Will this be enough???

[Greens1098]

First off. Thank you for letting me join the site. Awesome place.

So I have a garage that's 40x32. It also has 11 foot ceilings. I will be insulated in a few weeks. My current setup is an old modine that is rated at 150k btu... Now back two or three years ago the gas here was free. But the well has been bought and I am completly electric. Well I converted that 150k unit to propane and put a 120 gallon bottle outside... It seems that my 150k unit wants to **** that thing down.

Well I have been looking to change over to the Mr. Heater Maxx 80k unit. Obvousily with electric ignition and such it must be a more effiecient unit. Will this unit be big enough for my garage? I know the modis and sterlings are better but I don't have the extra cash right now. They have the mr heater 80k unit for sale at 450 at my lowes...

What's everyone opinion?

 

[CNGsaves]

Yes, if you insulate, then that 80K Btu Big Maxx should be plenty for 40x32. Lots of GJer's have Mr Heater hanging units and are satisfied with them. You likely will want ceiling fan to push down the heat.

I'm guessing you were blasting away the heat with 150K Btu heater with free NG while you had no insulation at all . . . right ???

Be sure to finish all your rough electrical and lighting plans BEFORE you jump into the insulation. You know wiring for 240v compressor, welder, etc. Good luck.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I wouldn't make any heating chages till after you get that place insulated. Fully insulating that place will make a huge difference.

 

[Shiftless]

I wouldn't make any heating chages till after you get that place insulated. Fully insulating that place will make a huge difference.

Good advise. I second the motion.

 

[Greens1098]

Thanks for the tips!!!

You are correct. With the 150k unit we were just blasting away. But it is old and short starts so bad so I want save on fuel... My insulation starts next week.

I don't understand why an oversize unit burns more fuel... Shouldn't it heat quicker?


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[zmaxmotorsports]

I wouldn't make any heating chages till after you get that place insulated. Fully insulating that place will make a huge difference.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Finding a way to circulate the heat will also help heat the building faster

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Thanks for the tips!!!

You are correct. With the 150k unit we were just blasting away. But it is old and short starts so bad so I want save on fuel... My insulation starts next week.

I don't understand why an oversize unit burns more fuel... Shouldn't it heat quicker?


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That used to be the answer back in the day when fuel was cheap and houses hand no insulation and junk doors/windows.
The problem is the big furnace comes on like a blast furnace and uses lots of fuel in the process.

 

[Greens1098]

Got it. So with the correct insulation and a mild size unit my fuel consumption will be better?


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[NUTTSGT]

Thanks for the tips!!!

You are correct. With the 150k unit we were just blasting away. But it is old and short starts so bad so I want save on fuel... My insulation starts next week.

I don't understand why an oversize unit burns more fuel... Shouldn't it heat quicker?


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My neighbor is a plumbing/HVAC guy and he rattled something off about this at one time. Let me see if I can remember what he said . . . .


The bigger unit fires up, burns more fuel getting up to temp then immediately shuts down because the room has reached T-stat setting. This happens over and over, basically, it's not running efficently.

I'm sure some of the HVAC guys will chime in and say whether it's correct or not.

 

[Greens1098]

This is exactly what it does. Then with then minutes of turning off it turns right back on!!!! [emoji35]


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[NUTTSGT]

Got it. So with the correct insulation and a mild size unit my fuel consumption will be better?


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Hands down insulating that shop will ease the fuel costs as it's retaining heat and not losing it. Once it's insulated, heat will soak into the concrete floor like a big heat sink and slowly erlease it back into the shop when the heat isn't running.

A box fan set on low will also slowly move the warmed air around the room, evening out the temperature around the room.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Since you are getting ready to insulate it, are you making the most of the insulation ? Trying to max out the allowable space with the deepest insulation that you can get ? Like using R15 instead of R11. Or are you using something else other than fiberglass ?

 

[Greens1098]

Well I'll have to show you what I have going on. It's a pole barn. Well we built studded walls on the inside and between those poles... I was going to use blow insulation and fill the complete void up


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[Greens1098]

Also on the existing walls there is pink foam board? Pink board that's insulation?


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[NUTTSGT]

Also on the existing walls there is pink foam board? Pink board that's insulation?


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More than likely, it's insulation.

Go ahead and post up some pics, let's see what you have.

 

[Greens1098]

This is when we a lot done. I wanted studs so I can run electric boxes and what not which have been done... I'm also trying to decide if I should go with insulation!!!


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[Greens1098]

The pink foam board is the white... Someone painted it


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[NUTTSGT]

Personally, I don't care for blown in cellulose insulation. If you already built those walls 16" OC, why not just use fiberglass batts ?

 

[deckmonkey]

The difference in fuel usage is the big unit is like turning your car off and on at every stop light and the smaller one is like highway driving. Any fuel burning device floods at start up and is still sending fuel after it shuts off. They are only efficient when running.

If you search online for a heat loss program it's easy to punch in some numbers and know what you need. 80,000 btu is pretty standard for a typical 1500 sq ft bi-level house so it should be ok. I've been heating my 20x24 garage easily with a construction heater on low, 4-5 C in -15 to -30 C.

 

[Greens1098]

I have done the calculators. There all over the place.


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[toyotadriver]

I have a 30x40 very well insulated shop building. An 80k btu propane Mr. Heater furnace easily heats my shop to whatever temp I need it to be.

 

[laser3kw]

I research (here) before purchasing a heater for my 30 X 40 (well insulated). If you use the heater just to keep it 45º most of the time and kick it up to 55º for a few hours a week, a 45,000 btu is enough. Even the manufactures web site (Beacon Morris) agrees with that number. Some web sites take into account insulation and inside temp others don't.

 

[Slowgsr]

Having tight weatherstripping really helps, building should be tight.

 

[Greens1098]

Having tight weatherstripping really helps, building should be tight.

What do you mean? Around the doors?


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