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Need advise on heating a garge

zoe501

New member
Joined
Feb 26, 2012
Messages
2
Hello,

This is my first posting ever in a forum. Well I have a 25 yr old son who graduated from college and moved home. I have since downsized to a much smaller home with the "presumption" he would be leaving home. He has a very small bedroom and we really need some separation. The new/old home has a 20 X 20 detached salt box roof garrage. I had a new gargage door installed with R16 value, we have a sewer/water line, plenty of electric and a soon to be installed gas line. The plan is to eventually put a bathroom and make him a "man cave". No idea when he is leaving. We are currently thinking of a Modine Gas Hawg 40,0000 btu natural gas and the bathroom an electric hot water heater with a small electric heat strip-both on a timer. Money is an issue so this project is an "over time plan" with a rush if that's understandable. The garge has concrete block about 4 ft up and the rest is peg board, but insulated. Is the Hot Dawg quiet? I was unable to find an effiency rating. Look for the most efficient plan with least expense. Thank you all!
 
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little jimmy

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Dec 17, 2008
Messages
45
Location
S.D.
Zoe, I have the Hot Dog 45000, it is quiet for a garage, I absolutly love mine. Why would you put a water heater on a timer? Seems like it would cost more to heat then reheat the water instead of just leaveing it on at a set temp. As for the insulation in the garage, more is better at least I have always felt that way. Make sure your ceiling is insulated. I guess im assumming that you have a ceiling. More info would help like what is your general location, type of construction such as 2x4 or 2x6. As a side thought, if you make to nice of a place for your 25 year old educated son he may not leave to soon.
 
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zoe501

New member
Joined
Feb 26, 2012
Messages
2
Thank you all for your responses. I got a chuckle out of them all. Humor is good thing:)We have a unique situation whereby he has a disability from an accident when he was 14..Traumatic brain injury. He has partial right side paralysis and learning "differences".. After 6 yrs and specialized colleges in Vermont and Mass has a degree in Psychology. I was really hoping things would get easier..hence the smaller home, less expenses etc. He has only been able to find part time work and does help a bit with expenses. The home I purchased had some unexpected expenses...new heat etc so my plan to fix up the garage had to be modified. He plans to get otta dodge (leave the nest) ASAP. The job market is not kind to individuals with disabilites and its difficult for able bodied to obtain full time. So heat is a priority just to get space. As far as the time on the hot water heater..no ideas as it what the plunber suggested rather that heat the water all day. I think is was not to turn it off entirely but lower the temp. The garage is 2X4 an insulated. Yes it does have a insulated ceiling. thanks for letting me know the Hot Dawg is quite. I don't want to go crazy and plan to keep it a garage for resale at some point. If I could give my 25 yr old the "boot" I would LOL. Thanks again.
 
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64dragnwagon

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Sep 3, 2006
Messages
461
Location
Northeastern Tennessee
Not sure exactly what they are called but I think radiant heaters. You see them advertized on TV a lot, small square electric powered heaters. They are supposed to heat 1,000 sf for $1 a day. I have talked to some people who have them and they say they heat well and are in fact cheap to run. About $250 for a good one and you need nothing besides a 110v plug in. If the space is insulated well it should do the job. I am going to buy one to heat the office in my new used car lot building.
 

64dragnwagon

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Joined
Sep 3, 2006
Messages
461
Location
Northeastern Tennessee
I like the radiant heater idea. But its my understanding (and I could very well be wrong) that radiant heaters do not heat the air, only the objects it is pointed at.

Being this is something you will want to remove a portable baseboard heater may be a good idea?

http://reviews.homedepot.com/1999/1...eater-with-remote-control-reviews/reviews.htm

That may be true BUT that is the whole idea, that is what really heats a space is getting the walls, floor and furnishings warm. I don't really care how it heats but that it works and is efficient. I have used baseboard heaters and they are expensive to run.
 

Nogglefish

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Joined
Dec 24, 2007
Messages
46
As far as the hot water heater, I would go with on-demand in this situation. You can always re-purpose it for the main house later.
 

WVBrady

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May 5, 2005
Messages
1,679
Location
WV
'...Why would you put a water heater on a timer? ...

I live by myself and have my water heater set on a timer. I usually have it on for only half an hour right before I get up. That is enough for me to take a shower in the morning. The water heats at the top first, so it is not necessary to heat all of the water. If I am doing laundry, I just push the override button on the timer a little before I start the laundry. That and using fluorescent bulbs (lamps) cut my electric bill considerably.
 
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