Propane Heater for garage

[Scout3918]

I have a 30 X 40 X 10 insulated garage. sorta leaning toward propane heat.

I like to see others set up and advice on them. Likes, dislike's etc.

I wont be working in garage all day etc, few hours during the week a couple nights and lil longer on weekend.

I live in southern Indiana. Temperatures vary but don't have a lot of below 0 for extended periods normally.

thanks in advance

 

[D45]

Do you have NG available?

How far is the shop from the house? What fuel source is at the house?

 

[Scout3918]

No NG close.

Garage about 20ft from house and house total eclectic.

 

[Showkey]

30x40-10 would only take about 15-20 of the typical milk house heaters.

Well insulated in southern IN.........I vote for 45-60k btu propane.


Edit.......looks like the milk house heater recommendation post got deleted.

 

[astroracer]

There are a couple of problems with spot heating. The worst one is condensation. Taking a cold environment and throwing heat into the space will create LOTS of water on tools and anything else in the shop. Been there, done that. I spent more time cleaning surface rust off tools then I did using them.
The other issue is cold tools and equipment. The amount of time it takes to get everything warm and comfortable to use, you are usually shutting off the heater and calling it a day.
Just want you to be aware of the fall backs to spot heating.
The best thing you can do, if you want to work out there comfortably, is to heat it all the time. May not be what you want to hear but that is the real solution. Otherwise don't worry about it and work in the cold.
Half of my shop is heated, I keep the temp right around 50 degrees. I can go out there anytime and work in my shirt sleeves. It does make a difference in the mindset also. It is a lot easier to go out into a warm shop, with warm tools, then it is to head out to a cold one with damp tools... Just sayin'..
Mark

 

[Gerry347]

Mark.... Does keeping it at 50 degrees keep the water off the tools and what not?? I'm planning to keep my shop between 45-50 all the time and then bump it up to 65 or so when I want to work out there.

 

[ambenz]

It sure nice to be lazy and not have to box up all your rattle cans and bring them in the house. Keeping a space above freezing is the way to go.
Sounds like LP is the way to go if you have insulation.
I am surprised being in the forest down there, you are not considering wood heat.
Sectioning off the building with a double cloth or plastic curtain can reduce the area you want to heat also.
Love to see some picks of the garage.

 

[rustyjames]

I have a 30 X 40 X 10 insulated garage. sorta leaning toward propane heat.

I like to see others set up and advice on them. Likes, dislike's etc.

I wont be working in garage all day etc, few hours during the week a couple nights and lil longer on weekend.

I live in southern Indiana. Temperatures vary but don't have a lot of below 0 for extended periods normally.

thanks in advance

My shop is about the same size. I have a 60,000 BTU Reznor UDAP in it with two ceiling fans and I'm happy.

 

[James-W]

No NG close.

Garage about 20ft from house and house total eclectic.

I understand that natural gas is not close by, but would it be possible to get it piped to the garage and if so, how much would it cost?

If it is possible to get it natural gas would be cheaper in the long term, but since it is not close by the initial cost would probably be a lot higher than with propane. However, depending on how long you plan to live there it MAY be worthwhile to try and get natural gas. You would need to do some checking into it and then do the math in order to figure it out.

 

[astroracer]

Mark.... Does keeping it at 50 degrees keep the water off the tools and what not?? I'm planning to keep my shop between 45-50 all the time and then bump it up to 65 or so when I want to work out there.

Yes, 50 degrees does the job. I usually leave the stat at 50 or 52 when I am not out there. If I am going to be out there all day (weekends) I may kick it up 60 or so. I never change it during the week when I only get an hour or two in the evening.
And not having to box up the paint is a good thing as ambenz said.
Mark

 

[Scout3918]

MARK: Yes, 50 degrees does the job. I usually leave the stat at 50 or 52 when I am not out there. If I am going to be out there all day (weekends) I may kick it up 60 or so. I never change it during the week when I only get an hour or two in the evening.

This is my plan..keep around that temp and bump up a little if out there longer periods.

 

[Scout3918]

thanks for all the replies and info. I do plan staying where I am at rest of life. So I want to do it right. I had checked into NG but not ran no real figures, since it not readily available.

 

[Scout3918]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=358501

It sure nice to be lazy and not have to box up all your rattle cans and bring them in the house. Keeping a space above freezing is the way to go.
Sounds like LP is the way to go if you have insulation.
I am surprised being in the forest down there, you are not considering wood heat.
Sectioning off the building with a double cloth or plastic curtain can reduce the area you want to heat also.
Love to see some picks of the garage.
__________________


ambenz here is the link to my garage build.

 

[yeldogt]

I use propane at one of my places (1700sf) -- My vote would be for a sealed combustion unit. I have an empire 40k cabinet -- some manufacturers have modulating -- very nice.

Do a load calculation on the building -- this will give you the size required for maintaining the temp.

The cost difference between maintaining the temp and doing the up and down dance was not enough for me --- I will drop it down a bit if not be around for over a week. I keep in in the 60's. Propane is cheap currently (relatively)


I prefer to have the heater sized for the space and use a 4K electric to give me that little extra when I'm back from a trip. The electric only runs for an hour or so -- If I even need it.

Your space will be more comfortable with the proper heater running more vs getting huge heater that will go on and off.

I have radiant in my other studio -- the propane cabinet heaters blow along the floor .. more comfortable vs the ceiling mounted types IMO

 

[ambenz]

ambenz here is the link to my garage build.https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=358501

Got it...thanks for the link!
So, it you go LP, would you get a Big farm tank?

 

[bobbyjean]

big maxx propane heater on northern tool-see they are on sale at the moment.....i went with the 50k input for my 30/32/10 ...it was close on the sizing ...they have a 75k input i think for a good price...happy with mine so far

 

[toyotadriver]

Mark.... Does keeping it at 50 degrees keep the water off the tools and what not?? I'm planning to keep my shop between 45-50 all the time and then bump it up to 65 or so when I want to work out there.

Keeping a shop at a warmer temp isn't what causes the condensation. Using unvented heaters is what causes condensation.

I have a 30x40 and I use a 80K BTU Mr. Heater Big Maxx. Love it. Also use a 45k Mr Heater Big Maxx in my attached garage. Love it too.

Vented it the only way to go.

60k would be big enough for me but I got the 80k at a good price so that's what I have. It heats up pretty quickly.

 

[TTA89]

I just put my propane heater in a few weeks ago but so far I haven't seen any condensation issues. I'm heating from ambient (30s) up to 60s when I want to go out there. I have sealed combustion with a concentric vent kit, if anything I think it takes moisture out of the air since it's just blowing hot dry air into the garage.

I've only used it a handful of times but so far so good.