Temporary garage heat

[woody367]

I need to heat a 3 car garage this winter in NC. I will be working on my trauck and do not need it real warm. I have a 150K kero bullet heter but it is mt father-in-laws house attach with a bedroom above it. So they will not let me use kero do to the smell. Any sugestions? It needs to be temporary as the house is being sold. Also prefer it being cheap. Yes I know I am looking for a lot for little money, but that what I have. Thanks

 

[Crazyjake8493]

If you already have kerosene on hand, use a convection heater. The cage looking ones sold at Lowes or Walmart. Light it and shut it down outside - they do not put off any smell when they are running, assuming the wick is set correctly. Very quiet and would have no problem heating a 3 car garage.

 

[woody367]

I have a few gallons of kero, would have to find where it is sold down here. Last winter it was $7 a gallon in NY. Would 1 or 2 electric oil filled radiator space heater work? Not sure how big they come but I do not have to pay the electric bill, I would have to pay for kero.

​

 

[zendriver]

Better than nothing, but not by much.

https://www.northerntool.com/products/lifesmart-deluxe-electric-portable-milkhouse-heater-5100-btu-120-volts-model-tfh-201-s-97991?cm_mmc=Google-pla&utm_source=Google_PLA&utm_medium=Heaters%20%26%20Stoves%20%2B%20Fireplaces%20%3E%20Electric%20Heaters%20%3E%20Electric%20Portable%20Heaters&utm_campaign=LifeSmart&utm_content=97991&ogmap=SHP%7CPLA%7CGOOG%7CSTND%7Cc%7CSITEWIDE%7CINTRADE%7C%7C%7C%7C857740797%7C42214667263&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAyKurBhD5ARIsALamXaEnzAOMbsAy_3fFnWJSMPrszCv9GONYlhJ26TaYpWv8hfnCKH3u4XEaAgK6EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Oil filled space heaters nearly useless, IME.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Do you have access to 240V? I think you can get portable 5000 watt construction heaters for pretty cheap.

 

[The Cobbler]

tank top radiant propane or as above,a portable 240volt construction heater

 

[WildBill]

Can you use a radiant propane heater? They are cheap and work pretty good if you move them around so they are pointed in the general direction of where you are working. And they don't make any smell. I used one in an unheated garage up in AK, kept me comfortable without trying to heat the whole place.

 

[Relax]

Do you need to heat it constantly all winter, and to what temperature? Is it attached? For my 2-car garage, I get by using a propane powered Big Buddy heater or a propane tank-mounted "sunflower" heater (both work on the same principle. My Big Buddy has a built-in fan, but it isn't very strong, so best for spot heating. The sunflower heater with a small fan blowing behind it works a little better. Last weekend I was standing in the doorway to my attached garage and wondered if I could use a window fan that has an air exchange setting where each of the two fans blows in opposite directions. I'd only do it if your garage doesn't smell, and then only to "preheat" the garage and switch to propane to maintain the temp.

 

[Relax]

I also have a small 800W infrared satellite-dish heater that works great for spot heating.

 

[rbgearz]

tank top radiant propane or as above,a portable 240volt construction heater

I've got a tank top radiant propane heater and it works great. I move it around to where I'm working and it does the job.

 

[billt460]

I have 2 of these, (Propane). One in front of my fireplace, (it has a propane outlet), and one in my 3 car garage. (940 sq. ft.). They work beautifully, and are thermostatically controlled.

It keeps both the garage and the house nice and warm. I purchased a plug in carbon monoxide detector, and placed it about 3 feet in front of each heater on an extension cord for several hours.... It never made a peep.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DPZ59U2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I have a few gallons of kero, would have to find where it is sold down here. Last winter it was $7 a gallon in NY. Would 1 or 2 electric oil filled radiator space heater work? Not sure how big they come but I do not have to pay the electric bill, I would have to pay for kero.

​

If you're not paying for electricity, put up a 5000/7500 watt hanging electric heater for $99, and take it with you when you go. Cheap and effective.

 

[Relax]

If you're not paying for electricity, put up a 5000/7500 watt hanging electric heater for $99, and take it with you when you go. Cheap and effective.

Sounds like the father-in-law is paying for the heat, but he's OK with it, I agree on electric heat as a temporary solution if it doesn't need to be kept too warm, and the garage is well insulated. Don't forget the cost of the breaker, wiring, and permit/inspection if he doesn't already have 240 to the garage.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I live in eastern NC and use this. 3 heat levels.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Mr-Heater-Cabinet-Heater-18000-BTU-Portable-Cabinet-Propane-Heater/1000836284

 

[Relax]

I live in eastern NC and use this. 3 heat levels.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Mr-Heater-Cabinet-Heater-18000-BTU-Portable-Cabinet-Propane-Heater/1000836284

Interesting. It's the same output as my Big Buddy, but with onboard storage for a full sized BBQ tank. I would have expected them to make it more powerful since it's not designed to run off the small bottles. And no fan. Does the top get hot enough to run a stove fan to help circulate the heat, which makes a huge difference.

 

[fitter30]

7500 watt 40amp breaker 25575 btu
5000 watt 25 amp. 17050 btu