Tube radiant garage heaters

[Twogrn]

I have a 30x30 garage with insulated walls. Going to insulate ceiling and looking
To install a heater, what type should I use and what is the cost of operation etc. I would like to use a radiant tube neater if possible. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[Rockcam]

Twogrn:

I installed a radiant tube heater in my 24 x 45 garage during the winter, and love it. Quiet, does not blow around dust, and feels like being out on a sunny day. I have a cathedral ceiling in my garage; another benefit is that heat stays low, unlike forced air units where the heated air would raise to the ceiling, leaving me cold on the floor.

I bought mine online - check out h-mac.com. They have a huge selection, and several brands. I did not break mine onto a separate gas meter, so I cannot give you operating cost information.

There are several sizes and configurations available, so find one that fits in your space. Be careful to plan for open garage doors, required intake and exhaust pipe lengths, etc. For instance, mine runs the 45' dimension, and I ended up with a 20' long version for several reasons.

Make sure to look for "low intensity" - the high intensity versions are not appropriate for our application.

There are online heat load calculators out there - find one and put your details in to find the right BTU capacity. Don't use what other people have done to find the right BTU size - do your homework and find one that's right for your situation. You can't exactly send these back once you've installed them.

I hope that helps.

Good luck!

 

[Hardworkinguy]

I have one in my 36 x 50 garage and I love it. It doesn't take up any floor space,heats the objects instead of the air,keeps the concrete warm so my feet are warm,and feels like the sunshine on my back while working on cars. I keep my garage at 68-70º all winter (Maine) with around 800 gallons of propane.

I used Solaronics,but there are many brands out there and they all work about the same.

 

[BadgerBoilerMN]

It is what we do when the slab has been poured without the benefit of PEX tubing.

Do not oversize.

https://www.reverberray.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/LBLD3_LD3-Brochure_2-14.pdf

 

[CDHarley]

I just put this brand ( RE-VERBER-RAY, Model DES3 ) in my 24x30 garage and I love it! After having sold automotive paint and body shop supplies for 20 plus years, I had some shops that used radiant-tube infrared heat so there was no question in my mind what I would use when I decided to heat my garage. I found them on the internet and the salesman I talked to was super helpful and a pleasure to work with. I have a 14 foot ceiling in the garage so it works great.

 

[csp]

Be aware that it isn't the type of heat that you want to use intermittently. It takes time to warm objects, especially a cold concrete slab.

 

[BadgerBoilerMN]

Be aware that it isn't the type of heat that you want to use intermittently. It takes time to warm objects, especially a cold concrete slab.

On the contrary; it is exactly the kind of heat you want regardless of how you use the space. More especially if you want to be comfortable on a irregular schedule. Any part of the slab exposed to an overhead infrared heater will be warmed directly rather than indirectly as with a force air system.

The comfort response time is better than anything else, including low-temperature radiant ceilings, walls and ceilings.
No air blowing dust around. No dirty fans, ignitors and heat exchangers. Lower fuel cost and longer equipment life with unparalleled comfort, save radiant floors.

The sole benefit of blowing air is for cooling.

 

[csp]

Yes the slab will be warmed directly, but you're not taking into account the thermal mass of the slab. It's not going to be instant heat.

 

[BadgerBoilerMN]

If the speed of light is not instant, it certainly is faster than forced air. I have been heating slabs, directly and indirectly, for nearly 3 decades.

I don't think I am following you.

 

[BadgerBoilerMN]

http://www.badgerradiantdesigns.com/infrared.html

 

[csp]

What don't you follow? A cold slab/garage is going to take a long time to heat, regardless of the method. Just because the heat from radiant is absorbed instantly doesn't mean the existing temperature is brought to the set desired temp instantly.

Forced air is going to feel warmer to the body faster than radiant heat slowly bringing up the temperature of the objects in the room. Yes, if you lay on the slab you will be cold, but most of us are upright and in the air, not making contact with objects that are slowly getting warm.

Our airplane hanger has both radiant and forced air. It's rarely heated in the winter, but when we need heat the forced air system is used and gets it up to temp faster. Once it's there, the radiant is used to keep it to temp if we're going to be in it for a long time just to avoid the noise of the fan.

 

[BadgerBoilerMN]

"Forced air is going to feel warmer to the body faster than radiant heat slowly bringing up the temperature of the objects in the room."

Sorry, the science doesn't follow.

If the output of your forced air system is greater than that of your infrared, you may have a point. If they were equal in output the radiant heat would "feel" warmer regardless of initial slab temperature.

http://www.ahrinet.org/App_Content/ahri/files/Product Section/INFRARED BROsinglePGS.pdf


http://www.ducoterra.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/summ_report_study_kul_rad_heat.pdf

I prefer the two-stage for peak response and long-term efficiency, but mostly it is all about comfort. No noisy fan necessary.

 

[dave89iroc]

What don't you follow? A cold slab/garage is going to take a long time to heat, regardless of the method. Just because the heat from radiant is absorbed instantly doesn't mean the existing temperature is brought to the set desired temp instantly.

Forced air is going to feel warmer to the body faster than radiant heat slowly bringing up the temperature of the objects in the room. Yes, if you lay on the slab you will be cold, but most of us are upright and in the air, not making contact with objects that are slowly getting warm.

Our airplane hanger has both radiant and forced air. It's rarely heated in the winter, but when we need heat the forced air system is used and gets it up to temp faster. Once it's there, the radiant is used to keep it to temp if we're going to be in it for a long time just to avoid the noise of the fan.

something you are overlooking, yes, radiant heats objects, floor will take time to increase temp.............however, it will still feel warmer quicker, people are objects as well......................