Radiant tube with 8 ft ceiling

[tbell_1]

Hey everybody, awesome forum here. Sorry if this question is redundant, but i couldn't find one exactly like it (i did search!)

I just moved into a new place, with a 17' x 22 x 8.5' unfinished garage. I'm trying to finish it before snow flies, since I keep my beagles out there, and I would like a man cave space for card games, beer drinking, working on the quad, etc.

For Heat, I will be running a NG line out there, although, it may be a springtime proposition, might have to go with propane and convert to ng later. Anyways, I'm wrestling with forced air vs radiant tube. All of my research says that the radiant tube heaters are 30-60% more efficient than the forced air units, which would be good since I want to keep the garage around 65 all winter.

One heating and cooling guy I spoke with didn't think I'd be happy with the radiant tube and that ceiling height though, he said they make a noise that would drive me bonkers (one that you don't really notice with a 12-14 ft ceiling) Does anybody have any experience with this?

Here is the heater I was thinking of: http://www.easyradiantworks.com/heatwave.htm

Here is my alternative: http://www.rezspec.com/en/na/products/products-unit-heaters-udap

or possibly: http://www.sterlinghvac.com/products/indoor/residential-garage-heater.asp#.UjrGrNKsiSo

I like the idea of the separate combustion setup on the sterling, which I'm told costs double if I go to separate combustion in the reznor.

What would you guys recommend?

ps, I plan on doing Roxul R14 on the walls and hopefully R24-30 in the ceiling. Located in SW Ontario. Thanks!

 

[Zurawskt]

I just ordered from a website called H-mac.com a detroit radiant 20' straight tube heater LD-20-40 certified for residential use and it can be installed with a mounting height as low as 8 feet. Have not received the unit yet so I cant make any comments on noise but I plan on mounting it at 9 feet. The unit is 2 stage with a high and low burn, most of the time it should run low burn with the garage doors closed, my guess would be on low burn it makes less noise then on high burn. From everything I have read the radiant tube heaters are the way to go if you have proper clearances. At my place of employment we have nothing but tube heaters in our shop and they seem great, however they are mounted about 18 feet high.

 

[Notch1988]

The noisiest part of a tube heater is the creaking of the metal from expansion and contraction, I'm guessing most if not all the noise is the reflector moving. There is a fan as well but it's not very loud and is constant while it runs. But man oh man, there's nothing like sitting under that thing early in the morning in the dead of winter sipping on my double double.

 

[lehr]

I just ordered from a website called H-mac.com a detroit radiant 20' straight tube heater LD-20-40 certified for residential use and it can be installed with a mounting height as low as 8 feet. Have not received the unit yet so I cant make any comments on noise but I plan on mounting it at 9 feet. The unit is 2 stage with a high and low burn, most of the time it should run low burn with the garage doors closed, my guess would be on low burn it makes less noise then on high burn. From everything I have read the radiant tube heaters are the way to go if you have proper clearances. At my place of employment we have nothing but tube heaters in our shop and they seem great, however they are mounted about 18 feet high.

Zurawskt is LD-20-40 the model number of the unit you ordered, also how big is your garage ?
Thanks Pat

 

[burleyfarm]

I'm using a GordonRay BH-80 (80,000 btu) in a 30'x36'x9.5' garage. I have 30 feet of heat tube. This is a great heater. I wish I had a little more ceiling height to distribute the heat better. Available from Radiant Energy, Wixom, Michigan. They are a little noisy with lower ceilings but its a much better way of heating things than forced air. JMHO

 

[tbell_1]

Would a 40000 btu unit have to run very often when keeping a 375 sq ft space @ 65f ? assuming doors and windows stay shut, outside temp below freezing, R14 in the walls, hopefully R30 in the ceiling? Heater would be mounted on an 8' ceiling.

Sorry for thinking everyone's an expert here, I'm sure everyone knows more than me!

 

[sands35]

Mount it up in a corner so that it radiates over a bigger area. You'll have a "hot" side and a "cold" side though.

 

[Riverside]

Would a 40000 btu unit have to run very often when keeping a 375 sq ft space @ 65f ? assuming doors and windows stay shut, outside temp below freezing . . . .

As I understand it, if you select the right size heater it WILL run a lot on the coldest days. If you pick one that is too big, it will cycle on and off frequently, making you too hot in brief spurts. (Sorry, I can't recommend the right size.)

 

[Zurawskt]

Zurawskt is LD-20-40 the model number of the unit you ordered, also how big is your garage ?
Thanks Pat

Yes that is the model I ordered..... I have a 3 car garage its roughly 22' deep and about 31' wide.

 

[lehr]

Thanks Zurawskt.

Does anyone know what size unit you would use in a 30x40 w/10ft walls ?

Also has anyone done any automotive painting with one of these units in their garage...I have had a wood stove and an old forced air furnance in my old garages and never had a problem with painting.

Thanks Pat

 

[woody2136]

Thanks Zurawskt.

Does anyone know what size unit you would use in a 30x40 w/10ft walls ?

Also has anyone done any automotive painting with one of these units in their garage...I have had a wood stove and an old forced air furnance in my old garages and never had a problem with painting.

Thanks Pat

One of the reasons I just bought my tube heater was a friend of mine who works in a body shop. That's all they have and he loves them.

 

[lehr]

Thanks Woody !

 

[mx500]

I bought the Detroit radiant, re-verber-ray. 50k 30' tube. I have a 32x50. A stranger would never know its on.. Quiet, and not blowing cold air around. There is baffles that you install in the tubes that maybe rattle over time? When theses things warm the place to 55, your taking your shirt off.. Feels like the sun is on you. Ad ya don't have to worry about the fan blowing your cards off the table.