Garage Heaters
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Trailering
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Central PA
Garage Heaters
I've recently built a three bay garage to tinker in and am looking for advice on heating systems. It gets sorta chilly hear in PA during the winter! I'm debating between a conventional oil hot air furnace and a propane suspended hot air such as the "Hot Dawg" model. Does anyone have experience with the ceiling hung "Hot Dawg" ? I'm leaning that way since it would alleviate building a chimney and buying an oil tank, as well as freeing up more floor space. Any advice or experience would be greatly appreciated.
Shopguy
Shopguy
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Valdez, Alaska
A lot of monitor stoves are used up here for garages and homes. Very fuel efficient (#1 Diesel). The exhaust goes out a wall or you can get a window kit. Not that expensive. $1500. I am finishing a 2 car and will get one this winter. Here is there site: http://www.monitorproducts.com/products/m2400.html
I am very leary of propane. Big boom is one reason. Plus propane is very,very expensive up here. Not use to much for home heat.
I am very leary of propane. Big boom is one reason. Plus propane is very,very expensive up here. Not use to much for home heat.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
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I would personally avoid an unvented heater for this application, especially if I were going to use it a lot. One of the products of combustion is water vapor, which will tend to raise the indoor humidity and potentially promote rust on your tools/projects/etc.
It would be likely be OK if you were just going to use it for a couple hours twice a week to take the chill off, or if the space were somewhat drafty, but for steady use in a well-sealed buidling, I suggest something that sends the combustion gases outside.
It would be likely be OK if you were just going to use it for a couple hours twice a week to take the chill off, or if the space were somewhat drafty, but for steady use in a well-sealed buidling, I suggest something that sends the combustion gases outside.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Yorktown, Va.
Have you considered unit heaters? A company called ADP (Advance Distributor Products) out of Stone Mountain Ga. makes units made for home garage applications. The two sizes they had were both low profile (12-15 inches) and are power vented. LP or natural gas.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Valdez, Alaska
Not sure if you are refering to the monitor as unvented? If so it has a double wall exhaust vent. It pulls outside air through the outer portion of the vent, in turn it heats it up before it hits the combustion chamber. The inner portion is were the exhaust gas goes out. It also reguires electricity since it has a fan built in to circulate the warm/cold air in the building. Not sure how popular they are down south. Everyone swears by them up here. Keeps a 1200 sq ft area heated at below zero and only uses 50 gals of #1. Very efficient stove. If propane wasnt so expensive here I would consider a hanging model but too expensive (propane). I can keep both of my bays heated for $80-100 a month depending of the cost of Diesel.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
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The comment about "no chimney", not to mention the naming, caused me to confuse the Hot Dawg with one of those cheap torpedo heaters. I looked up the product and found that the Hot Dawg is a vented heater -- you must run a gas vent through the roof or out the wall. I've used and liked Modine's commercial hanging propane heaters in the past -- the Hot Dawg appears to be pretty much the same thing with a cutesy name attached.
The monitor is similar. No "chimney" per se. Efficient enough to keep the stack temperature down, not too fussy about gravity venting, but still exhausts combustion gasses to the outdoors.
The monitor is similar. No "chimney" per se. Efficient enough to keep the stack temperature down, not too fussy about gravity venting, but still exhausts combustion gasses to the outdoors.
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From: Douglas, Georgia
I run a commercial greenhouse operation and have 8 of these propane hanging heaters....
all have been in service since '86 in a rather unsuitable enviroment (a humid greenhouse).
7 heaters are modines and one is a reznor f75
the modines are all rotted and need to be replaced, the reznor is pristine on the inside... burners still perfect etc, it's easy to service and get replacement parts for. Plus it's only $500 for a 75,000 btu model. The modines have a tendency to blow out thier pilot and have flashbacks even when set perfectly, the reznors always been reliable.
drew
all have been in service since '86 in a rather unsuitable enviroment (a humid greenhouse).
7 heaters are modines and one is a reznor f75
the modines are all rotted and need to be replaced, the reznor is pristine on the inside... burners still perfect etc, it's easy to service and get replacement parts for. Plus it's only $500 for a 75,000 btu model. The modines have a tendency to blow out thier pilot and have flashbacks even when set perfectly, the reznors always been reliable.
drew
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Trailering
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Central PA
Thanks for all the valuable information. I'll check the monitor website as well as the reznor unit. I appreciate the help. Things for the house are one thing, but for a guy's garage....now that's important!!!!!
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From: Douglas, Georgia
fan or blower....
mine has a fan. Only thing that has ever died on it is the fan control (turns it on and off when burners come on) new part $10 at graingers, I prefer to just turn it on manually, figure I need fans on in the greenhouse anyway.
cool part bout reznor too is the website, total teardown/rebuild for the LP ignorant... hard to find good info on modine repair, tho there isn't much to a reznor...
valve, pilot, thermocoupler, burners, fan/limit controls etc. less parts is good.... thats why I drive old trucks :-)
mine has a fan. Only thing that has ever died on it is the fan control (turns it on and off when burners come on) new part $10 at graingers, I prefer to just turn it on manually, figure I need fans on in the greenhouse anyway.
cool part bout reznor too is the website, total teardown/rebuild for the LP ignorant... hard to find good info on modine repair, tho there isn't much to a reznor...
valve, pilot, thermocoupler, burners, fan/limit controls etc. less parts is good.... thats why I drive old trucks :-)
Posting Guru
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From: Valdez, Alaska
How efficient is this unit. Seems like a good price but I have to way the LP usage vs diesel since propane is more expensive. I have until Sep until I have to figure something out. Another option is to run another zone from my boiler to the garage.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Lancaster County PA
Two of my friends put oil fired forced hot air heaters in their garages/workshops. Got them cheap from a guy who salvages trailers/mobile homes. The one buddy just uses an old "jerry" can for the fuel oil and it lasts him a good long while.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Santa Clarita
I had the heater unit in my house replaced with a newer bigger model. The unit that came with my house. I have a four car tandem garage which holds four vehicles easily. I installed the heater unit in the upper rafters of the garage. Connected a natural gas line and I'm really confortable when it's chilly cold out. Couldn't get much cheaper. I do have to change filters more often though.
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From: Fairmont, WV
Originally Posted by mlb4966
A lot of monitor stoves are used up here for garages and homes. Very fuel efficient (#1 Diesel). The exhaust goes out a wall or you can get a window kit. Not that expensive. $1500. I am finishing a 2 car and will get one this winter. Here is there site: http://www.monitorproducts.com/products/m2400.html
I am very leary of propane. Big boom is one reason. Plus propane is very,very expensive up here. Not use to much for home heat.
I am very leary of propane. Big boom is one reason. Plus propane is very,very expensive up here. Not use to much for home heat.
http://www.alsheating.com/index.html
This guy says that Monitor used to be very good, but they have cheapened their construction to the point that he no longer carries them. He now carries Toyo (who are now Kerosun?). Have you heard anything about the Toyo heaters?
TIA, Brady