I've always used a "torpedo" heater (kerosene) for my garage, but I hate how loud they are and the smell it gives off. I just bought a used one off ebay and got scammed so hopefully paypal takes care of it and i get my money back so now i'm looking at new heaters.

First off my garage is about 24x24x12 feet, i used to have a 60,000 btu torpedo heater that was pretty old but was still pretty effiecent and would get the garage too hot after awhile. Most people I talked to said a 35K-40K should be ok for my garage, the garage has insulated ceiling and finished walls, and I'm about to insulate the door, does a 35-40 sound about right?

Next is heater choice. Since the garage is kinda small I would like something that would hang on the wall or ceiling. I don't have a hook up for natural gas anywhere near the garage, I don't want an electric heater since they seem to be low btu and would use alot of electricity, the torpedo's need to be on the ground and are loud. So this leaves me with Propane only i believe. I never looked into one that much because it would be a pain to have to use the small 10lb tanks or whatever they are (the ones for grilles). What are some good hanging propane heaters out there? I would like to do something like hang the heater on the wall and have a small shed next to the garage to put the tank in and run the line threw the wall. Sound like this would work?

Give me some suggestions on what you all think, i'm just looking for ideas here. Thanks

 

There are 2 kinds of radiant type propane heaters i have seen. One is about 2 feet high and stands on the ground angled back about 15 degrees and it is powered by propane. The other is a radiant tube that hangs on the ceiling, propane is burnt in the tube and expelled thru an exhaust chimmney, the heat radiants down. This one works real well but is expensive.
Do a google search for radiant heaters.
A 100 pound tank would run these heaters i think, depending how long you need heat for.

 

I was looking at reddy heaters site and they have a ventless propane heater that hangs on the wall. It looks like a pretty nice heater i saw it at lowes yesterday. its 30,000 btu, and will run 72 hours on 100lb tank at 30,000 btu or 144 hours on 15,000 btu. Any one have experience with these? they look like something i'd want.

 

Those ventless heaters can be fairly stinky. Not as bad as those kerosene jobs tho.

 

I'm heating my garage, about the same size as your's, with a "Mr Heater" radiant heater. It's hooked up to natural gas. Works well, but that's easy in coastal Washington.

 

Read my post in this thread #3

You can convert just about any (not all) furnaces/unit heater to run on propane. With the 12' height in your garage go a little larger 40k - 60k btu.
Make note about 100 lbs tanks, you may have a problem with where you have them filled not letting you transporting it laying down or in an enclosed vehicle. DOT regulations. You can daisy chain two 50 lbs tanks together.

 

Do you have ceiling fans? If not once you have a heat source they can do a lot to circulate the heat that will want to stay at the ceiling. My 2 cents

 

Have you considered a central air heating and cooling package unit? I live in lower Alabama and hot weather is a big problem, more so than cold weather. But I have found a guy who buys new damaged package units (air and heat). He then sells these units for a really good price. I was able to buy a unit for my shop for $350. I put it on the roof and then just ran ducts inside and hooked up a thermostat. You will need to connect either propane or natural gas to the unit. It is completely self-contained and don't have to put anything into the shop except duct work. I have also bought units from him for others in the family. These are brand new units with minor damage. He has a air condition repairman who checks the units out before he sells them. You could probably get a unit for your shop for somewhere around $500. Price depends on unit size and what you are asking for. He seldom has electric heat and if he does, it is considerably more expensive.

 

Modine hot dawg They seem to work well. I wouldn't use anything not vented too much moisture and carbon monoxide.

 

ive got a natural gas heater and switch the nozzeles to propane its a cieling mount 100,000 in 80,000 out. my garage is 24x24x12 twenty min. good to go.put 100 gal tank. thats it heat buy the way got the heater at a garage sale never used 300.00 bucks at the store 1,000. check heating & plumbing stores.

 

I use a 120,000 BTU torpedo (spaec) heater to heat a small garage - if I left it on 100%, it would easily go to 120 degrees plus in all sorts of weather. Way too big, but I also use it outside in the winter, to work on my vehicles.

I used a house thermostat (mechanical, not the digital ones), 12V supply, 12 volt relay, with high-amperage contacts (15A at 110volts) and use it to turn on and off the torpedo heater. Easy to wire a duplex outlet up and it works like a charm - still loud, but the comfort makes up for it.

The trick to the smell of the torpedo heater is to use WHITE kerosene, not diesel or fuel oil. I hardly get any smell, and just yesterday with 10 degree temps outside, I could walk around in the garage without a coat, with the big barn-style door open and the heater in the door way.

ALWAYS have a carbon monoxide detector around when burning anything inside a building, even with a big door open.