Paranoid about heating a small shop...

[Kevin Lee]

I work in a small garage through the winter. Measures 13x18' with a 9' ceiling. Built 100 years ago and I'm sure has no insulation. For several years I have just used a small kerosene heater, dressed warm and left the door partially open – which I know is probably one of the least efficient ways of heating the space.

I want it all: Warm, cheap and easy. But I know realistically I'll probably only be able to pick two of those.

I'm paranoid about fumes, not interested in anything I couldn't shut down in a space of five or ten minutes.

What would you say my best options are?

 

[slip knot]

I use a couple of 30K btu Dearborn heaters to heat mine up. They work really nice, about 30 seconds to light. no noticable fumes and about 30 seconds to turn off. I got a 36X25 shop with insulated roof and walls and these heaters will put 20 degrees of heat on in 30 minutes. I'm currently running them on small LP gas bottles (5gallon?)and can get about 6-10 hrs run time on a bottle depending on how high they run. I've got a 250 gallon propane tank setup out back but I'm waiting for my plumber to get slow so he can install proper gas piping.

 

[ishiboo]

I work in a small garage through the winter. Measures 13x18' with a 9' ceiling. Built 100 years ago and I'm sure has no insulation. For several years I have just used a small kerosene heater, dressed warm and left the door partially open – which I know is probably one of the least efficient ways of heating the space.

I want it all: Warm, cheap and easy. But I know realistically I'll probably only be able to pick two of those.

I'm paranoid about fumes, not interested in anything I couldn't shut down in a space of five or ten minutes.

What would you say my best options are?

A 13x18, you can easily insulate for not much money... that should be priority #1. Given that size, once you've insulated you can practically heat it rubbing your hands together You have a lot of options - cheap wood stove ($200 + vent pipe), electric (probably $150-200 for some inexpensive electric heaters, but more $$ to operate), or small gas or LP wall heater.

 

[SPDMETL]

Could you run a Reddy Heater or other salamander type outside by hooking a furnace pipe directly to the output ?

 

[trythis]

At 13 x 18, it just makes sense to insulate and if you can run a gas line easy enough, just about any vented gas heater would do the job with very little fuss. I think of the three, I would eliminate easy unless you are just loaded and can afford the expense of the heat costs. If you are rich, you probably wouldn't be asking these questions.

 

[rieferman]

+1 on insulation. For heater, the often-recommended Dayton G73. At under $300, and ease of electric hookup, seems to fit the OP's needs. Assuming you have adequate panel space for 30 amp 2-pole breaker etc.

 

[Interex]

+1 on insulation. For heater, the often-recommended Dayton G73. At under $300, and ease of electric hookup, seems to fit the OP's needs. Assuming you have adequate panel space for 30 amp 2-pole breaker etc.

Agreed!

The G73 and other brands designed off of the same is a great unit for any standard garage. You don't have to deal with ventilation (required for portable propane/kerosene/diesel heaters) or running gas lines and ducting exhaust (for natural gas units). Also, you need to be mindful when working with combustible fumes if you've got a heating unit that uses any type of flame.

Electric is the way to go!

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Could you run a Reddy Heater or other salamander type outside by hooking a furnace pipe directly to the output ?

Those produce carbon monoxide, and in a garage this small, it would only take an hour or less to get a real headache.

Better option for Kerosene is one of the wick type, round heaters, with a properly adjusted flame, they produce virtually no CO. Elevate it on a table or be careful to not have any open solvents, penetrate, etc.

Certainly insulate, even if it means tearing off the inside wall covering/finish (if you have any). You should be able to make a shop that small smoking hot with little effort.

Charles

 

[Falcon67]

One reason I went with the electric (G73 user here) - less problems with potentially explosive fumes. Before, I had to keep a window cracked to feed the unvented propane heater and then shut it off if I wanted to spray paint some parts.

Another plus for the G73 - you can hang painted parts from a rack in front, crank the knob and hey - instant paint dryer.

 

[ScottG]

As a fellow small garage sufferer (14'x20' here), I can vouch for the fact that the fumes from both LP and kerosene heaters will quickly give you a headache in such a small garage. Plus, I always feel like I'm too close to the heater in my small space and find myself preoccupied with not getting burned by the darn thing (or worse, with my LP Mr.Heater, knocking it over!). Having tried both over the past six years, I've decided I would rather be cold.

Right now I'm trying to spruce up the shop a bit and have insulated the walls, ceilings and overhead door and have seen some improvement in chilly weather. Hopefully before the year is out, I'll have a G73 installed to get me through the nasty winter months. So, my vote, for a shop your size...go electric. No fumes, it's out of the way and it's fairly economical to purchase and run (if you're reasonable about its use).

 

[dankicksass]

Insulate insulate insulate! And don't forget the door and your outlets. I'd think about ductless split heat/AC in a space that small. It's not real cheap but it's not real expensive either. No fuel, no fumes, no new lines dug from the city gas, and you can install it yourself if you want. The AC is a bonus.

 

[KENLUDE97]

My current shop is 14x20. I have a insulated door and i have also insulated the walls and ceiling with R13 FG. It does not take but 15-30 min to be up to moving temp. I run a 2 burner Mr Heater, off Propane. I don't get a noticeable headache, but the door is not trimmed so it does let a fair bit of fresh air in. Im a big fan as it is a cheap heat source. I don't need to get too effecient as i can not get out to my garage as much as i would like

GL!

 

[stafford]

There's someone near you that can drill holes in your walls and pump insulation in them, wouldn't cost very much at all, the same for the overhead. then a small infrared propane heater will work great and not break the bank. I heat a little less than 600 feet with a 9500 btu infrared heater, no headaches and no cold fingers.