Small heater for a 1 car garage?

[Jacobson]

Small electric heater for a 1 car garage?

Want a heater so I can do small winter projects in the garage. Detached garage that has a very high roof and other storage area connected to same air space. It will be impossible to actually heat the entire room.

My goal is to make my immediate workspace a bit more tolerable in winter temps. Like just blow hot air towards me?

110v only.
Electric to keep it simple.

I don't have much room. I might only use it 5-10 times all winter, and maybe for 3-4 hours at a time. Small projects.

 

[Jacobson]

I actually have one of these in the attic. How effective are these?

 

[tool_scrounge]

You need something with a fan directed at you, unless you want to sit on it. Something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009NJ6K8K

Do you have 240V available or only 120V?

 

[The Cobbler]

you are probably stuck with 1500 watt heater @ 120 volts,
each is as efficient as the next
if you stay in 1 area,say sitting at a workbench, I would look at a radiant overhead heater

 

[harley jim]

Re: Small electric heater for a 1 car garage?

Look at a torpedo heater. I have one it plugs into 110 volt and runs on kerosene or diesel fuel, I used to use in a barn to work on equipment works well for big areas

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[catron44]

Re: Small electric heater for a 1 car garage?

I had the same problem, bought a kerosene heater last year and never looked back. I struggled with 110v heaters in the past and always tripped breakers. With the kerosene heater, I just fire it up when I need it. it uses about a gallon a day in my 2 1/2 car garage with 8 ft ceilings.

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[ChrisLS8]

What ^ said

 

[Citation]

I agree with others that you don't have many options if a single 120V outlet is it. So several years back I lived in a 1200 ft^2 house that I heated with space heaters. Based on this I have a bit of experience with these things.

1. When it comes to heat transfer modeling, if they **** 1500 watts from the wall, they put 1500 watts of heat into the room. Don't let the different size/shape fool you. The are all 100% efficient. BUT, that doesn't mean they are the same.

2. Oil radiators are probably not the best unless you want to evenly heat everything. I used an oil-radiator kind in my bedroom because they are largely silent. The heat the room rather evenly and you don't "feel" when they click on or off as you do with a fan based heater. However, they are only good if are looking to provide whole room continuously. They take a while before they feel warm. They also stay warm after they turn off. For the most part the heat isn't directed.

3. Radiant heaters: These are the heat lamp kind. I haven't used them but I know some people like them. They are quiet and the heat is directed. If you had one area you wanted hotter than another this could help.

4. Various fan model. I had a number of these. Most were the smaller ones like these
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TKDQ5C/?tag=atomicindus08-20 (not a specific endorsement). They are compact but the fans are loud. Some have safety switches that shut off if knocked over. Other are taller and have a different type of fan
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TTV2QS/?tag=atomicindus08-20 (again not a specific endorsement). My taller ones seemed to wear out faster. You would get bearing squeal noise after a winter. However, they were significantly quieter until that failure happened. The small fan ones seem to last forever.

The fan type would be my first choice for this application. They start producing heat really quickly and since it's a flow of air you can stand next to it to feel warmer before the garage is up to temperature.

I would get one with a thermostat, even just a "hotter/colder" type. They aren't perfect but they do work. Most will have more than one heat setting.

ANYTHING you can do to isolate areas will help. Even plastic sheeting to act as curtains between (and above) where you are working can help a lot. 1500 watts isn't much.

 

[ItsNemo]

Any insulation? Without any, it will be nearly useless. My old house, attached 1 car garage, 2 adjoining walls and the ceiling insulated but door and one wall not insulated, well sealed though...one of those little heaters could raise it all of 5 degrees celcius per hour.

With a detached garage and no insulation, you might as well be blowing the heat right out the door.

 

[81turbota]

My little ceramic electric heater would only heat about 3 feet around it and racked up $250 a month in electric bills. Worthless. This is the kind with an oscillating fan.

With that said that might fit your bill if you aim it directly at you.

The oil radiators are good at maintaining temperatures or slowly warming a very well insulated, sealed room. If you’re working in a cold space with cold ambient temps you won’t feel the heat unless you put your hand an inch from it.

Go propane camping heater or natural gas like a Modine. Of course these will need some form of exhaust or ventilation. My Modine will heat my garage to 90 degrees if I let it and costs me $40/mo in gas.

 

[DGersic]

Re: Small electric heater for a 1 car garage?

Want a heater so I can do small winter projects in the garage. Detached garage that has a very high roof and other storage area connected to same air space. It will be impossible to actually heat the entire room.



My goal is to make my immediate workspace a bit more tolerable in winter temps. Like just blow hot air towards me?



110v only.

Electric to keep it simple.



I don't have much room. I might only use it 5-10 times all winter, and maybe for 3-4 hours at a time. Small projects.

Buy a set of Carhart overalls, some well insulated boots, and a hat.

Even uninsulated, your garage will be warmer than outside,and no wind chill. The overalls will keep you warm.



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[kctyphoon]

What about a propane torpedo heater. Couple brands even have cordless versions. I think the benefit of that is the ability to pump out warm air to get things going quickly and then slow it down. The alternative is prob just an electric space heater - or even a kerosene one (they make kerosene torpedo heaters too)

I would put a wood burning stove in everything if i could.. maybe my next life...

Anyway - lowes has a corded 60,000 torpedo heater for like $90.
I think cordless is about $150 if you have a battery platform that offers one.
But this might be easiest thing to try first. If it ***** then just return it.

 

[Den69rs96]

I have one of those propane 70,000-100,000 torpedo heaters. My dad got it for me for Christmas years ago. It’s rather large for my 24x24 garage. It will warm my uninsulated garage in 10 mins, but you either have to open windows or the door a bit because of the fumes or turn it on/off every so often. What’s the point of using a heater if you have to open the windows or door. The few times I’ve used it, I’ve run on/off for 10 mins at a clip. If you decide to go with a forced air propane heater, make sure it’s not to big for your garage.

 

[MushCreek]

I've heard that the propane heaters add a lot of water vapor to the air. I need to try to make some heat so I can work on my barn this winter. I think I'll get a kerosene heater. I have a 240V electric, but it's an energy hog, and still is inadequate in an uninsulated building.

As far as dressing warm goes- that only works up to a point. I suffer more from cold hands than anything else, and it's hard to do finish work or precision work wearing any kind of gloves. I've learned that you cannot warm up a 2000 lb. milling machine by turning the handles.

 

[HenryAZ]

I use a Mr. Heater propane tank-top unit. I have the one with a single burner. We have a 3 car garage, and I use one bay as a workshop. It heats the area I'm working in very well. I crack the man door and the garage door a bit.

With a standard 20 lb tank (bar-b-q tank), it will run about 36 hours set on medium, and over 40 hours set on low. I usually only need medium for the first 10 minutes, then switch over to low.

 

[driz]

I use a Mr. Heater propane tank-top unit. I have the one with a single burner. We have a 3 car garage, and I use one bay as a workshop. It heats the area I'm working in very well. I crack the man door and the garage door a bit.

With a standard 20 lb tank (bar-b-q tank), it will run about 36 hours set on medium, and over 40 hours set on low. I usually only need medium for the first 10 minutes, then switch over to low.

That’s pretty much what I do. I use an old 1980s Coleman with the radiant head and adjustable settings 10 to 40,000 BTU. I like the fact that I could put the heat where I’m working. it’s good for warming things as well as myself and can be used outdoors in a pinch with ease. It’s also enough to heat the entire house in a power outage and the best part is there’s no electricity needed.
In the past I found that an old mobile home heater, gas set an a small cart works well. If I was going to put one in permanently I’d probably use one of those and just set the bottle on the side or outdoors. The one I had prior to my Coleman was like this it just had a simple switch I made for it to turn it on and off and I blocked the flu. The nice thing about one of those is if you had it mounted permanently it takes up a tiny space and can be found dirt cheap just kicking about Salvage from some old mobile home.
The thing to keep in mind for the garage is the huge door. The second you pop it open all your heat is almost gone so don’t think you can realistically do much with a tiny little heater. It will just drive you nuts. 30,000 BTU that you can set down to 10 is ideal something like that in the North country. I’ve never used any sort of venting with mine as Garage is always seem to be plenty drafty enough. Diesel burners are another story. They don’t burn nearly as clean[emoji87]


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[signcrafter]

I'll agree with everyone else that you need a propane/kerosene heater. It will heat up a single car garage very well. Also, if you get some plastic to put up on the ceiling it will really help a lot although it might create some condensation. I have a reznor heater in the new house so don't have to use my heaters anymore. But I have two torpedo heaters and also a radiant(think that's the right term) kerosene heater. I have been using the radiant heater the last couple years because you don't need a big open area in front of it like a torpedo heater, just a few feet around it clear. Doesn't use too much fuel and it keeps things pretty warm. Even used it in my buddy's 3 car garage with no ceiling and no insulation in the walls. It kept things heated to where you could be in a sweatshirt comfortably and temps outside where probably down in the teens. It does take a while to warm the area up but once you get it warm it keeps it warm pretty good.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DuraHeat-23-800-BTU-Indoor-Kerosene-Portable-Heater-DH2304S/304697729

 

[lardy1]

I bought a 60,000 BTU propane torpedo heater 20 years ago when I was building my house. 12 years later I was using it to heat my 30X40 pole barn until I finished & insulated it then installed a permanent Modine Hot Dawg heater.

I'm behind times on modern appliances. But for what I paid for it and the amount of use it has had, I would do it all again.

 

[Bad Ronald]

Re: Small electric heater for a 1 car garage?

I have one of these too.Works great and will get my double garage to over 50F.

 

[Frank Dukes]

I have one of these and it works good enough for my insulated 2.5 car garage. would definitely do the job for a 1 car. sold my kerosene torpedo because it stunk. literally.

https://www.menards.com/main/heatin...17-c-6861.htm?tid=-7229635580937958571&ipos=6

 

[MikeF2316]

What you need is a radiant heater. They heat things, not the air. So you get one and point it at where you're standing. You feel the heat right away. I have one that has 2 750 watt elements, and a switch so either one or both elements come on. So you could use 2 at 750 watts, one coming from each direction.

This is the heater I have:

https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/overhead-quartz-radiant-electric-heater/A-p8678211e

 

[DGersic]

I've heard that the propane heaters add a lot of water vapor to the air. I need to try to make some heat so I can work on my barn this winter. I think I'll get a kerosene heater. I have a 240V electric, but it's an energy hog, and still is inadequate in an uninsulated building.

As far as dressing warm goes- that only works up to a point. I suffer more from cold hands than anything else, and it's hard to do finish work or precision work wearing any kind of gloves. I've learned that you cannot warm up a 2000 lb. milling machine by turning the handles.

They do. I have one of the small propane torpedo heaters. It works well for heat, but you have to vent the garage (window and door open) for fumes, you have to figure out where you want to aim it, because whatever you point it at is going to get hot, and you’re pumping a ton of moisture in to the air.

I haven’t used it in years. I should put it on Craigslist and get rid of it.



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[matt_i]

I feel like a 1.5kW would work but take time, like several hours.

A 3-5kW @ 240vac would feel warm very fast in a 1 car. A 5kW is like a 17k BTU/hr heater.

80-100k portable in a small space would seemingly run for 5 minutes, almost roasting you out of the space and shutoff for a long time but there's a moisture price to pay for the unvented heater.

 

[t4runner]

I have a 20 x 28 garage with 9 foot ceiling I have used this one for 3 years now and it works great.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Cadet-T...tric-Garage-Portable-Heater-RCP502S/202909808

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I know OP mentioned electric, but I would really consider kerosene. I use one in my 20x30 garage with 8ft ceilings, and I can keep it around 70 in there even when it's below zero outside. I imagine it would heat a 1 car garage with no problem.

It's also quiet, no venting required, easy to maintain, and they'll last a long time with only occasional wick changes. If you use clean kerosene in it you won't have any smell, and they put off less moisture than a propane heater.

 

[joe_pinehill1]

I have a Mr Heater propane heater for my garage. It heats a two bay garage to a comfortable temperature in dead of winter. When its cold in the garage, its just not fun to be working on anything.

About 10 years ago I told my wife if she bought me one of them, she'd never see me in the house, and one turned up under the tree.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Mr-Heater-...knQSnGom9BtOq4RD_gBoCbv8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[driz]

I know OP mentioned electric, but I would really consider kerosene. I use one in my 20x30 garage with 8ft ceilings, and I can keep it around 70 in there even when it's below zero outside. I imagine it would heat a 1 car garage with no problem.

It's also quiet, no venting required, easy to maintain, and they'll last a long time with only occasional wick changes. If you use clean kerosene in it you won't have any smell, and they put off less moisture than a propane heater.

You won’t like it[emoji2955] says the guy who had one. It’s gonna stink it’s gonna stink it’s gonna STINK. But hey, all ya gotta do is open the door and it’s gone though.........along with your heat[emoji2359].






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[Citation]

Does anyone make a propane or similar heater that includes a vent kit? The problem with most combustion based heaters is you have to deal with exhaust gases. A typical setup would be a chimney but now we are taking fixed install and the flue is very hot at least at first. However, if you have a high efficiency had furnace you can just use PVC as a flue. Do they make a high efficiency portable heater that could then vent via a flex hose out a window or something? I'm thinking something like a portable AC unit but with a propane burner for heat.

For those talking about radiant heaters, a pair of 500W work lights does something similar. Recently we wanted to keep some paint warm overnight in the garage (detached, no insulation) so I aimed a 250w halogen light at the cans. When I checked on them they were not cold to the touch even though the garage was likely around freezing.

 

[tomwil]

But this might be easiest thing to try first. If it ***** then just return it.

Don't bother with that one. Bought it on clearance for $15 last spring, but first chance to use it was this winter, well after the return period. It *****.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DuraHea...-Electric-Forced-Air-Heater-EUH1500/206394620

 

[harley jim]

Re: Small electric heater for a 1 car garage?

If you run the torpedo heater on kerosene it does not smell like burning fuel. I always put mine near a door and cracked the door(kept a brick by the door) it also has a thermostat that Plugs into the power cord I hang that on a nail on the wall it will cycle on and off at the set temp. It has also been used to thaw frozen pipes under a house by pointing it in the crawl space door for about 2 hours, I draped a sheet of plastic over the cab and hood of a semi and heated my work space wiith it very nicely. I have a propane heater and a wood burner now but the shop is much larger now but I still have my torpedo.

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[Jacobson]

Thanks for all the ideas.

Again, 120v only.

Heating the room is impossible, so it's just to make it more bearable.
Yes, I do dress warm, and garage is much better than outdoors and wind.
Wool socks, wool longjohns, lined pants, flannels, and a hat & coat.

Yea, the oil finned one is going to be useless unless I touch it, so that's out.

I don't like the venting issues with propane. I will keep that as a last resort.
It's a tight space, so not wanting a large kerosene heater either.

I already have a tiny portable space heater that is 750W
This is a pretty weak heater, but might be a starting point for free.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CB28ZF1/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I suspect 1500W heater will not be a worthwhile jump up from this, as I picture two of these at once.

I best liked the overhead radiant heater idea, that might be the next step.
https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/overhead-quartz-radiant-electric-heater/A-p8678211e

 

[harley jim]

Re: Small electric heater for a 1 car garage?

Radiant heat is not a bad idea. Got to go with your gut, it will never lie to you!

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[rtz]

Check the list of categories here: https://m.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_heaters-stoves-fireplaces?seeAll=1

 

[kctyphoon]

Thanks for all the ideas.

Again, 120v only.

Heating the room is impossible, so it's just to make it more bearable.
Yes, I do dress warm, and garage is much better than outdoors and wind.
Wool socks, wool longjohns, lined pants, flannels, and a hat & coat.

Yea, the oil finned one is going to be useless unless I touch it, so that's out.

I don't like the venting issues with propane. I will keep that as a last resort.
It's a tight space, so not wanting a large kerosene heater either.

I already have a tiny portable space heater that is 750W
This is a pretty weak heater, but might be a starting point for free.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CB28ZF1/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I suspect 1500W heater will not be a worthwhile jump up from this, as I picture two of these at once.

I best liked the overhead radiant heater idea, that might be the next step.
https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/overhead-quartz-radiant-electric-heater/A-p8678211e

I think people over exaggerate “venting” with propane... i think as long as you dont enclose yourself in a glass bubble while using one - you will be ok..

Here’s a question - do you ONLY have one outlet, thats on one circuit in the garage? Cause if you have two that are on different circuits - you can just make an adapter cord pulling current from both - and get a real 220v heater with a fan you can hang on the wall or from the ceiling for like $150.. it sounds like, or at least i get the impression - that you want something that will at least heat up a small area quickly - so you can do what you want comfortably, and be done with it. The problem with radiant heat is if youre not right on top of it, its gonna take a while to work. If you go that route you may consider just turning in on for a while before you go into the area to work - to give it a chance to warm up a bit.

Like i was saying before - you can buy a 220 outlet and screw it to the wall near a 220v heater that you would have bought - and out of that box simply run two extension cords that would each plug into a different outlet. Ideal, no.. but for a few hours a year - if its worth it to ya - itll work, and you can buy a heater that will actually do what you want. IF you went that route, youd be leaving the heater unplugged until you plugged in both cords to properly power the outlet. If some guys can do it to power a welder - why not a heater..

Just an option.. alert the safety patrol.

 

[jshillin]

If you are trying to keep it small and get more heat you should check into a Big Buddy Heater. It's not going to run you out of the area, but it will warm it up. I run it off of a 20lb propane bottle and run the electric fan built into it. It will take the chill out of my garage, but it does a really good job heating up my 12x20 shed that is well insulated. I've been using it about every day for the last week while doing some word working projects.

 

[Kev442]

When I worked in my one stall many years ago, I found that if I used a small portable radiant heater pointed at me and put the tools I was using in front of it too, I was a happy camper. It was an antique but worked well.
The difference between grabbing a 25 degree ratchet and a 60 degree one made all the difference with my hands.

 

[lardy1]

Incidentally, anything you can do to slow down heat loss helps. Plastic sheathing works wonders in a small area with no breeze. Especially the overhead.

 

[Shootinok]

[QUOTE
I best liked the overhead radiant heater idea, that might be the next step.
https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/overhead-quartz-radiant-electric-heater/A-p8678211e[/QUOTE]


I have one of those heaters. I mounted it on a 7’ pipe welded to an old brake rotor, so I can move it around and point it where I’m working.
I really like it.


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[redmondjp]

You want the electric radiant heater as discussed above. Costco sells them for about $65 each. The fumes from a kerosene heater will be problematic and I'd suggest using a carbon monoxide detector in the same space if you go that way. Personally I can't stand the fumes and have had friends who gave up on them after getting bad headaches while working in their shop, which stopped after they stopped using that kind of heater.

 

[CafeTools]

Is that person correct in saying that thier 1500w little ceramic heater costs $200 a month to have on?