Heating the garage

alan40 · Sep 4, 2002

Getting ready to build a 24 x 28 garage for the tractor. Now I want to heat it when I'm in the workshop. Here's my understanding of some to the systems. Wood is great! I have it but the down side is it take's awhile to bring up the temp and I'll be done what ever I'm doing before it gets up to temp most times. Beside I boil in the spring and want to conserve if possible. Looked at Monitors (?) and they are really not what I want besides expensive and to many gadgets. I've looked at other wall propane units and was told they also will take alot of time to heat up the space also inless you constantly heat it.
Talked to a rep for Modini heaters (forced hot air) and he said I would need at least 50,000 BTU for the building. Never seen one in action so really have no experince with this system.
I looked at Salamanders like the heat but really don't like the noise.
Here's what I want. The best of both worlds of course. Walk in, turn on the heat and in 15 or 20 minutes have it warmer then the outside. I have a 500 gallon liquid propane tank that I want of hook onto so thats the interest in gas.
Any suggestions or comments will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

DocHeb · Sep 4, 2002

You might consider <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.reverberray.com/products/ls.html>Detroit Radiant Re-Verber-Ray</A> low intensity, residential approved, natural gas or propane powered tube heaters. Very quick infared heat, heats only objects, not the air, some models with variable output. This eliminates the time needed to heat all the air in the shop.

Stonewall · Sep 4, 2002

I had an old NG unit heater in my last shop/barn. forced air with no filter. I found that it was easier and cheaper to insulate and keep the barn at 60 all winter. Plenty warm to work and the snow thaws off anything that you bring in to it pretty quickly. It was 25'X20' with a loft and was about $60/month to keep warm. I have a pellet stove in my barn now and I am tired of filling it by spring! Was thinking of going with another hanging unit heater when I rebuild next year but the radiant heaters might be better. If you do go with a "burner" of any kind keep it at least 1' off the floor so you won't have a SURPRISE if you have any spilled liquid fuel/solvent.

alan40 · Sep 4, 2002

Thanks for the reply's. That Detroit System sounds interesting but there are no dealers in Vermont. One of our neighbors has a pellet stove but to me it's just like burning wood. Still takes a longer time to heat up the area. I know how you feel about loading stoves.By the end of sugaring season I'm ready to be done with wood for a month or two.
Thanks for the replies. Nothing like having to do research especially when you have to go into hardware and heating stores./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Take care

hwp · Sep 4, 2002

I have a 120K BTU oil forced air (FAO) furnace in the attic of my 30' x 40' pole barn garage. It works quite well - heats the garage from about 10 def. F to comfortable temperature, probably about 60 deg. F., in about 20 minutes. The unit was in there when we bought the property. If I were doing it from scratch, I would go with gas radiant heating.

tc35dforme · Sep 4, 2002

alan40;

No doubt about it....a warm air system with a blower is the fastest way to recover from cold to comfy !!

One BIG word of caution. These units, except the deluxe units, burn with an open flame in the garage atmosphere. You need to be really be careful about using solvents and flammable stuff. Some solvents will react in the gas flame and eat out the unit in no time. The flammable stuff...well it should be obvious ...

These units ( http://hot-dawg.modine.com/ ) are really nice. They're compact and powerful. Not real cheap though. You'll probably pay around $ 700 to get it home ... Ouch !!

Radiant units are great, but also big $$$$

I'd start with wood for the economy of it, and start talking around. You'd be surprized how may used heaters are out there. Heating guys change them out alot and you may get a great deal ( think cash and beer !!! ). Talk to the propane supplier too! Don't be afraid if you find one that's for natural gas...they can easily be converted to propane. You may even find a residential furnace that can be stuck in the corner with a big snorkel of ductwork.

Good luck !!

MReeter · Sep 4, 2002

Alan,We have 2 Empire Ventless,wall hanging,Radiant Propane Heaters.One is in our house garage(approx.22'x33',well insulated).The other is in our shop(24'x24',also well insulated).

I set the thermostats on low and leave them on all through the cold Season,this setting will keep the temperature above freezing.When I want to do something in the shop,I'll just go out and turn up the temp.a little,turn on the ceiling fan,and within minutes it's very cozy.

This is where I also keep our tractors,so they never take long to warm up in cold weather.I also leave any left over chemical,paint,power washer,whatever,in the shop as it will not freeze. The heater in the garage is also very handy,our vehicles are not frigid,and their heaters will blow warm air very quickly.

On the other hand,I can't tell tell you what the cost of running these heaters is,I know it's minimal,but we also heat our home out of the same Propane tank.I like these type of heaters as they burn clean with very little odor,but they do have an open flame....

Von · Sep 4, 2002

Alan, I have a hanging NG forced air heater in my shop. Can go from 45 to 65 in less than 10 min. My shop is 26'x24' with 12' ceiling. The heater has an electric spark starter so there is no pilot lite. I paid $50.00 for the heater used, and $125.00 for the kit to convert from pilot lite to electric spark. Mine puts out 50K BTU which is way more than I need. I can send photos if you like.

alan40 · Sep 5, 2002

Yep, talked to a Modine rep yesterday. He said 50,000 BTU is as small as I should go. That surprised me but the sticker shock after was better or worse. $1500.00 Wow!!!!/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif Of course after talking to the Monitor rep also I should of been prepared. I may just go with a kerosene heater this winter until a better deal pops up in the Buyer's Digest. Maybe even better this will call for a research trip to the big city. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Thanks

bellweather · Sep 5, 2002

I'm in New England and I have a wall mounted propane heater in my well insulated 26 X 35 garage. I keep the thermostat @ 40 most of the time, and crank it up to 60-65 when I'm working in the garage. I'm very pleased with it and it doesn't cost nearly as much as electric to operate. I didn't consider wood because of safety reasons (gasoline).