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Garage heat
Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:38 pm
by tshort
I'm thinking of putting something like this (can't insert link, but mcmaster.com item 1702K21) in the garage with a thermostat for the winter.
Is something like this safe to keep "on" (i.e. with the thermostat set for 50F or so) all the time? I would hate to have a fire in the shop ...
Thomas
Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:52 pm
by captain_john
Safe, yah... for everything but your WALLET!
That thing is ELECTRIC!
Whoa NELLIE! That meter is gonna spin like a FRISBEE!
Besides, it won't even take the chill off the place. That is for a 10x10 well insulated area.
I wouldn't do it.
Consider a gas fired forced hot air unit like a Reznor or Modine.
...or a hot water system!
CJ
Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:39 pm
by Womack2005
I really need to address this this winter too. Last year I nearly froze to death. I ended up getting a propane heater that you had to ventilate. Kinda defeats the purpose
I was thinking of going electric too. But that would eat some serious juice. CJ, what do you use? What is the hot water deal?
Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:54 pm
by captain_john
I use a propane fired forced hot air high efficiency (condensating) furnace.
It is the same unit that I have in the house. This way, I have redundancy and spare parts in the case of an emergency and I can still have heat in the house.
I went forced hot air so that I can install an "A" coil (which is installed, but not tied in) and a condenser (which I also have and isn't installed yet) for air conditioning in the shop.
The hot water unit brings a zone from a boiler or furnace through a loop in the shop. To save space, these usually have fan units installed to move air past the coils and radiate the warm air into the living space.
This method is only feasible if you already have a hot water source. Sometimes a hot water tank can be used.
Does this help?
CJ
Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:57 pm
by Womack2005
CJ, I am trying for the most bang for the buck. I would like to go propane, because I don't want to run gas out to the shop and I don't have 220 out there either. Can you recommend a relitively low cost solution using propane?
Thanks,
Will
Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 4:30 pm
by tshort
Spin like a frisbee
I guess I didn't realize how expensive it was ... I definitely have the "juice", I have a dedicated 200A service just for the shop.
Check this:
Thomas,
I would strongly recommend going with a hanging heater in your garage. If you are not familiar with them, they are available from many different suppliers. Or you could install it yourself. Not that difficult at all. They are available usually in 30K, 45K, 60K, or 75K BTU. With a 30K generally large enough for most two car garages. Unit should cost you about $500. Plus some extra parts, like venting, wire, gas pipe, and a thermostat. I install them for my customers, and it usually costs them about $1200. With everything, including labor. I see you are in Indy, I am just north of Bloomington Normal, IL so our climates are not that different. The cost of operating that electric heater will pretty much stop your building to pay for the electric bill. I looked at Mcmaster Carr, and the small one (17,100BTU) operates at 20.8A @ 240V. Roughly figuring, if you pay $0.10 per kW/Hr, that is roughly $12 a day. Or $360 a month. Now granted that would be operating 24/7, but that small of heater, it will work pretty much consistantly in the winter to keep the garage even remotely warm enough to work in. (in reality, it is not big enough for the job, But would probably keep it from freezing.) Your best bet is a gas fired heater of some sort. Look for a Modine, or ADP (two of the more popular) hanging heaters. They are about the size of a carry-on suitcase, and hang from the ceiling and extend down only about 18 inches. So they take up amost no usable space in your workshop. Look long term at the solution, it will save you money.
360/month!!!
For the money I save I can easily run a gas line out from the house (less than 100').
This place is so well insulated that it doesn't need much heat ... but it is like 25 x 36 feet with 9' ceilings...
Thomas
Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:35 pm
by JohnR
I have a unit like this:
http://www.mendotahearth.com/mendota-stoves.asp
that runs on LP gas. My brother in law works for the compan yand I got a great deal on a scratch and dent model.
The shop is 30 x 36 with 10 foot ceilings and it keeps it at what ever temp I set it to with no problem. On the coldest months it cost me about $60-$70 to heat the shop. I put in a small 250 gal LP tank just for the shop.
I have been very happy with it and the direct vent model was easy to install. Might be kind of pricey if your brother in law doesn't work there but it works well.
I will say that you will get a lot more work done with a comfortable shop. I also added a window air conditioner for he summer. It proved to be a good investment also. It does cost more to cool the shop than heat it though.
Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 9:53 pm
by captain_john
Will,
Gas is great! You can rent a tank and place it next to your building. All you have to do is let them fill it up. Most places that rent tanks will do installs.
A gas fired forced hot air system can come in many flavors. Call some locals and get some prices.
Installing one on your own is a pain in the a$$, so let them do it... especially this late in the heating season.
CJ
Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 11:02 pm
by bmurrish
Heat??? What are you planning on doing Thomas??? Roasting racoon????
Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 1:35 pm
by tshort
You know it!
Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 4:31 pm
by captain_john
OK, I'll bite...
wasup with the 'coon?
CJ
Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 5:21 pm
by bmurrish
Thomas, please tell me that ain't what the roofers left in your you roof.
Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 8:46 pm
by tshort
One of three - that's the momma.
Long story short ... new roof on the house last week, in doing the roof I had them knock out a brick chimney that was no longer used (it used to be for the furnace but had a new furnace with new vent put in) as it was in horrible shape and falling apart. They knocked it out below roof line, then decked over it.
After the job was finished, the guy goes, "Oh, by the way, the guy that knocked out the chimney wanted me to let you know there is a coon down in there."
Which was great because the whole thing was closed off.
I had to open the wall in the furnace room and remove the cap into the chimney then set the trap - caught three coons in less than 12 hours. They must have been hungry!
Would have been a stinky mess if they died in there...
T.
Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 10:32 pm
by l & d lewis
I'd have to concur with Capt John. Here in Alaska the Modine heater is a common sight in most garages, my present and last house had them, and they work well without breaking the bank. My new hangar has in-floor glycol heating, I guess I'll see how it does this winter.......Larry