Garage electric heating options?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
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Garage electric heating options?
Anyone heat their garage with an electric heater (one of the ones that hangs from the ceiling)? What brand do you have, where'd you get it, how big is your garage, and does it heat effectively?
Thanks
Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
I'm not an HVAC expert, but I don't think an electric heater in a shop/garage of any size is going to be very efficient. This is especially true if you want to be toasty and your shop/garage isn't insulated well.
My 1,815sf shop/garage is heated by natural gas which is very efficient and (strangely enough) fairly inexpensive right now. I have a ceiling mounted MODINE rated at 125,000BTUs...it'll probably melt my Z16 when it's on the lift. I had a similar unit rated at 80,000BTUs in a previous 1,300sf shop, fueled by propane. I keep them set at 50 degrees during the winter months and turn them up when I'm outside. I can work in a t-shirt and shorts in about 20 minutes. You can see an image of my MODINE here...
http://s114.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSC00009-1.jpg
I'd check with some HVAC shops and see what's available in your price range and shop/garage size.
My 1,815sf shop/garage is heated by natural gas which is very efficient and (strangely enough) fairly inexpensive right now. I have a ceiling mounted MODINE rated at 125,000BTUs...it'll probably melt my Z16 when it's on the lift. I had a similar unit rated at 80,000BTUs in a previous 1,300sf shop, fueled by propane. I keep them set at 50 degrees during the winter months and turn them up when I'm outside. I can work in a t-shirt and shorts in about 20 minutes. You can see an image of my MODINE here...
http://s114.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSC00009-1.jpg
I'd check with some HVAC shops and see what's available in your price range and shop/garage size.
Last edited by hotwheels57; Nov 28, 2006 at 06:41 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
My garage (shed) is 12X16 and I do all my work in there. I have thus far insulated the walls and doors but not the ceiling (didn't get to it yet) but I too am interested in doing this. Electric would be easier for me to install.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
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From: Not on either liberal coast.
Another option might be an oil fired furnace. I don't know anything about them except they apparently use waste oil and are very efficient. Venting would be necessary and city/county/state air quality regulations might be a factor.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Vancouver
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
I am interested in the same thing since I have put up a new shop so that the garage can return to being a garage. Electricity would be the easiest for sure. My friend has also built a new shop and constructed a small room at one end, and he used a built in electric heater. It's 220 volts and has a fan in it. It heats up the room quite nicely. I am thinking of putting a couple of them in the new shop and two more in the garage. I think they take a 30 amp 220 volt breaker. He got his at Home Depot last year. I went to check them out but they didn't have any. So now I too am looking for something like this for my shop. Everyone here so far has suggested something other than electricity but gas and propane are bulky and also involve storage tanks or gas fitters. Anyway lets hope more chime in with electrical alternatives. 
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Richmond Hill Ontario
As Ed, mentioned, the home depot 220v unit works great but gets a little expensive if you want this to be your fulltime heat source. I was fortunate enough to have natural gas so I went with a 45,000btu forced air unit and it costs me at the very most in extreme cold weather $20 a month more on my heating bill. That is with the garage at a constant 60 degrees.
Here is a picture of what the unit looks like
Here is a picture of what the unit looks like
Last edited by Tino; Nov 28, 2006 at 10:25 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
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From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Originally Posted by Tino
As Ed, mentioned, the home depot 220v unit works great but gets a little expensive if you want this to be your fulltime heat source. I was fortunate enough to have natural gas so I went with a 45,000btu forced air unit and it costs me at the very most in extreme cold weather $20 a month more on my heating bill. That is with the garage at a constant 60 degrees.
Here is a picture of what the unit looks like
Here is a picture of what the unit looks like
I don't know if the ceiling mount electric units perform any better than my baseborad units.
Anyways, I had a propane tank installed outside and went with a ceiling propane unit. A lot less expensive to operate than electric, and I can raise the shops temp 15 degrees in about 15 minutes. Best move I could've made.
shop is 20x22, and the heater is 30,000 btu. Kinda overkill, but I wanted fast recovery capability.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Everyone is asnwering a question you didn't ask. I heat my garage with electric heaters. My garage is an oversize two car garage and the builder insulated it extremely well. I purchased two electric heaters with fans from Home Depot that hang from the ceiling. They require 220V. I got a few estimates on installing different types of heating systems and the difference in price will pay for the electric usage for years. I installed the heaters and wiring myself. The two heaters cost about $450. No matter how cold out it is, I can make the garage warm enough to work in a T-shirt if I wanted to in a reasonable amount of time. Once the garage is warmed up I have to keep turning the thermostat down or it will get too hot. They are quiet, there are no fumes and are fairly safe when using chemicals in the garage. I am happy with them. They are made by Marley, model #PH4AB. Their phone number is 800-642-HEAT. BTW, sometimes I will keep them set low to keep the chill out when I'm not working in it. The electric usage is negligible. Hope this helps.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,375
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From: Western NY
I had a NuTone, 12,000 BTU electric heater in a HEAVILY insulated 2 car garage for many years. I certainly wouldn use it for a source of constsnt heat, but for weekend use during the winter, it worked well. The key to successful usage is good insulation.
I'm unable to remember the model number, as I bought it 25 years ago, but it was about 18" square, came with a wall mount bracket, and was 220 volt.
I'm unable to remember the model number, as I bought it 25 years ago, but it was about 18" square, came with a wall mount bracket, and was 220 volt.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,482
Likes: 0
From: Worden Illinois
Originally Posted by hotwheels57
I'm not an HVAC expert, but I don't think an electric heater in a shop/garage of any size is going to be very efficient. This is especially true if you want to be toasty and your shop/garage isn't insulated well.
My 1,815sf shop/garage is heated by natural gas which is very efficient and (strangely enough) fairly inexpensive right now. I have a ceiling mounted MODINE rated at 125,000BTUs...it'll probably melt my Z16 when it's on the lift. I had a similar unit rated at 80,000BTUs in a previous 1,300sf shop, fueled by propane. I keep them set at 50 degrees during the winter months and turn them up when I'm outside. I can work in a t-shirt and shorts in about 20 minutes. You can see an image of my MODINE here...
http://s114.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSC00009-1.jpg
I'd check with some HVAC shops and see what's available in your price range and shop/garage size.
My 1,815sf shop/garage is heated by natural gas which is very efficient and (strangely enough) fairly inexpensive right now. I have a ceiling mounted MODINE rated at 125,000BTUs...it'll probably melt my Z16 when it's on the lift. I had a similar unit rated at 80,000BTUs in a previous 1,300sf shop, fueled by propane. I keep them set at 50 degrees during the winter months and turn them up when I'm outside. I can work in a t-shirt and shorts in about 20 minutes. You can see an image of my MODINE here...
http://s114.photobucket.com/albums/n...DSC00009-1.jpg
I'd check with some HVAC shops and see what's available in your price range and shop/garage size.
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: Parkesburg PA
I'm in the process of installing a ceiling/shelf mount electric heater now.
Bought it on Ebay. 18,000 BTU 5200 watts. 220 volts 30 amp. Breaking into the electric dryer source line with a switch which will supply the heater or the dryer so both can't be on at the same time.
The 10/3 wire required costs me almost half the cost of the heater.
I only need heat when I work on a car which is not often. 50 degrees is all I need. I had an old propane heater but propane got expensive and the heater would require service now and then.
My house is total electric so my winter rate is reduced. I think it will be cheaper to run the electric heater. The unit only costs about $150 so if it does wear out, I will unplug it and buy a new one.
Don't know how it will work out but it should be fine.
Bought it on Ebay. 18,000 BTU 5200 watts. 220 volts 30 amp. Breaking into the electric dryer source line with a switch which will supply the heater or the dryer so both can't be on at the same time.
The 10/3 wire required costs me almost half the cost of the heater.
I only need heat when I work on a car which is not often. 50 degrees is all I need. I had an old propane heater but propane got expensive and the heater would require service now and then.
My house is total electric so my winter rate is reduced. I think it will be cheaper to run the electric heater. The unit only costs about $150 so if it does wear out, I will unplug it and buy a new one.
Don't know how it will work out but it should be fine.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 16,507
Likes: 84
From: Southern Indiana
I have a Dayton Electric Heater (3UF86) It is 240V, 42A, 10kW, and 45,000 BTU. It was easy to install, reasonably priced to run, and has no problem heating up my 768 sq. foot detached garage. It'll bring the temp up in winter to a comfortable working temperature in about 10 minutes. (This was when it was ~30-40 degrees out. I haven't had a chance to try it when it's really cold out, but it will still easily make the whole garage 70 degrees, just might take a few more minutes) When we had some cold weather a few weeks ago, I was able to work in short-sleeves very comfortably in my garage.
This thing was small and so much easier to install than a gas heater. I've been very happy with it. I bought it for $592, including shipping.
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/rworkman...803762980846/5
This thing was small and so much easier to install than a gas heater. I've been very happy with it. I bought it for $592, including shipping.
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/rworkman...803762980846/5
Last edited by xwing; Nov 29, 2006 at 04:46 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
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From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Originally Posted by rworkman
I have a Dayton Electric Heater (3UF86) It is 240V, 42A, 10kW, and 45,000 BTU.
This thing was ... so much easier to install than a gas heater. I've been very happy with it. I bought it for $592, including shipping.
This thing was ... so much easier to install than a gas heater. I've been very happy with it. I bought it for $592, including shipping.
And you're right about a gas heater making the installation more complex.
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
My parents had a kerosene heater at their house that used to provide heat at my grandmother's house. Throws out a ton of heat and cheap as hell. Works great.
And no, it's not dangerous.
And no, it's not dangerous.