My Garage/Shop Heater Install

[dragoneggs]

Finally pulled the trigger and settled on a Reznor Sealed Combustion 45KBtu propane heater for my little 24' x 28' two car garage... I mean shop. Cars have been relegated to the outdoors for quite some time and that is another story.

One of these years I will retire and I really want a properly heated shop.

This is what was delivered in three boxes:



And this is where it is going, the far corner of my shop.

 

[dragoneggs]

Moving along with the conversion from Nat Gas to LP (propane) conversion... first need to swap out the brass orifice and add an air restricter plate:



Next, replaced the existing spring and cap with a new spring and cap for propane:



Will have to get into the inlet and outlet pressure taps later once the LP tank and gas line are installed and check the inlet and manifold pressures and adjust as necessary with a Manometer (on Amazon now looking to buy). See arrows:

 

[dragoneggs]

Next a little electrical work... hard wired a plug so I could plug it into a newly added 110v outlet in the ceiling. I tore out an old kitchen upper cabinet in background to make room for the heater install in the corner:



Found an short extension cord and cut off the outlets for my wiring (not shown... yet).



Yep I blew out a hole installing an 'existing work' box so have a little patchwork to do.

 

[dragoneggs]

Time to hang the heater... this dang thing is heavy! I first installed the hanging system on the top of the unit that pivots on a single bolt to figure out the mounting locations on the ceiling.



I started using a Dixie cup to catch the drywall dust but abandoned that after a couple holes because I kept forgetting to keep the drill upright and dumped the contents prematurely! :mur:



Got the mounting bracket installed on the ceiling after spending a lot of time being sure that the horizontal vent coming out the back at an angle will not hit a wall stud. This is where it got hard. I will spare you the embarrassing details of how I hoisted/shimmed the unit up to the single hole on the bracket. Also sparing you all the cuss words although a video would have been entertaining for some at my expense.

 

[dragoneggs]

Okay once hung... time for drilling the hole in the wall for the horizontal vent. A 6.5in hole allows a 6in outer pipe and 4in inner pipe. Being sealed combustion the outer pipe is for intake/combustion air and the inner pipe for exhaust. Hence a box needed to be installed on the inside wall.



Got a chance to use my drill bit extender so I could be sure I had my hole lined up for the both the inner and outer wall of the garage. Also used one of my little MagSwitch clamps that are very handy holding metal parts for fastening.

 

[dragoneggs]

Once the tedious task of lining up the box and aligning the 2 4in dia. adjustable elbows, I screwed and taped the vent pipes with self drilling sheet metal screws and metal foil tape.



Yeah need to finish a painting project that is more than several years old. Backside of the garage so out of sight, out of mind! :ashamed:

 

[dragoneggs]

Next step to wire the thermostat. Since the heater is in the far corner relative to my walk in entrance, I wanted the controls to be in the opposite corner. Snuck down Home Depot again... one of the few stores open due to COVID-19... and feeling a bit guilty but abiding by 6ft distance rules, I picked up 40ft of 18gauge 5 wire to connect the thermostat. A little fishing and stripping and all done.



Had to make room for the thermostat so my 'Grandma got run over by a Reindeer' 45 needed relocated.

 

[dragoneggs]

Started running the LP gas line from the heater to the outdoors. Installed a flex line and shutoff valve and need to punch another hole through the wall to run black pipe for the gas.



Now I need to order and hopefully my gas company. will deliver a 125gal vertical tank soon despite the current circumstances. 125gal because that is the biggest I can have immediately against a structure. Larger and I need a 10ft setback which is near impossible because of property setbacks and other structures, easements, etc. Funny thing is I can daisy chain up to 4 125gal tanks. I decided to see how one tank will serve me since I can always get it topped off when my main 250gal tank supplying the house is low, or vice versa.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Mark, Looks like a fine piece of work. I still have mine to install. If I can get the space I plan to use the tractor with some pallets stacked up to raise it into place. Plan now is to get to it before next winter. Keep us posted on progress as you get it operational. We used to make manometers using glass tubing and marking the increments with a file. Red food coloring makes them easier to read.

Ron

 

[dragoneggs]

Mark, Looks like a fine piece of work. I still have mine to install. If I can get the space I plan to use the tractor with some pallets stacked up to raise it into place. Plan now is to get to it before next winter. Keep us posted on progress as you get it operational. We used to make manometers using glass tubing and marking the increments with a file. Red food coloring makes them easier to read.

Ron

Thanks Ron... Will do. My tractor and forks were on my mind, but it would have taken me two full days to move all my tools and crap out of the way! And after just about dropping and destroying the unit and muscles that apparently I haven't used in awhile, I might should of done that!