Garage heater question
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Garage heater question
I bought myself a small electric garage heater. I think about 13,000 BTUs. Not looking to roast myself just bring it up to around 60 or so when it gets down real cold. My garage is attached and never goes below freezing. My question is where to put it. Should it be mounted closer to the floor to allow the heat to rise or up near the ceiling. My ceiling is 10'6" in a approx. 20X22 garage.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 946
Likes: 0
From: Lake Geneva WI
I bought myself a small electric garage heater. I think about 13,000 BTUs. Not looking to roast myself just bring it up to around 60 or so when it gets down real cold. My garage is attached and never goes below freezing. My question is where to put it. Should it be mounted closer to the floor to allow the heat to rise or up near the ceiling. My ceiling is 10'6" in a approx. 20X22 garage.
I found that centrally mounting mine so that it blows down and out towards the door opening was the best place. I get good air flow and decent heat throughout. You could try corner mounting, also a good choice. I had a TV in the corner so that killed that idea.
BTW, mine is 17,000 BTW, 30AMP Double pull 240v... Looks small, but with temps under 0 degrees this weekend, kept me a toasty 70 degrees!
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 6
From: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
That unit may be a little on the small size. I have a 90,000 BTU gas heater hung from the ceiling in a 24 X 28 garage. I have the T'Stat set at 68 and the unit comes on often in the winter months.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From: michigan
well, unless you are 9ft. 6 in. you won't notice the warmth as much down at car level as you do at the ceiling. heat rises, so, I would mount it at floor level . Do you have insulated doors on your garage?. You might be hard pressed to get the temp in the 60's but 50-55 is pretty comfortable working conditions, as the heat gets rid of the cold dampness of the concrete floor.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
Here's mine
I have mine in upper left of picture and it points to center of garage, so air moves throughout the whole area.
As stated above the floor is really cold when your laying on it to work on the car. I usually throw a blanket down.
Gordonm you may want to go with to small units 1 low 1 midway
I have mine in upper left of picture and it points to center of garage, so air moves throughout the whole area.
As stated above the floor is really cold when your laying on it to work on the car. I usually throw a blanket down.
Gordonm you may want to go with to small units 1 low 1 midway
Last edited by spedaleden; Jan 21, 2008 at 04:03 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 946
Likes: 0
From: Lake Geneva WI
You'd be surprised how well these little electric heaters work... I should have stated, my 17k btu is in a 20 x 20.. Keeps things quite warm..
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,545
Likes: 3
From: 406ci SB, AFR 180 Heads - 490 HP @5,600 RPM 529 lb-ft @ 4,100 RPM
Mia, I had one and they do keep the chill out, but it takes awhile. I gave up and went with a 90.000 btu gas furnace, instant heat in 5 or 10 minutes in my 24X30 insulated garage.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
That was a lot of info real quick. My garage is pretty well insulated. The doors are insulated but not great. I do not have to lay on the cold concrete anymore due to my new lift just installed. 
I am just really looking to knock down the chill on the coldest days. On a day that it is 45 with no heat in the garage it will be 50 to 55 in the garage. Today it is about 15 to 20 out and it is 38 in the garage, little too chilly. I would like to see about 55 to 60. I can work very comfortably in those temps. It is small enough I might try a few different locations before mounting it up. Two of my garage walls are right against living space so I do get some heat from the house, that is why it never freezes in the garage. 
I am just really looking to knock down the chill on the coldest days. On a day that it is 45 with no heat in the garage it will be 50 to 55 in the garage. Today it is about 15 to 20 out and it is 38 in the garage, little too chilly. I would like to see about 55 to 60. I can work very comfortably in those temps. It is small enough I might try a few different locations before mounting it up. Two of my garage walls are right against living space so I do get some heat from the house, that is why it never freezes in the garage.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 946
Likes: 0
From: Lake Geneva WI
That was a lot of info real quick. My garage is pretty well insulated. The doors are insulated but not great. I do not have to lay on the cold concrete anymore due to my new lift just installed. I am just really looking to knock down the chill on the coldest days. On a day that it is 45 with no heat in the garage it will be 50 to 55 in the garage. Today it is about 15 to 20 out and it is 38 in the garage, little too chilly. I would like to see about 55 to 60. I can work very comfortably in those temps. It is small enough I might try a few different locations before mounting it up. Two of my garage walls are right against living space so I do get some heat from the house, that is why it never freezes in the garage.
I am just really looking to knock down the chill on the coldest days. On a day that it is 45 with no heat in the garage it will be 50 to 55 in the garage. Today it is about 15 to 20 out and it is 38 in the garage, little too chilly. I would like to see about 55 to 60. I can work very comfortably in those temps. It is small enough I might try a few different locations before mounting it up. Two of my garage walls are right against living space so I do get some heat from the house, that is why it never freezes in the garage. Laying on a cold floor is not the problem. No matter how warm you get it, your feet will get pretty cold. Next time around I am going with a heated floor.. You'd be surprised how much heat loss you have just in the concrete floor alone. I think you will easily see 55-60 with that unit.. That is enough to take the bite off! Anyway, I am glad I went with the larger unit because it does more than take the bite off.. It makes it darn comfortable out there! With the TV, Internet, Laptop, and a Gladiator fridge, all I really lack is a bed and shower. I could live in the garage!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: Loveland Colo
Don't mount it too close to the floor--it can ignite vapors. The Code is 18" but even that seems a bit close to me. I'd mount it high, it's easier to keep it out of the way & reduces the risk of someting flammable coming in contact with it.
Does it have a fan? If not, get a small reciprocating tabletop fan and mount it upside down on the ceiling to circulate air.
Does it have a fan? If not, get a small reciprocating tabletop fan and mount it upside down on the ceiling to circulate air.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Nice garage but tell us about the checkerboard on the wall. Tile or paint? And I'm curious why you've got lightbulbs next to those 18' flourecents?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 946
Likes: 0
From: Lake Geneva WI
The "light bulbs" are actually fluorescent as well. They were there first. I wired the cold weather 8 footers off of them. BTW, I've already replaced one of the "cold weather" ballasts after 5 years.. I would say they are still not immune from the cold!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,732
Likes: 1,906
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I'll be using gas as well i assume it's cheaper then electric........?
any dangers with this unit in the garage to worry about ?
GAS vs ELECTRIC ?
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,930
Likes: 11
From: AnyTown NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Total cost was aprox $1800. A lot of this was labor/material for running the gas line to the garage (major project) and venting through the roof. Depending on your setup (access to gas line) it might be cheaper.
I've been told by friends in the business that this is the safest type heater (no standing pilot light, solid state ign, power venting) and certainly cheaper to operate vs. electric.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 668
Likes: 3
From: Platteville WI
You stated that you bought an electric heater and not a gas heater correct? Electric heaters are radiant. They heat objects and not air. Think of it like the warmth from the sun. Most of the replies are regarding gas furnaces, which are convection heaters. They heat air. Heat does not rise. Warm air does. You should mount your electric heater as recommended in the instruction manual. Igniting fumes is not an issue with a radiant electric heater. It is, however a major issue with standing pilot gas units and wood burning appliances. You will probably find that it will heat best relative to where you are and the items you are working on. So, mount it near where you anticipate working. Maybe around the bench? If it were me, I would only turn it on when I'm in the garage. If you want something to keep temps up all the time, you might want to go with a gas powered suspended furnace. If you plan to open and close your garage doors frequently, warm air will easily escape. That's why many shops use ceramic heat tubes that reflect radiant heat down to the work space. That heat energy is easier to contain when doors are opened. By the way, if you are on LP gas, LP is heavier than air, and unburned LP gas presents more of a danger in your garage than natural gas. Good luck.
Jay
Jay