heater for a freezing garage...recommendations?

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mwtaco

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hi all,

the freeze is coming. gonna work in an unheated 3 car garage this season...

any advice on heating device to keep warm?

thanks!
 
Well, I'll jump in here. Questions: where do you live? How cold will it get? How much do you want to spend? You have 3 car garage, and if you are in Toledo, you are going to need either a lot of kerosene or get something better. For years I used bullet industrial "tubo" heaters, and they worked, but the fumes get to you after a while. I had to really seal up the garage [at the time in the Chicago area] to keep heat in, as it was an detached garage. If it had been in the Carolinas?? been a LOT better. It might take 2-3 of those turbos to heat 3 car space...and cannot imagine electic heaters pulling that off--especially the radiant. BUT am not an heating engineer. I would imagine your electric bill would bring someone to the door checking on your usage.

This time, [for 2 car space] I just went for a professionally installed gas heater on the wall, all to code. And it was worth it all. Up to 85 in January in about 20 minutes from stone cold 20 degrees? It has to be turned down or off or I bake. Good luck with your choice:props:..but do it safe, and right. Don't jury rig it just to save pennies.
 
zkeeper said:
This time, [for 2 car space] I just went for a professionally installed gas heater on the wall, all to code. And it was worth it all.
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Definitely what I would recommend. You could also use a 220-volt wall-mounted or standing garage heater. The install would be easier, but it also wouldn't be as powerful and your electric bill would be pretty high depending on how often you work in there.
 
I just use a kerosene heater that I've had for years and have kept in case the power goes out during an ice storm.
 
You have an outdoor grill with one of those small propane tanks? If you do you can buy a small propane heat element that bolts right on the tank. Much safer than Kero.
 
silverfox said:
You have an outdoor grill with one of those small propane tanks? If you do you can buy a small propane heat element that bolts right on the tank. Much safer than Kero.
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I would go with this route as well. of course it never gets too cold here in San Diego but I still own a propane heater to keep people warm when I have a late night BBQ.

You should check out Northern Tool. I got a catalog awhile ago that is running a sale on heaters until Halloween. Maybe you can get some deals there.
 
First, can you insulate your garage? Some fiberglass bats on the walls and even the ceiling will keep the garage warmer and make it a lot easier to heat, whatever the method.
 
thanks for all the input so far guys. i'm gonna look into each of your suggestions.

we get midwest freeze your butt off weather here. im pretty sure my garage is insulated. it has drywall, so i have to figure out a way to see if there are insulation batts behind them (anyone know how?)

I like the idea of having something professionally installed, but concerned that will cost quite a bit of coin. i'll check out NT catalog and also the suggestion for a propane heater.

love this forum.
 
My buddy has a heated garage, he has his hooked up to the natural gas used in the rest of his house. Bad thing, you need a fan of some kind to circulate the air, or as he discovered, the floor is still way too cold.
 
Got a good electrical feed in your garage at all? 220V power? If so you can get an electric unit to do the job. For my single bay I've got one of these:

Amazon.com: Dimplex DGWH4031 4000-Watt Garage/Workshop Heater: Home & Garden

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It's on a 30A dedicated circuit coming out of my sub-panel.
 
I also have a 3 bay shop. I use a wood stove every year. I just stacked a cord of wood earlier today. Costed me $250 for the cord. Last year I went through about a cord and a half.

It does take a lot more work with stacking wood, tending to the stove, and maintaining the pipes and what not...but still. To heat your shop for less than $500 through the winter, you can't beat that. I actually highly prefer the smell, and feel of wood stove heat versus gas. Not to mention, it's actually a great conversation piece. People love to talk about it...don't know why, ha.

I have a little diesel portable heater too. Comes in handy if I end up with a mobile job in the winter. If they don't have a heated garage...I can just bring that baby with me. It is also VERY handy for blasting the cold out of the shop first thing in the morning.

I actually got my stove installed through a barter for some details. :dblthumb2:
 
Ok, go to Home depot and get yourself 8 dual halogen tripods (44.57 each) you get plenty of heat and lots of light, lol. Just kidding, but I do love this halogen. Good luck with your hunt for heat.
 
My two-car is under the bedrooms of this split-level and gets some heat from the central furnace, but it's inefficient -- why would I want my furnace to heat such a huge space with two big doors that open a few times a day? I sealed up the registers a couple of winters ago and my house is noticeably more comfortable and my gas bill went down... and the temperature in the garage still rarely gets below 50.

But I do want to be comfortable when I'm in the garage so I got a 5000 W electric heater and mounted it on the ceiling. It's similar to the 4000 W unit above, but hard-wired to a mechanical thermostat (digital ones don't go to 5000 W) and from there to the panel which is also in the garage. The garage measures 22'x21'x7' and this thing gets it from 50° to 75° in about 15 minutes, and barely cycles to keep it that warm.

All in all it cost $200 for the heater, $15 for the 'stat, $35 for about 20' of 10/2 and I forget how much for a 30 Amp breaker. I installed it myself and my BIL did the final connection to the panel (he's an EE).
 
When I first moved back to MN, I looked hard at nat gas heaters. Think 20below with nasty winds.

When I started getting bids, every contractor said, "Ain't gonna work." This was because of the venting problem (to the outside). I only have one side to vent to and the wind (that's an understatement) would cause havoc with the whole thing. Thru the roof was also looked at, but again location negated that idea (snow build-up).

What I'm trying to say is get a reputable contractor(s) to look at what you have going before you start spending the $.

Oh, I'm using a kero heater...not the best but at least I don't freeze out here.

Bill
 
I have two heat sources for my 3 car garage; woodstove and a propane heater. The propane heater is connected to a 30 pound tank and this warms everything up pretty quickly. :props:

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The woodstove maintains the inside temperature nicely once the propane heater gets everything up to temp...:props:
 
silverfox said:
You have an outdoor grill with one of those small propane tanks? If you do you can buy a small propane heat element that bolts right on the tank. Much safer than Kero.
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This is what I use...it's a small unit that I use to use for my one car garage. I actually used it last night at my mothers house in her 2 car garage and it worked great.
 
thanks for the advice up to now guys...

my favorite setup would be a wall/ceiling mounted natural gas or electric heater with a vent...but economically speaking it's probably going overboard at this point. i first have to see if i spend enough time outside to justify such a nice setup.

i like the propane heater idea and will try that first. i was looking at the cannon shaped forced air heaters and glad to see you guys suggested it and that it works well. i will also look into the radiant heaters that mount onto the tank.

regarding the cannon shaped forced air heaters you guys mentioned...are they very loud?

thanks
 
What about a pellet stove?? Worked pretty well in my buddys garage last year up here in NY.... and pellets are much less pita to work with than actual wood stoves... not the same heat output.... but its an option keep an on on craigslist or something.... barter section always has interesting things
 
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