the temps inside the garage above 65 over-night. The garage is insulated above, insulated on the demising wall to the house, brick un-insulated on the two side wall and then an uninsulated garage door. Lows on nights that I will paint will probably be in the mid to high 30s. Assuming I need to raise the temp 30 degrees from 45 to 65 (garage will be warmer than 45—but not sure all night). I should only need about 15,000 BTUs.

My biggest concern since it is attached to my house is safety.

Some other points:
I don’t have a moisture problem when I run my existing unit but I only run it for a couple of hours.

The garage door is not completely sealed—its sealed but there are a few gaps and should allow ventilation.

Door from house to garage is a sealed exterior solid wood door. This opens to a small laundry room with a small vented to the exterior fan and a door that opens to the rest of the house. In the past, I would paint with the garage door open but both doors in the house shut and the fan running. You cannot smell paint vapors in the house.
 
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pv74

Active member
Joined
Jan 1, 2015
Messages
41
Location
Boise, ID
Are you talking about a propane torpedo/shotgun heater?
I run a Mr Heater propane heater in my garage during the winter months.
I've never had an issue with it, but I leave a window and the garage door open a crack.
With painting, the only thing I would be concerned about are the fumes and an open flame.


I do know that my little Mr Heater will smoke me out of the garage within an hour or so on the coldest nights...it puts out a LOT of heat...too much heat may be a bigger issue.
 
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TX63CONV

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2010
Messages
316
Location
Dallas, TX
Yes, Mr. Heater "shotgun" fan.

What I have done in the past was to spray, open the double garage door, run the fan for long enough to vacate the cloud of over spray--I know there are lots of discussions/thoughts on this but I have been doing this for a while and I am not painting a whole car. For example, I am epoxy priming two axles hopefully next weekend.

Too much heat is probably a concern and I believe there are only two settings - high and low. I wish they made one a little smaller.

I am hesitant to go with the gas filled radiators as I worry that a few feet away from the radiator, the temp will be drastically lower.
 

Bretny

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 31, 2017
Messages
3,918
Location
Dutchess county NY
Those propane tube heaters really burn up the oxygen in the air. They also dont havr much of a thermostat. If its a paint job you dont really care about i would do it. If you care about it wait until spring or get a vented heater.
 
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