temporary garage heating

[that-guy]

so i am currently working out of my 24x24 attached garage on my new house until i build my large dettached shop in the spring. i have lots to do out there right now, but in VA its in the 20's and 30's, so i need some heat. i just saw one of these at Northern Tool, which is right up the road from my house and think its a pretty good deal. i have used one of those kerosene torpedo heaters in the past...they do give off some great heat, but in a garage, build up a ton of fumes, which are unpleasant. this one says its specifically for inside use, so would i expect to see little to no fumes?

before most of you come out with what is the best and blah blah blah, this is for temporary use until i get my shop built. this has the capacity to heat my entire garage plus some, and in no way do i want to mount up a Mr. Heater to my ceiling or something because it will never get used after my shop is built, and i already have heating plans for out there

 

[Briguy_123]

Your wife wouldn't like warm dry daily driver after you build your new shop. It will go something like this, "Why is your shop warm and my car is cold???" I built a new 34x48 a few years ago. The unit heater in my 24x24 gets used way more now that our daily's are in it than it did when i used it as my shop. Going to end up removing the floor and installing radiant, like in the new shop....

 

[that-guy]

the only circumstance i would think to need something like that for the attached would be if it were on a timer thermostat, to turn on like 30 minutes before she leaves in the morning and turn off shortly after she leaves since those things pull a ton of energy

 

[Bolson32]

I'm not sure why the first couple of responses got wildly sidetracked....but to answer your question I'm in a similar boat and have just been running a double sunflower heater.

Word to the wise, mine is 30,000 BTUs and it doesn't really heat the whole garage. It would, if it ran a REALLY long time. But it essentially heats the immediate area you're working and that's about it.

The one you have is forced air so it might be a little more efficient at heating the space but I'm not sure it would actually "heat" your garage too much on demand. It's been brutally cold here, below zero for a week and change, so I haven't been out there at all. Nothing compares to a good unit heater but you could probably limp by with that until you get your shop done.

 

[fitter30]

Kerosene 135,000 btu's per gallon that heater is 99% efficient , LP per gallon 91,330 btu's
100% efficient see what your costs are. But both put out fumes your breathing.

 

[Showkey]

Kerosene 135,000 btu's per gallon that heater is 99% efficient , LP per gallon 91,330 btu's
100% efficient see what your costs are. But both put out fumes your breathing.

Plus it’s not just the fumes of the fuel.......any chemicals used in the garage pass through the flame adding to the toxicity.

 

[Bert_]

I've used the wick heaters like the picture before. They are nice. No noise, fumes are not noticable. Downside is you can't burn diesel since it gums up the wick.

It's not going to heat 1000 sq ft. unless it's well insulated and leave it heated all the time. Even in a 24x24 you might not be happy unless it's either well insulated or you turn it on several hours before you want to work.

 

[BillK]

Do you have 240 available in the garage ? I have a 22x22 attached garage and use a 5000 watt electric heater. It does a good job in my opinion.

It was about 30 degrees outside yesterday when I got home. Probably 40 in the garage. I turned it on when I got home and went in and had a quick dinner. By the time I was done it was close to 65 in the garage. I use it mainly for doing electronics work and I have my Ham Radio gear out there.

 

[that-guy]

after your comments and consideration, i think i'm going to go with the ProFusion Model# HA24-75M and mount it to the ceiling and use a plug instead of hardwiring it. this will require 40amp 240V, which isn't an issue, but i would like to set it up on a timer so that in the cold months, (like now) a car parked in there can get a little more comfortable.

anybody recommend a good, but not terribly expensive timer/switch i can install with this?

also, the garage is already fully insulated

 

[SGKent]

good choice. I used to use a Kerosun kerosene heater in an attached garage but since insulating it, it hasn't been needed. Now I bought a big Harbor Freight fan, and just aim it at the door, open the door between the garage and house, and turn it on. It blows conditioned air into the garage. I don't use chemicals in the garage so the are no fumes into the house. There are no mice or vermin in the garage so nothing gets into the house either. No leakage from the car so don't have to worry about the pets getting into antifreeze either.

 

[QwikKotaTx]

I am going to try one of those enclosed oil electric heaters and a fan to disperse heat. It doesn't get that cold in Houston though.

Sent from my VS987 using Tapatalk

 

[theoldwizard1]

... this has the capacity to heat my entire garage...

Don't bet on that if the temps are in the 20s and you have an uninsulated garage.

 

[chaosracing]

I use one of these in my 26'x38'x16' garage no insulation (for now) Hardly any fumes, especially compared to a kerosene of diesel heater. I bought mine used, but it was basically new.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Remington-125000-BTU-Portable-Forced-Air-Propane-Heater/1000107973

There are other sizes, but I would suggest propane all day long. I worked in a neighbors body shop and we used the kerosene heaters and it sucked. Fumes were bad. Plus you have to watch what other chemical you use in the area as well. I was stripping paint off a 56 Ford Truck cab using the aircraft paint stripper. After about 15 minutes, I look up from working and there is a blue haze in the shop. We shut down the heater and opened every window and door (it was 10 degrees outside) I finished with the stripper I had out then we started the heater again. Had to wait a few days before I could continue chemical stripping.

 

[that-guy]

after what i posted yesterday, i bought the ProFusion Model# HA24-75 from Northern Tool and for a really good deal. i still need to buy the breaker, the wire and the plugs, but i'm still on the hunt for a timer for this thing so that it can turn on a while before the wife leaves for work in the cold months, as well as the ability to use it on demand on evenings when i decide to go work out there while i still use the attached garage as my workshop

 

[iamrfixit]

I've heated several garages with a 5k watt heater, from small single car to as big as 26x40. Takes a great deal of power to initially heat up all the mass in the garage and the concrete floor from cold, at least a couple hours with a 5K watt heaters to even get moderately comfortable in a well insulated garage. It heats slowly but can definitely maintain the warmth more easily.

Best solution is to maintain the temp at about 45-50 then warm it up when you want to use the space. Going from stone cold to warm often creates a lot of condensation on tools, equipment and floor, maintaining the temp will eliminate that.

My oldest son currently heats his 24x24 gym/garage with one of these. His garage is insulated and finished, costs about $90 per month but the door isn't opened much as he doesn't park in it. He also keeps it set lower and raises the temp a little while before he's planning to use it.

 

[Kaizen]

Yea it will work. Personally I cannot stand the smell. I have a small propane torpedo that runs off grill tank and a larger trash can size that runs off 100 pound tank. For your area I’d do the first one. If it’s closed in it should get that space up to 50 or more.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MattT]

i'm still on the hunt for a timer for this thing so that it can turn on a while before the wife leaves for work in the cold months, as well as the ability to use it on demand on evenings when i decide to go work out there while i still use the attached garage as my workshop

For what you're wanting to do it'd be better to convert the heater to external thermostat and run it with one of those smart thermostats. Probably wouldn't cost much more than a 40A timer either.

 

[that-guy]

For what you're wanting to do it'd be better to convert the heater to external thermostat and run it with one of those smart thermostats. Probably wouldn't cost much more than a 40A timer either.

can you recommend one so i know what i'm looking for?

 

[DieselNut88]

I run a torpedo heater burning diesel fuel. The key to clean burning is to adjust the fuel pressure with a gauge. If the heater is giving you headaches or you can see smoke something is wrong. I adjusted mine slightly below the manufactures specs for the fuel pressure and it burns clean. I also crack a window and sometimes the door a couple inches.

 

[PT Doc]

To actually heat the garage, everything in the garage will need to absorb the heat before the air temp actually holds. Also depends on the insulation in the garage. Having something mobile so you can get the heat on you and in your direction seems like the best plan unless everything is very well insulated and the heat will be running on demand.

 

[nadogail]

A sprinkler timer will operate a high current relay, just consider the high current relay a Pump Control.

A thermostat could be wired in series with the relay coil.

When the heat is authorized the Sprinkler Timer will allow the Thermostat to respond to "a call for heat"

 

[that-guy]

well, for now i decided to just hardwire it into the garage. if the time comes later, i will add a switch and/or a timer, but since she can't park in here right now, and i just want to get it done, this is the route i will take. picking up some 8-2 wire and a 40amp breaker after work and going to get started on the install this evening

 

[Briguy_123]

the only circumstance i would think to need something like that for the attached would be if it were on a timer thermostat, to turn on like 30 minutes before she leaves in the morning and turn off shortly after she leaves since those things pull a ton of energy

It costs less than $20 a month to heat my 24x24 with natural gas.

 

[d65]

I am interested in heating my two car garage aka shop. It is cold here in Colorado. I have a natural gas line running the length of my garage. I have no idea how to tap into it. Advice? Or should I have a professional do it? Other options

 

[d65]

My two car garage is 300 sq ft and insulated. What size heater do I nee?

Thanks

 

[Briguy_123]

D65, if you want to go with a unit heater the smallest I have seen is 30k btu. That would be more than enough for 300 sq ft. If you haven't worked with natural gas piping, or exhaust gas venting it would be best to get a reputable hvac company look at your project. Nothing like a warm shop.

 

[d65]

Thanks for the advise. I called is couple of pluming companies. They quoted $3-5 thousand. Out of my price range. May have to go 5000 watt electric

 

[Briguy_123]

I'm in the wrong business.
$800-1000 in material. 4 hour install for a pro. Full day with preplanning for a beginner
50k Big Max unit heater $380- 500 depending where you buy it
Venting materials $200-300 maximum
Black iron pipe or 1/2in CSST $100-150 at the most.
Some 12 wire and a 20amp breaker. $50
Cheap thermostat and tstat wire. $50
You will need to figure out hangers unistrut and threaded rod, or flush.
Do you have any friends that have basic pipe fitting or hvac skills?
If you are only going to use it a few hours a year the electric heater will be fine.
If you leave it set at 45-50 like I do that electric heater will steal you blind.
You may or may not notice the increase in your gas bill with the gas unit heater.
I'm in upstate NY very high utility costs. I heated my house, my 24x24 and my 34x48 for $140 last month.
With a bandsaw a mega press tee. A pro will run your gas lines in a 1/2 hour.

 

[d65]

I went ahead and bought a 5000 watt electric heater. I also have two 1500 watt electric heaters. I am in the shop quite a bit since i am retired. Will see what happens with the electric bill. Temp here in Colorado have been teens to low 30s during the day.

D65

 

[that-guy]

just realized i never updated this thread. i installed the ProFusion Model# HA24-75 from Northern Tool about a month ago and it works awesome. 2 or 3 days a week, when i come home through the garage in the evening, i will turn the heater on and go in the house for about 30 minutes, go back out in the garage and find it has risen the temp between 12* and 20*, even on days when the outside temp is in the 30's, and the garage was roughly 9* warmer than the outside temp prior to turning on the heater. i am supremely impressed by this heater and think it has been a solid investment thus far.