Probably a dumb shop furnace question.

[bobcatdan]

In my 24x24 shop I have a LP house furnace for heat. I keep the shop at 60 at all times. I checked the filters for the first time since buying the place last December. They were obviously pretty bad. Looking at how they were in the front cover, I don't think it's right since the furnace has no incoming air ducting. It looks like it could **** unfiltered air from the vent in the top part of the cover. I pulled them out. I can understand filters in a house, but in a dusty dirty shop, I could see going threw them fast. Is there anything actually hurting a force air furnace by not having filters or am I merely just circulating dirt in air? At some point I see pulling this one out to replace with a ceiling mounted one, just letting you know my long term plans.

 

[csp]

Unit heaters designed for shop/garage/warehouse use don't have filters.

 

[bobcatdan]

I main concern is if there is something that can be actually hurt on the furance. With what was said above, it jogged my memory of every modine I ever saw hanging didn't have any filters.

 

[KRB52]

Mostly, any dust, dirt, etc. that gets sucked in will be spit back out the outlets. You could be getting some dust and dirt into the bearings in the fan, causing them to wear and need replacement earlier that with filtered air. If they are the standard, forced air system filters, they are relatively cheap (the hardware store where I work sells them for around $2.00 to maybe $3.00 for the larger ones); just replace them more often until you change the heater.

 

[CNGsaves]

Keep a cheap filter in that "house" furnace you're using in garage. Will keep dust/dirt from being blasted out duct work or up in the the air.

I'd just vacuum off filter until it got so bad it needs replaced. Also can use compressed air and clean off filter to get some more life (ie blow dirt out backwards out of filter). About $3 at WalMart will get you a new filter.

 

[finn]

Lack of proper filtration is one of the negative attributes to the hanging shop heaters on the market, in my opinion.

They are cheap and easy to install, but if I had extra money, a system with filters would be my choice. (after radiant, of course)

 

[Streetbu]

Been running my fuel oil forced air furnace in my garage for years with no filter. Please be careful with fumes in the garage! Gasoline leaks, paint fumes etc and then your furnace starts would be a bad combo. Thats why real garage furnaces aren't on the the floor. Fumes usually linger at floor level and can be sucked into the furnace then explode.

 

[naturalgas]

No harm just dusty, blow the burners , squirrel cage and motor with air gun every once in awhile


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[kbs2244]

I am in the process of installing an old home furnace in my shop.
The pro helping me says I need to have a filter at floor level to keep mice out of the blower.
It reminded me of having to remove a mouse from the blower at my previous home.
The blower was squeaking from being out of balance.
It was a bit of a job since the spinning force had squeezed the body between the fins.

 

[greenbikemike]

Been running my fuel oil forced air furnace in my garage for years with no filter. Please be careful with fumes in the garage! Gasoline leaks, paint fumes etc and then your furnace starts would be a bad combo. Thats why real garage furnaces aren't on the the floor. Fumes usually linger at floor level and can be sucked into the furnace then explode.

+1 on that.....
Gas [and other flammables] sink to the floor,I think code requires 18" off the floor for open flame.....

Greenbikemike

 

[naturalgas]

A filter is not going to keep mice out. Have a tin knocker build you a trunk to run up side of heater for cold air return and put filter there. Burner does have to be 18" above floor in a garage.


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[T_R]

I don't even bother with filters in the house furnace. Some dust builds up on the blower cage. Wipe it off now and then.