corvetteronw

You folks in California, Florida and Texas can just pass this thread on by.
We Corvette owners in the Nawth country need some heat in the garage in order to perform our winter maintenance and mods.
My garage is 24' x 32' and is fully insulated. In the past I have used one of those propane fired torpedo heaters and found it was too noisy to hear the radio (gotta have my tunes). You must also turn it off when working with volatile materials.
Next winter season I tried a couple of electric space heaters. Not enough oomph to take the chill off though. Ever try to grip an icy wrench when trying to turn a bolt or nut in a cramped space? Not fun.
The last 2 winters I got one of those large kerosene space heaters. Nice and warm if you stood nearby but there was no circulation away from the unit and you had to shut it off when working with fuel or paint. Stinky too!
This summer I scored a nice sale on an Eden Pure electric heater. It just turned cold here in Michigan today so I thought I would give it a try. The temp was 30 degrees F outside and 40F inside the garage. I plugged this baby in and set the heat on high with low fan speed. In about 20 minutes the temp was up to 52F and very comfortable. No chance of a spark with this thing and since it is radiant heat you can feel it throughout the garage. Life is good!

Matthew_EOD

Which model did you get?

Midnight 85

I like overkill, my garage is 24x24 and I have a 175,00 btu Bryant gas furnace in it. I can work in a t-shirt in any weather within 5 minutes of turning it on. It looks like it's going to stay cold here now so it will be turned on & left a 50 overnight then up to 65-68 during the day. If I am just going to be sitting around not working it goes up to 72. I bought the furnace used but in perfect condition over 20 yeas ago fo $75. I would suggest anyone looking to heat their garage to check the heating businesses for a good used unit, they only keep the good ones and they are usually real reasonable. If you don't want to run a gas line to the garage then have it converted to propane and just keep a bottle at hand.

NuckinFutz93

They were tearing down an old motel down the road, I picked up 2 of the heat/air units for 100.00 each. I mounted them in my 30 x 30. I love it, cool in summer, warm in the winter. It is a great budget solution, if you are needing one. I've picked up 2 more for the new shop I'm building.

F22

You're funny! I live in North Los Angeles County, the High Desert and it was a very warm 29 degrees here this morning. Naah, we don't need a heater in our shop! Got to call the Gas Company to kick on the gas, we're freeeeezing our butts off!

mrmtrtrnd

If it continues to work that well you'll be able to spend some quality time with your vette this winter.

F22 I've been out there in the High Desert during the winter and it does get down right cold out there. That comes from a someone thats spent a lot of cold winters in the Mid West.

Frizlefrak

{God I hope the Cat doesn't see this....}

While we don't get much snow, and thus drive year 'round, it DOES get quite cold 4000' up. Not uncommon to get below freezing, and it got down to 4 degrees a couple years ago.

I'm thinking of going the used furnace route for the garage. I use two electric space heaters and they do OK most of the time, but I'd like to just set the thermostat at 70 and forget about it.

BigDR

I have a 30x40 garage, fully insulated including the doors. I got a wall-mounted DuoTherm unvented LP gas heater. It has a thermostat on the fan and gas. 23K BTU and takes about 30 minutes in 30-degree weather to take the edge off. Not fast, but economical. Heater cost $150 off-season at Tractor Supply and about $40 in fittings and a regulator to hook it up to the tank that supplies the house. I always worry about any gasoline fumes with an open flame. I choose LP gas because that's what we already use. My garage is finished upstairs, so the downstairs ceiling is only 11 feet. I see heaters like your Edenpure all over now. Thought about getting one for our house.

corvetteronw

Just remembered a day in January 1991 at the National Training Center in Ft Irwin, California (near Apple Valley). We came in from the field to use the showers and found some of the toilets had frozen and cracked from the cold. You are correct - it can get a bit nippy in the high desert!

Vette Daddy

I have a 90,000 BTU furnace. About 2000 sq ft. I use propane from a buried 250gl tank. Completely seperate from the house gas. Works great. Have a seperate AC unit for the one month a year that I really need it.

Frizlefrak

Yes it can. Another member posted that it's around 37 degrees there right now!

corvetteronw

Space Saver model #RPE 1325. Supposed to heat up to 1,000 sq'. The directions say to set it off the ground if you have a cement floor (like I do) as the concrete will act as a heat sink. I have it set on sturdy stool about 2' off the floor.
I had a coupon for 20% off at Meijer (think Wal Mart type store) and paid around $200.
I too saw the wall units at Tractor Supply but did not like the open flame.

JackDidley

I have 20' of electric 240v baseboard heaters in my 21 x 21 garage. No fumes, no noise. Just heat.

Sweet 90

I sure hope so as well

Frizlefrak

Well, I guess that was inevitable.

1993C4LT1

Roughly two years ago, we had snow for a straight week in Dallas. Oddly, the garage doesn't get too bad.

Midnight 85

C'mon now, did you really expect to slip one past the cat?

Frizlefrak

No....he's got a nose for anything concerning cold.

Sweetsie's new pickup truck....

QCVette

I have been putting off the inevitable when I get a natural gas furnace for the garage. Maybe this year or next?

I have an attached garage that is somewhat insulated. I have tried using small electric space heaters and several 500w halogen lights. They took the edge off, but barely and not when it gets really cold. I tried a small heater that mounts on top of an LP bottle and it worked a little better. I also got a 240v electric space heater and it works about the same as the LP heater.

The 240v and the halogen lights almost work ok. When it is below zero outside, my garage is just above freezing. When I turn these on, it warms into the 50's in about half an hour. I have done this for the last couple of years, but I want a regular gas furnace.

24695bob

I have 2 garages...both detached the 24x24 is insulated but my 24x40 garage is not..

For the last few years I have been running one of those torpedo kerosene units in both. BECAUSE I'M CHEAP

The 24x24 does have a Gas Bryant AC and Furnace (converted to run n propane) BUT it honestly costs me an arm and what felt like 2 legs to run the darn thing .. I can put up with a little noise and the Kerosene unit does have a thermostat so it does not run all the time after it reaches the desired temperature... Costs 1/10 to run...

ONLY thing I do is make darn sure I never run the Kerosene heaters out of Kerosene because then they blow smoke and I have a headache within 5 minutes...

I'm also an backyard astronomer and have a domed observatory in the backyard ..Can't heat these things as the thermals escaping thru the slot the will destroy the views (similar to the heat raising off the road in the summer) so I resort to wearing heated motorcycle clothing..It is hard to sit still at the eyepiece for hours when it is ice cold .

One day I will move to a warmer and also less light pouted area BUT NOT FLORIDA

Bob G.
64 72 & 98 Convertibles
76 79 and a 88 35th ANC Coupes