Portable heater - electric or propane

[WeekendWarrior83]

Winter is coming to an end here, but I'm looking at options for heating a small detached one car garage (under 300 sq ft) next season. I don't intend to heat the garage all the time, only looking to heat things up for the handful of times I may end up working in the garage over the winter. Trying to make up my mind now since I plan to do a major overhaul or rebuild of my garage this summer and I'm trying to determine my electrical requirements.

So what do people think... would you go with electric or propane for occasional heat?

 

[ctgoodman]

Winter is coming to an end here, but I'm looking at options for heating a small detached one car garage (under 300 sq ft) next season. I don't intend to heat the garage all the time, only looking to heat things up for the handful of times I may end up working in the garage over the winter. Trying to make up my mind now since I plan to do a major overhaul or rebuild of my garage this summer and I'm trying to determine my electrical requirements.



So what do people think... would you go with electric or propane for occasional heat?

Consider would this also be needed in emergency situations? I would consider something that doesn't require electricity. Like maybe a radiant propane heater.

 

[WeekendWarrior83]

Consider would this also be needed in emergency situations? I would consider something that doesn't require electricity. Like maybe a radiant propane heater.

Good point... Hadn't really thought of that. +1 propane

 

[dogdog]

Those electric Oil Filled radiator heaters are a good option.

 

[ctgoodman]

Good point... Hadn't really thought of that. +1 propane

I have several heaters. One catalytic propane heater, a forced air kerosene torpedo, and a regular old kerosene heater. I guess you might count the old Coleman white gas camping heater. They all service different purposes. the kerosene torpedo will throw out some heat but stinks to high heaven. The regular kerosene heater work great for indoors with proper ventilation. The propane and the Coleman heater work for smaller spaces but again the more confined and airtight the space you need to be careful with anything that consumes a fuel to make heat. I plan to put a wood stove in my building when I get it done. You ever consider that it wouldn't take a very big one for 300 sq/ft if it is an insulated building.

 

[Randy in Maine]

The real plus to electric heaters is that they do not generate water vapor as a by product of combustion and therefore do not need to be vented. If you don't use it much it can be a pretty good deal.

 

[1966chev]

I live in Montana and my garage isn't insulated yet. I just needed something to warm a 24x32 with 10 ft high open ceilings up so that my hands didn't freeze. So I got a propane 30,000 to 60,000 BTU forced air heater for $78 US shipped to my house from Walmart.com. It works very well. It lights itself and throws out a lot of heat for its size. With the blower that runs all of the time it is kinda loud.

One caution with this or any other fuel burning heater. DO NOT RUN THIS WITHOUT A OPEN WINDOW OR DOOR!! The carbon monoxide can kill you!!

So in a nutshell this heater would warm up that 300 sq/ft building in short order even if it was very cold outside.

Eric

 

[BD1]

Those oil filed ones do work well but **** up power. Consider running one or two of them and other power tools and you should have a decent service coming in.
I have a kerosene heater that works well and it's the quiet type. No loud noise and you can play the tunes and hear them no problem.
If you don't want the kerosene go with the propane . I used a propane forge and with my area not tight couldn't smell any fumes at all.
In my area the 100 pound propane tanks are dated like welding cylinders so check stamped date IF you decide on a large tank. I bought NEW at Tractor Supply and it was about $140.00 filled . You get more propane for your money with larger tanks just like welding cylinders .

 

[chewy7]

electric heaters of any kind are really EXPENSIVE to run

 

[theoldwizard1]

Those electric Oil Filled radiator heaters are a good option.

Yes, they give nice, even heat. But they are not fast. 20 lb BBQ tank and a double or triple head radiant burner. Heats fast and as long as you do not buy those ripoff pre-filled tanks, the price is not bad for occasional use.