GARAGE HEATER HELP... Safe affordable what works..

[LowBuckX]

Its real late so let me make the question short. About to get a shop heater but I doont want to blow my family up or burn my house down If I spray something flameable.
large 1 car garage 25' deep 10' wide
Any electrics worth it? (220 or 110) Affordable natural gas units? No Kero or LP

I want to only use this when needed not something to be used all the time. Would like t shirt temps fairly fast. Help me out please.

[clu269]

I just seen a natural gas unit at harbor freight for under 300.00. I believe that it was 30000 BTU.

[ss dave]

I was planning on garage heater myself so I researched the subject, now I have a portable propane heater from Lowes,
80,000 btu at high, 20 lb. tank will last 5 hrs.
The best portable I could find for my uninsulated 25X25.
Heats really well.
Don't bother with portable electric.
Permanent electric are nice but to heat my garage I need two 10 KW heaters and the electricity would be high.
I'll eventually plumb in a permanent gas heater such as a Hot Shot. My heat/ac guru prefers gas over electric.

[wmhjr]

Try Northern Tool. They often have good prices on heaters. For your garage it isn't just the length and width. It's also the height. Many of the infra red type gas shop heaters require some clearance both between the heater and the wall, and between the heater and anything under it.

[Iamtheonlyreal1]

The absolute best and safest heater is an Central Heat Unit out of house. You can normally find them at a bargain used at a heat are air shop, because they removed the unit due to a Air Conditionion issue. They are not too big and actually take less space than a space heater because you dont have to keep your distance from them like a space heater. You may end up with a unit that heats a 3000 or more square foot house, so it will heat very quickly. If you want to save money, all you have to do is unplug a couple of heat coils, and it uses less energy and has a lesser draw on your breaker box. Most run off a 50 amp breaker, but you can change that if you unplug a couple of coils.

I believe you can buy the complete heating unit NEW for about 300-400 dollars (USED 100-200 dollars) and all you have to do is build a make shift deflector for the air output on the top of it. Once wired to you fuse block, you have a thermostate and that makes it less hassle to regulate the temp. I built a small rack that has wheels on the bottom, so I can move it out of the way during the summer. I have a 1100 square foot garage at my house, and it will keep it 80 degrees in there all winter long, and get it there fast.

That is the Oklahoma way of doing it...ha ha.. When I built my Camaro in the winter time, I did it in a t-shirt and didnt have to wait too long for materials to dry. Plus you can leave it unattended, unlike a space heater.

[Damn True]

I have always used oil circulating radiators. Available at most true value type hardware stores. Completely self contained, electric, with no ignition source either internal or external.

[mc84_zz4]

I have an older version of one of these infrared heaters, and it worked great in my 2 car garage, I could wax the car in a comfortable 70*f when it was 20*f outside.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/12/45710detail-1.jpg
The only drawback IMO is the delay in instant heating, but then the entire area stays up to temp longer too. it would take probably 30-40 mins to get the surfaces warmer, once the slab was warmed for 1 hour, the entire room is very comfortable.

I have bought from these guys for years, I highly recommend them:
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/in+your+garage/garage+accessories/wall+mounted+infrared+garage+heater.do?search=basi c&keyword=heat&sortby=newArrivals&page=1

[MonzaRacer]

Look up Modine Bull Dawg heaters, I had been trying to build a shop to work in and those are some serious good units, a friend of mine used a 45000btu (i think) to heat a 30x40 pole barn that was spray foamed. It would bring it up to 80 degrees, they run natural and propane.
http://www.shophmac.com/heaters/gas-heaters/gas-unit-heaters.html?attribute_hmac_brand=730

These things kick butt, several people have tarted using them when I was recommending them. I am still impressed with them.

[wmhjr]

If it's a 1 car garage, I'd guess space is at a premium and standoff is going to be tough. My recommendation would be with something like http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200332735_200332735

It takes up very little space, works on natural gas, requires no electricity at all, requires no real standoff room, is safe and is economical. Plus, it's about as easy an install as can be. 1 car garages often don't have more than 7 feet of total height. Ceiling mounted heaters can be a real problem. These things only stick out from the wall about 8 inches. I've got larger heaters in different buildings, but for my "hobby" shop I use one of these.

[LowBuckX]

I ordered a Kozy world 18000 BTU same as the 30000 unit in above post. My Parents have the 30000 in their 2 car garage and it takes 5 minutes to be comfy and 10 minutes for t shirt weather. So I think the 18000 will be good.Also it has a mini blower. If I am spraying flammible stuff guess I will have to think ahead and get it real hot in there and kill the Pilot... Thats what the old man does..


I have 8 foot ceilings but yea the infared wall units would be in the way. To bad I coulda had a free one but it wanted to be 18" from ceiling and 14 from wall 48 from car surface so it woulda been on top of my head in the only standing space...

[g356gear]

I use a 10ft radiant natural gas unit. 45,000 BTU, 98% efficient and a single exhaust/intake combo pipe. This unit works great! This is my second winter and my natural gas bill barely bumps up at all. I have 12ft sealings at the peak with cathedral trusses.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/12/GarageGasline0031-1.jpg

[absintheisfun]

I have heard that the gas/propane type of heaters have a negative effect when painting. Something about the residue being in the air mixes with the paint and weakens it.


is this true?

[Tony_SS]

I have always used oil circulating radiators. Available at most true value type hardware stores. Completely self contained, electric, with no ignition source either internal or external.

Same here. Also, a few of those halogen work lights put out a good amount of heat for the work area.

[wmhjr]

I have heard that the gas/propane type of heaters have a negative effect when painting. Something about the residue being in the air mixes with the paint and weakens it.


is this true?

I doubt it - so long as they are properly installed. Can't count how many radiant gas heaters I've seen in paint shops. Seems to be the standard.

[My427stang]

g356gear, how big is your garage?

I have a 4 car, L shaped and a local guy is pushing radiant heat but I am concerned about getting the heat to the opposite side without forced air.

This is the one I bought, but its far less efficient and I am still weighing options. FWIW the low profile 75,000 BTU version of this cost me 550, and the Mr Heater version at Northern Tool is 499.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/12/garage_heater_bru-1.jpg

[shortrack]

Its real late so let me make the question short. About to get a shop heater but I doont want to blow my family up or burn my house down If I spray something flameable.
large 1 car garage 25' deep 10' wide
Any electrics worth it? (220 or 110) Affordable natural gas units? No Kero or LP

I want to only use this when needed not something to be used all the time. Would like t shirt temps fairly fast. Help me out please.

you need to post where you live and your min. temps......its gonna' make a difference

[g356gear]

g356gear, how big is your garage?



Mine is a 24ft deep X 28 wide size...kind of a triple with a double door to the far side.

With our temps getting into -30 degrees ranges through the winter it works really well and only comes on every 10 minutes and onlt runs for a minute ot two. I did 6 inch walls though with a really good quality insulation, high R value garage door, etc.

[69bigblock]

Question for the people that use propane to heat your garage.
What size tank do you need just to heat your garage and how
often do you need to fill up.

[kush69]

I use a dayton 220 electric heater in a 2 car garage detached works great, no open flames ,no oil or gas to be plumbed .I turn it on for 15 minutes before I go out there and turn it off when Iam done.Its about 20 degrees out and I was out there last night .I think northern sells them for about $300.00 well worth it .

[Bigblue73]

I use a 10ft radiant natural gas unit. 45,000 BTU, 98% efficient and a single exhaust/intake combo pipe. This unit works great! This is my second winter and my natural gas bill barely bumps up at all. I have 12ft sealings at the peak with cathedral trusses.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/12/GarageGasline0031-1.jpg
Holy cow, look at this set-up.....radiant heat - can lights in the vaulted ceiling to illuminate the work area. I'm jealous! Well done:worship:


Another unit that we are installing a bunch of is from Indeeco. These units are like a Reznor unit (the units you in the entry ways of say a Walmart or Sams Club) that use natural gas. The Indeeco Ultra Safe UHI units are all electric and are very efficient and bring the room area to temperature very quickly. They have an explosion proof design for mines and other industrial applications.