Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

I'm wondering if anyone had any good ideas, I have one of them bullet heaters right now but its on its last legs and I need something better.
I live in a townhome with an association, and I'm hoping to be out of here in 3-5 years.

I keep seeing ideas of a wood burning stove, but I don't really have the room for one.
A friend suggested this http://www.fleetfarm.com/catalog/pro...-garage-heater

Thanks
Aaron

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

So does that just hang up on the wall then or something?

I personally just use a small Propane torpedo style heater. It's kind of small for my 2 stall garage, but I just wear a hoodie. I feel like it's around 25000 BTU.

I had a much bigger Kerosene one that worked amazing, but I would start coughing really bad, I'm assuming from the fumes it put out. So might want to stay away from those.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

I just found out its a wall mounted heater, which means it won't work for me.
I don't really want another torpedo heater, but it looks like what I'll be getting.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

Small house furnace works great :D that's what I have in my garage,but my garage is literally bigger then my house. I just have it plumbed into the gas line for the house. I can it to about 70 in about 15-20 mins. Or you could always get a heater that hangs from the ceilings like most professional shops have. I have seen smaller versions of what they have. I'm on my phone now, but when I get home I will post a link.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

I wouldnt use any of the propane type heaters, they put out too much crap in the air unless you have a good source of fresh airflow.

My parents have one of these in their 3 car garage and in a half hour it heats up the garage nicely. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_595_595

Id get one of these and then just section off one of the stalls with plastic and work in there.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

^That looks pretty good. I like that, but I'd need a natural gas feed right?

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

No its electric! hehe But this one is a 240V model, so you do need a hookup for that..

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

lol, i saw after i posted. I do have a 220 outlet and an extra circuit breaker wired outhere, I'll talk to my electrician before I purchase.

This looks like it will be the one, if not I'll get another torpedo style heater :rolleyes:

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

If you've already got 220V out there, I'd go that way. I put in a big ass natural gas commercial heater in mine and it'll heat my 3-car in under 20 minutes, but running the gas line and exhaust was a pain in the ass. Just don't go with the cheapest, you end up spending more in the long run, it's better to oversize than undersize.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

I talked to my electrician friend and he said that it would cost a lot to run that electric heater.

If it wasn't a townhome that I hope to get out of I would have no problem sticking a big badass heater in, but since I know I want out of it I don't want anything too crazy.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

Well you dont leave it on while you arent in there.. for a few hours every weekend its not going to cost too much.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

I got bored and researched various heaters this afternoon. Electric sounded like the way to go to me. Even people that run them continuously on low to keep the garage above freezing say that the cost isn't bad.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

I have a 30000btu gas heater in my garage, I wish I had sprung for the 75000btu heater. You can buy a 75k heater at Norther for under $500.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

The one from fleet will work. I can show you.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

A propane heater like the fleet farm one, or even one of those sunflower heaters that go right on the tank should be just fine. I used a single burner unit and put a fan behind it to heat my 1 car garage to great avail, and despite what these nay-sayers are saying, you arent going to die from fumes. If the flame is blue it isn't releasing noxious gasses and you are safe. Plus your garage will leak enough air into it naturally to not kill you, unless your garage is hermetically sealed.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

Also consider beefing up your insulation, if you can. That can go a long ways into keeping your garage warm. If you have an uninsulated garage door, they make insulation panels for them. If you can add insulation above the ceiling, that would help a great deal.

later,
Curt

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

My friend is researching these options currently, and he did the calculations and running a heater on natural gas is a ton cheaper... to the effect of 30-50%.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

Yeah, it's a lot cheaper, but the upfront costs of installation and such are higher.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

True. So perhaps an electric unit that you could just unplug and take with you when you move would work out. Also depends on how much installation costs..

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

Not being a dick, but wear lots of layers :D and use gloves and use carpet for your back (don't want to mess up your back) ... I know my DSM is gonna break down in the winter "it always does* lol

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

^thanks, great help I'll remember that.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

Maybe if you were just an eskimo, that would solve all your problems right there.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

30 women and I, I'll keep that garage nice and warm sonnnnnn!

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

Anyone have experience running natural gas line?
I'm getting more convinced to run a natural gas unit, like first proposed but I have no experience or clue how to do so.
____________

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

Def. sounds like the cheapest way to go but I assumed running the line would be expensive.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

don't you need an exhaust for a natural gas unit? Don't think your association will want you doing that.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

Yeah I've been thinking about my association, but to be honest, I don't think they will notice if the vent goes out the ceiling or even the side of the house, like i have seen on some side draft/vent kits.

Just found this for a steal of a deal:
http://www.drillspot.com/products/34...as_Unit_Heater

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

I too am in an almost exact garage heating situation. My 2.5 car garage is uninsulated and only has 120v outlets installed. I am hearing that getting a 220v outlet hooked up is around $100-$200 depending on how far they have to route it. Any truth to this homeowners?

But the Northern Tools ceiling mounted heater that Peter posted sounds like it'll be sufficient. But I am just worried about how well it will stay warm w/o any sort of insulation.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

haha go all out
http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CDQQ8wIwAA#

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

Running the gas line is easy, just need some 3/8" copper type L tubing, some misc fittings, a couple of shut-offs, and a good flaring tool. As for the venting, you don't need one of the kits most of the heaters at Menards, Fleet Farm, or Northern offer. You can usually piece what you need together a bit cheaper.

Other than that, you just need to put a small appliance cord on the heater to plug it in and bit of 18-2 t-stat wire for the stat.




A 5 kW electric heater won't do much other than take the chill out of an uninsulated garage and waste money. It would be better than nothing though. You'll be better off insulating the garage first! As for the price of the 220v 30A outlet...being an electrician, that is a safe ballpark price without seeing where it needs to be ran from.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

After almost killing myself the other day with my old heater, I'm ready to buy a new one I think.

I'm leaning more toward another torpedo heater, these days they have a hi-lo setting and more BTU than mine, I usually start it up let it run for 10 mins then shut it off anyway.

The fact they are small means I can shove them on a shelf in the summer and not worry about losing space.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

I think I might of found it.

Infrared heater
http://www.heatersunlimited.com/item29040.ctlg

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

If you aren't gonna move much...

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/pag...56,43465,44590

I have 2 of them in the corner of the garage where my current project is, and it stays pretty comfortable there (wearing a hoodie)

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

That might work ok, but you are still going to have a fan going to move the air if you want the heat to be even. I just have a wall mount gas heater in my 2 car garage; then above it I have a fan that blows the heat around, it will cook you out of my garage in a matter of an hour even when below zero. My garage is insulated good though, I think that is the main thing you need to look at, drafty non-insulated garages will cost you a fortune to heat no matter what system you go with.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

Anyone have any experience with these 'big buddy' heaters that you just hook a propane tank to? Do they just rip through propane? I need to heat my garage, and my little space heater running constantly is neither practical nor cheap.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

I can run a gas line for ya! I just had to redo my dryer line and rewire the 75000btu unit in my garage. I havent blown up yet:woohoo1:

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

Well I picked up a forced air torpedo heater the other day and am already pleasently surprised as to how well it works. I turned it on a med/high setting and left it for about 10 mins and when I came back I could already feel it starting to warm up. I think today I'll give it a real test run.

Re: Garage heating options - 2.5 car
 

i use a small propane torpedo that puts out 30,000btu. It only takes me about 10 min to do most the work to heat up my 2 car insulated garage. very happy with it