New Hot Dawg HD45 - Missing B-Vent adapter???

[ovilla]

Just found a brand new HD45 on craigslist. The guy bought it about 8 years ago but never installed it. Anyway, I'm going to vent it using 3" B-vent but nothing from Menards or Home Depot fits the 3" vent pipe on the back of the unit, at least not without modifying the B-vent fitting - which I don't want to mess with (and subsequently fail an inspection).

Is there a special HD45 3" adapter that gets mounted prior to my Menards B-vent? By the way I'm doing a vertical mount. Going through the garage attic, horizontally for about 6' and then vertically about 10'. If there's a B-vent (not class III) adapter, please let me know where I can get it.

Weird question - My garage already has a Class III VERTICAL mount sticking out of the roof but I don't want to spend a fortune on class III vent, when all of the B-vent stuff will work just fine. And it will also be much cheaper than class III. Is there such a thing as a B-vent to class III adapter or should I just yank out the class III stack and retrofit with perhaps 5" B-vent (hoping to use same the class III roof flashing but with B-vent going through it now)?

Thanks

 

[Basstracker34]

You'll want either a "draft hood" or their adjustable length b vent to connect to the heater. Just depends on how far you need to go to connect to class III you have in the roof.

All of this is in with their b vent stuff at menards.

 

[ovilla]

I talked to one of the vendors who sells Hot Dawg heaters and it looks like they are really pushing them to sell only class III piping, even for a short vertical vent set ups. He did have a appliance to class III adapter but didn't sell anything for a B-vent attachment.

Can someone please send me a pic of how B-vent from Menards/Depot was attached to a Hot Dawg heater? All the B-vent attachments I've tried are too small/large of a diameter. Did you just crimp the tube and then attach it with screws and then tape it?


Thanks

 

[Basstracker34]

I talked to one of the vendors who sells Hot Dawg heaters and it looks like they are really pushing them to sell only class III piping, even for a short vertical vent set ups. He did have a appliance to class III adapter but didn't sell anything for a B-vent attachment.

Can someone please send me a pic of how B-vent from Menards/Depot was attached to a Hot Dawg heater? All the B-vent attachments I've tried are too small/large of a diameter. Did you just crimp the tube and then attach it with screws and then tape it?


Thanks

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=267614&highlight=draft+hood

I installed my 50k big maxx the same way. Used the draft hood b vent to attach to the heater vent nub. I then used 3 self tapping screws to connect it to heater.

 

[ovilla]

Basstracker34 - THANK YOU!!! That was exactly what I needed to see.

I'm going to pick up all my parts tomo after work but will actually install it this weekend. Chicago will be a high of possibly 50 this weekend, so it will be the perfect day to do the install.

 

[Basstracker34]

Are you going to swap out your current class III stuff for B vent?

I couldn't find any B vent to class III adapters either.

 

[ovilla]

Yeah I'm really leaning towards doing it right once and being done with it. I just don't have access to a big ladder right now. I also don't want to do a "temp" fix, just so that I avoid having to go up on the roof right now.

I actually think I can get creative and do the entire class III to B-vent roof pipe swap from the inside of the garage attic. I know this seems a bit silly but I checked and the class III pipe that's in there now is freely able to move up and down within the roof flashing. I'm going push the class III roof vent pipe out through the garage attic. Then throw a tennis ball attached to a rope through the roof opening and use that to pull up the replacement B-vent, which I can fully assemble the hat and storm caller onto before hoisting it up to the roof with the rope. I have it pieced together and it's very light and be easily picked up on its end with one hand too. The roof flashing opening is 5" so I should have plenty of room to reach my hand through the flashing, reach the new B-vent and stand it up and pull it down through the flashing.

Don't laugh too hard!!! In my mind this looks very doable and will save me from having to climb on a very frozen and slippery roof - if it can be avoided. If not, then I'll go find a ladder and a safety gear set up.

 

[ovilla]

It's a toasty 48 today so the roof was nice and thawed. I borrowed a friends ladder and went up to remove my class III vent and rain hood. Glad I did that. The roofers had actually screwed through it.

Anyway I replaced it with B-vent and reduced it from a 4" down to a 3" so that it will screw in to my Hot Dawg HD-45, which I hope to install tomo.

Here's some pics for today. Yes, I used heavy duty ratchet strap as a safety harness. Didn't want to take any chances with the roof still being a little damp.

 

[ovilla]

 

[Basstracker34]

Looks good. Good luck with the heater install.

Be sure to spray the gas line connections with soapy water to make sure there's no leaks.

What thermostat are you going to use?

 

[ovilla]

My friend Bruce came over and we got the gas line run today. Afterwards I hung the heater BY MYSELF!!!

I ended up tracing the mounting holes on to a piece of cardboard, to use as a template, and then taped the template to the ceiling to assist in final heater placement. From a corner of the garage I aimed it right between my double and single door. Then it was just a matter of drilling out four holes and running threaded rod through two end holes.

I've got 10' ceilings and an 8 foot ladder so I just put the HD45 on top of the ladder and used the threaded rod to slowly get it flat with the ceiling. Pics to follow tomo.

 

[ovilla]

Getting close!!! The vent and gas line are done. Just bought all wiring needed for the electrical tomo. Hope to have heat running by mid day.

 

[Basstracker34]

Good job. It's a great thing having a heated garage. I've already gotten a few projects done that would have waited until spring.

Post up some pictures of the heater/install if you get a chance.

 

[PT Doc]

How many 90 degree elbow can you have? How do they compute that into the total length equation.

 

[ovilla]

Per my Hot Dawg instructions every elbow used should be counted as being the equivalent of something like 3 linear feet from the total allotted amount of 31' for an HD45 install. I only used two elbows.

 

[ovilla]

Done!!!

It's 28 outside (and dropping) and currently 65 in the garage. Plenty toasty to work on anything - in shorts and a t-shirt now. I can't believe I waited this long to finally have a heater in the garage. It just takes everything up a notch as far as winter functionality goes.

By the way, I bought a 25' 5-strand thermostat wire so I could wire the HD45 to also run the fan by itself during our hot Chicago summers. I also installed a lighted appliance shut-off switch so I could quickly troubleshoot things in the future, as needed.

Finally, I also put in two gas shut off valves for peace of mind - one by the heater itself and one at the start of the gas line run (by my furnace and water heater). The second one will also be a secondary shut off for my outdoor kitchen grill, which I'll be converting from propane to natural gas this Spring.

Anyway, I'm still playing around with the final thermostat placement, so that's the only pic missing.

 

[ovilla]

 

[Jobes]

Sweet here in the Chi burbs and loving my HDS45

 

[ovilla]

Looking good Jobes! I can't believe how many folks are installing heaters this winter.

How big is your garage? Also, tell me more about your vent set up. I've never seen the two separate vents like that. Seems like a lot of folks use the two pipe adapter.

Where's the air intake exiting the building?

 

[Basstracker34]

Only thing I'd change in the install which looks great by the way, is the drip leg. It's best to look like this which doubles as a sediment trap. http://www.spacecityinspections.com...etail,0&cntnt01articleid=9&cntnt01returnid=15

http://activerain.trulia.com/image_store/uploads/3/1/9/4/8/ar13245382884913.jpg

Make it look like this one. http://www.woodworkingtalk.com/attachments/f15/58554d1402619678t-installing-garage-heater-image.jpg

 

[Jobes]

Ovilla,

20x20 I did purchase the concentric kit but we decided on two separate vents instead. I didn't care for the big box that would have been attached to the wall. Air intake is pulling from the attic. You cant see it in this thermal well but here is my venting to roof.

Looking good Jobes! I can't believe how many folks are installing heaters this winter.

How big is your garage? Also, tell me more about your vent set up. I've never seen the two separate vents like that. Seems like a lot of folks use the two pipe adapter.

Where's the air intake exiting the building?

 

[ovilla]

Been using my heater for a week now and must say it's got to be the best thing since adding a lift. My nephew came over and we worked on his car for two days redoing the entire suspension and cutting his rotors - working in our t-shirts. It was truly a great time.

Anyway, for those pondering which size unit to get, I just wanted to let you know that the Hot Dawg HD45 easily heats up my 3 car garage (with 10' ceilings) in no time at all. My garage is fully drywalled and has no insulation other than the back garage wall, which is shared with the house. I also have new heavily insulated garage doors. The lack of insulation in my finished walls is simply due to the way my cookie cutter builder builds garages, but I plan to fully insulate it this summer. Even with this set up my garage is always 10-12 degrees warmer than it is outside and must say that the heater does a great job of heating the space. It easily warms up the garage in about 10-15 min and it stays that way for quite a while, turning back on every 10-15 minutes. I can also open my big 16' door and only lose about 10 degrees or so. Note that I have the heater aimed at the big door opening so that helps a lot.

For those living in cold climates, like me, do consider getting a heater in your shop. Honestly it's like giving old man winter the big FU and telling Mother Nature that there's no stopping your quality time in the shop.

 

[CNGsaves]

Only thing I'd change in the install which looks great by the way, is the drip leg. It's best to look like this which doubles as a sediment trap.
http://www.spacecityinspections.com...etail,0&cntnt01articleid=9&cntnt01returnid=15

http://activerain.trulia.com/image_store/uploads/3/1/9/4/8/ar13245382884913.jpg

Make it look like this one.
http://www.woodworkingtalk.com/attachments/f15/58554d1402619678t-installing-garage-heater-image.jpg

+1 that OP's drip leg NEEDS changed a bit. The flow of NG needs to slam into T and be forced UP to get into the heater. That forces any water and sediment to settle in the "drip leg" which is how it gets it's name.

Also can use Google to search prior GJ threads where drip leg discussion has come up. Google the following:
. . . drip leg heater site:garagejournal.com

OP, nice install that looks as good or better than a pro . . . . except still need to fix the drip leg which will be easy since you have the shutoff valve right there before the flex line.

 

[CNGsaves]

Forgot to ask OP . . . . what kind of deal did you get on the Hot Dawg HD45 ??

 

[ovilla]

Yeah I'm definitely going to flip that T around so it's a true drip leg. I ran out of paste so I'm going to go buy some when I go out for more lumber (basement project) later on today.

Anyway I found the HD45 on Craigslist for $150. It had been sitting in the guys garage for years and he looked like he was glad to get rid of it. Luckily I had called him just a couple of hours after he posted it.

 

[Basstracker34]

For those living in cold climates, like me, do consider getting a heater in your shop. Honestly it's like giving old man winter the big FU and telling Mother Nature that there's no stopping your quality time in the shop.

HAHA very true. Well said.

Great deal on the heater!

 

[rob in nh]

good deal on the heater, i have the hd 60000, paid just under 5 for it. like your deal better.

 

[CNGsaves]

Yeah I'm definitely going to flip that T around so it's a true drip leg. I ran out of paste so I'm going to go buy some when I go out for more lumber (basement project) later on today.

Anyway I found the HD45 on Craigslist for $150. It had been sitting in the guys garage for years and he looked like he was glad to get rid of it. Luckily I had called him just a couple of hours after he posted it.

OP . . . you scored big time on that HD45 for just $150 . . . well done.

Your quick action saved you lots of money as they are $500 to $600 new.

Thus . . . well earned YS award to you . . . . . YOU **** !!!

 

[ovilla]

Yeah I had no clue how much they cost and had been looking at a bunch of big oversized garage heaters (no furnaces) and thought it was just an old unit. His ad just said "small older Modine unit may be good for 1 car garage". I then asked him for a model number and once I knew what it was, I went and picked it up the same night. The heater was in a corner, covered in an old blanket, and I was shocked to find that it had never been installed.

Glad it was reasonably priced. I easily spent about $250 running new gas lines and B-vent.