Dean_Fuller

Need something to heat my 2 car garage this winter. Can't vent so I would think Propane is out right? What about kerosene? Could go electric but the bills may be higher than fuel....any suggestions? I realize an open flame heater could be dangerous. How do most of you heat your garages so working out there isn't miserable?

ltc

Can you do a direct (wall) vent propane heater?
Also direct (wall) vented would be a wood pellet stove.

For non vented propane, there is always the radiant propane fueled heaters, although I'm not sure how well it would heat a 2 car garage.

I have a ceiling mounted Modine space heater, propane, that keeps the garage at 45deg (low temp thermostat on the wall), enough to melt the snow quickly when the cars are parked....and keep the Porsches on the lift warm.

If I want to wash/wax the cars, I simply turn the thermostat up to 75 and in less than an hour, it's T shirt weather in the garage. One 100 gallon bottle lasts the winter.

Marine Blue

I use a Mr. Heater Propane Heater and it's perfect for a 2 car garage. I usually crank it up initially to get the garage warm and then turn it down to maintain the temperature. I also keep the garage door slightly open to allow fresh air in and I also have a carbon monoxide detector in the garage just in case. I couldn't find a reasonably priced electric heater that would really be capable of doing the job and running plumbing to the garage from our basement is not in the cards just yet.

I wouldn't recommend using it if children are around, otherwise it is relatively safe.

Here is a link:http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...2707_200332707

Jadz928

Be careful with a propane heater in a less than adequately ventilated location. I'm missing some eyelashes and my unibrow is no more.

Rod Underwood

http://www.heatershop.com/mrheater_b...r_mhu75lp.html

I have this one and really like it. It keeps the garage 24x40 very toasty when I want it to be and I'm in beautiful Muncie, Indiana.

Rod

jcorenman

Dean, there are some propane heaters which can be used indoors without venting if you are careful, the issues are using up oxygen and building up moisture, and possible carbon monoxide (CO). A properly-designed heater should not emit any CO but you need to onitor for it.

One issue we have here in the northwest is moisture, an unvented heater puts a lot of moisture into the air which can cause issues- rusty tools and sharks, condensation issues if the walls are not properly vapor-sealed, etc. In a very cold/dry climate the moisture might be welcome.

We did a simple in-floor radiant system when we built our 28'x35' shop, the pex tubing and most of the parts came from eBay and we did the work ourselves so the cost was pretty reasonable. The heat source is a small 6KW (240v/30A) tankless electric water heater, around 12,000 BTU and works great. (Insulation is 9" fiberglass in the ceiling, 5.5" in the walls and 2" foam under the slab).

The choice of fuel depends on where you live. Our situation here (San Juan Island) is unusual, electricity is relatively cheap while propane is very expensive, and oil is about break-even with electricity for the same BTU's. YMWV, it's worth doing the calculations.

One advantage of a radiant system is that it is pretty easy to change the heat source if the economics change. A tankless or tank-type propane water heater works great, or an oil-fired tank heater or a small boiler-- anything which can heat water efficiently and with enough BTU's. The big problem with radiant of course is that there is no retro-fitting-- you have to get the tubing in the slab before it gets poured, and you need to plan in advance for where a 2-post lift might go.

Cheers,

auzivision

With the garage door slightly cracked, I use a propane salamander to get everything nice and toasty. It pumps out something like 100,000+ BTU but it’s noisy and emits CO.

I maintain heat with a 25K kerosene heater with the door shut. My walls and doors are completely insulated so it stay’s plenty warm once the chill is knocked out.

My setup looks somewhat like these, but I know I didn’t spend nearly this much:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...10000003+90401

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ctId=100045793

karl ruiter

None. Move to Honolulu.

Dean_Fuller

Only real problem with that is you end up driving in a circle....small island...

......God I hate the cold weather!!!

karl ruiter

I moved here because Los Angeles was still too cold. Actually, the real problem is the cost of shipping car parts. But I remember growing up on Oregon where in the winter the tools would freeze to your hands, and I just pay the shipping.

Dean_Fuller

Got a room to rent???

Shark Attack

do you want to heat it all the time or just when you are in there? I bought an indoor torpedo heater. does a great job

Shark Attack

do you want to heat it all the time or just when you are in there? I bought an indoor torpedo heater. does a great job, it is propane

Landseer

I bought two electric portable heaters from Lowes.

Draws some wattage, so I have them on different breakers.

Works great, no fear of combustion byproducts or open flame issues.

I only operate them when downstairs with them (drive-in basement).

Jim's not kidding, BTW, I went to his house the other day and he was a bit crispy.

918-S

I have hydronics. I had the tubes installed when they poured the slab about 4 years ago. I was told that I could heat it with a water heater. I tried a new propane water heater. Didn't work.

So I bought a propane vent-less wall heater. I used this for the last three years. Every time you even open a solvent container the fumes would drive you out of the garage. Your cloths stink like propane gas fumes. Don't get one!

Then, last year I noticed I would call to get my tank filled. I always checked the current price and got a quote before they came out. I would get the bill and it was double! I would have to call then and get them to adjust the bill.

Now that I'm done working for the year I'm out in the garage everyday. I was pissed at the propane guys trying to rip me off in the middle of winter. So, this year I broke down and purchased an electric boiler designed for in floor heat. It is way COOL! Or hot... It's about the size of an old desktop CPU and just hangs on the wall. No open flame, no smell, just a warm floor. I have not seen my electric bill yet, not sure I want to but at lease I got rid of the effin propane rip off!

The heat is soooo nice..: