Heating my garage?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,294
Likes: 1,055
From: NM
There are some real important considerations if you are going to run any combustion heater in a garage, both in the Codes and for you own safety. You need to let combustion air in if using a fired heater. That alone is a disadvantage compared to electric. If you have vehicles with gas in their tanks in the garage, you do not want it sealed up real tight! The Codes weren't designed to stymy you, they are there to protect you!
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
According to code any appliance with a pilot light in a garage where gasoliune is stored needs the pilot light to be 3' off the floor. Gasoline fumes are heavier than air and will flow along the floor. Same reason code calls for the floor to be pitched towards the door.
There are gas fired radiant heaters you can use or place a forced air furnace in an outside room and just duct the heated air inside.
There are gas fired radiant heaters you can use or place a forced air furnace in an outside room and just duct the heated air inside.
Last edited by AXracer; Dec 5, 2007 at 03:03 PM.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 825
Likes: 3
From: Michigan
I just ordered a 240V electric heater from Air & Water Inc. in California. They have a variety of electric heaters for different size garages & workshops.
Nice thing is the electric ones do not need vents as there is no CO2.
Nice thing is the electric ones do not need vents as there is no CO2.
I'll have the Roast Duck
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,622
Likes: 110
From: Northshore, MN
Well, if you have gas at your disposal, My buddy put an overhead "Bulldawg" heater in his garage, with a powervent out the wall, ran a seperate city-gas meter, and it's thermostat controlled. Set it at 40 degrees, and leave it. Come in, turn it up to 70 degrees, and in short time, it's at 70. Works slick.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 968
Likes: 0
From: webster wi
i'm thinking of the outside woodburner for house and garage i should of put the pipe in the floor but i wasnt home when thay did it working on the road sucks when it comes to overseeing building projects was going to use electric but i put it all in 200 amp service meter socket called power company and thay want 600 bucks to run the power 15 ft so that has to wait till spring god i cant wait till wife is done with school
I'll have the Roast Duck
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,622
Likes: 110
From: Northshore, MN
Originally Posted by needhelp49
i'm thinking of the outside woodburner for house and garage i should of put the pipe in the floor but i wasnt home when thay did it working on the road sucks when it comes to overseeing building projects was going to use electric but i put it all in 200 amp service meter socket called power company and thay want 600 bucks to run the power 15 ft so that has to wait till spring god i cant wait till wife is done with school
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Originally Posted by needhelp49
was going to use electric but i put it all in 200 amp service meter socket called power company and thay want 600 bucks to run the power 15 ft so that has to wait till spring god i cant wait till wife is done with school
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I'll have the Roast Duck
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,622
Likes: 110
From: Northshore, MN
Originally Posted by AXracer
Wow! I had to have the electrician install the meter head and panel box, but the power co didn't charge a dime to run 200A service from the pole across the street to the weatherhead and hook it up. They even asked if I wanted it above ground or underground. Here all wiring is the power co responsibility up to the meter.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,847
Likes: 37
From: Eastern shore,Salisbur,MD
I built a separate building, 24 x 28. I put a Red Dog heater ( propane) in it. It does a fantastic job. I had the propane co. put a separate tank in the rear of the garage, I turn the thermo down at night or when I am not woring in there, I use avout a tank a season.
JimG
JimG
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 968
Likes: 0
From: webster wi
the electric to my house was 12000 dollars 3.50 a foot and havi i have about 50 acers of fire wood sitting there it seems i lose 2 or 3 big oaks to storms every year and i hate to leave that wood laying on the ground and we would still have the propane furance but my heat bills are like 300 a mounth 4 mounths out of the year my cousin loads his once a day so thats not to bad
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,527
Likes: 2
From: Grande Prairie, Alberta
Originally Posted by tip49
Here in Canada, it is minus 22 Celsius , makes for a cold shop.
Tom
Tom
Kevin, I see your shop dimensions are 32x36, do find that is a suitable size as I am planning on building a new garage next spring of similar size. I would love to see some pics and layout of your garage if I could.
Thanks
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 161
Likes: 3
I heat with wood. I did try burning waste motor oil in a Mother Earth News / Roger Sanders oil burner. It did put out heat but the sooty mess was more than I wanted to deal with. One thing about a non-vented heater. If its cold in the building and warmer and humid (raining) outside, if you start a non-vented heater it will make everything inside sweat. I have had water dripping off of cold machines causing them to rust. Also dont open the garage door in this type of situation (warm and humid outside, cold inside) without warming the building with something other than a non-vented heater first, no matter how warm it is outside. Everything will be wet from condensation.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 825
Likes: 3
From: Michigan
Originally Posted by AXracer
I'm currently using a 240V 5K BTU electric heater to keep the chill off in the garage will be installing a heat pump soon. Keeping it cool is more of a problem here than keeping it warm.
Does the 240V heater get the temp high enough to work more or less comfortably? Say around 60*?
Mine is in route and is 9,000 /5,000 BTU's.
Fred
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,294
Likes: 1,055
From: NM
I'm in a quandary on my garage. It is 24x32, no insulation (gyp board inside on 1/2 of the walls) and an uninsulated metal roof. With the sun here, it warms up to ~45-50 in the winter, by midday, from heat radiated down from the roof. If I insulate, I fear it may reduce the sun heating. I don't have electrical capacity to fully heat nor do I want to pay for the costs of gas service, so I am thinking a solar air heating system (i.e., panels that heat air). Even in the great white north, these systems provide a good amount of heat.
Personally, if it's even 45 inside, with no wind, and I'm doing work, I feel pretty comfortable. Can't paint but it sure beats working outdoors on a gravel drive in Chicago, which I did growing up!
Personally, if it's even 45 inside, with no wind, and I'm doing work, I feel pretty comfortable. Can't paint but it sure beats working outdoors on a gravel drive in Chicago, which I did growing up!