WKMCD what model is your heater? Is it safe for closed in use?
Heated garage?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 1
From: Somerset Kentucky
Heated garage?
Now that I've got my vette, I'd like to spend some time on it during the winter months. I have a large 3 car garage but it's detached from the house and isn't heated. How do you guys up north heat your garage that didn't come with heating when constructed? I'm researching forced air heaters but I'd like advice from someone who's already been down this road. Tried searching other forums but found nothing. Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
I use this when I want to work on the car. It heats the garage up toasty (70 degrees) in about 10 minutes when it's 20 outside. I get about 8 hours on a 20lb tank of propane.
I've thought about installing a permanent heating unit but I just can't justify the $$ for half a dozen weekends a year.
I've thought about installing a permanent heating unit but I just can't justify the $$ for half a dozen weekends a year.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 746
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From: Michigan
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,724
Likes: 2
From: Holland Landing Ontario
Good insulation is the key to inexpensive heat. My garage is over 700 sq. ft. and I heat it with a 220 volt 4800 watt heater that I picked up at Home Depot for about $60 10 years ago. I keep the garage at 50 degrees and the heater hardly runs at all. However, one wall is common with the house.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
When I just recently built my garage extension, I had framed in for a Westinghouse HVAC unit. Looks like something you would see in a hotel room under a window. Seems to work real well so far. I have it set for 65 degrees here in the winter since I don't need to run up the electric any higher but it seems to be working real nice. The garage door (2-car), I added insulation to it but the walls and ceiling in the existing garage were not insulated. The new extension room area, I fully insulated. I'll eventually get to the rest of the garage as far as insulation.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 137
Likes: 11
From: Kingston Ontario
Here's the best link you'll find for heat (and all things garage): http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/f...splay.php?f=26
I will offer one word of caution about those heaters, from personal experience.
I was using one 2 winters ago while drywalling my garage and went inside for a few minutes. When I came back out the flame had somehow burned through the hose and a 10 foot flame was shooting out the side of it. That would have happened whether I was in the garage or not, but thankfully I leave the tank outside and run the hose under the garage door. Just alot of very hot concrete, and a couple melted items. Very lucky. But beware is all I'm saying. It all went straight to the garbage, and I'll have heat when I can afford to do it properly, and safely. On the upside the garage went to a balmy 113F in a pinch!
I will offer one word of caution about those heaters, from personal experience.
I was using one 2 winters ago while drywalling my garage and went inside for a few minutes. When I came back out the flame had somehow burned through the hose and a 10 foot flame was shooting out the side of it. That would have happened whether I was in the garage or not, but thankfully I leave the tank outside and run the hose under the garage door. Just alot of very hot concrete, and a couple melted items. Very lucky. But beware is all I'm saying. It all went straight to the garbage, and I'll have heat when I can afford to do it properly, and safely. On the upside the garage went to a balmy 113F in a pinch!
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 326
Likes: 23
From: Ohio
I use a kerosene "salamander" which has a 120 volt high speed fan. I leave one of the doors open about 8 inches and it will heat the garage to 75 degrees in about 15 minutes and maintain that temperature for as long as I want. It cost about $200 last year.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
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From: Not on either liberal coast.
This is my third home shop (33x55') and the only one which is attached to the house. It's insulated the same as the house structure. My previous two shops were detached.
I set the thermostat at 52 degrees during the winter. It takes about 15 minutes to bring the entire shop to a very comfortable temperature. It's natural gas, vented @ 125,000btu.
I set the thermostat at 52 degrees during the winter. It takes about 15 minutes to bring the entire shop to a very comfortable temperature. It's natural gas, vented @ 125,000btu.
Last edited by hotwheels57; Jan 21, 2011 at 10:08 AM.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Waynesville Missouri
I build a new 32x36 free standing garage last summer 2x6 insulated walls with no heat or air. I found that when it got up to 95 degrees outside my shop was hotter than heck. didn't want to open overhead doors because of flys.
I talked to a friend who owns a Heating & Cooling Co about my options, he had just removed a commercial package unit from a small building that was being torn down. (package unit sets outside and is mainly an A/C unit with a small heating coil) I bought it for 200.00 and installed myself except for 75.00 to my electrician and another 75.00 in 12" alum round duct and insulation.
the unit sets at the end of my shop outside with a 12" supply up 9' on my wall (behind a grill) the return is also a 12" round pipe as low down on the wall as I could get it.
the A/C portion is 2 ton and worked great this past summer and the heating portion is also working good this winter.
just though I'm throw this out as another option, used package units are out there!
Jim
I talked to a friend who owns a Heating & Cooling Co about my options, he had just removed a commercial package unit from a small building that was being torn down. (package unit sets outside and is mainly an A/C unit with a small heating coil) I bought it for 200.00 and installed myself except for 75.00 to my electrician and another 75.00 in 12" alum round duct and insulation.
the unit sets at the end of my shop outside with a 12" supply up 9' on my wall (behind a grill) the return is also a 12" round pipe as low down on the wall as I could get it.
the A/C portion is 2 ton and worked great this past summer and the heating portion is also working good this winter.
just though I'm throw this out as another option, used package units are out there!
Jim
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 284
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From: Elysburg PA
Garage heated 24/7 - Central PA
I have a 480 sq ft insulated attached garage that is heated with a propane ventless wall heater. It maintains 60 degrees on the lowest setting. Because of the heater being ventless the humidity is always above 50% in the space. The heating cost is around $150 a season. Propane cost this year is $1.99 a gal. The efficency level is somewhere around 99%. Perfect for tinkering with the Vette.
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I have two vents in the garage from our central furnace system, but they do little to really heat up our 3-car garage. I supplement that with a decent sized kerosene heater that I use when I'm actually in the garage working.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 8
From: Chester Springs PA
I use one of these ... 220v TPI Industrial HF686TC Fan. Hangs from the ceiling and angled toward the bay my car is in. 15-20 minutes it gets warm enough to work even if it's 20 outside. Brings the thermometer hanging on the outside wall to 60 or so, and it's not pointed straight at it.
damn if I'm not jealous of some of those pics above ... nice man caves
damn if I'm not jealous of some of those pics above ... nice man caves
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 18,643
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From: Norman Oklahoma - The Only State in the Union with no Blue Counties!
My garage is not detached. I insulated the garage door. I have one vent from the house, an oil filled radiator type heater I leave on low all the time. When I get home, the VetteCave is my den, etc. so I turn the oilfilled up to high and turn on another 1500 electric heater under my desk.
Bad weather here today so no working. As I type it is 18 degrees outside,,,,the VetteCave is a balmy 65.4
Bad weather here today so no working. As I type it is 18 degrees outside,,,,the VetteCave is a balmy 65.4
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 23
From: Clifton Park New York
Now that I've got my vette, I'd like to spend some time on it during the winter months. I have a large 3 car garage but it's detached from the house and isn't heated. How do you guys up north heat your garage that didn't come with heating when constructed? I'm researching forced air heaters but I'd like advice from someone who's already been down this road. Tried searching other forums but found nothing. Thanks.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 548
Likes: 3
From: Northeast NE
I have a 40'x80 shop of which 45'x40' is heated with a fahrenheat 220 electric unit that cost somewhere around $300 and does a great job keeping it 50 and does not take any time to get up to a comfortable 70 for working purposes. Nice looking very dependable heater that I have had for 10 years now with no problems.
Insulation is the key for both winter and summer though.
PS it has been hovering around 0 here lately and I went out and waxed the 99, washed the blazer and HHR...plenty comfy and nice to have a warm spot that everything won't freeze in.
This will be some of the best money spent.....good luck!!!!
Insulation is the key for both winter and summer though.
PS it has been hovering around 0 here lately and I went out and waxed the 99, washed the blazer and HHR...plenty comfy and nice to have a warm spot that everything won't freeze in.
This will be some of the best money spent.....good luck!!!!