Occasional Heat for Garage work

[tcianci]

450sqft and a well insulated garage? Try a standard 120V 1500W electric heater. I think it'll be enough for what you want. Won't get it toasty in there, but should be enough to work comfortably in a sweatshirt.

Although I have a 25KBTU hydronic unit heater in my garage, I have also experimented with the department store variety "oil filled electric radiator" 120V 1500 BTU. The thing is nothing short of amazing. You need to remember that it will take a dogs age to get the garage up to temp but it has had no problem whatsoever maintaining 70 degrees in there as long as it stays turned on.
My garage is 22'x25' 8 foot ceiling with R15, 2 x 4 walls with R11/13 and a 16 foot insulated door, but the gaps between the panels of the door more than negate the insulation

If you have the time to let the garage warm up and it's as well insulated as you say, the electric heater may be the way to go. It will for sure show up on your electric bill but you need to work through the numbers and determine if the cost of anything more involved will be offset by the fuel savings and that for the most part depends on how often you actually need to use it.

 

[ForceFed70]

I've had similar experience. In a well insulated garage, it's impressive what a single 1500W electric heater will do if left on non-stop. Oil filed, or otherwise.

 

[TractorJeff]

We ran an oil filled 1500watt in the chicken coop a couple of winters. It doesn't change the electric bill much more than the wife running the A/C in the summer.

 

[75gmck25]

In response to GFMUCCI - AFAIK code does not allow you to have a vent from your house heating system that connects into the garage. Garages are required to have a fire barrier between it and the house, and having a vent would defeat the purpose. Even installing a pet door in the door between the garage and the house may be a violation.

I frequently use one of the 1500 watt oil filled heaters, since I picked one up at an estate sale for $15. Its a little slow to heat initially, but really works well once its going for a while.

Bruce