Utilizing a used home furnace

[Squirlz]

We are building a fully insulated 28 x 40 foot garage. My neighbor has a Bryant 53000 BTU furnace he used for maybe 10 years until he got a new super-efficient one. I could buy it cheap.

So how crazy is this idea: Put the furnace on top of the bathroom, make a simple box for an incoming air filter, and fab up a top plenum with ducts going off in a T formation. Or just a box on top with vents in it? Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[reinhardt]

i cant offer much advice on how to do it. but- what did the neighbor's electric bill cost w/ that unit compared to the new one he got? how much are you saving by buying his old one vs buying an efficient unit for your garage? how many years will it take for the old unit to cost you more in electricity than it saved you in initial purchase cost? if you can justify the cost difference, i say go for it.

 

[Squirlz]

Actually he was disappointed that his new furnace didn't make much difference! I could buy it for $100. I'm not opposed to spending money to do things right though.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

Sounds like a winner.

Phil

 

[trbomax]

I had the same delima,even went so far as to get the used one (it was free),a 15 yr old 80% ,80k.The more I thought about how much work it was to make the install,plenums and all,it just made more sense to get a new 95% 45k and be done with it.No stack thru the roof,no old parts that might not be available when they break, and a warrenty.I dont know how much you are going to use it,but we heat the wifes "studio" and my machine shop cave all the time,so it just made more sense to me.

 

[Squirlz]

Yeah, I'm thinking more about an infrared tube now.