ThermoSoft

[GaryS1941]

In previous smaller garages, I've been able to keep a comfortable work temperature with the use of an electric space heater. Now that I have more square footage to heat, I'll have to go with a better heat source.

My working space is divided into two areas of roughly 250 sqft and 350 sqft. They are divided by a heavy vinyl curtain to keep dust down in the smaller office/clean room, but no door. The smaller area will be heated and cooled far more often than the larger space where I'll be working on my cars.

My plan for heating is to use Thermosoft 240v mats under vinyl interlocking tiles on the concrete slab. I would use two thermostats so I could heat only the areas I'm using at the time.

Questions:
I can't find any reviews online, but Thermosoft appears to be a large, reputable company...anyone hear differently?

Their literature doesn't directly address any issues caused by the weight of a car or engine hoist on the mats when using vinyl tiles. Would that be a concern?

Is the radiant heat from the mats enough to maintain comfort in a partially insulated garage? The mats will use about 3600 watts at peak power.

The price for the mats and thermostats will be approximately $2400, and I can install them myself. I don't have natural gas, and propane would have to be run under concrete to get to the garage, so I think electricity is the best option. Opinions?

 

[luke7734]

Why do you not have another option for your propane to get into your garage?? Is this garage insulated at all? walls.. ceilings??

 

[luke7734]

If propane is an option.. and you are only going to be heating the space at random I would say your best option for cost vs. return of heat would be one of these units.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MASTER-BLP1...966?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cdade372e

You could get 2 of these for less than $500. and they heat a small space very quickly and are electronic ignition and thermostat controlled. They do make a little howling when they run.. but the heat is amazing. I can't imagine plumbing in your propane would take more than a couple $100's.. which would put you for about a third of your investment with the mats.. (which you can dump into a ton of insulation..) and you won't have to worry about crushing the mats.. or using a ton of electric..

 

[GaryS1941]

The outer walls are insulated and the roll-up door is insulated, but the contractor screwed up and decked the ceiling before it was insulated, so that will be done at a later time.

Propane is possible, but I'm not enthused about using any heater with open flame in a workshop environment. If I decide to go with propane, I would install a furnace in the attic, and that is expensive too, especially when I would have to run lines under concrete.

 

[luke7734]

i still don't understand why you have to run lines under concrete? does your driveway encircle you garage or something? you can't trench out and around??

 

[GaryS1941]

Yes, I could run a very long trench, and it would have to cross a 50' area where water, power, telephone, irrigation lines, and five geothermal wells and lines are located. Neither option is desirable.

 

[luke7734]

Yes, I could run a very long trench, and it would have to cross a 50' area where water, power, telephone, irrigation lines, and five geothermal wells and lines are located. Neither option is desirable.

hrmmm.... any chance of the propane company getting you another tank for the garage?? say 100lb'r..